I think a lot of Republicans think that when one new entitlement is given, people will become entitled and it will snowball to the point that every citizen will declare it their right to a personal butler. Obviously I'm exaggerating and I'm not saying this is reasonable thinking, just saying people have that mentality.
BTW, as someone who has always leaned conservative, I have a heart and don't want to see anyone that is trying their best, the elderly and disabled, or children to suffer. I don't claim to know what the best solution is for anything. I would fail miserably as a politician. That being said, one thing that burns me up to no end is to see people taking advantage of the system. I know there are less people gaming the system than there are being legitimately helped by it, but I see it all the time and it pisses me off. My wife works at a local health department and sees it all the time as well. She freaking hates Trump, but is thoroughly pissed about these people. People coming in on government assistance with high end clothes, newly done manicures, latest cell phones, etc. It just makes it worse for people that need help. I don't know what the solution for that is, but I want to falcon punch them when I see them.
I don't think this healthcare bill is the answer however. Neither is Obamacare.
I grew up lower-middle-class in a very blue collar neighborhood. I'll never forget standing on line at the supermarket when a woman in a fur coat in front of me in line paid for her food with food stamps. And when she opened her wallet, it was
stuffed with cash.
It was infuriating as someone who was buying food in the supermarket because both my parents were working their asses off to pay the bills so I had to do the shopping (I was in either Jr. high or high school at the time).
I definitely hate when people abuse the system.
At the same time, I've seen first-hand that many people on public assistance of some kind need it.
I agree that neither this bill nor the ACA are the answer. And I also firmly believe the answer in this country isn't as simple as "Let's just go single-payer." But the problem is: one side is, and has been, unwilling to work on a bipartisan solution that actually serves the populace.
Obama spent 8 years going on TV in front of the nation and saying "If you've got a better idea, present it and let's work on it." And he was ignored.