Last night I posted a piece that argued the Republicans were blindly adhering to a political philosophy at the expense of depriving some of America’s most vulnerable people of their health insurance now provided through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). I woke today to learn that the Republican Speaker of the House, when asked yesterday how many people may lose coverage under the Republican plan, responded with “I can’t answer that question. It’s up to people…. People are going to do what they want to do with their lives because we believe in individual freedom in this country.” http://wapo.st/2nwDKOA See that and other similar quotes from key Republicans, some of whom apparently believe in magic and argue that the Republican replacement legislation, ridiculously call the American Health Care Act, will result in more people being covered than under Obamacare and for lower costs, just like Trump promised during the campaign and subsequently.

Ryan’s “I don’t know and it doesn’t matter as long as people have freedom to choose” comment confirms my earlier point that the replacement legislation is about a point of political philosophy and its proponents could care less who is hurt.

We will know shortly, as the Congressional Budget Office is due to release its analysis of the Republican bill today or tomorrow. Of course, anticipating the worst, the Republicans are ready. They say “you can’t believe what those people say; they’re wrong all the time; health care is very complicated.” No doubt Trump would agree, having already intoned that “nobody knew” how complicated it was. Ryan is saying, in effect, “take some medicine; it’s good for you because you get to choose it and, trust us, it will cost less, though we can’t say what it will actually do for you. But at least you were free; no one forced you to take it and that’s what’s most important.”

We are in a scenario now where sitting on the sidelines will result in fundamental changes in the American way of life. It is very hard to see who will benefit. Trump promised to help coal miners, steelworkers and automobile workers but there is no evidence so far that he has any concept of how to deliver on those promises. I urge all who believe what I am saying to look closely at the websites for PeoplePower.org, MoveOn.org and ACLU.org to see ways you can take action, lawfully and peacefully, to resist the Republican plan to move America backward.