User:Woozle/blog/2011-01-15 1138 Obamacare myth the fourth

<hide> <let name=data index=Title>Obamacare myth #4: Repealing it will save money and help the deficit</let> <let name=data index=User>Woozle</let> <let name=data index=TopicsUser></let> <let name=data index=TopicsGlobal>\Obamacare\propaganda\Obamacare myths\government\math</let> <let name=data index=TextAbove>This is the mirror of Myth #1, but it's worth examining in its own right because Republicans are seriously arguing that this is necessary to help reverse the deficit -- and people are believing them.</let> <let name=data index=TextBelow>Repealing Obamacare will cost in excess of $200 billion.

This bit of information is brought to us by The Congressional Budget Office (CBO). We talked about them earlier because of their estimate that Obamacare would reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the first decade and by $1.2 trillion in the second decade.

I should probably have mentioned that the CBO is a non-partisan agency; Republicans often cite and use their figures¹.

The $220b figure is based on expected losses of $770b, offset by savings of $540b.

The best reason to mention this fact is this lovely bit of Republican spin (h/t) on those numbers:

...the CBO is saying repealing Obamacare would shrink the size of government by $770 billion over a ten-year period.

This is fascinating for two reasons.

Minor point: it seems they accept the accuracy of the CBO's numbers -- at least as far as the $770b losses. Their interpretation of those numbers is another matter.

Major point: They are taking a $770b increase in the deficit, labeling it as a reduction in the size of government, and thereby declaring that to be a good thing.²

In other words, an increase in the deficit is hailed as a good thing. As one commenter observed, this is part of why liberals have a hard time believing that conservatives are serious about reducing the deficit.

Whether or not you think government should be smaller, there is a difference between (a) increasing the size of the government's obligations and (b) preventing the government from meeting its existing obligations. That $770b falls squarely into the latter category.

Conservatives often emphasize the importance of "personal responsibility", but apparently ensuring that America meets its obligations doesn't count as responsibility.

Most importantly, though: repealing Obamacare will deepen the deficit.

If you don't believe the CBO's numbers, you need to explain why -- and remember that National Review apparently believes them.

Footnotes

1"House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday he believes the CBO, a nonpartisan group long considered by both parties to be an impartial referee on budget matters, was manipulated by Democrats to produce a false estimate of savings in the health care reform law." — ABC News (emphasis added)

2

One commenter on that thread took it even further:

$770b in taxes we won't need to pay, and $540b we won't need to spend. We save $1.31 trillion just by repealing Obamacare.

(She even called this thinking "Democratic math", but didn't give any justification for this.) The fact that nobody pointed out the flaw in this logic makes me wonder if they possibly actually think that any flow of money to or from the government somehow increases the deficit... presumably because it means you're "spending money".

Was that statement a Poe, and understood as such by all other commenters, or is that really how they think? </let>

<let name=data index=TimeStamp>2011-01-15 1138</let> </hide><if not flag=including>==GetLinkBrief()== <func GetLinkBrief>

   <let name=links.out>

</let>

   <let name=links.out append copy=data[Date] />
   <let name=links.out append> :[[</let>
   <let name=links.out append copy=pg_title />
   <let name=links.out append>|more]]:[[Talk:</let>
   <let name=links.out append copy=pg_title />
   <let name=links.out append>|talk]]: </let>

   <if flag=$data[wpage]>
     <let name=wtLink>[[</let>
     <let name=wtLink append copy=data[wpage] />
     <let name=wtLink append>|</let>
     <let name=wtLink append copy=data[Title] />
     <let name=wtLink append>]] § </let>
   </if><else>
     <let name=wtLink>[</let>
     <let name=wtLink append copy=data[URL] />
     <let name=wtLink append> </let>
     <let name=wtLink append copy=data[Title] />
     <let name=wtLink append>]</let>
   </else>

   <let name=links.out append copy=wtLink />
   <let name=links.out append> § </let>

   <let name=text copy=data[TextShort] />
   <if flag=$text></if><else>
     <let name=text copy=data[Text] len=200 />
   </else>

   <let name=links.out append copy=text trim />
   <let name=links.out append> [[</let>
   <let name=links.out append copy=pg_title />
   <let name=links.out append>|more...]]</let>

</func>

ShowRecentLinks(max)

 <let name=idx />
 <let name=including val=1 />
 <for table="qryW3_Titles_Catgs" where="(cl_to='Data/links') AND (page_namespace=0)" sort="page_title DESC" limit=$max name=pg hide>
   <let name=pg_title val="@row.page_title" />
   <let name=idx inc />
   <if not flag=$noLoad>
     <load page=$pg_title />
   </if>
   <if flag=$data[Title]>
     <call GetLinkBrief />
   </if><else>
     <let name=links.out>

[[</let>

     <let name=links.out append copy=pg_title />
     <let name=links.out append>]]</let>
   </else>
   <let name=links.rtn append copy=links.out />
   <let name=links.out />
   <let name=data />
 </for>

</func>

ShowTopic(iTopic,iMax)

This should eventually be able to show data in any format: news links, blog entries... <func ShowTopic iTopic iMax>

 <let name=idx />
 <let name=including val=1 />
 <let name=topic farg=iTopic />
 <if not flag=$topic>
   <let name=topic parse>Woozle/blog/2011-01-15 1138 Obamacare myth the fourth</let>
 </if>
 <let name=topic self with="_"> </let>

 <let name=sqlWhere>(page_namespace=0) AND (cl_to='</let>
 <let name=sqlWhere append copy=topic />
 <let name=sqlWhere append>')</let>

 <for table="qryW3_Titles_Catgs" where=$sqlWhere sort="page_title DESC" name=pg empty="no items yet" limit=$iMax hide>
   <let name=pg_title val="@row.page_title" />
   <let name=idx inc />
   <if not flag=$noLoad>
     <load page=$pg_title local />
   </if>
   <if flag=$data[Title]>
     <call GetBrief />
   </if><else>
     <let name=links.out>

[[</let>

     <let name=links.out append copy=pg_title />
     <let name=links.out append>]]</let>
   </else>
   <let name=exclude val=0 />
   <let name=links.rtn append copy=links.out />
   <let name=data null />
 </for>

</func>

GetBlogEntryBrief()

<func GetBlogEntryBrief> INPUT:

 data[*] - from blog entry page
 pg_name - full name of page being displayed (including namespace)

   <if not flag=$noLoad>
     <load page=$pg_name />
   </if>

   <let name=e.out>

</let>

   <let name=e.out append copy=data[TimeStamp] />
   <let name=e.out append> [[</let>
   <let name=e.out append copy=pg_name />
   <let name=e.out append>|</let>
   <let name=e.out append copy=data[Title] />
   <let name=e.out append>]] § </let>

   <let name=text copy=data[TextAbove] />
   <if flag=$text></if><else>
     <let name=text copy=data[TextBelow] len=200 />
   </else>

   <let name=e.out append copy=text trim />
   <let name=e.out append> [[</let>
   <let name=e.out append copy=pg_name />
   <let name=e.out append>|more...]]</let>

</func>

GetBlogEntryBriefChrisFormat()

<func GetBlogEntryBriefChrisFormat> INPUT:

 data[*] - from blog entry page
 pg_name - full name of page being displayed (including namespace)

   <if not flag=$noLoad>
     <load page=$pg_name />
   </if>

   <let name=e.out></let>
   <let name=e.out append>[[</let>
   <let name=e.out append copy=pg_name />
   <let name=e.out append>|</let>
   <let name=e.out append copy=data[Title] />
   <let name=e.out append>]], </let>
   <let name=e.out append copy=data[TimeStamp] />
   <let name=e.out append>

</let>

   <let name=text copy=data[TextAbove] />
   <if flag=$text></if><else>
     <let name=text copy=data[TextBelow] len=200 />
   </else>

   <let name=e.out append copy=text trim />
   <let name=e.out append> [[</let>
   <let name=e.out append copy=pg_name />
   <let name=e.out append>|more...]]

</let> </func>

GetBlogEntryFull()

<func GetBlogEntryFull> INPUT:

 data[*] - from blog entry page
 pg_name - full name of page being displayed (including namespace)

   <if not flag=$noLoad>
     <load page=$pg_name />
   </if>

   <let name=e.out>

==</let>

   <let name=e.out append copy=data[Title] />
   <let name=e.out append>==

posted at </let>

   <let name=e.out append copy=data[TimeStamp] />
   <let name=e.out append>

</let>

   <let name=e.out append copy=data[TextAbove] />
   <let name=e.out append copy=BlogFoldDivider />
   <let name=e.out append copy=data[TextBelow] />

-- category display

   <let name=e.out append copy=BlogFoldDivider />
   <let name=e.out append>

Categories –</let>

   <let name=noCat val=1 />
   <call MakeBlogCatgs />
   <if flag=$wtCatGlob>
     <let name=e.out append> general: </let>
     <let name=e.out append copy=wtCatGlob>
   </if>
   <if flag=$wtCatUser>
     <let name=e.out append> user: </let>
     <let name=e.out append copy=wtCatUser>
   </if>
   <let name=e.out append></let>

</let> </func>

ShowRecentBlogEntries(max,funcEntry)

 <let name=idx />
 <if not flag=$funcEntry>
   <let name=funcEntry val="GetBlogEntryBrief" />
 </if>
 <let name=including val=1 />
 <for table="qryW3_Titles_Catgs" where="(cl_to='Data/blog/post')" sort="page_title DESC" limit=$max name=pg hide>
   <let name=pg_nspace_code>{{ns:</let>
   <let name=pg_nspace_code append val=@row.page_namespace />
   <let name=pg_nspace_code append>}}</let>
   <let name=pg_nspace copy=pg_nspace_code parse />
   <let name=pg_title val="@row.page_title" />
   <let name=pg_name copy=pg_nspace />
   <let name=pg_name append>:</let>
   <let name=pg_name append copy=pg_title />
   <let name=idx inc />
   <call func=$funcEntry />
   <let name=e.rtn append copy=e.out />
   <let name=data />
 </for>

</func>

ShowRecentBlogEntriesFull(max)

 <let name=idx />
 <let name=including val=1 />
 <for table="qryW3_Titles_Catgs" where="(cl_to='Data/blog/post')" sort="page_title DESC" limit=$max name=pg hide>
   <let name=pg_nspace_code>{{ns:</let>
   <let name=pg_nspace_code append val=@row.page_namespace />
   <let name=pg_nspace_code append>}}</let>
   <let name=pg_nspace copy=pg_nspace_code parse />
   <let name=pg_title val="@row.page_title" />
   <let name=pg_name copy=pg_nspace />
   <let name=pg_name append>:</let>
   <let name=pg_name append copy=pg_title />
   <let name=idx inc />
   <call GetBlogEntryFull />
   <let name=e.rtn append copy=e.out />
   <let name=data />
 </for>

</func>

ShowRecentBlogEntriesByTopic(max,topic)

 <let name=topic self with="_"> </let>

 <let name=sql>(cl_to='</let>
 <let name=sql>SELECT q1.* FROM qryW3_Titles_Catgs AS q1 LEFT JOIN qryW3_Titles_Catgs AS q2 ON q1.cl_from=q2.cl_from WHERE (q1.cl_to='Data/blog/post') AND (q2.cl_to='</let>
 <let name=sql append copy=topic />
 <let name=sql append>') ORDER BY page_title DESC LIMIT </let>
 <let name=sql append copy=max />

 <for sql=$sql>
   <let name=pg_nspace_code>{{ns:</let>
   <let name=pg_nspace_code append val=@row.page_namespace />
   <let name=pg_nspace_code append>}}</let>
   <let name=pg_nspace copy=pg_nspace_code parse />
   <let name=pg_title val="@row.page_title" />
   <let name=pg_name copy=pg_nspace />
   <let name=pg_name append>:</let>
   <let name=pg_name append copy=pg_title />
   <let name=idx inc />
   <let name=data[Title] null />
   <load page=$pg_name />
   <if flag=$data[Title]>
     <call GetBlogEntryBrief />
     <let name=e.rtn append copy=e.out />
   </if>
   <let name=data />
 </for>

</func>

MakeBlogCatgs()

 <let name=catUser copy=data[TopicsUser] />
 <let name=catGlob copy=data[TopicsGlobal] />
 <let name=wtCatUser null />
 <xploop list=$catUser var=topic>
   <let name=wtCatUser append> [[user:</let>
   <let name=wtCatUser append copy=data[User] />
   <let name=wtCatUser append>/</let>
   <let name=wtCatUser append copy=topic />
   <let name=wtCatUser append>|</let>
   <let name=wtCatUser append copy=topic />
   <let name=wtCatUser append>]]</let>

   <let name=wtCatUser append>_{[[:category:user/</let>
   <let name=wtCatUser append copy=data[User] />
   <let name=wtCatUser append>/</let>
   <let name=wtCatUser append copy=topic />
   <let name=wtCatUser append>|c]]}</let>

   <if not flag=$noCat>
     <let name=wtCatUser append> [[category:user/</let>
     <let name=wtCatUser append copy=data[User] />
     <let name=wtCatUser append>/</let>
     <let name=wtCatUser append copy=topic />
     <let name=wtCatUser append>|</let>
     <let name=wtCatUser append copy=topic />
     <let name=wtCatUser append>]]</let>
   </if>
 </xploop>
 <let name=wtCatGlob null />
 <xploop list=$catGlob var=topic>
   <let name=wtCatGlob append> [[</let>
   <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=topic />
   <let name=wtCatGlob append>]]</let>

   <let name=wtCatGlob append>_{[[:category:</let>
   <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=topic />
   <let name=wtCatGlob append>|c]]}</let>

   <if not flag=$noCat>
     <let name=wtCatGlob append>[[category:</let>
     <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=topic />
     <let name=wtCatGlob append>]]</let>
   </if>

 </xploop>

</func>

ShowBlogPostPage()

 <let name=PostDate copy=data[TimeStamp] len=10 />
 <let name=wtDate>[[</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>]] ([[:category:</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>|category]])</let>

 <let name=wtDate append>[[category:</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>]]</let>

 <let name=wtTitle>

==</let>

 <let name=wtTitle append copy=data[Title] />
 <let name=wtTitle append>==</let>
 <if flag=$data[TextAbove]>
   <let name=wtTextBrief>

In Brief </let>

   <let name=wtTextFull>

The Rest </let>

   <let name=wtTextBrief append copy=data[TextAbove] />
 </if><else>
   <let name=wtTextBrief null />
 </else>
 <let name=wtTextFull append copy=data[TextBelow] />

 <call MakeBlogCatgs />

General categories for blog posts: -- the fact that it's a post:

 <let name=wtCatGlob append></let>

-- date:

 <let name=wtCatGlob append>[[category:</let>
 <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=PostDate len=10 /> -- just the date for the category
 <let name=wtCatGlob append>|]]</let>
 <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=PostDate /> -- full timestamp for sorting
 <let name=wtCatGlob append>]]</let>

 <let name=user copy=data[User] />
 <if flag=$user>
   <let name=wtUser>[[user:</let>
   <let name=wtUser append copy=user />
   <let name=wtUser append>|</let>
   <let name=wtUser append copy=user />
   <let name=wtUser append>]]</let>
 </if><else>
   <let name=wtUser>unknown</let>
 </else>
 <echo>

Posted by <get name=wtUser /> at <get name=PostDate />. Topics: <get name=wtCatUser /> <get name=wtCatGlob /></echo>

</func>

ShowBlogPostPage_v2()

 <let name=PostDate copy=data[TimeStamp] len=10 />
 <let name=wtDate>[[</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>]] ([[:category:</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>|category]])</let>

 <let name=wtDate append>[[category:</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>]]</let>

 <let name=wtTitle>

==</let>

 <let name=wtTitle append copy=data[Title] />
 <let name=wtTitle append>==</let>
 <if flag=$data[TextAbove]>
   <let name=wtTextBrief>

In Brief </let>

   <let name=wtTextFull>

The Rest </let>

   <let name=wtTextBrief append copy=data[TextAbove] />
 </if><else>
   <let name=wtTextBrief null />
 </else>
 <let name=wtTextFull append copy=data[TextBelow] />

 <call MakeBlogCatgs />

General categories for blog posts: -- the fact that it's a post:

 <let name=wtCatGlob append></let>

-- date:

 <let name=wtCatGlob append>[[category:</let>
 <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=PostDate len=10 /> -- just the date for the category
 <let name=wtCatGlob append>|]]</let>
 <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=PostDate /> -- full timestamp for sorting
 <let name=wtCatGlob append>]]</let>

 <let name=user copy=data[User] />
 <if flag=$user>
   <let name=wtUser>[[user:</let>
   <let name=wtUser append copy=user />
   <let name=wtUser append>|</let>
   <let name=wtUser append copy=user />
   <let name=wtUser append>]]</let>
 </if><else>
   <let name=wtUser>unknown</let>
 </else>
 <echo>

Specs
Timestamp:	<get name=PostDate />
Author:	<get name=wtUser />
User topics:	<get name=wtCatUser />
Global topics:	<get name=wtCatGlob />

</echo>

</func>

ShowBlogPostPage_v1()

 <let name=PostDate copy=data[TimeStamp] len=10 />
 <let name=wtDate>[[</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>]] ([[:category:</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>|category]])</let>

 <let name=wtDate append>[[category:</let>
 <let name=wtDate append copy=PostDate />
 <let name=wtDate append>]]</let>

 <let name=wtTitle>

==</let>

 <let name=wtTitle append copy=data[Title] />
 <let name=wtTitle append>==</let>
 <if flag=$data[TextAbove]>
   <let name=wtTextBrief>

In Brief

</let>

   <let name=wtTextFull>

Full Story

</let>

   <let name=wtTextBrief append copy=data[TextAbove] />
 </if><else>
   <let name=wtTextBrief null />
 </else>
 <let name=wtTextFull append copy=data[TextBelow] />

 <call MakeBlogCatgs />

General categories for blog posts: -- the fact that it's a post:

 <let name=wtCatGlob append></let>

-- date:

 <let name=wtCatGlob append>[[category:</let>
 <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=PostDate len=10 /> -- just the date for the category
 <let name=wtCatGlob append>|]]</let>
 <let name=wtCatGlob append copy=PostDate /> -- full timestamp for sorting
 <let name=wtCatGlob append>]]</let>

 <let name=user copy=data[User] />
 <if flag=$user>
   <let name=wtUser>[[user:</let>
   <let name=wtUser append copy=user />
   <let name=wtUser append>|</let>
   <let name=wtUser append copy=user />
   <let name=wtUser append>]]</let>
 </if><else>
   <let name=wtUser>unknown</let>
 </else>
 <echo>

Specs

Timestamp:	<get name=PostDate />
Author:	<get name=wtUser />
User topics:	<get name=wtCatUser />
Global topics:	<get name=wtCatGlob />

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User:Woozle/blog/2011-01-15 1138 Obamacare myth the fourth

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ShowTopic(iTopic,iMax)

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GetBlogEntryBriefChrisFormat()

GetBlogEntryFull()

ShowRecentBlogEntries(max,funcEntry)

ShowRecentBlogEntriesFull(max)

ShowRecentBlogEntriesByTopic(max,topic)

MakeBlogCatgs()

ShowBlogPostPage()

ShowBlogPostPage_v2()

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User:Woozle/blog/2011-01-15 1138 Obamacare myth the fourth

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ShowTopic(iTopic,iMax)

GetBlogEntryBrief()

GetBlogEntryBriefChrisFormat()

GetBlogEntryFull()

ShowRecentBlogEntries(max,funcEntry)

ShowRecentBlogEntriesFull(max)

ShowRecentBlogEntriesByTopic(max,topic)

MakeBlogCatgs()

ShowBlogPostPage()

ShowBlogPostPage_v2()

Specs

ShowBlogPostPage_v1()

In Brief

Full Story

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