Republican extremists who have shut down government to attempt to nullify the Affordable Care Act have done proponents of the law a favor.

They have obscured shortcomings in the operational system for the new law.

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Signup on the website has been difficult if not impossible. There’s no doubt huge demand is part of the problem, but, at a minimum, failure to adequately plan for the demand is also a problem. They’ll be taking the system off line for times this weekend to make upgrades.

Meanwhile, though, heavy focus on congressional bickering has prevented singular focus on the glitches. The startup is as critical for future success as the current battle over funding and Republicans’ attempt to delay (and thus defeat) the legislation.

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From the New York Times:

On one point, many liberals and conservatives agree. It will be hard to take away government-subsidized coverage once people have it.

At a Tea Party gathering in Texas in August, Mr. Cruz said the president wanted to get people “hooked on the subsidies, addicted to the sugar.”

“If we get to Jan. 1, this thing is here forever,” Mr. Cruz said, according to The Texas Tribune.

Ronald F. Pollack, the executive director of Families USA, a liberal-leaning consumer group, said: “I agree with Senator Cruz. Once people experience the benefits and protections of the Affordable Care Act, it will be hard, if not impossible, to take them away.”

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