“I have tried my best to make a good case here that there are closer to 38 million than 12 according to good evidence.”
I am sure you are right! I had heard 12 million, then 20 million, then,,,,well we just don’t know how many! Fred said today, never mind the millions that are allready have they are coming in as we speak! GO FRED!
I think your number is much closer to correct. It's like the uninsured number. They just keep repeating it with absolutely no evidence that it is correct (and it isn't), and no one challenges them on it.