tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143820766803772881.post4862276185913541912..comments2023-03-25T05:47:59.204-07:00Comments on Ruminations of a Junkie for Politics: DisdainUncle Walthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08287229628325946260noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143820766803772881.post-47496855078747782392010-03-25T12:23:37.579-07:002010-03-25T12:23:37.579-07:00Smaktakula,
I agree that some people that agree w...Smaktakula,<br /><br />I agree that some people that agree with me about the need for universal health care and for Health Insurace Reform at the national level are not as conversant about the benefits or costs of this bill as I am, or as you are. But in all my discussions about the bill, I have not seen supporters be so completely wrong as the opponents seem to be.<br /><br />This bill, what ever you think about the Individual Mandate, is not a socialist bill. It should have the impact of putting another 32 million people on the rolls of Private Insurance companies, both for Profit or not for profit. This bill does not even include a Public Option.<br /><br />I was struck over and over in the numerous debates leading up to this occassion, the unwillingness of opponents to actually discuss the bill. They would call it names like Socialist, they would lie about it with talk of Death Panels and Subsudies for Illegal Immigrants or Federal funding of Abortion. They would ignore the CBO scoring and claim, with no basis other than their desire to oppose, that the program would add to the deficit.<br /><br />I understand your concern about the individual mandate. I am not convinced that part of the program will survive the Supremes. I suspect it will, but I am not confident. Mass has had an individual mandate similar to this since 2007 and it seems to be working.<br /><br />I believe that the Individual Mandate is an important part of this program. We require anyone that drives to have insurance because things happen. Our system already requires that people get some basic level of emergency care even if they cannot pay. The result of that is that everyone already gets limited access to health care. The problem is they are not paying for it. They are freeloading on the rest of us. You can argue the numbers, but the care that the uninsured gets costs those of us who do have insurance somewhere between $200 and $1000/year. I would rather they carry their own load.<br /><br />This stopped being a completely private decision when we, through our legislature, decided that we would not, morally could not, deny emergency/urgent care to people if they would not be able to pay for that insurance.<br /><br />I am an advocate of Single Payer, though I fail to see what it is in this bill (without even a public option) that will make single payer inevitable.<br /><br />To circle back to your initial point. I agree that being less than completely informed does not invalidate someones concerns. But, in my experience in this debate, a huge fraction of the opponents were opposed to this bill for reasons that simply weren't true. Being opposed to a bill because of things that are NOT ACTUALLY in the bill, that does sort of invalidate their concerns.Uncle Walthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287229628325946260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1143820766803772881.post-39745767023661326442010-03-25T11:27:25.595-07:002010-03-25T11:27:25.595-07:00This was well-argued, and as an opponent of this l...This was well-argued, and as an opponent of this legislation, I can't deny that some of its vocal opponents are not completely informed about it. That does not invalidate their concerns. Likewise, there are a great many proponents of the legislation who are at best, seriously naive, and at worst, outright liars.<br /><br />My biggest concern with the health-care legislation is that it will force me to buy health insurance. This is well-intentioned, but unAmerican.<br /><br />I fail to see why I should be forced to buy health insurance (in full disclosure--yes, I do pay for health insurance but it's by choice). If abortion is a privacy issue (as decided by the supreme court) why is every other aspect of our health any business of the government?<br /><br />I'm amazed that advocates of a single-payer system aren't delighted by this legislation. No, it doesn't achieve the ultimate goal, but it puts in place a system so flawed that it will force a single-payer system on us. So for people who are antsy for a European-style system, I urge a little patience.<br /><br />This is a great day for that small portion of Americans who long for the happy day when we will be nurtured by Mother State from cradle to grave and our most difficult choice will be what to watch and what to TIVO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com