Until today, all taxes imposed by our government involved something other than your existance.
You could safely live in the woods, unknown to anyone in the country, remain a citizen of the United States, but not pay a dime in taxes (because you'd earn no income, and pay nothing to anyone, just survive on foods you found or grew yourself on public lands).
Now, regardless of whether or not you can afford it, you are taxed in the United States.
We have lost our mind.
Don't worry we will all get huge raises to cover the increase in taxes and not have to worry about paying for health insurance because
everything will be for freeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
It is being argued by some that the court did the law's opponents a favor by declaring that it is, without question, a tax. That makes it the largest tax increase in history, bar none.
The most interesting observation I've read today is here: [ http://goo.gl/YcBpg ]
Ulsterman believes that the ruling will re-energize the Tea Party, turning 2012 into another 2010. He argues that there is now a second clear conservative message, the first of course being the economy.
Meanwhile, the liberal hate machine is, predictably, attacking Romney for being a Mormon with the kind of hate-filled ferocity that they've always told us we're not allowed to use in a world of "diversity."
when I booked my health insurance for my trip to china they told me its world wide, except USA and Canada. If I would go there, I need to tell and pay 3 times as much, and it wouldn't last for a year but just 14 days.
I guess some things are simply cheaper to organize on a socialized way. Welcome to socialized health insurance.
How do you think we socialist communist in europe/germany handle our enforced health insurances for the homeless? Do you think the companies send out predators to sniff around under bridges and in the woods, stalking the poor until they find them and then force them to work enough to pay their monthly health insurance fee?
No, only our national TV stations will resort to these measures, health insurances just obey to the normative power of facts and will only take in people who want to be insured.
its world wide, except USA and Canada. If I would go there, I need toCanada has socialized medicine, that is why so many Canadians come down to the US for health care. Why would your insurance have a problem
with Canada?
Meanwhile, the liberal hate machine is, predictably, attacking RomneyWell that is the only thing they can go after him for. He is essentially the John Kerry of the republican party.
for being a Mormon with the kind of hate-filled ferocity that they've
always told us we're not allowed to use in a world of "diversity."
Now, regardless of whether or not you can afford it, you are taxed in
the United States.
This is a little bit inaccurate. If your insurance would cost more than 8% of household income you are exempt from the penalty. So your guy living in the woods not making any money can still do that... wherever he is...
Also: those with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty line will be eligible for Medicaid and thus will not pay the penalty; families with incomes up to 4x the poverty level will be subsidized (if they choose to buy insurance.)
[ source: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0323/Obama-signs-health-care-bill-Who-won-t-be-covered ]
I am no fan of this law; I think the status quo was not such a bad place to be (the uninsured would still receive basic care.) It's just not clear to me whether this increases my costs (via increased demand and rationing) or decreases my costs (via dealing with the freeloader problem in a different way.) We'll see.
with incomes up to 4x the poverty level will be subsidized (if theyIf it is subsidized, that means someone is paying for it.
If it is subsidized, that means someone is paying for it.
Why yes, yes it does. Any other pearls of wisdom? ;)
Well, my other argument regarding the bill is that it doesn't actually correct the problem. It delays it.
The problem is affordability. They have done nothing to help reduce costs... only made it possible for insurance to continue to skyrocket.
I'm glad my mythical (?) man in the woods may continue to live off the grid... I didn't hear about that catch.
Why yes, yes it does. Any other pearls of wisdom? ;)
+1 for LS using P&F sentence structure. Nicely done.
The problem is affordability. They have done nothing to help reduceI thought the whole purpose of the bill was to eventually collapse the system.
costs... only made it possible for insurance to continue to skyrocket.
As someone who lives in a country with good socialized healthcare, I don't think socialized health care is necessarily a bad thing. On the other hand, I don't see how ObamaCare gives actual socialized health care. In a good system, everyone pays a reasonable amount b/c the systems aren't run on as high a profit margin. In ObamaCare, the middle class and up pays more. Only the lowest working class seems to benefit, as far as I can tell.