Public discourse is rife with these quick and dirty swaps of one term for another. No doubt I notice them more readily from politicians with whom I usually disagree. But I am sure they crop up across the political spectrum.
Several years ago, in the run up to the passage of Obama-care (The Affordable Care Act), I was on my way to work via Shady Grove Metro Station in DC when I came across a poster. It said "1 in 7 people don't have health insurance."
As intended the number struck me as surprisingly high, prompting me to look into the claim over the next few days. It turned out to be accurate — in a sense.
At any given time about 14% of Americans were not covered by a health insurance policy. People between jobs accounted for a large portion of this and therefore exactly who was uninsured was always in flux. A much smaller slice was chronically uninsured and this included some who were in a position to pay cash.
Nevertheless, the ratio was accurate and it was reasonable to discuss what—if anything—was the appropriate action to address that number.
Only that's not what we debated.
As the legislative drive for the Affordable Care Act unfolded, at watercoolers, among pundits, and on the floors of state houses and the Capitol the term wasn't health insurance. It was healthcare.
"1 in 7 Americans got by without healthcare."
This became the lie. And I knew it was a lie because I had no health insurance. It wasn't the only time either. But at all those times I got myself lots of healthcare.
For much of it I paid cash. Certain other things, vaccinations for rabies and tetanus for example were available either free or nearly free from existing public health programs. I became a tissue donor by which I received two free physicals a year (they paid me actually!) as well as frequent monitoring of blood pressure and general health. For dental work I volunteered to be a patient at a dental school.
When I needed prescriptions, I would usually pay for the. But I would also be sure to ask the prescribers for on-handle samples to get me started. And I would ask for inexpensive generics rather than the latest brand names.
Now it's true I was young and relatively healthy. But had I faced a catastrophic illness or accident
there were resources that I could have drawn on for that to. Fortunately I did not have to. But I knew people who did and I watched how they got through it.
The bottom line is healthcare and health insurance were never the same thing. Both gravely important yes — but not the same.
I was reminded of this experience, and many others, by this Twitter exchange today...
Same shit. Fresh stink.
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claims the immigration system is built on a carceral framework, when in fact a lawful immigrants, a million every year, aren't locked up at all for coming to the United States.
Actually, U.S. culture has been profoundly shaped by centuries of immigration and we continue to count on immigrants from all over the world for growth and vitality. As the spouse of a lawful immigrant, I saw first hand how our immigration system readily welcomes those who enter according to the rules.
And it's these legal immigrants that are harmed the most by tolerance of illegal immigration outside the process. I'm in favor of as permissive an immigration policy as our economy warrants. And I believe that is as much as present day illegal and legal immigration combined — if not more.
But such a policy is pointless without control. And that we do not presently have.
It's just aggravating that wordplay takes a backseat to problem solving
There's not much I can give credence to if I see AOC is backing it. Having run for political office before, I have seen this tactic many times...use one term so others will catch on to the idea of what you're saying, but turn around and claim something different to push an agenda in one person's favor or another. It's diabolical. I moved to the city I ran for elected office after a previous election and my opponents posted things like I didn't vote in previous elections with an asterisk saying in the city I lived in...but people spouted what they heard without the asterisk...It's a dog eat dog world...
Yeah, I realize that she is out there and that this is actually subtlety compared to some of her non-sense. But she's not the only example, just the one that tripped my tripwires ;)
It's the price I pay for dipping into Twitter now and then. In one sense I look forward to inevitably being banned from Twitter someday. I'll have to go Cold Turkey :D
It's also very interesting how much more civil Hivians can be to each other, on average, without censorship — even while fiercely disagreeing — compared to Twits that are thoroughly policed "for thought safety"
Anyway, thanks for the insights.
I think the main difference between Twitter and Hive regarding civility is the upvote/downvote power. The incentive is to be civil. If I'm being honest, I probably never would have looked up your post if I wasn't looking for some curating points ;) I dropped Twitter and fB a long time ago. I'm happy with what I come across most the time, but there is a reason I'm surfing where I normally would not.
The Fourth Principle of Economics:
People respond to incentives
Today, it was your good fortune and mine 😉