Congratulations to all Americans!

[antiquark]

Also, here's a poll to ponder:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/126929/Slim-Margin-Americans-Support-Healthcare-Bill-Passage.aspx

 

[Roger Hicks]

Also, here's a poll to ponder:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/126929/Slim-Margin-Americans-Support-Healthcare-Bill-Passage.aspx

Obviously a 49% to 40% opinion poll is worthless, if you're a hardcore Republican. ONE HALF OF THE AMERICA PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Of course it's worth remembering that 50% of the population is below average intelligence (think about it - the other 50% is above).

After that, the only assumption you need is that all 50% of those below average intelligence are Democrats. Or Republicans.

Cheers,

R.

 

[antiquark]

No gimmicks, this is FAR worse than the old system. I don't have insurance now because I cannot afford it, but I wasn't punished for it. Now I and millions of other poor people who work WILL be punished. The non-working welfare queens will, of course, get it all handed to them free, no penalties, but the working poor as usual get f--ked.

It's the same in Canada, everyone has to pay whether they want to or not (except for the welfare recipients).

Actually, I would argue that the EXISTING (pre-health bill) system is punishing you! If you had a serious health issue or accident, basically you would go bankrupt because you don't have insurance. Hell, you might have gone bankrupt even if you were insured, due to recissions from some crooked insurance company.

 

[Roger Hicks]

It's the same in Canada, everyone has to pay whether they want to or not (except for the welfare recipients).

Actually, I would argue that the EXISTING (pre-health bill) system is punishing you! If you had a serious health issue or accident, basically you would go bankrupt because you don't have insurance. Hell, you might have gone bankrupt even if you were insured, due to recissions from some crooked insurance company.

Well, yes.

In 2000, Frances was diagnosed with breast cancer.

When she broke down in tears (surely not! I hear you cry) the nurse said that she understood: this was a normal reaction to cancer.

"No," said Frances, "I'm crying because I'm glad I'm in the UK. Here, I'm only facing cancer. In the US I'd be facing bankruptcy as well."

Cheers,

R.

 

[remphoto]

Obviously a 49% to 40% opinion poll is worthless, if you're a hardcore Republican. ONE HALF OF THE AMERICA PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Of course it's worth remembering that 50% of the population is below average intelligence (think about it - the other 50% is above).

After that, the only assumption you need is that all 50% of those below average intelligence are Democrats. Or Republicans.

Cheers,

R.

Good point! However, the troubling category for Democrats should be the "Independent" category which strongly supported Obama and pushed him over the finish line in the Presidential election. The fact that half disagree is not good news, nor is it good news that Obama, Pelosi and Reid's favorability numbers have dropped dramatically.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

It's the same in Canada, everyone has to pay whether they want to or not (except for the welfare recipients).

Actually, I would argue that the EXISTING (pre-health bill) system is punishing you! If you had a serious health issue or accident, basically you would go bankrupt because you don't have insurance. Hell, you might have gone bankrupt even if you were insured, due to recissions from some crooked insurance company.

Declaring bankruptcy wouldn't be the end of the world, as I have literally nothing to my name except some cameras, and personal property like that cannot be taken for debts in the US. Being forced to pay money i do not have is the end of the world, as it will mean a return to skipping meals again, which I'd hoped was now in the past.

 

[antiquark]

Being forced to pay money i do not have is the end of the world, as it will mean a return to skipping meals again, which I'd hoped was now in the past.

Well, the mandate kicks in in 2014, so hopefully your economic situation improves by then. Or it might be such an unpopular part of the bill that the politicians might fix it up a bit in the meantime, so people don't have to skip meals to pay for it.

 

[David Murphy]

We have just watched president Obama sign the Health Care Reform Bill on TV over here in Europe. A significant and historical event with far reaching implications. And a touching ceremony. It's not a perfect bill, but it is on the right track.

Congratulations to all Americans here!

Does this sort of incendiary political commentary belong on this Web site? What's the posters point really. I'm sure the poster is aware that the country is quite divided on the issue he's referring to, so it can only lead to needless discord.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

At this distance it's hard to tell what's going on, but it sounds like there's some inequity about the way it's to be funded.
In simple terms, here we have basic health cover, available to all and funded by the Government. Income earners pay a small percentage levy (call it a tax if you like) on top of the regular income tax specifically to fund the pool. I think it's the case that people earning below a certain threshold are exempt and for the rest of us it's pro-rata, being a percentage of taxable income each year.

On top of this you can take out private insurance for hospital cover at various levels of luxury and include extras for dental and other medical type services. Most of these have an annual spend limit for each defined service. If you don't want any more than the basic cover to allow you to access the private hospital system then that's all you choose.

The basic health cover referred to above gives you access to the public hospital system but the waiting lists are much longer and you don't get your choice of doctor. Not perfect, but it works reasonably well. Of course, there are always exceptions and a few people fall through the cracks, but not too many.

 

[splitimageview]

There is nothing incendiary here. It's just a discussion. 🙂

The problem with this bill is that it tramples the Constitution, and it doesn't solve the problem, it only creates more, and at bigger cost.

And I have a big problem, as Chris, being forced to pay a tax that the federal government does not have the authority to collect...see Article 1, Section 2 and 9.

 

[gb hill]

Today it's health care, tomorrow it will be the "mark of the Beast" 666 as stated in Revelation ch.13:16,17!😀

 

[antiquark]

Today it's health care, tomorrow it will be the "mark of the Beast" 666 as stated in Revelation ch.13:16,17!😀

It started long time ago... did you ever count the characters in the name "Ronald Wilson Reagan?" That's right, 6 6 6! 🙂

 

[kshapero]

Further proof that Government in the US is simply for the corporations nowadays. Now if this was a single payer system I'd be applauding.

Not me, to me it is a toss up as to who are the bigger crooks big government or big business or big unions. Becoming all one pot of evil, i.e. GM. Village economics and limited government. Alas a pipe-dream.