I got an e-mail from my Rep. (Stearns-R) saying he will vote NO on healthcare. Wasn't anything I didn't already know; he is not exactly a bulwark of progressive politics. Neither is Waite-R, but Grayson-D and Brown-D are in neighboring districts, and will vote YES.

Look, no matter which side of the debate you're on, I think you'll agree with me that all they're doing during the "debate" on the bill is:

Republicans - Posturing about how they're saving the people by voting NO (read, defeating Obama).

Democrats - Posturing about how they're saving the people by voting YES (read, making sure Obama gets this in his win column).

These 535 Reps., 100 Sens., and 1 Pres. couldn't care less about the people, only about their political prospects.

mikey

The Reagan Revolution is over at last.

I got an email from a republican who is running for congress... asking for money and pledging to put a stop to the passed bill. I sent him a few carefully considered words about how his view of what 'the people" want, and my view don't even come close, and don't do me any favors. Oh, and good luck with the election, I won't be voting for you.
In the email, he claims that democrat partesianship is ripping the country apart. HAAA!!

All we can do now is pray it's a good one and doesn't end up being bad healthcare. If Obama makes me pay cuz I don't have health insurance I am gonna be very upset. I am not totally against healthcare like most conservatives. I do think it's a good idea if it is done right. But I do fear this one may not be done right.

these look like more WTF moments to me

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_ ... /24/senate

It passed!!! I sure hope that passage will put an end to the threats and violence and grandstanding. It's been a weird week.

Cheryl, are you saying you don't have heathcare insurance, and you fear this bill will to mandate you get healthcare, but it may not be done right? I am just trying to understand . I am also thinking about Mike, did you have health insurance for him?

I'm concerned about the same thing Cheryl is. What I've heard: If one does not have health insurance they will be "fined" $750. Just what I've heard - have not investigated to see if it's true. Why? I kind of don't trust anyone to give me an HONEST, UNBIASED answer.

I've also heard that X amount of people die each day "because" they don't have health insurance. (70 or 124 - you pick) I was wondering how many die each day that DO have health insurance. My guess is more than the former. Does that mean having health insurance is the real killer and threat here - that we'd all be better off without health insurance since less people would die each day? Brain dead logic either way one applies it!

The above is the kind of stuff I'm referring to. It seems all information about this is being spun so tight there's no truth left in any of it. If the first paragraph has any truth to it I think it is akin to taking away my "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness". How can this government "force" people to buy something and fine them if they don't? Substitute the words "52 inch flat panel television" for health insurance. Does anyone think it's consistent with our guaranteed rights to fine someone for not having a TV?

I've also heard that the full benefits of the health care bill will not kick in until 2014. If that is true - and the reason why I haven't researched it more is the same as stated previously - would you want to pay for a car you could only drive up and down your driveway for 4 years before you can actually drive it to the store to buy food? If it takes that long to build up the money needed for the bill's full implementation than something different should have been considered. Congress will not resist using that money for something else; just like they cannot resist using the Social Security trust fund for things other than Social Security.

This isn't a Dem. VS Rep. thing for me. (Liked what you shared Mikey) It's the government not doing what's right for the citizen's of this nation. All those elected officials come off seeming like they are more concerned that their "team" wins; that they get reelected to job that the founders intended to be temporary.

I may be full of it, but I have many friends who feel the same way (and it doesn't fall along "party" lines in that regard). I strongly feel that a mandatory 2 term limit ought to be applied to ALL elected officials regardless of how "effective" they are. That may put a dent into all the stupidity, party line, us VS them baloney that takes place in DC and elsewhere.

I getting old and cranky. Sorry if I offended anyone.

If you don't have auto insurance, you're in violation of the law. In both cases, it costs all of us a lot more if you don't have insurance and something bad happens.



You wont have to pay until it is in force.




Agreed.


Same here.

I don't like what was passed, but only because it doesn't go far enough. This entire bill is a Republican construction--beginning with Nixon, and again tried for by Reagan and Bush I. They couldn't pass it; Dems finally did. But I hope the People will be able to push for the real reform that we need. At least this is a start.

Neither Mike or I had health insurance cuz it costs more than we could afford and we both had diabetes which kept us from getting it. We were able to get under a free medical program at a local hospital where we get all our medical care free and prescriptions are only $4 per prescription. It had been a lifesaver. What I am fearing is that charge they want to charge for those without health insurance, and I'm also afraid it will become like I've read about some other countries where you have to wait to get your healthcare and end up dying while waiting because they deemed your medical problems were not a priority. I've read of that happening in some other countries and it's scary...

I understand. That is scary indeed. I wish you well, my friend.

ceashel, that is what i hope too. (seems a lot of us agree that something needs to be done and it should not end at this step)

i have been watching the whole process with the squinty eyes the entire time (that means a bit skeptical)

you (all) might have a look at this if you can...(came across it today)
(sorry if it is a snoozer for some of you)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO6JXVBeBgs

and feel free to pick at it! i am not trying to come off as saying i know all the answers!
call it biased call it what you will, i am not emotionally invested in either party, i am trying to see things how they are...some gaps in information in the vid (for example, subsidies available for 'families earning up to $88,000.00'.. i understand (not specified in vid) to mean specifically a family of four? i think) but still...seems some valid points made? ...anyway!

i do hope that it is a step in a direction that will make us proud (??)

(sometimes trying to type out your meaning is so flat in this medium)

Thanks just hope the healthcare turns out okay...

Can't remember which network news this was on but I remember hearing that the fine for having no insurance would be $95/year. Put $8 a month ($2/week) away in a cookie jar and at the end of a year you'll be covered with a buck left over. I'm pissed that they didn't get the single payer thing going or at least the public option. The just blows. The insurance companies are still going to get away with murder. CBS reported today that the insurance industry was interpreting the bill as meaning they didn't have to follow the "pre-existing condition" on new policies for kids until 2014. The bastards will try anything to make more money. Even deny coverage to kids! And still, idiots are more worried about the government than the insurance industry to the point of threats and violence against the Congress members who voted for the bill! Oye!!! http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0329/guaran ... alth-bill/

That brings me to another issue. People are friggin' stupid! Almost everything the tea baggers are wankin' about is not because of the health bill that just passed but has already been happening for years because of the health insurance companies. My neighbor said to me today, "I don't want the government telling me which doctor I can or can't see!" That ain't happening. But most f***ing insurance companies already do that ("Oh, that doctor isn't in our company's network!")! Doctors charge higher rates because insurance companies, on average, pay them less than half of what they charge. Insurance company execs (most of whom are not doctors) tell doctors which drugs they can prescribe or which drugs are covered, what treatments are covered and determine which patients are covered (another reason why some doctors don't take some insurances or why some doctors fudge their patients records/illnesses ...so that they are covered) and people still have the ignorance to say they don't trust the government with their health care?!! But they will trust a for profit insurance company whose main concerns are profits and keeping the shareholders happy and making money!!! WTF!!! WHAT IS WRONG HERE?!? (Yes, I am cyber yelling!) Did anyone pay any attention to those fear mongering, anti-health care bill commercials a few months back? They ended with a very quick paid for by the Chamber of Commerce note in small letters (Insurance companies!! Duh!).

No, I don't think that they took the bill nearly as far as it should have been but at least they've gotten one passed. Maybe that will make tweaking it into something better easier. Let's hope so. And let's hope it's sooner than later.
Okay, done ranting .....for now.

As far as the fine for no insurance goes, I Googled it and it seems to be either $95/year or 1% of your income the first year, increasing after that. But nobody seems to know for sure. I don't think it's anything to panic about. At this point it seems to be subject to change and right now subject to anyone's speculation.