Absolutely correct. The fine is to cover the costs we all bear for uninsured people.
There were better ways to do this. We got this one, largely because the GOP didn't support anything better, and the Democrats didn't have a large enough majority of non-coin operated members to do anything better.
We do our civics, take some seats, and that can and all will change.
Had the progressives had a larger share, we would have easily seen a much better plan, that features significant cost reduction pressure. As it stands right now, the costs will be well distributed, but not checked by competition.
At least everybody ends up covered, and we get an awful lot of uninsured people who are not covered, covered. It's costly, but better than not doing that, as those "trips to the emergency room" are very, very expensive for everybody.
But, you don't have to buy in. Absolutely not required at all. No jail, no death panel, just a small fine to help cover the cost of caring for those who don't buy in, instead of having those that do buy in, pay for it through their ever increasing premium costs.
No matter what is done, unless we flat out just let people die, this costs us. The sooner we all get that, the sooner we can restructure what is started so that it actually works for us, cutting all the costs, allowing our nation to much better compete with most others, who do get how this all works.
It's not legal to force the insurance from a private corporation. It is however legal, to tax or levy a fine to carry social costs, and that is exactly what was done.
Posted on July 29, 2010 - 10:32 PM
#
