Why do some Americans want Trump?

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It is tax-based universal health care.

The $ 4,200 figure includes public health care expenditure. It's probably a bit more than $ 5,000 if all private health care is included, but some of this may be done for cosmetic reasons, so it is a bit fuzzy.

Oh 100% agreed. I doubt Trump runs again. American politics is historically unkind to presidential losers and he'll be very old if he's even still alive. If Trump runs again I expect things to go less well for him.

I was explaining Trump's votes in this election as well as context of how he rose to prominence in 2016 and why he holds appeal to the republican constituency.

I didn't get the insurance thru an employer - I got it directly through the ACA marketplace. My job doesn't provide insurance, so all they "contribute" towards my health insurance is "my wage". The cheapest plan available to me was $60 / month.

So, how much does your cousin make?

Also, how much do YOU make?

Did you know that the tax penalty provision was optional, and states could (and many did) opt out. And even if the state did keep the tax penalty, all you had to do was file an exemption, IF the tax was even levied against you - as the verbiage states that the tax MAY be incurred , IF you CAN afford insurance, but *choose* not to get it. It's not a blanket policy that applied to everyone equally, no matter the income level. As of right now, there are only SIX states that have the tax penalty, and it's still based on income level. Funny how that stuff gets left out.

So, no, they really didn't "screw poor people".

"It's not profitable"

Healthcare shouldn't BE profitable. Yes, it costs money, and people should be compensated for their effort, but it should not be a means to accumulate wealth. Lives shouldn't be monetized. Not-dying shouldn't be a DLC. Not-dying shouldn't require a payment plan. Just-Living shouldn't be considered a luxury.

Getting people to believe the ACA is bad is just a way to gain support to get rid of it, BECAUSE it made healthcare "less profitable". And not even rich people like it when you cut into their profits, even if it doesn't really hurt them. It's not like insurance companies couldn't just raise their rates "becuase they can", and then go "oh noes! Look what THE ACA *MADE ME* DO! Aww shucks, guess I'll have to keep making tons of money at your expense! BAD ACA! BAD BAD!

Last edited by uncommondenominator on 07 Nov 2020, 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Oh yes definitely. I was just curious about the details.

I wish the US would establish a similar system. The problem with the ACA was that it was mostly for show. It didn't address the root cause. I was grateful that it protected those of us with pre-existing conditions, but it didn't address cost adequately. The reason being that both political parties are heavily dependent on support from industries such as healthcare, pharmaceutical, and the insurance industry. For that reason they won't do anything that could diminish their net gain. So until we block their influence, nothing will change. The US is sadly, in too deep.

The $14,400 is the cost if I don't use it.

I paid about $5,000 more in co-pays and deductibles this year.

So, about $20,000 this year for a single person.

Nice health care system you have there. Not.

Thank you. It sounds like a good system that I wish the US would adopt.

I have been hearing many good things about Denmark today on WP. Unrelated question: do you know if there are many jobs for foreign geologists there?

I wouldn't really know, as that's not my field of expertise. Google is probably a better choice than me.

We have quite a few government positions as geologists (in the environmental areas), but they would often require a significant level of Danish speaking skills... og vores sprog er ikke verdens letteste at lære.

Research institutions and larger private companies likely also have positions, but I know even less about these...

Some Americans? Some? There are many more of us who want Trump than want Biden. This election is far from over.

We want Trump because we believe in freedom. We don't want socialism or communism taking over this country. We don't want to be locked down for the rest of our natural lives, having to wear masks every time we go outside (and God forbid, even in our houses. I wouldn't put that past Joe if he actually wins), because of some virus that seems to miraculously disappear during blm/antifa riots and mysteriously reappear during Trump rallies and other conservative events. America is tired of all of that. We want to be free.

Why do we want Trump? Because we don't want the alternative.

^
^
Ah a lack of Danish language skills will be my undoing .
Sounds like I'll need to get into a US company with offices in Denmark, then transfer there .

There are no plans on the ACA marketplace for $60/month.

Tell us an area code where that is true.

"The average national monthly non-subsidized health insurance premium for one person on a benchmark plan (i.e., “Silver” plan) is $462 per month, or $199 with a subsidy"
https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resour ... 0subsidies.


Millions of poor people paid the tax penalty.

You don't think they would like health care, and not pay the tax?

2015 IRS: 7.5 Million Americans Paid Penalty For Lack Of Health Coverage
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-sho ... h-coverage


The tax penalty was only optional after Trump dropped the requirement.

Biden plans to restore the requirement.

Last edited by TheRobotLives on 07 Nov 2020, 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Have you been to Italy, Poland, the UK or Hungary lately? Austria is constantly on the verge of voting in right wing clowns, and so is France. Sure, Trump was especially buffoonish - everything's greater in 'Merica - but, in the words of Walter Benjamin: every fascism is a sign for a failed revolution.
And there have been reasons enough for revolutions - a financial crash like the one ten years ago, the way in which extremely rich people don't have to pay taxes anymore. Add some external pressures, like climate change which leads to migrant crises - or how wages have not grown in a generation and people are priced out of housing.
of course, you'd expect a left-led revolution, but the left has self-dismantled since the 60s ... so whoever believably offers radical change of the current order has a chance.
For 'Muricans, Trump's image as a smart business-man and the rhetoric of "china stealing our jobs" (obvs. jobs can't be stolen. in a flobalized labour market, any country with virtually no worker's rights can simply outcompete us on a basis of price. After all, it's apple, an american capitalist endeavour, which produces iphones in china.)

I think there are two factors. Many Americans are submerged in what has to be the dumbest culture on the planet, and though many of them would otherwise be reasonable human beings with some brain cells, the culture they're in turned them into complete morons over the past four years.

Although, there is a reasonable side to Trump support, as crazy as it sounds. I'm sure not every individual who supported him is completely off their rocker. What it comes down to is, Donald was the only real champion they had.

Many people felt screwed over by the Democrats for a variety of reasons. When the orange oaf came around, of course they rallied around him, because who else do they have? It may be completely baffling that such a buffoon can get so many people to rally behind him, but just because it doesn't make sense doesn't mean it isn't so.

Seriously though, who else does the Republican party have? Mike Pence? Any number of other old, uncharismatic white guys? A slightly younger uncharismatic white guy like Jeb Bush? Donald is uncharismatic too mind you, so what do I know? Maybe being likable is optional in the minds of a lot of people when it comes to picking a suitable leader. Intelligence is clearly optional so I wouldn't be surprised.

I suppose the next best option for the Republicans would be to back one of their women like Kellyanne Conway or Nikki Hale. They could troll the Democrats that way by being the "progressive" vote (heck, Kellyanne is clearly off her rocker too).

Conversely, the Democrats have a number of different people they can back for future presidencies. The Republicans may very well be screwed now that Donald is on his way out. I think many right-leaning Americans felt the same way, hence why they tried to keep that idiot in the oval office knowing full well he's insane.

Know what I say?

I say...

LOCK HIM UP!!

@TheRobot - Maybe there weren't any for YOU - but rates change depending on the individual, too. Also, you DO know what *average* means, right?

"7.5 million americans" paid the tax, but where does it say that ANY of them are "poor". It just said people paid it. You DO know that even people who can afford it choose not to get insurance, right? Article says the tax they paid was 1% of their annual income. My calc had them paying 5%. 1% is even less. If $700 is the tax your cousin paid, and that was 1% of their income, that makes their income around 70K a year. That is NOT "poor".

So, how much do you and your cousin make? You quoted the question, but you didn't actually answer it.