Viva Socialism!

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

TL,

This is an outrage! I've never before been forced to buy insurance on anything, and especially not my automobile!

Yes, however, you can choose to not own an automobile, can't you? How do you exempt out of the Health Insurance mandate? Therefore, not the best analogy no matter how many times it's trotted out.

[Shryke]

Yeah, the Car Insurance analogy doesn't really work.

But luckily the link at the top of this page shows why it's not even needed.

[Jaime L]

I also like the outrage: How dare the Democrats force this down the nation's throats with their democratically elected majority in both house and senate! This is not what the vocal minority of Americans signed up for. Not at all.

[alguien]

Ser Scot,

TL,

Yes, however, you can choose to not own an automobile, can't you? How do you exempt out of the Health Insurance mandate? Therefore, not the best analogy no matter how many times it's trotted out.

From previous posts, I got the impression this issue was your main reason for opposing the bill. Am I incorrect in that assumption?

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Shryke,

Yeah, the Car Insurance analogy doesn't really work.

But luckily the link at the top of this page shows why it's not even needed.

Certianly, in that law professor's opinion.

Nadie,

That's certianly part of it. I also think it's going to end up making the problems it's purported to fix worse.

[Mya Stone]

TL,

Yes, however, you can choose to not own an automobile, can't you? How do you exempt out of the Health Insurance mandate? Therefore, not the best analogy no matter how many times it's trotted out.

Scot, as someone from Massachusetts, where yes, health insurance is mandatory (IF you can afford it, otherwise the state provides it for you IF you qualify financially for it), I have to break this to you: last year, when I lost my job, and could not afford the COBRA coverage I was offered, I went without health insurance until my new job's coverage kicked in. When I filed my taxes this year, I had to check the months I was without coverage (4). Was I fined for being uninsured? Nope. Can't say I was. Although I did reasonably well last year salary-wise, it was determined by the state that I could not afford the COBRA coverage, and was not penalized.

Also, Jaim, :lol:

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Mya,

How does that make the Auto Insurance analogy valid?

[Mya Stone]

Mya,

How does that make the Auto Insurance analogy valid?

It doesn't at all, but it also invalidates the "We're going to be fined up the ass" arguments that I've seen.

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Mya,

It doesn't at all, but it also invalidates the "We're going to be fined up the ass" arguments that I've seen.

That remains to be seen. Massachusetts' method of enforcing mandates may not be the same methods used by the Feds.

[Former Lord of Winterfell]

TL,

Yes, however, you can choose to not own an automobile, can't you? How do you exempt out of the Health Insurance mandate? Therefore, not the best analogy no matter how many times it's trotted out.

What makes it even worse is that you're required to buy only liability insurance for the other person's vehicle. For damage to your own car, that's collision insurance, and you're entitled to run the risk if you so choose.

[TrueMetis]

I don't get this not wanting to be forced to buy health insurance thing. Every resident of B.C. has to buy insurance via the Medical Service Plan. It's only $57 a month and if you don't pay it you get charged interest. How expensive is American health insurance?

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

SS,

I don't get this not wanting to be forced to buy health insurance thing. Every resident of B.C. has to buy insurance via the Medical Service Plan. It's only $57 a month and if you don't pay it you get charged interest. How expensive is American health insurance?

More than that with my employer paying a large chunk.

[Mad Monkey]

I don't get this not wanting to be forced to buy health insurance thing. Every resident of B.C. has to buy insurance via the Medical Service Plan. It's only $57 a month and if you don't pay it you get charged interest. How expensive is American health insurance?

Buying health insurance in America is kind of like being sodomized with a broken broom handle, except much more unpleasant since you have to pay for the broom in advance. If there's anything that I dislike about the health care bill, it's probably the individual mandate. I hate dealing with insurance companies; I hate having to pay huge premiums every month until I get sick, in which case I have to pay a huge deductible before they'll start to help me. I can't think of any other business outside of insurance that crams in so many fees (except maybe banking) and I really can see why people might resent having to tangle with insurance companies that have the added arrogance of knowing that you are legally obligated to deal with them.

[Shryke]

Here's the American Health Care system for you Silent-Stalker:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/03/health-care-reform-the-morning-after/37823/

When I was 15 I developed a chronic condition, and received excellent care under my mother's insurance plan. When I turned 23 and graduated from college, I lost eligibility. Tagged with a pre-existing condition, I was black balled from the private insurance market for life. Since then when my condition's gotten bad enough that I couldn't put off treatment, I've made myself unemployed to qualify for Minnesota's General Assistance Medical Care [GAMC] program, which has taken good care of me . . . because I live in a prosperous, progressive county and I know how to use the system.

Now Gov Pawlenty is trying to unilaterally kill GAMC. Until tonight, I have been a Democrat because of people like Gingrich and Bush, Palin and Pawlenty. After tonight, I am an Obama Democrat in the sense that my grandparents were Roosevelt Democrats. For all the problems with HCR, for all the compromises and deals and disappointments and inefficiencies, tonight the Democrats stood up and took a political risk to say that I deserve medical coverage, that it's no longer okay to treat my health as sad but acceptable collateral damage in a Social Darwinist system. That's why this moment matters to me.*

Shryke,

Certianly, in that law professor's opinion.

Guess that's settled then.

[TerraPrime]

For my insurance, which is for a single person, the total cost, per month, is $371. Of that amount, I pay $45, and my employer pays the rest.

This amount does not include vision or dental care. I pay extra for those, though I forgot how much extra.

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Shryke,

Guess that's settled then.

So he's the new Chief Justice of the US in the newly one member Supreme Court. I'm impressed this got through so quietly.

[Shryke]

Shryke,

So he's the new Chief Justice of the US in the newly one member Supreme Court. I'm impressed this got through so quietly.

I'm impressed you are still harping on this ridiculously stupid issue despite never showing anything to indicate that this bill is in any way unconstitutional.

[Shryke]

What does this bill mean for you?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/?hpid=topnews

A neat little tool for all you Muricans.

[Wouter]

I'm impressed that Obama managed to pull this off, in the face of such resistance. It's refreshing to see a politician truly attempting to keep his election promises, even when things become really hard - a courage I wish some Belgian politicians had.

From my POV, this healthcare reform seems like a very logical and just step; healthcare isn't something you can just leave totally to the mercy of private companies, who only care about making money. It's an essential piece of solidarity in a state as prosperous as the US. Congrats to Obama and to the American people! I hope many of the opponents will come round in time.

[TerraPrime]

I hope many of the opponents will come round in time.

:lol:

Yeah, right. :)