to wonder what Barack Obama has done whilst in office to help the lives of Americans?

[ChoochiWoo]

I appreciate as a Brit I know little about American politics, but Im wondered what policies, postive changes to American lives i.e improved the health system etc.... Its just every time I see him on TV hes fannyarsing with the likes of Beyonce and getting in selfie related gaffes!! AIBU to wonder ?

Ok please excuse me for not knowing much about American healthcare, but something I have always wondered is why is there no nhs in the US? If everyone is paying so much for insurance, why can't that just be paid as tax instead and then free healthcare provided for all? I know that's a simplistic view but it makes sense to me!

Americans do not want any type of universal health care as they are rugged individuals who would rather cut off their noses to spite their faces than help their neighbours.

It is said that Clinton has paid off several women who have made serious allegations against him. As for taking selfies, didn't the queen photobomb people at the Olympics and 'jump' out of a plane for a laugh?

He (or his team) saved General Motors, which could genuinely have gone under during the GFC. It was a financial gamble but now looking like a pretty good move.

I don't know Lertgush....which charity?
it's what else you are doing or not doing that makes you who you are.....not the facade you portray donating your squillions.

To be fair it's not just about Congress blocking changes. Healthcare is not a listed area of federal jurisdiction within the constitution. This means that according to the 10th amendment it is a reserved power and to be dealt with by state governments. This means federal money can be used to incentivise States to use Obamacare but ultimately federal government just doesn't have the power to enforce a national healthcare system like ours even if they really wanted to. The agreement and cooperation of state governments is essential.

Re the golf, my dh has played mo than that in the last six years...he plays every weekend!

Of course, it helps he is not the president!!!

creighton - that was a joke right?

Obama has done Obamamcare - not great but better than before.
He's also been black and not shot during his presidency which is a pretty big step.

Lets remember what is left wing in the US is pretty right wing in the UK (never mind Europe), and the US right wing would be extremist in the UK.

*been black? ...is he in transition so mixed views on obamacare? I always wondered why the didnt pinch the NHS idea Although, maybe they are worried from an immigration pov? The increase if it was to radically change.

How anyone thinks this prick is "liberal" is beyond me. Bombing dirty little foreign children, reigniting all this posturing, anti-Russia shit (hint: there is a big, big threat to the USA in the world, and it ain't the Slavs)... it's all the same shit his supposedly different predecessors got up to, stroke for troke.

Calling the attack on the Parisian kosher shop "random" just epitomised what an ignorant fuck he is. I have never heard him utter a single coherent, intelligent sentence since he became President.

"If you are working in an average paid job which does not provide health care, you have to pay for it yourself or you are fined by the government for not doing so."

That's how it works in Germany too. And you don't see millions of Germans getting their knickers in a twist about how unfair it is.

US healthcare costs TWICE what the NHS costs as a percentage of GDP. It's a totally insane system. But as a lifelong NHS user and fan, I can't imagine how anyone anywhere could see universal coverage as anything other than a good thing.

Also, OP, if you genuinely don't know anything about what Obama's done during his terms of office, I'd have to assume you're extremely stupid and wilfully ignorant of what's going on around you.

Mildly I couldn't agree more! He sounds incredibly stupid a lot of the time and his delivery is dreadful

Choochi - we are very fortunate. DH is a very high earner and he neigotiated full paid for healthcare as part of his expat coverage. However there is a limit as to what his employer will pay for and if we go to a hospital not covered by our insurance it will raise questions and might jeopardize them continuing with this benefit.

What is crazy is the police who escorted us told us they are escorting people on a regular basis. My property taxes pay for the police so I am not happy that due to stupid reforms in healthcare result in police time being wasted. Current property taxes are $15k a year and are low for the area.

No he does not sound stupid his delivery is fine. I think you mean he sounds too black for you and you will be relieved when a white person, good or bad, is back in charge and order is restored

What? No that is not what I meant and you re strange to even suggest it

Whatever else you judge Obama for, you simply cannot say the man is stupid. He is incredibly intelligent (source: relative who has had dealings with him in a work context). As indeed is Bill Clinton. Doesn't always translate into effective and popular policies, granted.

It will be very interesting to see how the next US president fares. Because some of the things that have stymied Obama will still exist. They are intractable (dysfunctional Congress, the willingness of the Tea Party to shut down the entire government to get what they want, slow economic growth, the budget deficit, social divisions, expensive conflicts etc).

I always think this when we are about to have an election. We all fall for the promises of our favoured parties, which are predicated on the assertion that governments have more ability to change things that they truly do. There are all kinds of social, economic, cultural and environmental changes that no government can affect more than minimally.

I said 'sounds' I am not keen on his public speaking although I know others who love it

Want2bSupermum it is against the law for a hospital to refuse your insurance or charge you more for ER services because they are out-of-network.

This web page explains a little more: www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-aca.html and here's the relevant bit:

Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) section 2719A generally provides, among other things, that if a group health plan or health insurance coverage provides any benefits for emergency services in an emergency department of a hospital, the plan or issuer must cover emergency services without regard to whether a particular health care provider is an in-network provider with respect to the services, and generally cannot impose any copayment or coinsurance that is greater than what would be imposed if services were provided in network.

Why do you need a polve escort to go to hospital?

No he does not sound stupid his delivery is fine. I think you mean he sounds too black for you and you will be relieved when a white person, good or bad, is back in charge and order is restored

Don't be ridiculous.

I agree 100% with mildlyacquiescent. I don't recognize these characterizations as "liberal" (progressive?).

Ok please excuse me for not knowing much about American healthcare, but something I have always wondered is why is there no nhs in the US

You could ask the same about the majority of other countries that also have no NHS-type system.

There actually is an NHS-type system in place for veterans called VA Care. Unfortunately it's been operating so badly that all it is doing is reinforcing the American belief that socialised healthcare is a bad thing.

You've been busted as a racist, noddyholder. You don't object to the crap 'witticisms' penned by his speechwriters, or his complete flailing every time he goes off-script, or the ignorance of economics / foreign politics / whatever he constantly betrays, or his mealy-mouthed pandering to this or that interest group, all the while saying nothing of substance.

What you really can't stand is all that he does.

"Incredibly intelligent"? He didn't know how many states there were in the USA. Even I know that. I must be a fucking genius.

Btw MonstrousRatbag if you like Bill Clinton, I can only assume you have a bit of a thing for murdering civilians (Serbia, 1999), in which case Obama is definitely your man.

The only stupid american presidents have been Reagan and Bush 2.

Why does anyone need a police escort to go to hospital?