This is such a right-wing policy, it’s regressive taxation. Make the middle class pay (if the propaganda is even true that these will be people who could buy insurance). The fine will be up to $700 in 2016, at which point it will become indexed to the consumer price index. A $700+ hit is to come, for those who don’t want their hard earned money stripped away from them by the rapacious health insurance oligopolies.
This is like being taxed for not wanting to be mugged, or stricken by a head cold! Thanks so very much for the “lift” Barry! I want Obama taxed for every redundant weapons system that he signs off on while sitting president. And — make no mistake — Obamacare is not universal, Obama should also be taxed heavily for every American citizen that dies; lacking health insurance, while he occupies 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And should Obama embark upon any wars of choice (Libya anyone?), he, no doubt, should be taxed egregiously also.
These “remedies” certainly won’t fix, the horrible mess that Obamacare has made (as well as the ills that Obama has inherited). But perhaps they can make a small contribution, or at least a baby step toward — atonement for the many sins of the body politic of this nation.
update: The individual mandate is an idea that originates, with the right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation. Good analysis of what this all means (the SC decision, Obamacare, etc) from Dr. Margaret Flowers.
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Comments
Nothing would mean social and economic chaos. And the Supreme Court was very well aware of the total implications when they made their ruling.
We know that many bad policies are enacted b/c our politicians are bought and paid for, but I choose to argue to do the right things -- the things that should be done -- not compromise with what is done (because of a rotten/corrupted/decrepit/pay-to-play system). I'm not religious, but to do anything else, I believe would be called a sin of omission.
In Massacusetts last I knew 17% of residents have health insurance, but cannot afford to use it. Do we really want to be levying fines on people like this, who don't want to be impelled by this mandate? Do we think folks like this can easily deal with the Obamacare fine? (If you read the article I linked to they call this a weak penalty, for many Americans, I would certainly say that is false.)
I'm not sure when most of Obamacare goes into effect I think it's like 2016, or something... So, as of yet, I don't think that much has changed.
p.s. Prior to Obamacare, I'd often hear from single-payer advocates that you think you are insured, but you don't really know until you get sick -- if you really are. Since it's a leap of faith to trust any health insurance company/policy, it was certainly a masterstroke by Obama to make it a violation not to do so.