Jerry, your topic did evolve in several directions, but your point comes through very well. The diversions are interesting and contain some amazing information that can't be found anywhere else. Craig informs us that Montana's long- standing health problems are caused by the ACA. I'd never have guessed. Maybe he'll elaborate on that. For a fact, the ACA provides health insurance for more than 20000 people here who previously had no coverage at all. The Republican objection to ACA comes down to a denial of what it takes to make insurance insurance-- the mandate.No program can afford to insure only the sick and elderly. Losing a house to flood or fire is not a likely event, but we all insure our houses. A catastrophic health condition is much more likely, but somehow we object to making health coverage possible. If both parties could cooperate and work to bring treatment costs down ( didn't Trump promise that? ) the ACA would work better. At present though no better alternative is possible.

Bill Ferguson