How some on the right wing distort the discussion on Health Care in the United States

First off, here’s Avik Roy’s recent article in Forbes, proporting to show how Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is terrible: Rate Shock: In California, Obamacare To Increase Individual Health Insurance Premiums By 64-146% – Forbes. I know about this, because I read Paul Krugman on it, here: We Are Not Having A Serious Discussion, Obamacare Edition. Between that and this piece by Ezra Klein, here (The shocking truth about Obamacare’s rate shock), you can see how the right uses distortions to argue against the ACA.

It is good to be skeptical and concerned about big changes in government programs. And despite what the left might say, there is sufficient waste to be gutted, such as these conference expenses, Report finds IRS spent $50M for conferences, according to House panel, not to mention things listed here, Government Spending Waste: 25 Wasteful Items – Business Insider. But critics should be honest and forthright in their criticism. That is in everyone’s best interest.

Healthcare is a complex topic. It’s important to get it right and to explain it clearly. I think that even with the ACA/Obamacare approach, Americans aren’t going to have the best system in the world. But it will be better than it is before, and the way to it improve it and keep it in check is with honest disagreements, not distortions.