The strident Republican opposition to the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) didn't just suddenly appear. It's of a piece with a long history of right-wing efforts to block, undermine, or destroy all the most vital social programs in our nation's history. This piece broadcast on National Public Radio's All Things Considered on October 7, 2013, details that history and reminds us that at its core, the Republican party is the party of a "you're on your own" mentality. There's no room for collective action to soften the edges of cut-throat capitalism, no acknowledgement that social and economic forces create mountains and valleys in what should be a level field of opportunity for all.

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