My spouse and I are safely back in our blue bubble after spending a week in an alternate universe (otherwise known as Amarillo, Texas) where people claim that they "never watch the news," but somehow parrot all the right wing talking points about how everything President Obama does is "socialism."
We were having breakfast yesterday when one of my sister-in-law's friends came over and launched into a launched into a tearful, worried, misguided rant about "Obamacare."
"I never watch news," she said, "but..." and--well, you know the rest, the same old litany of misinformation spouted by right-wing hate radio.
When she finally took a breath, I said--just to be snarky, really--"Yeah, I'd rather have Medicare for All."
The woman perked up. "Yes!" she said. "Medicare for All is what the people want!"
I was a little surprised, but not very, because I heard that from the Tea Partiers back in 2009...
One thing both parties have seriously underestimated is the people's love of Medicare. Back in 2009, when right-wingers crashed our Move On health care rally I found out that all the "tea party" types love Medicare (most of them were on it already) and didn't think of my "Medicare for All" idea as the kind of "government health care" that they oppose. Go figure.
Anyway, back to my sister-in-law's confused friend. She kept saying, "Obama's just doing this now to make himself look good before the election." Apparently, she didn't seem to realize that "Obamacare" was already in effect.
My husband asked her, "Well, how has it affected you so far?" She stared blankly. We explained that it's already a law, passed in 2010, and that people are already benefitting from it.
"Insurance companies can't impose lifetime caps on medical expenses," I explained, "And anyone 26 and under can stay on their parents' plan. That took effect right away," I tried to explain.
This woman cleans houses for a living. She does okay, but she's not rich by any means. I explained that the Affordable Care Act also allows states to extend Medicaid to anyone making 133% above poverty level.
"But we can't get that in Texas!" she cried.
"That's right," I agreed. "Attorney General Greg Abbot has said that he refuses to allow more people to get on the Medicaid rolls. The way to solve that problem is to stop voting for him and vote for someone who will allow our tax dollars to come back to the state to fund our health care."
She went on a rant about the health care dollars that will be available in other states. (For someone who "never watches the news," she was pretty up-to-date on what other states were getting). I nodded and smiled, gently reminding her that our lawmakers in Texas are holding us back and that there's an easy fix--voting.
"Yeah," I said, "But those other states have governors who will accept federal dollars--our tax money--to fund expanded Medicaid. Rick Perry won't, and neither will Attorney General Abbott. If you want to make changes in Texas, don't keep putting the same people in office."
Again, she just stared blankly. I seriously don't think she understood the connection between voting and getting what she wants from Texas government, and I don't think anybody had explained to her before the connection between paying taxes and getting things like Medicare and Medicaid.
The woman and my sister-in-law launched into a tirade about the evils of the insurance industry, how it's all about making a profit and not about health care, how Obama is going to "make them" buy a product they don't want, and so forth. I tried to explain (again) that the new law--which is already in place, by the way--reforms the insurance industry, making it more affordable (as in Affordable Care Act), how you won't be turned down for pre-existing conditions, and how the mandate is a Republican idea that's been floating around since Eisenhower thought of it.
They refused to believe there was anything good about the insurance industry. They absolutely do not want "the government" interfering with their health care. They fear and loath "Obamacare." They just want access to Medicaid.
"Tell it to Greg Abbott," I said.
Speaking of health care, writing and re-thinking this weird Amarillo encounter is making my head hurt. Time to take two aspirin and lie down awhile.