georgerussia

Don't you have to list all your income, bank accounts and property when applying for governmental aid? This is even more than just IRS filing information. And if you ever applied for a mortgage, they'd have your IRS filing information too - at least for couple of years. My usual question - have you read the bill yourself, or you're quoting propaganda? Then, you're not concerned with your insurance company housing your medical information centrally, where it could be to be breached inappropriately by any number of the people inside the company as well as outside subcontractors, and maybe even stolen and sold for profit. But you're concerned about the government storing the same information, even though the government already stores much more information about you? There are some valid issues with this bill, but most of those which get publicity are truly paranoid. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I understood his statement as the government will use those records to decide between those who could pay themselves, and those who need government support. A tax for those who can pay but chooses not to (it's actually a fine, not tax) is something else. But maybe he meant that, in this case I apologize for misunderstanding. And now I think it would be better for us as a society. I read your argument about car liability insurance with great pleasure (well, I always like your posts, but this one was special). There you said that it would be nice if all the people were responsible, and the insurance was not mandatory. Unfortunately the problem is that a lot of people are not responsible, and once it goes to the point when others have to pay for their irresponsibility, the law is in place which restricts freedom for all of us. Right now basically there are four choices: 1. A person could prove they cannot afford health insurance, and get it from some government program. This is paid by taxpayers. 2. A person could buy insurance themselves. They are on their own. 3. A person is so rich that they do not need insurance at all, they could pay cash for their treatment (and I do not mean something stupid like "$20 a month"). I do not know if it ever exists, but even so this is a tiny group. 4. A person could claim they cannot afford insurance. Depending on details, it might mean they are really unable to afford it. It might also mean they just want to spend money on something else, like skydiving, a new rig or a cell phone. If something happens, vast majority of them goes to ER, and does not pay anything for treatment. Since someone still has to pay for their treatment, it is covered by taxpayers. Therefore, this whole group is in fact the same as the group #1, which is on government assistance - even those at least some people in this group can afford it. So the goal of this "Individuals Without Acceptable Health Care Coverage" section is to get rid of group #4. Those who do not have healthcare because they cannot afford it, will join #1 and will get it from the government. Those who do not have healthcare because they decided to spend on different things, will be forced to either pay for it, or pay a fine (a "tax"). Since the fine is larger than the cost of a healthcare plan, it makes no sense and nobody will use it. This will mean some people would have to jump less, or give up cable and cell phone to get health insurance - and I consider it a good thing. An unfortunate consequence would be also getting rid of group #2, but to far smaller effect, as someone who has enough cash reserves to cover 100k surgery should not have a problem getting a cheap $150/mo plan. So what's going to happen when they are found unconscious in their car in parking lot, got MRI and there is a tumor in their brain? This actually happened with my friend who was young and never been in hospital before. Could they afford it? If yes, they belong to #2. If this is the case, I agree that for those people it gonna get worse. For them I'd create kind of a bond - like how you can post a bond in DMV instead of buying car liability insurance. Since healthcare bills might be much larger, a 100K bond seems to be appropriate. This, however, makes little sense - even 3% return on 100K bond would be $250/month, enough for some average individual insurance. Completely agree. And maybe I just was unlucky, but so far everyone I've seen who did not have insurance was also unable to pay their bills in a reasonable way (I think you'd agree that offering $20 a month till the end of my life" is not reasonable). You're talking about exceptions from "Individuals Without Acceptable Health Care Coverage", right? My impression was that this was put there to bring some Republican votes with understanding that it will likely to be stuck down by courts. This is so obviously unconstitutional (to me) that I don't see any other reason to have it there. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

This one is more like a fine - to punish those who claim that they cannot afford health insurance, yet they somehow make enough money to own a rig and skydive. After seeing quite a few examples right here, now I fully support this part of the bill. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Or tax-deductible status for their church - almost 100% of them. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Nope - to find who qualifies for governmental aid. And - surprise - this is not different from any other governmental aid program. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

So this means yet another Christian prophet is now officially screwed. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

just stating facts

It depends on what you call "decent". * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

When someone express their own opinion, I'd like to understand what they based their opinion upon. Especially when I have relevant personal experience myself. In this case I ate those cookies, so it doesn't really make any sense to discuss the taste with the person who just read about them. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

just stating facts

Go gay :) * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Which section of Constitution requires you to stop on red light? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Have you been in Cuba, or you're just quoting Alternet again? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

So could you please explain what's going to be different comparing to what we have right now? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Of course. You can break RSA with a computer inside your cell phone, no problem. All you need is basic math functions operating with large numbers - something not difficult to implement. The real question is, how long cracking will take, and that's where it doesn't look like we're getting any improverment. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Isn't Uncle Tom's Cabin? You wouldn't find a single piece of lyrics which wouldn't offend at least someone on this planet. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I think some people just have too much free time. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

It's extremely bad that I cannot convert my home phone to a $4.99/min line. I would LOVE telemarketer calls. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

They're dying because they are inefficient and too expensive. I have one in my car which I got a free year subscription, and I never renewed it. Told them that I drive approximately 40 minutes a day, I'm not interested in sports, howard stern and all the stuff they advertise, and want only "classic vynil" and NPR. They said - no, it's the get-all-or-nothing deal, and we don't care how long you really listen to it. Well, for $12.99 a month I could buy 260 MP3's every month which I could keep, while you're still paying for the same satellite equipment. For me it is a typical example of badly managed private business. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

no it's not. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Wow. I wonder how much money and effort they spent on this "survey". Hopefully their next survey would be more useful, like whether people want to spend more money on event tickets. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Install Firefox and use AdBlock Plus addon. You'll see MUCH less ads. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

I read the full bill. * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

You are posting so much "opinions" about the healthcare bill, so I just wonder - did you read the full bill yourself? * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

Well, Republicans seem to prefer men or young boys, and support The Pedophilic Church... * Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *