Ezra Klein concludes his criticism of the PPACA rollout:
A lot of liberals will be angry over this post. A lot of conservatives will be happy about it. But it’s important to see the Affordable Care Act as something more than a pawn in the political wars: It’s a real law that real people are desperately, nervously, urgently trying to access. And so far, the Obama administration has failed them.
The Obama administration’s top job isn’t beating the Republicans. It’s running the government well. On this — the most important initiative they’ve launched — they’ve run the government badly. They deserve all the criticism they’re getting and more.
Read the whole thing for why he proclaims the PPACA “a failure” to date.
As Mr. Klein does, I think it’s too early to decide whether the rollout has been successful or not. We’ll have mileposts on November 1, January 1, and April 1. If by April 1 fewer than 7 million people have enrolled (the CBO’s estimate), I think it will be fair to label it a failure.
One thing I’d suggest that those who feel it’s been a resounding success should reflect on. If the Administration believed it was a success, don’t you think they’d shouting it from the rooftops?
Well, NY and California are beating expectations and no one is shouting that from the rooftops:
California said 28,699 people were signed up in the state’s health-insurance exchange in the first week, while New York had more than 40,000 sign up.
The numbers for California, the largest U.S. state by population, were for the Oct. 1 to Oct. 5 period and exceeded expectations, Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California, said at a news conference today in Sacramento. New York, the third most-populous state, said in a statement that its pace of sign-ups shows the exchange is “working smoothly.â€
Which illuminates out one of the real reasons for opposition to the PPACA–it shows how better diverse states can run if they are run by people who are not completely insane.
As I’ve posted before, Modulo Myself, California will need to enroll about that many people every day for the next six months to enroll the number of people needed.
The Obama administration’s top job isn’t beating the Republicans. It’s running the government well.
This axiom should be the premise of any administration, no matter what party flag they are flying.
So, when people are said to have ‘signed up’ for Obamacare, does that mean that they successfully were able to give all their information, chose a health plan and have confirmation that their application is now in the mill for processing?
Nice to see Ezra Klein write this. There are too many liberals who do not take good government seriously.
Thanks, Jan. I was going to post just about exactly that………but no one cares.
Its just hooray for our side !!!!
Drew,
I think what you are referring to is hyper-partisanship versus just being interested in good government for the people — no matter what the label is. Unfortunately, politicians such as Harry Reid, are lost in the woods when it comes to a deal giving leeway to optimal structural compromise over pursuing undiluted ideological demands.
I’m going to go out on a limb, and speculate that no one will believe this. Heh, but I’m correct.
But I happen to be the most empathetic person on this site. I know this because I actually read every word here, and digest and think about it. I know who I am. And, scary, at this point I know who you are. Amateur psychiatrist I guess. Its why I come here.
You folks won’t believe me, but its just my “life is short, let’s have some fun” (OK, I confess – let’s fuck with these people) nature that gives you the wrong impression. I’m the Roger Waters of the blogsite. And now this. Magnetism. Who knew??
http://science.time.com/2013/10/13/bunnies-stinkbugs-and-maggots-the-secrets-of-empathy/
Dave,
According to the article, California estimated 500 to 700K signing up by 4/1. Also according to the article, they thought the first week would be low. In the end I think that states that set up their own exchanges will probably insure the numbers they projected, and the states that didn’t won’t. But that’s only in the first year. I don’t like the mandate, but it will force people to get insurance or pay the penalty. Right now, it’s definitely not a real thing in the minds of those who are not insured. But it will be, come 2015.
If that’s the case and based on the number of uninsured people in California, there’s no way that the 7 million that the CBO has estimated can be registered.
Said another way, it’s either California’s estimates or the CBO’s estimates. Take your pick.
Looking at the other side of the “it’s-all-the-republican’s-fault” coin, and seeing something positive about this govermental pause: Assessing The Government Shutdown: The Long View