Just What Does the Word "Replace" Mean?

Don't Let Republicans "Replace" Your House

"Repeal and Replace." Republicans have said over and over that they would "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act. They made good on repeal votes 50 times, knowing that they could never get their pointless exercise past President Obama, but now that they have a chance to not only repeal but actually replace, they are coming up short on their promises.

 I have read in some places that the Trumpcare proposals we have seen do not really repeal Obamacare, but I personally would give the Republicans credit for that part if something like the current House or Senate bill passes. Their intention is to eviscerate the ACA, gut it, reverse its impact; if that does not mean technically repealing it, it's close enough that I would say they fulfilled that much of the promise.

But what about the "replace" part? What was that supposed to mean? It's an ordinary-enough word, but I looked it up on Google anyway:

Take the place of

"Ian's smile was replaced by a frown"

That doesn't sound right...

Provide or find a substitute for (something that is broken, old, or inoperative [or imploding!])

"The light bulb needs replacing"

There we go. I suspect that is pretty much the definition of "replace" people were thinking of when they heard "repeal and replace" all those many times. Otherwise, why not just stick with "repeal," and then return to the real favorite Republican solution to health insurance, the one they put forth every day of the Bush administration, which was to do nothing at all, because presumably everything was already great? The thing is, when Medicaid was expanded, when people with limited incomes got subsidies to buy insurance, when people knew they could not get shut out of the market because they were at risk, they realized that the Affordable Care Act made their lives better. So Republicans had to promise they would not just repeal, but replace.

But when I see what the Republican idea of "replace" is, I can't help but think of Inigo Montoya: "I do not think that word means what you think it means." Republicans leaders would "replace" your house with a tarp over your head. They want to replace your car with a pair of shoes, so you can walk. They will "replace" the rug they are pulling out from under us with the floor beneath.

When Donald Trump prematurely celebrated the 50-somethingth time the House repealed the Affordable Care Act, he told us to make no mistake, this represented repeal and replace of Obamacare. If Republicans manage to pass a Trumpcare bill -- and remember that we are dependent upon the courage and decency of Republicans in Congress to stop it -- they will claim again that they made good on their "repeal and replace" campaign promises. And I hope it will be pointed out, a million times and everywhere you look, that taking healthcare coverage away from 23 million people is not "replacing" Obamacare. You broke it, yes, congratulations. You did not replace it.