Historians probably won't be able to pin a date where freedom and liberty died in America, but the march toward a Totalitarian state marches on. This is not about healthcare. It is about the power to control your life. Condolences to America.

Sorry, the day the Patriot Act was passed was the day you lost your freedom.

You won't be laughing when the health care availibilty and quality drops like a lead balloon. Why don't we all just quit works and let Obama support us? Watch out Greece, we are right behind you in the entitlement culture.

it was passed with a huge tax .. Dig deep and don't be complaining when you get the bill. Not a good day. Only thing in it that people liked with pre-existing conditions which 35 states already have it and more jumping on board. Now illegal aliens will be covered. No questions asked and ask the employers who are forced to pay $800 tax a year per employee to opt out? Think these mom and pop shops will be open for long? Hope none of you work for one of them. What about larger companies like Verizon, comcast and so on. Can you imagine who will pay for their extra bills? Anybody on medicaid? lol..

amdactivist, you need to read more about the law. I don't think you're understanding very much of it at all.

Paul A: Exactly. The Patriot Act is far more Unconstitutional then this Health Care law.

I still havent taken a flight in years, voluntarily, at my own inconvenience.

french news station APP on my phone the reporter was saying " whats the big deal universal healthcare" it is a big deal for HMOs and pharmaceutical companies this means they will stay in business

Paul Amirault You are right on target

Yeah, and Social Security, and Medicaid and The VA and all the other FAILED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES we waste our TAX MONEY ON. REMBER THE LOCKED BOX? WHERE IS IT.....This is another reason for the government to confiscate more tax money to cover their TAX AND SPEND POLICIES! It's nothing more that the SHAM OF SOCIALISM!

FOR THOSE WHO VOTED FOR OBAMA...YOU VOTE AGAINST AMERICA, FREE ENTERPRISE AND FREEDOM....ASK ANY OF THE 13 MILLION UNEMPLOYED....
HAVEN'T YOU SCREWED THE COUNTRY ENOUGH?
NOVEMBER NOBAMA!

I always take comments seriously from someone with a name like "slangwhang."

The Romans fell also because they overexpanded militarily and lost focus of what's important at home.
You know, kinda like what our 'leaders' have been doing in the middle east (and domestically) the past decade. Spending trillions and trillions for NOTHING.

Drudge Report did this too. Gotta love real time internet news.

Oh, the Drudge Report slays me. Now they have a picture of Chief Justice Roberts with a big grin on his face and the headline "Take Your Medicine!"

who still watches CNN/Msnbc/nbc etc? They twist and distort..

amdactivity: just like fox news and CNS, they all do pretty much...

This is how the US Constitution lives on. The Supreme Court Justices were tasked with deciding which parts of this Health Care Law are constitutional. They made their decision. Now, we'll need to see what our elected officials do with this decision.

There are many days I'm embarrassed. You should see how the rest of the world views us. For example, they think we're ridiculous for not having universal healthcare.

TM----please move to another country, China or Russia, perhaps. I have always been proud to be an American, and today I cheer!

another tax and another means Congress can misappropriate funds rather than putting it towards healtcare cost, just like in our own state of Maryland when they collected milltions from the Tobacco companies.
Those who increase cost of Americans should pay the tax -like the obese, the smokers, the alcoholic waiting on a liver transplant . . .
On another note , I have family in Europe and know first hand how terrible universal healthcare is -my cousin had to wait 1 year before she could have her shoulder operated on for bilateral rotator cuff tear.
. . .Why do think think wealthy foreigners come to the US for healthcare?? There will be a decline in physcians and quality

TM its a strategy call and a good one too, the eyes are open. Lawyers don't know common sense, reasoning, and nature, and if you look at the Constitution reflects that.
Lawyers on the other hand struggle with common sense (not all but most)

Tim, good point, and I agree. It's just a shame that we have to further erode the Constitution to try to solve this problem. This will not fix our broken healthcare system; it will become more expensive than ever. This should have been left up to the states.

And now you have the "insured" individual that pays no premium being covered by the masses. Whats the difference?
Either way I pay.

Brian: On some level, I agree with you. I don't believe the PPAHA is the optimal solution to the Healthcare problem.

However, I have even less confidence that Republicans would do what was actually needed to fix the problem. All politicians at that level are 'on the take' from someone or another.
There's a very obvious reason the Healthcare situation we're in now got this way.

I would daresay that most insured individuals are not willingly uninsured. We simply cannot afford the huge premiums that are charged for individual insurance plans.

Our healthcare system took a major wrong turn with the Stabilization Act of 1942's wage caps, consequently leading to tying health insurance to employment. If we had a true free market system where everyone was responsible for shopping for their own care, healthcare costs would be much cheaper today.

I don't follow your argument. Given that "all politicians at that level are 'on the take' from someone or another", why would it make sense to give the government more power to dictate our actions? This ruling opens the doors for further corporatism.

Bonnie: Not neccesarily. Most people in their 20s forego insurance because they gamble on their good health (and obviously because premiums are too high).

Brian: My point was that nothing would get done to bring down health costs if the PPAHA didn't exist and get passed. People would still be getting screwed left and right by insurance companies.
You do know more about the history of health care then I, and I'm glad you mentioned the history you did.

I do agree that a pure free market would work best, but let's be realistic here. Free markets in this country don't exist. Businesses screw people, this forces regulation. Regulation turns into more costs, and the cycle continues ad nauseum.

See the EMTALA act. You are already paying for illegal immigrants to recieve healthcare. By law, hospitals cannot turn them away for emergency care. The catch is, the hositals cannot determine "emergency care" until after they see the patient due to the risk of descrimmination and 'dumping'.

I see a few are so happy to be taxed up the butt with this one. lol it is a new tax to be upheld by the irs.. Enjoy supporters enjoy and next time stop doing the pelosi dodo's.. you do have to read it before you sign it or enjoy it..

I'm with you Gloria!

LOL, greatest leader? Hardly.

Yea, let's erect statues of him in every city. Let's plaster posters of his visage on every wall. The "greatest leader the world has ever seen" has brought us one step closer to emulating that great country, North Korea!

Cheif Justice Roberts was appointed by GW Bush; not Obama.

A student of American history in our midst I see. Where in my post did I mention our glorious Chief Justice Roberts being appointed by President Obama? Regardless, thank you for reminding us of one good thing accomplished by the little prince.

Well that answer is easy - he'll say it was the Supreme Court that dictated to him it needed to be a tax.

edit: specifically, it was Justice Roberts himself. The 4 liberal judges believe the Commerce clause covers it. CJ Roberts does not. This is going to be the ultimate irony, because now Republicans are going to say "Obama swore it wouldn't be a tax!" and now Obama just has to say "but Chief Justice Roberts, a Republican appointee, told me it needed to be so."

Chief Justice Roberts just fashioned a 'get out of 'jail' free card" for the President with this decision.

Doug, It was W. that said and I quote " I'm a uniter, not a divider ". Please explain to me how President Obama is supposed unite the people of this great land when there are clearly too many racist out there! Now I know you'll tell me that I'm just playing the race card like all other liberals but face reality! It's right before our very eyes. Where were the teabaggers prior to the 08 eclection? Why all of sudden did these people care about our deficit when they were clueless before? If you ask me...I'm very pleased to see these people come crawling out of the woodwork for it only shines the light on what conservatives have been hiding for decades and that is simply, they don't care for anyone but thier own.

John..
First. yes, you are just playing the race card. 99% of all conservatives don't give a hoot about race, and would vote for Allen West in a second. It's the ideology of government control of everything in our lives, which most conservatives hate, and the entitlements of the left with no personal responsibility attached. Obama vowed to unite, and he's done nothing but divide. For instance, the majority of people in every poll last year said no to Obamacare, but he pushed it through anyway. Does that unite ??

agree 100% .. but that's the goal of the left and this administration. Government control, government dependency. Once 51% of the public is on the dole, there will be a one party system called socialism. Once other people's money runs out, we collapse.

So who pays for the hospital stay when the person without insurance decides they are not going to pay the 200k hospital bill?

Actually, I would say as Americans it's our responsibility to be eternally vigilant against the abuses of government. The power ultimately belongs to the people and we shouldn't automatically accept one branch of the Federal government agreeing with another. Now it's up to us (and the states) to decide how to respond.

Dutch is also a friend of the muslim brotherhood that has 26000 terrorist groups associated with them. He also supports the dream act which will cost taxpayers millions a year to subsidize the education for his children aged 18-80.. Dutch isn't rapped to tight. This is another Tax that the irs will hold you on.. Don't complain when you have to pay this whether you can afford or not. Hopefully your employer can afford it also..

?????????????? Well that was the most absurd jumble of junk I've ever seen.

Short Bus Issues I think.

yeah us white folks hate white folks.. another racist comment lynne. Why u act so dang uneducated.. enjoy your new obamacare tax and the $16 trillion in debt your paying for. Can't you see the high cost of food/tolls/utilities/fines/fees/speed cameras'a and hundreds of others? All associated.. its not about not wanting healthcare either. We all needed a new system but we want to go forward not backwards. 35 states cover preexisting conditions and more following. Dig deep lynne and try to not put race into a subject that isn't there. Many black people hate the goofus in office controlled by soros..

You're not getting it. You understand that in almost all nations with nationalized care you pay for the care in the form of outrageous taxes but then when you actually need to see a doctor you pay cash. It is understood in both Canada and Germany that cash basis medical care is the only way to see a doctor promptly. Not to mention, the absence of quality advanced medicine because it costs too much. Not to further mention the complete abandonment of the elderly. Remember Obama told the town haller who asked about surgery for her elderly mother...he said she could "take a pill". That means something to ease the pain and just await death. This is what we've come to - and they gutted 500 billion from medicare to help pay for this and your AARP helped misinform it's members. The whole thing is a sham.

Why didn't I think of that ? It's really a Black and White Issue ! Ballderdash !!!

amdactivist,

35 states cover preexisting condition NOW. They wanted to get a jump on what they thought was going to get passed.
This is the First presidency that I can remember where people and the Media disrespect the office of the President the way it has been disrespected. This may be racially motivated or it may not be. But the fact is that the office of the President has never been more disrespected than it is now.
Also your so called tax is a fine. The Supreme court says it is like a tax. And if you dont want to purchase health care, dont purchase it. Pay your fine (tax) and when you do need medical care and cant afford it, your fine (tax) can help supplement the cost.

Brian C. - How in the hell can you say this president is the first to be disrespected like he has? The democrats & liberals piled on Reagan, & both Bushes in a manner unheard of up to then. Civility went out of the window when all that occured.

Hardly. People are sitll mad, and nearly 50% of them are. It does validate the centerpiece of his presidency from a domestic standpoint however, and for him and the D's, that IS better then having it overturned.

if he gets re-elected i wonder what his supporters will say when they realize its another hefty tax if they don't get insurance or can afford it..

The election was a slam dunk for the President before the Supreme Court decision.

Quite the opposite. I think the majority of americans were looking for the supreme court to protect them from this obvious government overreach. Now that it appears that isn't the case; the wound reopens and festers until the election. It'll remind us everyday what's at stake in this nation and the tainted methods used to pass the bill in the first place - these people are dangerous to a free people and need to go.

Karl - The methods of which you speak, whether decisions of the Supreme Court, legislative action, or election "results", are all part of the same corrupt system. Do you seriously believe that the electorate has the power to change the culture in Washington DC?

You forgot about when he goes to DC and asks when his fat-cat congressional health insurance coverage kicks in.

Who Cares. If she wanted to Blog here she should have done so!

Steve Jobs is dead.

I think Romney's talking now.
Of course, he's really not saying anything.

133% to 400% of the federal poverty level. People below that will be covered under the Medicaid expansion.

Took me 5 seconds to google that.

Rand Paul is so straight he usually gets it right the first time !
Beware the Tea Party. We will descide this Election, and for years to come !!!

I am sick and tired of all of these divisional remarks. "Liberals . . . Tea Partiers . . ." or it's because he's a black president or because they're white republicans. It is truly amazing how facts are discarded because of perception. I have served my country for the last decade. I have watched my friends, guys that were closer than my family, bleed out on the hot desert ground, gasping for their last breath. My life camera is worn and broken because those images have flashed one too many times in front of my eyes.

Our country has fallen to the way side. No one agrees, no one moves forward, no one cares about any other perspective then their own. This is NOT what my brothers died for. This is not why my family stood the risk of loosing their husband and father. I am appalled at how issues become attacks. I am disappointed more and more everyday. What selfish days we're in. American . . . used to be . . .

If reform was needed in the Insurance Companies, why did Obama and the Dems do the exact opposite, and pass a Bad Bill in the middle of the night with instructions that it would be read end explained after passage ???

How?

LOL. Who on earth told you you could be arrested if you don't buy health insurance? The same people who told you there were going to be "death panels"? I feel sorry your grand kids have to deal with your nutty rants. It's remarkable that as access to facts becomes easier and easier it appears fewer and fewer people bother actually educating themselves.

Thats why FEMA built all the secret detention facilities around the country. It's for the people that refuse to buy health care insurance.

Health insurane is a good thing but forcing someone to pay or be fined. Totally wrong.

So taxes are totally wrong?

redflash, let's see. We force them to pay for their healthcare or we are forced to pay for their healthcare. I vote for them to pay for their healthcare.

LOL!!!

Time to look forward, Your are 100% correct, and It's going to be nasty. The ignorant ones will be used. 18-21 have not experienced life! They believe what is told to them, Some will know better. Time will tell...............

Time will tell....our country is in ruin at this point anyway...how can an un healthy country fix health care before fixing itself..?
Let the revolution begin....

You are correct, but remember when something bad happens good flourishes that is the greatness of Nature, common sense, and reasoning in which the Constitution defined by and written. The Greatest Document ever made and based on religious philosophy Deism , read Thomas Payne

Just stating what the Constitution based on Enlightenment of the mind Just look at these site its much easier then explain the thought process of the Constitution, Thomas Payne was human and well you know the rest of the story check the link out its just history we are talking about

http://www.angelfire.com/journal/LiteratureOfEngland/AgeOfReason.html

Buck You just quoted Nature, Common sense! Apparently FRANK has not read these books but it seems he is good at copy and paste. BTW Frank pamphlet Agrarian Justice (1795) is the precursor to Social Security

As for his death; Friendless............ Having no favors to bestow. Destitute of fortune. Addicted to utterance of truth and common sense was his life.

Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear .Mahatma Gandhi

Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident"

Thomas Paine,The Founding Fathers, Mahatma Gandhi Are communist?

I see broad consensus that the insurance companies are a large part of the problem. Now we're forced to support them. What if I want to pay for my own healthcare out of pocket (and not support the insurance companies)?

I agree that I'd rather pay for this than most of the other things Federal income taxes pay for. But this is a step in the wrong direction.

To BH,
Then dont buy health insurance. Pay the penalty and continue to pay your own healthcare cost. Just dont expect a bailout when you cant pay the bill when it comes in.

Brian C., of course I don't expect a bailout. But how is it fair for me to pay for my own healthcare as well as a penalty for not wanting to cater to the insurance companies?

The fairness comes in when you have a catastrophic medical issue and cant afford to pay for your health care out of your pocket, I wont have to pay (increased premiums and such) as much for it. You already have when you pay that fine(tax)

Does it include an equal quality of healthcare for both rich and poor?

It also mandates that insurance companies spend 80% of premiums on actual health care and not corporate overhead.

The law is actually pretty impressive in it's scope. This is a good summary:

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8061.pdf

Don't forget the students of American history!

Hey now, history was my favorite subject in high school. I could have seen myself as a Historian, except it's not exactly a field in demand fiscally.

What fields are in demand these days except for those in...

...wait for it...

HEALTH CARE!!!

Healthcare and Energy.

I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way.
Thomas Jefferson

The alternative is to get the government out of healthcare. Specifics in my blog post from 2009: http://www.livefreeorscream.com/2009/reforming-healthcare-with-less-government-not-more/.

Frank, that line of thinking makes sense to me. Seems to me that the real issue is MONEY. It is the same reason why we will always have dino fueled cars. Big Business wont let it go away because they will not be able to cash in.

Brian C. - exactly...see East, Middle.

The most optimistic studies report a 1-2% reduction in cost. Not exactly earth-shattering.

http://www.nber.org/bah/2009no3/w15371.html

Less favorable studies show no effect

http://www.citizen.org/publications/publicationredirect.cfm?ID=7721

She could buy it before, just without pre-existing condition coverage.

Yes, in an exchange that will increase risk pools for individuals and make the costs lower. Furthermore, the coverage will HAVE to cover the pre-existing condition. I find it really interesting that so many of the people here have such vehement opinions about a law they know little to nothing about. Furthermore, to say that a person could buy coverage before ACA without pre-existing coverage is ridiculous. People like my children who have the misfortune (and make no mistake, it could happen to you) of developing a chronic disease and need daily treatment to stay healthy and in remission, need health insurance to maintain their health. If they can maintain their health, then they can go to school/work and be productive. How does health coverage that doesn't cover the pre-existing condition make any sense at all?

That logic seriously makes sense in your head?

...you lost me on that one Leslie...what does that mean?

Correct David, To understand the Documents as Declaration of Independence, And Constitution you have to look into the mind set of the founding Fathers. if you read Thomas Paine then read these documents you will not be blind, the laws are based on Nature,Common Sense,reasoning and self-evident! One Supreme Being that we all in agree on. (*BTW the word GOD is a generic name) A country that can flourish in other beliefs except one group.Its that Simple. But the US history in schools are being indoctrination of one world order the UN wants Americans to be disarmed, one health care, etc Writing is on the wall
*go to the library and ask a book on God, the answer will be which one?

What? You mean health care is not already being rationed? You mean pre-existing conditions are already being covered and there are no co-payments for preventative care now? Then what do we need the ACA for?

Good lord. No, congress and the president haven't exempted themselves from the law. Read a book. Do you still think there are "death panels" too? You're bashing Medicare? Are you joking? Private insurers on average have an overhead cost of 20%. Medicare's overhead? 1%. Try again. Whine about factually correct things this time, please.

Concerning Medicare & overhead, there is some dispute in the amount of private insurance overhead estimates. According to CBO data, estimated administrative costs for private insurers are at 12 percent, as opposed to 20%. (That's not to say that 20% overhead costs don't exist). Furthermore, overhead in itself is not necessarily an accurate measure of the success of the program. If Medicare would spend more money in fraud prevention, then I would say that would be money well spent, even though it would result in higher overhead. Bashing Medicare, no, I'm not. However, according to Medicare actuaries the program will go broke in the next 10 years. Surely you're not suggesting that Medicare is well-run?

As far as rationing is concerned, I called yesterday and made an appointment for a mammogram, and got an appointment within the next 14 days. My sister-in-law who lives in England found a lump last July and had to wait until late December for a mammogram. She still hasn't had her surgery. I don't know about you, but I'd be unhappy with that. And every one of my friends/relatives in that part of the world is very unhappy with their system, and has warned against our heading in that direction.

Where the heck do you people think the money for all of this care is going to come from? What's so wrong about paying a co-payment for preventative care or paying for your own birth control pills? We need to change our health care laws, yes, but this isn't the way to do it.

Health care is already rationed in this country by ability to pay.

Well said Stephanie...

You sound like an expert with inside information. How do you know what all the premiums are going to be already?

That's a good question Frank.

That was the point of the individual mandate. Seriously, people need to learn how insurance works.

Very simple Leslie, they have to choose bankruptcy or death without having insurance. You just don't feel it unless it is you stuck without healthcare.

You could always go with Rush Limbaugh when he leaves the US now that the law has been upheld. The only problem is you'll have a hard time finding a place to go that doesn't already have some sort of nationalize medicine.

You mean the nationalized care in most nations now hovering on bankruptcy. That same care where a two tiered system exists...those on nationalized care sit in line, those with cash move to the front of the line because cash pay has developed in response to the inefficiency of nationalized care. In otherwords, it brings down the quality of care for everyone. This is a good thing...seriously you believe that? We bankrupt the nation and corrupt the quality of care for those who work and pay for thier own care? Good move...that's awesome.

Yeah. let's follow Greece and Spain, they sure prove the entitlement culture works just fine

Choose to beleive what you want Frank, but it's much more than that. Do you really think it's the government's job to fine me for not buying something, or forbid me to buy a 32oz soda, or wipe my ass when I don't ask for it. Government dependency is the goal of the left and certainly Obama

IT's not an obcession Frank. It's a point I'm making, when I see so many mindless people that need the government to do it for them

Frank is right, again.

Indeed, tax evasion is primarily what did Greece in. The housing bubble is what is doing Spain in. Just like Ireland a few years ago.

It's certainly not ridiculous to think that our forefathers would roll over in their graves if they new the government was now forcing you to buy something and fining or taxing you for not doing it.... regardless of population or slavery, or whatever other diversion you can think of. What will be next?

It's called freedom Frank, Freedom of choice. Freedom from government controlling our lives. Freedom from government dependency. Perhaps you don't understand that, or perhaps that's something you don't want. The nanny state just grew a little bigger today. or took a step to be much bigger. If this stays around, it is projected to cost 3 trillion dollars by 2016. Who's paying? This also may be the biggest job killing bill in history.

Your responses don't address mine Frank. How is this any different than the government taxing me for not eating broccolli if they can't make me eat it? Do you not think this govermnment has gone too far? If not, just say so.

The founding Fathers knew what they were doing, using the laws of nature Read the works of Thomas Paine and you can see what and how the Constitution was written, All men are created equal, by using nature ( its slow) slavery would have go away peacefully. This is easy, if one farmer is using slaves and another farmer uses labor to work off the piece of land the farmer owns (bartering) which farmer would you buy from? one that is holding slaves or the humanitarian that is selling his piece of land for his family? Its a peaceful way that nature. Many of us have lost the rules of nature because we do not farm and hunt, but sit in front of a PC that is man made. We are the ignorant ones. Another reason for this religious philosophy of Deism to which the Constitution refers to and not a Christian nation. Look at the lives of Da Vinci life Vs Ben Franklin. Freedom made the difference look at we are today by standing up and saying our country is founded Christianity completely False! Where our problem stems with the Muslim and War? On Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli? Like the Constitution is short and easy to read. Founders believed in the American people to have control. Who is in control? Out of 55 of the signers 35 were lawyers lived in a pure nature environment. Today's Lawyers sit in front of a PC and out of touch. You will find the answers to our issues by research the above. November is a peaceful way of revolution designed by? They were well ahead of there time

How is this tax different? Doug - If you get sick and don't have insurance even though you could afford it but chose not to get it . . . Tax Payers will no longer have to pay for your care. You have to accept responsibility and cover the cost yourself. That is the difference.

Here is Mitt Romney making the case for the individual mandate.

Mitt Romney First Introducing the Individual Mandate at Heritage Foundataion in Jan. 2006.

If the attached link won't work, search using the above title on You Tube to listen to Romney make the case.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTByvLtYIYA&feature=player_embedded

Republicans do not have to come up with anything. Before Obama-Care we had free enterprise. That's The American Way! Only a Socialist bunch like Obama, Pelosi an Reid could come up with this abomination, now law? It's not the job of The Executive nor The Legislative Branches to dictate Health Care, which prior to this generation was a "JOB BENEFIT" ! Go to work, negotiate benefits, and get on with life. Since when is Health Care a Constitutional Mandate? This country has an Immigration Problem, with all of the Immigrants in the last 20 years or so years com ing from Socialistic countries. So, when they come here, they expect all of the Social Engineering they had in the 'Old Country'. We are a Democratic Republic. Obama and his cronies would love to do away with The Constitution, and they're trying real hard to do so. What with Presidential 'Mandates', and midnight Bills being passed into law withour 'Reading' it. November will descide this matter once and for all !!!

The way to change this is through TORT REFORM and PORTABILITY. Most elected officials will not go there because...THEY ARE LAWYERS and most of them are in the pockets of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. If you really want to change the law these two ideas MUST be in the initial argument. Just saying.

RMI: Social Security as a concept is implemented well. We've had dishonest leaders robbing from it to pay for other things over the decades. That's why it'll be (at this point) insolvent in 25 years.

On a related note, the passing of Social Security faced similar furor. It turned out okay :)

Skip: Although I do support this health plan, ultimately I do agree with you. The BETTER solution would indeed work along the lines of what you suggest. However, let's be honest: The greed and dishonesty of the current pre-PPAHA health care system has as much to do with this implementation then anything else. If "private industry' wasn't screwing fellow human beings left, right, and center, this would have never been necessary.

I support the PPAHA simply because it's better then what we have, and to think that after 60 years Republicans would actually 'fix' the existing system is hilarious.

The only way these Republicans of today fix things is by making more money for themselves and their cronies.

Tim,

I think if you check the contributions for the last, say, 10 election cycles and look and see who is benefiting from policy decisions you will see that the Dems are JUST as guilty of cronyism as the Republicans. Especially here in Maryland. Just saying.

States have implemented tort reform. Most optimistic estimates show a 1-2% reduction. It's not the solution.

I can't tell if this is parody or not.

Also, it's totally happening on your watch. You must've been in the can for the last 4 years.

break away from England? who controlled the king?

Zoobie, More to the story, Vietnam same group

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/22661391.jpg

Tim, love it.

Some seem to be quoting Thomas Paine, while others Thomas Payne. In any case he wasn't responsible for the actual Writing of The Constitution. It was Thomas Jefferson, and went through many changes before the final draft was approved by all of the Signers. 'Wikipedia' has been proven incorrect on many, many issues, simply because anyone can contribute, and 'wikipedia' then states it as fact. I realize that you need an easy way to prove your case, and you seem to be hung-up on Thomas Payne (correct spelling), but 'wikipedia' is not a factually correct site. Next time you need validation for Constitutional or Founders issues, I suggest you explore The Library of Congress, or Encyclopedia Britanica, on-line.

Zoobie, Encyclopedia Britanica is now owned by the ones that has been changing real history, Its the (militarily order) behind the scene nothing to do with religion AT ALL! We could go into that but this is not the time or place we only have to Nov.

I am a small business owner in Perry Hall. I currently employ 11 people. So far during 2012, my health care costs per employee have gone up over $90 per employee. I was hanging my hat on the SCOTUS ruling, but since they failed, I will be laying off 3 of my employees this morning. I just cannot afford them anymore. Hope you are all very proud.

If you can't afford them over 270 bucks a month, your business must be terrible. Don't blame the Supreme Court because you failed.
More likely, you're just a troll.

JayDee, so let me understand this.

Yesterday you can afford them, today you can't. Put your head back in the sand. You sound spiteful.

Frank: Exactly.

I'm an imaginary business owner. Obama came to my store and punched me in the face and stole a bunch of money out of the cash register. Now I have to fire everyone because I'm being death panelled at the end of the week.

Interesting...
Who will pay the ObamaCare uninsured tax?

Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, who will pay the tax for not having health insurance?

CBO answered this in April 2010. They projected that in 2016, when the mandate is in effect and the tax is fully phased in, there will still be 21 million uninsured people. This belies the advertised “universal coverage” label.

Oversimplifying a bit, for most people the tax in 2016 will be $750 per adult and $375 per kid.

But while 21 million people will be uninsured, CBO said “the majority of them will not be subject to penalty.” That’s an understatement.

You won’t have to pay the tax if:

you’re not in the U.S. legally;

you’re in prison;

you’re poor (measured two different ways);

you’re a member of an Indian tribe;

you’re in a period of being uninsured that’s less than three months long;

your religion forbids getting health insurance; or

you get a waiver from HHS.

Link, please.

not all tribes have a system.. but you misseds the point regardless.

JayDee, those that haven't struggled with a small business, wouldn't have a clue. If this thing actually happens (and let's hope it doesn't) just sit back and watch the fall-out.

What I do know, is that if your business was doing better, you wouldn't be worried about this. If you let 3 people go, clearly it's because your business itself is terrible, and you should've never had that many employees to begin with.

Rates will stabilize in 2014-15. Admittedly, it means the same insurance companies that have been gouging America for decades will go into overdrive until then - why? Because they can. Because they've been unregulated by largely Republican run government for a couple decades now.

I look forward to seeing fallout, Doug. People having to actually take responsibility for their own health, or be taxed for not doing so. What a concept!

Tim - again, you have no idea what you are talking about. My business is holding its own in spite of the terrible Obama-induced economy, but $270/month is impacting me. I realize rates will stabalize in 2014-15, and that is EXACTLY what concerns me. They are certainly not going to stabalize lower - are they? When you get out of mom and dad's basement into the real world, you may get a clue.
I don't really care if this is initiative is republican or democrat - it is negatively impacting me and many other small businesses. It is BAD for business Tim. You seem like a decent person - but please don't tell me that my business is terrible when you really have no idea.

Wasn't it Bush and 8 years of Republican rule that caused the great recession? Obama wasn't even a senator yet when Bush and the Republicans took control of government and ran the economy into the ground. The last time the economy was in great shape was under President Clinton.

JD: If 270 a month is really impacting you, then it costs you ONE employee. Not three. That's assuming it's some minimum wage worker. Except they don't get insurance covered, so even that's a moot point.

Mom's basement? Please - and you're suggesting I don't know what I'm talking about? How cute.

Yes, I believe they will stabilize lower, because government will be regulating the price - instead of corporate greed which has destroyed the healthcare system we have today ever since the implementation of HMOs back when we were both kids.

If anything, I'd expect to be gouged more now. We already have been by health providers - in anticipation of this law going into effect. It's why I was initially anti-PPAHA. As I've learned more over the years it's been passed, I've warmed up to it, however. It's not the best solution for healthcare, but I've yet to see a good argument that shows it's worse then what we have now.

Finally, the "Obama" economy is a worldwide one, and this country's in MUCH better shape then most of the world. It's also been bled dry by two un-warranted wars started by the worst president in American history.

Obama hasn't helped this economy, but he's barely damaged it. Of course, it doesn't help that he can't pass ANYTHING, even rescinding the Bush tax Cuts (which I'd have done in 2011), because the do-nothing Congress does just that - nothing.

Frank: The thing is, both parties caused this recession. On some level it's pointless to assess individual party blame because it's not an all or none scenario. Democrats also voted for these wars. I'm also pretty sure they voted for the Bush Tax Cuts.

The way I look at it is how each party suggest we get out of the recession, and how we address our national debt. This core issue, along with gay rights/religion, are what ultimately what finally brought me to a more Democrat state of mind, just not entirely.
One party wants to cut federal (we'll call it social) spending, cut the military spending, and raise some funds via both taxes and tax reform. The other party just wants to cut federal social spending and maybe mix in some tax reform. I believe Paul Ryan is supporting tax reform, but not all Republicans do.

One solution is far easier to implement, and has a much higher probability of succeeding.

Current Obama approval rating: 48%
Current Congress approval rating: 17%

http://realclearpolitics.com/

Tim - I agree with you. I was just making a counterpoint to JayDee remark.

Ultimately none of us actually know how this is going to turn out 10 years from now. No one in Congress does. You think they all actually read and studied the bill?

I've seen the graphic that highlights all of the 'tax increases' as they were in this plan - the vast majority of them don't apply to ANYONE that makes under 200k (250k combined in a marriage). The one I refer to is highlighted in the Washington Times.

This massive tax increase is again, yet another gross exaggeration and more fearmongering from the Republican party to drum up support among the middle class for a measure that will end up hurting them in the long run.

The one exception to this is the "Cadillac Tax" which is a bit of a misnomer. It amounts to a 102 billion tax increase that - just like before the PPAHA - will likely result in increased rates from Health Insurance companies passing on the tax to people buying the insurance. The ol' law of unintended consequences.

Tim, you are mostly wrong. Amazing how we forget 11 years ago.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa052701a.htm

Some democrats, typical Blue Dogs went with the Republicans in idiocy that will remain with us unless Obama lets these stupid tax cuts expire..

There was no doubt Stolen Valor was going to be defeated. I think everyone would agree that you're a real jerk who probably deserves a punch in the mouth if you fake your military service/medals, but it's not a crime to act like a jerk as long as you don't committ fraud. Similarly it's not a crime to out these jerks on the internet and to make sure that everyone knows what sort of sleazy things they're doing.

Yeah, there was no doubt. I'm shocked it wasn't unanimous, though. Of course someone can tell a lie, assuming it's not fraud or otherwise illegal/puts the public in danger. That has long since been deemed a constitutional right. Broadly saying "lying about a military award is illegal", of course, flies in the face of our long-standing right to freedom of speech. Tailoring the law to say "lying about a medal, FOR MATERIAL GAIN, is illegal" would be constitutional, I'd imagine, because it's akin to fraud.

The Dems get elected by refusing to admit the obvious, or lying. Then the naive follow them...like screaming the race card when someone identifies reality, like the mobs of black youth, killing inner harbor business, or calling Obamacare something other than a tax. Baltimore City and every other major city in desperation in this country have been controlled by Dems for decades... look where it got them. The Dem party used to be for the "working people" now it's the party for those who don't want to work

Versus the party of the rich, Doogles?

Rich? I'm a conservative independent and certainly not rich. But the point is... look at history. The party of government dependency has controlled every major city for decades, and nothing has changed.

You just make it up to suit you 're own minds eye. Spoken like a true Liberal !

I'm a member of The Heritage Foundation, and this act wasn't our work. You won't find Pelosi, Reid or Dumbama anywhere on our membership roles. Now, leave me alone, I only deal in Truths !

oh buzzy thanks for all your input

oh yes so involved

I wondered how long it would take for the language tto become personal. Accusing someone of membership in the KKK is pretty 'trite' when compared with The Heritage Foundation. However, now knowing the mental capacity of the respondent, I'll just pass it off as ignorance. If you think 'Dumbama' is a racial slur, you're wrong. That's not what I'm about. But defending a Bill from the likes oh Pelosi, Reid and Dumbama tell exactly what you're about. Socialism and the Free Ride. Good Day !