For the entire duration of PBO’s presidency, the Republicans made it their core mission to oppose everything he did. They weren’t even coy about it–they blatantly stated that they wanted to make sure he was a one-term president. That didn’t work out for them very well, did it? The one thing they continually pounded the pulpit about was how horrid Obamacare was. They kept talking about getting rid of it, and it’s my opinion that they were using it as a rallying point more than they were actually serious about doing it. Now that they’re large and in charge, and they’re finding out it’s more difficult than they thought it would be. See, most people actually like their Obamacare when it’s called by its proper name–ACA. So, we’ve had the dubious honor of watching the Republicans running around like chickens with their heads cut off, trying to repeal Obamacare without upsetting their constituents. Obviously, they aren’t doing a great job of it, and their latest offering is being excoriated by many pundits because it includes massive tax cuts for the rich–the one thing that unites Republicans all across the land.
While being interviewed about the plan, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, said:
Americans have choices, and they’ve got to make a choice. So rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care.
I’m just going to let that sit for a minute so you can properly appreciate how mean-spirited and gross that statement is. It’s as old as time, scolding poor people for how they spend their money and having the gall to tell them they need to tighten their already fraying belts. Let’s put aside the fact that phones are pretty much mandatory in this day and age and that not everyone is buying an iPhone, which, admittedly is one of the most expensive phones one the market–wait, no. Actually, let us get into it. A 2013 Pew study showed that only 13% of low-income people (making less than $30,000 per year) used iPhones in that year. In addition, in 2015, 23% of smartphone users had difficulty making their payments. In addition, my phone (Nexus 5X) cost $500, and I pay roughly $20 per month with Project Fi. I would be elated if healthcare only cost $20 per month with a $500 one-time cost upfront.
In other words, this is a spurious argument, but it shows how cruel the Republicans are. Not only does this plan show how they don’t actually give a shit about poor people, they want them to suffer. Republicans believe that if someone is poor, it’s their own damn fault, and they should suffer for it. Putting aside the fact that phones are almost mandatory in this day and age, even if they were only purely frivolous items, why should poor people have to be miserable day in and day out? Statements like the one from Rep. Chaffetz are meant as punishment for people who have the audacity to be poor. “Look, you motherfuckers. You don’t deserve a nice phone because you’re LAZY.”