I think conservatives should get most of the blame for those policies. As I pointed out, it was Reagan that signed it into law, with all the easily predictable negative consequences.
Some conservatives seem to want it both ways - they don’t want to come across as heartless, so they pass those laws, but at the same time they don’t want to mandate that all adults carry health insurance.
In other words they want to buy the compassion “halo” at no cost.
In some ways the liberals are more consistent in this regard. They mandated certain coverage but they also mandated that everyone have health insurance to help pay for it.
You might say it’s not constitutional to force people to buy something they don’t want. I agree.
But at the same time, is it constitutional to force a hospital or a doctor to offer services for nothing?
If you mandate one you must mandate the other. And if you get rid of one you must get rid of the other.
Yes, and no matter what happens, the calls of “mean-spirited GOP” will continue. Ugh.