Republican Tactics from the Border Wall to Healthcare
Trump’s broken promise is the one he tried hardest to keep. In Trump’s 2016 campaign, the promise of a border wall was central. However, as per a report by BBC News (2021), only 80 miles of new wall were built during his tenure, with most construction replacing existing barriers. This falls significantly short of the promised wall along the entire border, illustrating a gap between campaign rhetoric and policy execution.
The Republican contribution to this failure was due to many factors. Despite holding the majority in both use of Congress for the first two years of Trump’s presidency the Republicans could not agree on how to fund the wall. The skepticism of the cost and effectiveness the wall generated resistance from many Republicans. Prioritizing legislation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was another contributing factor. A government shutdown from December 2017 until January of 2018 resulted as result of then President Trump’s spite. He was still unable to secure the funding for the wall and caused the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Using a plethora of messaging strategies, the Republicans tried to blame the Democrats for the failure. Again, despite their majority the Republicans accused the Democrats for not compromising on the issue of funding. By linking he wall to larger national security issues, they tried to paint the Democrats as neglectful or indifferent to issues of illegal immigration and border security. Stating that Democrats were solely obstructing on the premise of political opposition. Public rhetoric through media, interviews and campaign rallies amplified their messaging. Lastly, legislative maneuvers were employed. They feigned efforts to legislate funding through bills they knew Democrats would never allow to pass. The blocked bills were able to be cleanly laid at the feet of the Democrats.
The Republicans’ maneuvers against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) impacted millions. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the removal of the individual mandate in 2017 led to an estimated increase of 13% in premiums in the individual insurance market. This legislative change not only affected insurance costs but also increased the number of uninsured Americans. Under the Democrats’ stewardship, the ACA saw significant achievements. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reported that due to the ACA, about 20 million previously uninsured Americans gained health insurance coverage by 2016. This figure underscores the tangible benefits of the legislation in expanding access to healthcare.
Efforts by the Republicans to repeal the ACA failed due to a combination of internal divisions over a replacement plan. The ACA’s increasing public support. Key votes in the Senate the defiance of Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and most notably John McCain prevented the passage of the “skinny repeal of the ACA.” Reports focusing on the impact of the negative consequences of repealing the act. Legislative challenges, strong opposition from Democrats, the complexity of healthcare policies all contributed to shaping the debate and influencing lawmakers’ decisions.
The border remains an ongoing controversy. The Republicans’ use of the border as a political wedge is clear in their rhetoric versus the reality of the situation on the ground. For instance, despite claims of unchecked illegal immigration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data show that illegal border crossings, while fluctuating, have not exponentially increased as often portrayed. Furthermore, their emphasis on drug smuggling overlooks the fact that, as per the DEA, a significant proportion of drug trafficking occurs through legal ports of entry, not just unguarded border areas. This issue neglects to inform citizens of the successes of the current policy.
These political games cloud the reality of actual problems, and these issues frequently impact the lives of unassuming citizens. For instance, the focus on the border wall has diverted resources from more effective immigration and drug interdiction strategies. Likewise, the undermining of the ACA has had a tangible effect on American healthcare, both in terms of costs and coverage. It’s essential to look beyond political rhetoric to understand the true consequences of these policies.
– Citizen Mooney
