This article makes an excellent contribution to the understanding of the favorite strategy of political liberals in crafting legislation that serves the ruling class while dressed up in populist clothing. While sold as "reform" legislation to provide medical coverage for many Americans who formerly could not afford medical insurance, in reality the Affordable Care Act in its finished form is all about cutting costs to employers and providing a bonanza of profits to the insurance companies. Once again we see the One Percent sticking it to the 99 Percent while pretending to benefit the latter.
The method used to deform the original material of promises into the finished product might be characterized as the "good cop, bad cop" strategy with Tea Party Republicans playing the bad cop and liberal members of Congress playing the good cop.
Even after the bill’s passage, without the much-vaunted “public option,” one concession after another was made to big business: only companies with 50 or more employees would have to provide insurance, only those working 30 hours or more had to be covered. Bare-bones, “skinny” plans—without hospitalization and surgery coverage—would be considered “adequate” employee-sponsored plans. Those businesses that do not comply would face minimal penalties.See more about this strategy in a recent article entitled "The good cop/bad cop routine in Washington".