Stupid Republicans

[autumnalmonk]

Per CNN today:  "The yet-to-be-implemented system might [look] like the one in Massachusetts, which has had a similar penalty system in place since 2007. In Massachusetts, taxpayers are required to prove they had insurance by completing a three-page section of the state income tax form."

So all those people ranting about how the health care

Comments

Massachusetts Plan in Trouble

[woolysw]

This has been happening for years in Massachusetts and the sky hasn't fallen there yet.
Actually, it was implemented in 2006 and is about to fall apart due to multiple problems.

See reports such as:

"MASSACHUSETTS HAS been lauded for its healthcare reform, but the program is a failure. Created solely to achieve universal insurance coverage, the plan does not even begin to address the other essential components of a successful healthcare system

Re: Massachusetts Plan in Trouble

[autumnalmonk]

My post was in response to the ridiculous cries of "Oh noes! Our rights and freedoms are all being violated to death!". My point is that such an arrangement isn't new and unprecedented, hasn't caused the very fabric of democracy to disintegrate, and isn't going to cause any of the other numerous doomsday fears the right-wing nuts are ranting about.

As for the financial aspects of the Mass. plan, which all of these negative assessments focus on- that's not what I was talking about. Of course it's experiencing financial difficulties- this sort of thing cannot be done by such small isolated and unsupported measures, which is why real reform needed to be national in scope, more comprehensive in addressing the many aspects of the systemic problems, and specifically arrange for the numerous financial supports such as it does.

In short, mandated universal coverage is hardly the annihilation of civil liberty that right-wing conspiracy theorists and their mindless followers are touting it to be.

[punkbeaver]

Well, I was going to make a comment about the Massachusetts plan caused an even higher rate of foreclosures than the rest of the country, but I see a more in depth analysis has already been offered.
As for all the folks claiming this is tactical baby steps and that the plan ,by the time it's truly implemented, will have some changes to make it, ummm, fairish to we the people? I really really wish that beautiful dream comes true, but I have grave reservations. TIme to get serious about marrying into cheap health insurance. :(

[autumnalmonk]

The "beautiful dream" you mention is certainly never going to come true as long as Republicans and spineless people more influenced by fear than compassion continue to engage in the irrational criticism, senseless obstructionism, insane conspiracy-theorizing, and outright violence that they have been showing.

Thankfully their behavior is starting to reveal what insane, racist, homophobic, violent asshats they are.

[shaktipat]

Politics in America is just a slightly higher form of professional wrestling.

Regardless of how hostile they look to each other in the ring, the GOP and the Dems are both happy this thing passed. They know they will both of them soon be drenched by bucket-fulls of gooey, slimy campaign cash from the increased revenues this will bring the HMOs, and thence to Wall Street.