The nation watched as president Obama traveled to South Africa to attend the memorial service for Nelson Mandela. Less attention or mention was placed on the fact that three former presidents (G.W.Bush, Clinton, and Carter) also attended. During the ceremony, in a lighter moment, Obama was caught leaning into a group "selfie" with the P.M.s of Great Britain and Denmark. Mrs. Obama did not look amused.
I have no problem with Obama sharing a lighter moment with two of his European counterparts, however, the scene did spark a thought in my mind about the greater Obamacare mess that president Obama looked relieved to be away from during his impromptu selfie. The relaxed grin on his face as he leaned into the group shot suddenly, for me, became a metaphor for his position on Obamacare. It's all about his prized national program and his legacy...at all costs...regardless of who is impacted along the way- the perfect national selfie.
There is no question that some percentage of the population will get healthcare (up to 30 million) who never had it before. But more than 100 million other Americans will be impacted to make this national rework of healthcare a reality., and that number may turn out to be low. Families that liked their healthcare are being forced to lose it for government imposed policies that contain coverage they don't want or need. What kind of president would impose a healthcare program that injures the many for the benefit of the few?- a national selfie president. In the end, it is about him, not about us.
It is interesting that, as this national healthcare mess rolls out, the president is losing one of his core constituencies that supported him during the 2008 and 2012 elections. Young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are turning on the president and his signature legislation. Why? They have the most to lose in the future, and they finally have awakened to the fact that Obama's study in selfie legacy is at their expense. As I posted earlier, a recent poll found that 52% of voters in this age group wanted to recall the president...and we were losing hope for the Melennial Generation. Even they appear to be saying that enough is enough with Obamacare,
Just today it was released that approximately 365,000 people signed up for Obamacare in the months of October and November- not enrolled or paid up- just signed up. The administration needs 3.3 million people enrolled by the end of December and 7 million enrolled by the end of March 2014. They are a long way from those numbers. If Obamacare proves out to be the rolling disaster it is showing itself to be, the question is whether the president will, at some point soon, step in and make modifications to the law (legally or illegally, as he has done in the past) to give the nation relief from this flawed legislation.
IMO, don't look for any relief soon. This is more about president Obama's personal healthcare agenda and his legacy than what is good for the nation at large. If you don't believe it, look at his actions-they speak louder than his words. It appears that even young people are now starting to see this president for what he ultimately is, the national selfie president. And they don't like it.
More on healthy living in my next post. Meanwhile, stay healthy my friends.
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