How to Protect Yourself From Obamacare

[Gaspar]

It's what the Teahadists fear; that people (even Republicans!) will like it.

Or what the Obamabots fear; that people (even Democrats) will hate it.

Can't wait until it starts working, so that we can see what's in it.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/10/07/health-care-insurance-exchanges-obamacare-editorials-debates/2940207/

[Townsend]

Or what the Obamabots fear; that people (even Democrats) will hate it.

No, maybe you didn't see the post...

Second District Congressman Markwayne Mullin heard a different story and told a different tale during his one-hour telephone town hall Monday night. Of the roughly two dozen callers who got through, none demanded the impeachment of President Barack Obama or seemed very supportive of Republicans' continued demand for changes to the Affordable Care Act in exchange for a budget deal. Two callers said they had signed up for insurance through the ACA, commonly called Obamacare. Another said co-workers had. When Mullin tried to tell her that insurance enrollment through the online exchanges that went active on Oct. 1 "isn't happening," she said, "It absolutely is!"

That's probably not what the people in favor of Obamacare fear.

If you can't or choose not to see the posts, then there's nothing we can do to help you.

[Hoss]

No, maybe you didn't see the post...

That's probably not what the people in favor of Obamacare fear.

If you can't or choose not to see the posts, then there's nothing we can do to help you.

It's probably a wasted effort T.  Just let him back to his pretty blue fonts.  He'll be happy that way.   

[AquaMan]

Any one else find it curious that the government shutdown (sorry gas, slimdown) may mean that fewer employees are around to handle the 8.6 million unique inquiries about the ACA (sorry gas, Obamacare, Barrycare) or the attendant problems that historic level of interest has created? If I were conspiratorial (sorry gas, tin hat, spiteful) i might think that opponents of the plan may have planned (once again for Gas...spitefully planned) such a tactic to play upon common beliefs that government is unable to handle such a huge task and thus it must be revised or repealed. I know its Charles Manson race war thinking, but we're talking TP'ers here.*

Bottom line is that opponents are fighting a losing battle over existing law that has been court tested and has tremendous public interest. If they had spent the last four years smoothing out potential problems, fine tuning the legislation instead of demonizing it and using it to elect crazies, the whole country would have benefitted. If this were a product being brought to market and this kind of problem happened, the stock would be soaring. You can solve administrative problems with enough technology and manpower. You can't create demand as easily.

*for those who may not be aware of the reasoning behind Manson's plan- In the annals of crime, there might never have been a more bizarre motive for killing than that revealed in the 1970-71 trial of four Manson "Family" members.  In the twisted mind of thirty-four-year-old Charles Manson, a wave of bloody killings of high-society types in Los Angeles would be the spark that would set off a revolution by blacks against the white establishment.  When "blackie," as Manson called black people, proved unable to govern, they would turn to Manson and his tribe of followers, who would have survived "Helter Skelter" by hiding out in an underground cave in the Death Valley area of California while the chaos raged above. Doug Linder 2002

[Gaspar]

Any one else find it curious that the government shutdown (sorry gas, slimdown) may mean that fewer employees are around to handle the 8.6 million unique inquiries about the ACA (sorry gas, Obamacare, Barrycare) or the attendant problems that historic level of interest has created? If I were conspiratorial (sorry gas, tin hat, spiteful) i might think that opponents of the plan may have planned (once again for Gas...spitefully planned) such a tactic to play upon common beliefs that government is unable to handle such a huge task and thus it must be revised or repealed. I know its Charles Manson race war thinking, but we're talking TP'ers here.*

Bottom line is that opponents are fighting a losing battle over existing law that has been court tested and has tremendous public interest. If they had spent the last four years smoothing out potential problems, fine tuning the legislation instead of demonizing it and using it to elect crazies, the whole country would have benefitted. If this were a product being brought to market and this kind of problem happened, the stock would be soaring. You can solve administrative problems with enough technology and manpower. You can't create demand as easily.

*for those who may not be aware of the reasoning behind Manson's plan- In the annals of crime, there might never have been a more bizarre motive for killing than that revealed in the 1970-71 trial of four Manson "Family" members.  In the twisted mind of thirty-four-year-old Charles Manson, a wave of bloody killings of high-society types in Los Angeles would be the spark that would set off a revolution by blacks against the white establishment.  When "blackie," as Manson called black people, proved unable to govern, they would turn to Manson and his tribe of followers, who would have survived "Helter Skelter" by hiding out in an underground cave in the Death Valley area of California while the chaos raged above. Doug Linder 2002

Manson reference?


The Constitution lays out a two-step process for a law to be enacted. First, the measure has to be passed and signed by the president, but then it has to be paid for by Congress.  This funding takes place through the House Appropriations Committee.

In practice, the separation between policy making and funding, and the division between appropriations and authorization activities are imperfect. Authorizations for many programs have long lapsed, yet still receive appropriated amounts. Other programs that are authorized receive no funds at all.  In addition, policy language—that is legislative text changing permanent law—is included in appropriation measures.

In the absence of a permanent budget, a debate on existing funding levels and current debt gets to take place more frequently.

[AquaMan]

You excel at sidestepping. Is that a country dance move? The founders could hardly have imagined that a small minority of anti government looneys would be able to throw wrenches in the mechanics of government and call it "the peoples will". What good is representative govt. if when you lose, you simply close the bank account til you get what you want?

Manson also had constructs that he thought were so powerful that the population would rise up and mobilize to end "black power". They were based on numerous erroneous assumptions that came from his limited view of the world. Most of that view was from media, drugs, alcohol and jail, mostly in California. He considered himself an expert on politics, law, economics, music, sociology, psychology and biology. His ability to expound on these subjects, even though his views had little basis in fact or reality, convinced those around him of his superior insider knowledge. In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king. So, his followers were willing to sign on to helter skelter.

Sounds a whole lot like Tea Partiers, Boehner, freshmen House members and Fox who all steadfastly believe the public is supportive even when their own constituents and many fellow republicans say the opposite.

I doubt you listened to the interviews of the founder and leader of the Tea Party, Jenny Martin and Texas representative Ted Cruz on NPR last week. They are delusional and unable to grasp that there is any support or reasoning behind their opponents. Cruz couldn't even answer questions. He just filibustered the interviewer. The lady who leads the Tea Party doesn't live in our world. Find the interview and enjoy. Then look up Tate-LaBianca.

[rebound]

Hey, I like the Manson reference.  A little non-linear thought is way more interesting than simply arguing "my side is better" all the time...

[nathanm]

You excel at sidestepping. Is that a country dance move? The founders could hardly have imagined that a small minority of anti government looneys would be able to throw wrenches in the mechanics of government and call it "the peoples will". What good is representative govt. if when you lose, you simply close the bank account til you get what you want?

So, Imagine that the company you work for held a poll, and asked everyone if they thought it would be a good idea to put a soda machine in the break room. The poll came back, and the majority of your colleagues said "Yes", indicating that they would like a soda machine.

http://themetricruler.tumblr.com/post/63100333081/so-imagine-that-the-company-you-work-for-held-a

[AquaMan]

That's a great analogy. Be interesting to see how our locals spin it.

[Gaspar]

President Obama just lost Wolf.

Turns out the Wolf learned that Obama was aware that the exchanges were not ready and had been warned several times that roll-out would be a disaster.

Wolf just bought himself an IRS audit!

[Townsend]

Turns out the Wolf learned that Obama was aware that the exchanges were not ready and had been warned several times that roll-out would be a disaster.

You got that from 25 seconds of video?

[Gaspar]

You got that from 25 seconds of video?

Here is the transcript of the whole exchange (no pun intended).  
In blue to illicit a Hossyfit.

"A week into it, still a lot of glitches," CNN correspondent Brian Todd reported to Blitzer. "People not able to create accounts, just to get information to possibly enroll, much less not being able to enroll in the plan."

"We're also hearing now that the administration was warned about these potential problems months in advance," Todd continued. "We spoke to a health care consultant who has clients who are insurers. He says his insurers, who dealt with the administration in the months ahead of time, had contentious meetings with people at [Health and Human Services] and other health care officials who were in charge of this, warning them, 'This isn't working, it's not going to be smooth, don't do it.' He says those warnings were ignored, they went full speed ahead, and said we'll work these problems out. There's been a bit of pushback from the White House, we'll hope to get more later from them."

"If they had three years to get this ready—if they weren't fully ready, they should accept the advice that a lot of Republicans are giving them, delay it another year, get it ready, and make sure it works," Blitzer said. "There are government health care-related websites that work great. Socialsecurity.gov, a whole bunch of others. They know how to do it. But if they didn't get it ready on time, then maybe fix the problem, make sure people don't have to worry about it."

What's even more funny is the estimated cost for the website healthcare.gov was $93 million.  The final cost was $634 million.  How much is that in Alaskan Smooters?

[Gaspar]

Domino effect.  Not Time!!

They have one month. If the officials running the new Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges cannot fix crippling computer glitches by then, the health law's future could be imperiled, according to a former high-ranking health care official.

Read more: http://nation.time.com/2013/10/09/time-running-out-for-obamacare-fixes/#ixzz2hFjXZfs6

[Conan71]

So, part of the the claim is all this sudden interest in the ACA created a log-jam, eh?  I'm no software expert, but seems like they could have avoided a lot of problems (well other than passing Obamacare in the first place) by doing a rolling roll-out by area code, zip codes, or the like to keep from over-whelming the system.

Who all got their nose in the trough for the $634 million?  Nice contracts!

[Gaspar]

So, part of the the claim is all this sudden interest in the ACA created a log-jam, eh?  I'm no software expert, but seems like they could have avoided a lot of problems (well other than passing Obamacare in the first place) by doing a rolling roll-out by area code, zip codes, or the like to keep from over-whelming the system.

Who all got their nose in the trough for the $634 million?  Nice contracts!

We have clients that can take 250K hits a day.  I'm at a loss.  Apparently, much like the healthcare bill, the exchange sites were clumsily cobbled together just to get something out there.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/05/us-usa-healthcare-technology-analysis-idUSBRE99407T20131005

Five outside technology experts interviewed by Reuters, however, say they believe flaws in system architecture, not traffic alone, contributed to the problems.

For instance, when a user tries to create an account on HealthCare.gov, which serves insurance exchanges in 36 states, it prompts the computer to load an unusually large amount of files and software, overwhelming the browser, experts said.

If they are right, then just bringing more servers online, as officials say they are doing, will not fix the site.

"Adding capacity sounds great until you realize that if you didn't design it right that won't help," said Bill Curtis, chief scientist at CAST, a software quality analysis firm, and director of the Consortium for IT Software Quality. "The architecture of the software may limit how much you can add on to it. I suspect they'll have to reconfigure a lot of it."

One possible cause of the problems is that hitting "apply" on HealthCare.gov causes 92 separate files, plug-ins and other mammoth swarms of data to stream between the user's computer and the servers powering the government website, said Matthew Hancock, an independent expert in website design. He was able to track the files being requested through a feature in the Firefox browser.

Of the 92 he found, 56 were JavaScript files, including plug-ins that make it easier for code to work on multiple browsers (such as Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer and Google Inc's Chrome) and let users upload files to HealthCare.gov.

It is not clear why the upload function was included.

"They set up the website in such a way that too many requests to the server arrived at the same time," Hancock said.

He said because so much traffic was going back and forth between the users' computers and the server hosting the government website, it was as if the system was attacking itself.

All I can think of is $634 million that will need to be re-spent before it's all done.  The GOP offer of a year delay is looking more and more like a lifeline.