Obamacare is struggling to survive its encounter with the real world. We were promised it would decrease the number of uninsured, lower health insurance prices, allow consumers to keep their policies and doctors, reduce Emergency Room usage, or reduce costs with preventive care.  None of those promises were ever true, and now they're being proven such. Even the expansion of the Medicaid program is proving counterproductive. All of that points to a simple truth.You can't legislate reality.

When the Obama Administration quietly announced a year delay in the Obamacare employer mandate on the eve of the 4th of July, it came as a big surprise. But knowing what we do now about the nonfunctional nature of the healthcare.gov backend, it's completely unsurprising that they delayed the employer mandate. In 2014, expect delays, waivers, and unconstitutional ad hoc changes to Obamacare and other laws to continue.  

Are journalists now working at the behest of the Obama administration when it comes to reporting on health care coverage?  According to a recent report by Politico, the White House is seeking to stem the tide of disastrous Obamacare reports, instead 'looking to spread some good news.'  And what better way to accomplish this than through an ever-obedient ally in the media?Here is the opening excerpt:

Every year since college, my best friend Dan and I have submitted our best observations on a wide range of topics that reflect on the year that has just expired. We follow the well established template of The McLaughlin Group program.Here are my reflections on 2013:BIGGEST WINNER OF THE YEAR: I can't even think of one, as 2013 has seen so many failures that have hurt so many Americans. The only one I can think of is David Ortiz of the Red Sox, who emphatically reclaimed the City of Boston for Bostonians.

In order to get young people to buy the Obamcare Exchange health insurance plans, the Obama Administration dictated to insurance companies a new deadline of December 24, Christmas Eve, for policies to be effective January 1. At the same time, over the weekend the President went through a botched PR rollout of his own, enrolling in the DC Exchange. These games will continue, and probably become worse, once the law is in full effect next week.

Are you all ready for Christmas? I know I have a couple things left to do, a little last-minute grocery shopping and such. You know how these things go.

The Obama Administration has finally admitted what we have been saying all along: Obamacare doesn't work. Unfortunately their remedy is not good enough -- delaying the individual mandate for some, but not for all.

Capitol Hill Update, 9 December, 2013

Democracy and Power 101: Government is PowerThe essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. —James Madison, Speech in the Virginia State Convention of 1829-1830

We young people are fickle beings. One day, we're hero-worshipping Justin Bieber for his brave commitment to repetitive four-chord pop songs, the next day, we're abandoning him to the Canadian wilderness as we realize that he wouldn't exist save for that country's content laws and an unfulfilled American pre-adolescent need for pop stars with sketchy haircuts and pants that probably chafe.