Dumbass GOP rep David Brat (aptly named)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

blathering about getting rid of "government" controls that keep insurance premiums too high and basically the only thing that matters to the "Freedom Caucus" is keeping the cost of health insurance down. So what does that mean? It means people will have the "choice" of buying crappy insurance that doesn't cover anything or, if you can afford it, buying expensive insurance that does. But that's the free market, right?

[malaise]

1. But but but he knows everything

He taught economics for 20 years

[elleng]

2. Yes apt name, and he 'took' Cancer's seat.

served as the United States representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district from 2001 until 2014

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. There was a rep named Cancer?

[comradebillyboy]

8. Eric Cantor, former House Majority leader now lobbyist.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Oh, right, that guy. I guess I repressed my memory of him.

Yuck.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. How many times did he say he was an economist?

[LovingA2andMI]

4. And The Idiot Brat...

Obviously is "so-much" of an Economics Professor (Bulls**t) that he does not know that NO OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY operates on a "Free-Market" Healthcare System.

To sum it up, David Brat is full of shit.

[underpants]

10. People that I know around here that know/have met him

Don't, let's say, think much of him. Not politically. Personally.

[Wounded Bear]

6. He's lying, of course...

The Freedom Caucus couldn't give a shit less about keeping premium prices and insurance costs low.

Their philosophy is to let Ins Co's charge whatever the fuck they want to. Yeah, let the markets decide.

[wiggs]

7. Same kind of 'govt controls' that keep the wheels on cars from coming off

when you hit 55 mph or that keep the gas tank from exploding when hit from behind.

Do they also want us to be able to buy a $5,000 car that may or may not kill us, because...freedom?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Probably that's exactly what they want.

They piss and moan all the time about "oppressive" government regulations that keep businesses from being successful. Why shouldn't people who can't afford a $30,000 car be able to "choose" to buy a $5,000 car that explodes? Free market, yeah!!

[underpants]

11. A Brat...from Ashland???

Come on. Say it ain't so.

[MiniMe]

13. Proof once again that these Tea Party repukes have no idea how insurance works

The whole idea is to spread the risk and the costs over as wide a base as possible.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. "Free market" health insurance is impossible.

No private insurance company would choose to insure old and/or sick people; if they offered that insurance at all it wouldn't be affordable. The only way to be sure there are enough funds in the total pool to pay the claims of those who need them is to set up a system where a lot of young and/or healthy people also buy insurance. But younger, healthier people either don't think they need it or in some cases can't afford it so they don't contribute to the pool. The "free market" can't fix that - therefore the ACA created the individual mandate. But the GOP hate the individual mandate because it's a government requirement and not a free market solution. They also hate it that people have to buy insurance that covers conditions that won't affect them; they think men shouldn't have to buy coverage for pregnancy, for example - again, totally missing the entire point of insurance. But the free market means you should be able to choose only the coverage that will affect you. Idiots.