Republicans hold Americans hostage

Richard Rychtarik, Las Vegas

Monday, Oct. 7, 2013 | 2:01 a.m.

At least one portion of the Republican Party is no longer the party of “No.” They are adaptable. This is evidenced by their new “My way or the highway” approach to negotiations. “Kill Obamacare” is their latest mantra; they have chanted this slogan to no avail at least 43 times in the House of Representatives.

Are they out to improve the lot of Americans, or is this just another attempt to secure their base? Obamacare is settled law; just ask the Supreme Court. President Barack Obama is justified in his position that holding the Affordable Care Act hostage in exchange for funding the federal government is unacceptable.

As a country, we unequivocally reject any negotiations with hostage takers, so why should he give in to the House Republican financial terrorists? He shouldn’t. This would set a terrible precedent. Every time some fascist-like group in Washington doesn’t get its way, it will hold all Americans and their financial well-being hostage.

You wouldn’t run a corner store like this, and neither should we run a government in this manner. Republicans lost their fight to deprive all Americans access to adequate health care. They need to get over it. Proposing positive fixes for our health care system would be a plus. One million Americans leave our country every year to meet their health care needs.

Congress should start by mandating that all health insurers disclose on demand what a procedure will cost a patient wherever that insured procedure is available. That’s a way to spawn real private competition and save a patient's money.