The ObamaCare Experiment

ObamaCare, now nearly 6 years old, is an economic and social experiment, testing whether government can successfully run a national health system in partnership with the private sector.

America itself, like ObamaCare, according to these observers, is an experiment.

• “The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty… is an experiment entrusted to the hand of the American people.” George Washington

• “America is the most grandiose experiment the world has ever seen, but I’m afraid, it is not going to be a success.” Sigmund Freud

• “When the world looks at America, they look at us because we are the most successful political and economic experiment in history.” Condolezza Rice

Like all experiments, the time comes to declare the experiment a success or failure. President Herbert Hoover, said Prohibition, introduced in 1919, was a “noble experiment. ” But in 1933, the experiment was declared a failure and was repealed.

As Richard Feyman, an experimental physicist, declared, “It doesn’t matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn’t matter how smart you are, if it doesn’t agree with experiment, it’s wrong.”

Has the time come to pronounce ObamaCare experiment a success or failure? Yes, say Americans in countless national polls disapproving of the health law, and in 2010 and 2014 midterms. Perhaps No, said Americans, when they re-elected the President. '

The time may come again in 2016, when ObamaCare will be a central domestic issue in the Presidential election.

These questions on the experiment will surely arise.

• Is the ObamaCare experiment a success or failure, and has the time come to give it more time, or judge it a failure and replace and repeal it?

• Has the ObamaCare experiment delivered on its promises to keep your doctor and health plan, to reduce premiums , and to improve care?

• Have elements of the ObamaCare experiment, such as data derived from ubiquitous electronic health records to improve the efficiency and quality of care, or the introduction of 463 Accountable Care Organizations to save Medicare money, succeeded?

• Is the ObamaCare experiment’s success in providing subsidies to 10 million uninsured in health exchanges and in expanding Medicaid coverage to another 5 million to make care more affordable , sufficient evidence to keep the ACA going full-tilt?

No amount of experimental evidence can prove ObamaCare to be absolutely right or wrong, but the judgment of the American people in a single election on whether the experiment is a success or failure, can prove the experiment is wrong.