The American Health Care Act (aka “AHCA,” “Repeal and Replace,” “Trumpcare,” “Ryancare”) is a human and political tragedy unfolding before our very eyes. The manner by which it narrowly passed the House this week is an outrage and if you are not angry, you should be. And if you don’t think you should be, you have not studied the issues and/or you have been misled by the White House and Republican propaganda.
In summary, a social program popular with the majority of Americans, a program that has helped tens of millions of previously uninsured Americans have access to health insurance and better care and, but for the Republican efforts to defeat it, would continue to do the same, would be replaced by the current administration and 217 Republican members of the House of Representatives with this horrid and inhumane piece of legislation.
It’s like watching the bombing of a hospital in slow motion.
These Republicans were flogged by a President desperate for a victory, although “victory” is a strong word for such a slim margin and such obvious partisanship. 
This set of heartless Republican Representatives hurtled ahead in the face of opposition by virtually every health care provider–doctors, nurses, hospitals–and even insurance companies. No public hearings. No Congressional Budget Office analysis.
There is no dispute that the AHCA, as it currently stands, will lead to at least 24 million people losing health insurance. And that is a conservative estimate.
There is also no dispute that the AHCA, as written, promises the already-rich another gift of lower taxes, to further widen the ever-increasing income and wealth inequality in our country. “Wealth Care.”
Sadly, our own Idaho Congressmen, Simpson and Labrador, both voted in favor of the AHCA. Labrador, not a surprise, but Simpson too. (Mike! Really?)
President Trump will propagandize this victory, but it can only be a victory for him and his rich friends. Newt Gingrich has called it the “art of the deal,” but this is dark art and a bad deal.
The 217 have kicked their rotten can down the road, to the Senate. Pray that our Senators show more wisdom and will reject or fix this mess.
Meanwhile, as we look forward to the 2018 House races, let’s remember the callousness and recklessness supported by these 217 Republican lemmings, including the two from Idaho.
Jerry Sturgill 