Compound words compound problems

Let's try to isolate the problem: Is it "Obama" that's got your undies in a bunch? Or is it "care" to which you so strenuously object?

Comments

[Glynn]

"Obama" doesn't have my undies in a bunch. And I don't object to "care." It's the two words put together -- to create an entirely new word and an entirely new meaning. Sort of like "Romneycare."

I also don't like what had to be done to create it and maintain it -- bribing Senators, carving out unions, handing out exemptions.

And for record, I don't like most of what President Obama's predecssor did, either. And don't get me started on Ron Paul. Or Newt.

[David Murray]

But of course Obama and his people weren't the ones who initially called it "Obamacare." It was a way to portray health care reform as one fool's mad brainstorm.

And not what it is, whether or not we like the convoluted means or the inelegant end: Our government's collective effort to meaningfully address a bleeding crisis it has been shamefully avoiding for all these years.

We can debate the merits of the policy, but I don't think "Obamacare" (or "Romneycare") is any more useful a term than would have been "Roosevelt's Bargain," or "LincolnWar."