Obamacare - Impact on Struggling Economy

In spite of the presumed sizable increase in governmental and economic burden (see HERE), Obamacare was puzzlingly legislated and enacted during the worst recessions since the great depression. (See HERE and HERE) 

However, in an attempt to calm fears and diminish legitimate concerns that Obamacare might deepen or prolong the recession, a number of claims were made suggesting that the so-called Affordable Care Act (ACA) would help rather than hurt the struggling economy.

For example, as previously explained, the Obama administration and other liberals intimated that the ACA wouldn't cost a dime, but would decrease the deficit, not raise taxes on the middle class and poor, and make health care more affordable. Each of these claims turned out to be false. (See HERE and HERE and HERE)

All told, these things have and will yet exact formidable costs on numerous household and small businesses and thus the U.S. economy. (See HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE)

And, with the recent technological problems and flip-flops in policies and budget battles where Obamacare was front-and-center, it has created significant uncertainty that continues to rock various markets and "harms the rebound." (See HERE)

Then there is the matter of the stunning explosion of government regulations that can't help but further gum up the economic works. (See HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE  and HERE and HERE) 

Additionally, since unemployment played a significant role in the down economy at the time, the promise was made that Obamacare would "create 4 million new jobs, 400,000 almost immediately." (See HERE)

This would have been nice.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen. In fact, not only didn't the 400,000 jobs immediately materialize (the ACA was enacted in March of 2010--see HERE, and in April of that same year the unemployment rate remained relatively unchanged from the 26-year high level that had held steady over the previous five months--see HERE and HERE), but "no such jobs boom has occurred." (See HERE)

Some economist even believe that Obamacare was and will be a job killer. (See HERE and HERE)

To compound matters, Obamacare has been attributed as the main cause behind subsequent employment freezes and the remarkable shift from full-time permanent to part time and temporary jobs. (See HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE, and see Additional Documentation below)

Granted, the health care system has long been a threat to the U.S. economy, but in the minds of not a few pundits, "Obamacare will speed up the coming collapse." (See HERE)

The Leftist LUNCs here, then, are that, not only will Obamacare foment economic woes through higher taxes, higher debt, higher health care costs, increased instability and regulatory burdens, but it will also fail to create hundreds of thousand or millions of jobs, and will result in hundreds of thousands if not millions of people working less hours and make less money at their jobs. (See HERE)

Sadly, the debilitating burden of Obamacare on the economy will hurt worse small businesses, seniors, middle income families, young people, and the poor--those who can least afford it and for whom Obamacare was purportedly intended to assist. (See HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE)

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For an explanation as to why these Leftist LUNCs occur, please see: Gov: Wrong Tool for the Right Job - Introduction and Cold Nanny as well as The Politics of Compassion, Emotions, Ignorance, Denial, Blame-Shifting, and Victimization

Additional Documentation

Companies may drop some coverage, lay off employees, freeze hiring, cut back hours, and expand contract work:
http://blog.heritage.org/2012/07/27/what-are-the-odds-your-employer-will-drop-health-coverage/
http://nation.foxnews.com/obamacare/2013/01/06/obamacare-layoffs-hiring-freezes-slashed-hours-begin
http://www.topecheloncontracting.com/blog/bid/54516/Could-Obamacare-Increase-the-Demand-for-Contractors
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/companies-cut-worker-hours-avoid-obamacare-report-article-1.1333305
http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=22825
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/01/04/Surprise-Obamacare-Layoffs-And-Hiring-Freezes-Begin
http://www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2013/05/13/u-s-companies-engage-in-financial-jiu-jitsu-to-get-around-obamacare/
http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/grusbf5/good-morning-america-heres-those-layoffs-you-voted
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/042413-653231-washington-state-plays-obamacare-angle-shifts-costs.htm
http://news.investors.com/economy/051613-656432-obamacare-mandate-encourages-part-time-work-sharing.htm?p=full
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-coming-storm-obamacare-forces-layoffs
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/14623-employers-dropping-spousal-coverage-to-avoid-obamacare-fees
http://obamacaresurvival.com/independent-contractor/
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-your-boss-is-dumping-your-wife-2013-02-22
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/print-edition/2013/05/03/many-businesses-cutting-employee-hours.html?page=all
http://blog.heritage.org/2012/12/06/morning-bell-businesses-cutting-hours-bracing-for-costs-of-obamacare/