I just want to be clear with the statement the Senate is about to make

[AllentownJake]

The government is incapable of administering anything good for society. The only way that can be done is by taxing citizens and handing over the tax dollars to private entities to administer it for them. People cannot act responsibly themselves with their personal decisions in what private entities they desire to transact with, so the Senate, is about to mandate that people pay a private entity, which in turn will spend money paying it's own top members obscene amounts of money as part of that payment, a portion of their wages for a product, or be fined, thus protecting said private entity from the possibility of a boycott or other financial penalty that normally follows engaging in shitty service. Also I have no choice of an option from the government, whom I vote for every 2-4 years, and can voice complaints with, by the power of my vote.

Oh and this plan is "liberal"

Edit to add, women can't determine what is best for them, they need the government to do it for them.

Great fucking job.

[G_j]

1. K&R

:-(

[AllentownJake]

8. Indeed

;(

[debbierlus]

2. That about sums it up

[AllentownJake]

3. God Bless America

This is about the only country in the world you can do this and call yourself a liberal with a straight face.

Shouldn't be surprised, we turned a first century Jewish martyred rebel peasant peace advocate as a hero for war, consumerism, and hatred.

[lapfog_1]

4. It's not as nearly rosy a picture as all that.

We are giving all that tax money over to the private entities, we are also giving plenty of our own money (in fact, the vast majority of the money we give them will be out of our pockets, mandated under law. Which is exactly the same as a huge new regressive tax. Furthermore, those entities are not competing with other whatsoever, and, in fact, are exempt from monopolistic practices law. In addition, they are working on a cost+award fee basis, with a guarantee of 15% margin to as much as 20% margin. There is NO incentive for them to reduce costs, in fact, just the opposite, the more they can (in collusion with each other) jack up their premiums - even to the extent of having their providers jack up the cost of service - the MORE money they make.

And to pay for this, in addition to the money they force you to pay through mandated purchase of their crappy product, they are going to tax the union members who have, over the years, given up salary increases for good health care benefits.

And, (it just keeps getting better), states will now be able to "opt out" of having insurance companies provide any plan that includes reproductive services... and if your state doesn't "opt out", women still have to purchase abortion insurance with a separate rider policy, paid for every month by a separate check or money transfer, completely out of their pockets. I suspect at some point in the future, when abortions are criminalized again, this data (the rider and the checks to buy insurance) will be made public or misused in some fashion, or at least the potential for misuse is high.

But wait, there's more!!!

There are still yearly caps on how much "service" your forced purchase buys you. So there is every reason to believe that people will still go bankrupt trying to pay for service out of their own pocket once the cap is reached.

[AllentownJake]

6. Change we can believe in nt.

[branders seine]

5. If they do have 60 votes for this,

there is not an actual Democrat in the entire Senate.

[AllentownJake]

7. There are a few

but I'm sure Rahm visited them after he wiped his chin from his meeting with Joe and Ben.

[branders seine]

9. the 'we'll fix it later' argument is complete bullshit.

they won't have anymore votes after hristmas than they have now. They will do nothing of substance in 2010, election year. They'll have even fewer votes after November.

If someone votes for this steaming pile of shit, I'll assume it's because they love it as is.

[AllentownJake]

11. Everything the supporters of this bill are saying

Goes against all common sense and logic. I've seen people that dance with venomous snakes in church services with less faith than these people.

[Starry Messenger]

10. Idiocracy is getting even closer.

[AllentownJake]

12. It has been here for 30 years nt.

[TicketyBoo]

13. Lovely Christmas present

to the American people.

[AllentownJake]

16. HO HO HO

Here's a nice stinking pile of shit, and if you call it shit, you hate America.

[JVS]

14. But remember that such a statement is non-ideological, pragmatic, technocratic, and rational.

[AllentownJake]

15. Well at least they are using the buzz words nt.

[hayu_lol]

17. This, by another name,

could be called population control.

Perhaps it is desirable at this time for a larger segment of the population to die early.

[AllentownJake]

18. Doesn't really make sense I mean they are killing all the people who

work for entrepenuers...oh.

[Laelth]

19. You got it! n/t

Change you can believe in.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[cbdo2007]

20. Oh right.....now all the "personal responsibility" people come out of the woodwork....

Yet any other time we bring up "personal responsibility" anywhere on DU for any reason we're labeled Libertarian's.

This is exactly what most of the people at DU have been asking for. Let the Govt make all of our decisions for us regarding health, finances, etc. It's too late to backpeddle now. The shit's hitting the fan thicker than ever.

[AllentownJake]

22. Please tell me what in liberal, conservative, or any other mantra than fascism

that would mandate people to pay their money to a corporate entity for a product they have no choice in buying where the government is going to make a choice and it is 17% of your net income for a year.

[varelse]

21. Stay tuned for a similar statement about mandatory public education (nt)

[Stinky The Clown]

23. "Great fucking job."

Amen

K&R

[ProSense]

24. Yet, Krugman makes the exact opposite point

here

[AllentownJake]

25. You must be having a fun week

Where is that public option you assured everyone would be in the bill.

[ProSense]

26. I am.

This weekend is especially exciting.

[AllentownJake]

27. Wait till next week

Oh and can you tell Rahm poking Howard Dean in the eye with a pointy stick isn't in his interest.

[ProSense]

28. It gets better. n/t

[AllentownJake]

29. Keeps up we'll be screaming at each other over a primary in 3 years nt.