---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What sensible people have got to do is…"
description: "\"What sensible people have got to do is not simply repeal the Affordable Care Act without any alternative, but you've got to sit down and say it's OK, w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/john-lewis-1310_addresses_what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-n_2143661.jpg"
---

#  What sensible people have got to do is not simply repeal…

![“What sensible people have got to do is not simply repeal the Affordable Care Act without any alternative, but you've got to sit down and say it's OK, what are the problems. How do we address it? How do we move to universal health care? How do we lower prescription drug costs? How do we make sure…” quote by John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/john-lewis-1310_addresses_what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-n_2143661.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/john-lewis-1310_addresses_what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-n_2143661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/john-lewis-1310_addresses_what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-n_2143661.jpg)

> “What sensible people have got to do is not simply repeal the Affordable Care Act without any alternative, but you've got to sit down and say it's OK, what are the problems. How do we address it? How do we move to universal health care? How do we lower prescription drug costs? How do we make sure that people don't have outrageous deductibles? You just don't throw 20 million people off of health insurance. You don't privatize Medicare.”

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Critics should propose viable alternatives before dismantling existing health policies, emphasizing thoughtful reform.

**In simple terms:** Don’t repeal without a plan.

Key Takeaway

Seek constructive solutions.

Themes

health policy politics reform

Mood

serious urgent

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- legislative debate
- public health
- insurance reform

Key Concepts

systemic analysis policy design

Questions to Reflect On

- What practical steps can improve coverage?
- How to balance costs and care?

A Different Perspective

Complex solutions may be politically costly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prescription drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prescription-drugs/) [Privatize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privatize/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Universal health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-health-care/)

## Related quotes

> [The vast majority of the American people agree with me and many others. You don't simply repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-vast-majority-of-the-american-people-agree-with-me-and-many/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Who wants to privatize Medicare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-vanden-heuvel/who-wants-to-privatize-medicare/)

[Katrina vanden Heuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-vanden-heuvel/)

> [History suggests that attempts to privatize Medicare by relying on private companies to offer Medicare benefits in rural America simply will not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennie-thompson/history-suggests-that-attempts-to-privatize-medicare-by-relying-on/)

[Bennie Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennie-thompson/)

> [ Donald Trump has every intention to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as much because it's known as Obamacare \[as because he wants\] to try… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-parker/donald-trump-has-every-intention-to-repeal-the-affordable-care-act-as/)

[Willie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-parker/)

> [The Republicans want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, I want to improve it. I want to build on it, get the costs down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-republicans-want-to-repeal-the-affordable-care-act-i-want-to/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [Today, all across this country there are going to be rallies led by Democrats and others to fight against the devastating impact of repeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/today-all-across-this-country-there-are-going-to-be-rallies-led-by/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [They ought to be focused on saving healthcare. They ought to be focused on making sure we don't privatize Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-schultz/they-ought-to-be-focused-on-saving-healthcare-they-ought-to-be/)

[Ed Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-schultz/)

> [On a mild day in January 2011, Republicans in the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. It was the first of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/on-a-mild-day-in-january-2011-republicans-in-the-house-voted-to/)

[Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/)

> [Two committees in the house were up all night long trying to get a version of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act passed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/two-committees-in-the-house-were-up-all-night-long-trying-to-get-a/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [However, the Administration's plan to privatize Social Security will undermine retirement security for all Americans by cutting guaranteed benefits by more than 40 percent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-hinojosa/however-the-administration-s-plan-to-privatize-social-security-will/)

[Ruben Hinojosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-hinojosa/)

> [The corporations don't like open courts of law, trials by jury. They want to privatize by pushing people into compulsory arbitration where they win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-corporations-don-t-like-open-courts-of-law-trials-by-jury-they/)

[Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/)

> [“Privatize-se tudo, privatize-se o mar e o céu, privatize-se a água e o ar, privatize-se a justiça e a lei, privatize-se a nuvem que…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/privatize-se-tudo-privatize-se-o-mar-e-o-c-u-privatize-se-a-gua-e-o/)

[José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [Of course the Republicans have long wanted to privatize Social Security and destroy it. But Social Security has been the most important and valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/of-course-the-republicans-have-long-wanted-to-privatize-social/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I oppose the president's plan to privatize Social Security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-higgins/i-oppose-the-president-s-plan-to-privatize-social-security/)

Brian Higgins

## More by John Lewis

> [ I happen to believe that this election year \[2016\] is...one of the most important elections that we're going to face in a very long… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-happen-to-believe-that-this-election-year-2016-is-one-of-the-most/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [If you're not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take that long hard look and just believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/if-you-re-not-hopeful-and-optimistic-then-you-just-give-up-you-have/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [The reward for playing jazz is playing jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-reward-for-playing-jazz-is-playing-jazz/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [I am very, very hopeful about the American South - I believe that we will lead America to what Dr. King called 'the beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-am-very-very-hopeful-about-the-american-south-i-believe-that-we/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [ \[Donald Trump's inauguration\] will be the first one that I miss since I've been in Congress. You cannot be at home with something that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/donald-trump-s-inauguration-will-be-the-first-one-that-i-miss-since-i/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [To question the legitimacy of the next United States president, you know, and you're worried about a tweet that says, hey, why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/to-question-the-legitimacy-of-the-next-united-states-president-you/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jails over and over again. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-are-tired-of-being-beaten-by-policemen-we-are-tired-of-seeing-our/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Now we have black and white elected officials working together. Today, we have gone beyond just passing laws. Now we have to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/now-we-have-black-and-white-elected-officials-working-together-today/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [“For me, the nomination of Barack Obama as a candidate for president and his inauguration in Washington represents a brief glimpse at the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/for-me-the-nomination-of-barack-obama-as-a-candidate-for-president/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/too-many-people-struggled-suffered-and-died-to-make-it-possible-for/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [The vote is precious. It's almost sacred, so go out and vote like you never voted before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-vote-is-precious-it-s-almost-sacred-so-go-out-and-vote-like-you/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [My position is very, very simple. That I fought too long and too hard against discrimination based on race and color, not to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/my-position-is-very-very-simple-that-i-fought-too-long-and-too-hard/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Many of us in Nashville accepted nonviolence as a way of life, a way of living, not simply as a technique or a tactic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/many-of-us-in-nashville-accepted-nonviolence-as-a-way-of-life-a-way/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Right now, what my job is - pardon me? Those are just words. Right now, what my - my job is right now going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/right-now-what-my-job-is-pardon-me-those-are-just-words-right-now/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [ Donald Trump has made it clear that certainly over the last few years that President \[Barack\] Obama was born in Hawaii. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/donald-trump-has-made-it-clear-that-certainly-over-the-last-few-years/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

[Explore all 258 John Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

## More Addresses quotes

> [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/)

[Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/)

> [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/)

[Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [The pleasures and the cares of the luckiest ambition, even of limitless power, are nothing next to the intimate happiness that tenderness and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-pleasures-and-the-cares-of-the-luckiest-ambition-even-of/)

[Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/)

> [You will find a spring by the dwelling of the dead, to the left. Next to it stands a white cypress. Do not approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/you-will-find-a-spring-by-the-dwelling-of-the-dead-to-the-left-next/)

[Gustaw Herling-Grudzinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/)

> [ \[T\]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between-man-and-man-ought-to-be-not/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [Like a versatile baller, George Dohrmann swings seamlessly from position to position: investigative journalist, social critic, gifted storyteller. The result is a gem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-jon-wertheim/like-a-versatile-baller-george-dohrmann-swings-seamlessly-from/)

[L. Jon Wertheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-jon-wertheim/)

> [Each email contains an unsubscribe link. We will NEVER sell, rent, loan, or abuse your email address in ANY way. Writing has been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/each-email-contains-an-unsubscribe-link-we-will-never-sell-rent-loan/)

[Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/)

> [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [In science, address the few, in literature the many. In science, the few must dictate opinion to the many; in literature, the many, sooner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/in-science-address-the-few-in-literature-the-many-in-science-the-few/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [Pedestrian's rights - because we live in California, I've got to address this issue. I don't know where on the fence I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/pedestrian-s-rights-because-we-live-in-california-i-ve-got-to-address/)

[Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/)

> [With no other privilege than that of sympathy and sincere good wishes, I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/with-no-other-privilege-than-that-of-sympathy-and-sincere-good-wishes/)

[Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/)

> [Senator Obama will be taking office at a critical juncture. There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/senator-obama-will-be-taking-office-at-a-critical-juncture-there-are/)

[Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/)

Browse all 1,100 Addresses quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What sensible people have got to do is not simply repeal the Affordable Care Act without any alternative, but you've got to sit down and say it's OK, what are the problems. How do we address it? How do we move to universal health care? How do we lower prescription drug costs? How do we make sure that people don't have outrageous deductibles? You just don't throw 20 million people off of health insurance. You don't privatize Medicare.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Lewis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-not-simply-repeal-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Addresses"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-not-simply-repeal-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/john-lewis-1310_addresses_what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-n_2143661.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/john-lewis-1310_addresses_what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-n_2143661.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/john-lewis-1310_addresses_what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-n_2143661.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What sensible people have got to do is not simply repeal the Affordable Care Act without any alternative…” — John Lewis",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Lewis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What sensible people have got to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-not-simply-repeal-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/what-sensible-people-have-got-to-do-is-not-simply-repeal-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
