Many Americans die each day for lack of health insurance

I agree...especially with the argument that we are spending too much making war instead of taking care of our own. We will never change those people over there...they are not like us and we should recognize that and get the hell out. As for the health bill...we need it yesterday. Yes we (the U.S.) have the best medical facilities and technology the world has to offer but unfortunately only the rich or the fully insured can realize that benefit. The rest suffer, or receive indigent services which amounts to nothing. Its time to quit this nonsense and get a government plan for those who want it or need it.

Yes, but look at the logic of our comrades on this forum. Perf and others. "You dont have healthcare? Get a job! What you dont have a job or one without benefits? Then you are lazy!"
Perf pointed out that that percentage may be jailed now.
Well at least they will now get healthcare in jail! Which is a free handout according to Perf, so I guess they should just die.

If all this passes by law you will have to have it or go to jail. So now there will be the possibilities of people in jail who do not want health care? People are complaining of all of the waste from the wars but refuse to talk about the waste and abuse of these governments entitlements. I hear the screaming about Hailiburton but little or nothing about medicare SS Fannie for Freddie housing fraud. That has cost more that the wars we are fighting.
President Obama and the Democrats want a single payer plan and nothing else. Where will you choices be after that.

We need these people in jail, not having healthcare is traitous! They are obviously lazy and of no use to society..

If this bill is passed by the senate and signed into law you will see a sharp increase in people dying due to lack of health care and my it start with all the old liars in both the house and senate like pelosi and ried.

US Navy wrote:

If all this passes by law you will have to have it or go to jail. So now there will be the possibilities of people in jail who do not want health care? People are complaining of all of the waste from the wars but refuse to talk about the waste and abuse of these governments entitlements. I hear the screaming about Hailiburton but little or nothing about medicare SS Fannie for Freddie housing fraud. That has cost more that the wars we are fighting.
President Obama and the Democrats want a single payer plan and nothing else. Where will you choices be after that.

November 7, 2009
Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

In response to the JCT letter, Camp said:“This is the ultimate example of the Democrats’ command-and-control style of governing – buy what we tell you or go to jail. It is outrageous and it should be stopped immediately.”

Key excerpts from the JCT letter appear below:
“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.”[page 1]
–-–-–-–-–-
“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…”[page 2]
–-–-–-–-–-
“Criminal penalties
Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:
• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.”[page 3]
When confronted with this same issue during its consideration of a similar individual mandate tax, the Senate Finance Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to include language in its bill that shielded Americans from civil and criminal penalties. The Pelosi bill, however, contains no similar language protecting American citizens from civil and criminal tax penalties that could include a $250,000 fine and five years in jail.
“The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration. Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates. Fortunately, Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare,” said Camp.
According to the Congressional Budget Office the lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker’s bill would cost $15,000 in 2016.

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.
Thomas Jefferson

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.

Now remember the President has said numerous times, He will not sign a health care bill that raises the defecit. Now we all know that is a lie. He will sign any health care bill that comes across his desk.
Thomas Jefferson

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
Thomas Jefferson

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.
Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson

If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?
Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson

This is why we are Democrats...
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

I see the fear tactics are alive and well in the comments. First, I do not agree with the section that is still in the Senate concerning criminal prosecuetion, however, sadly, in this country the only way to change the moral consciousness to do the right thing is to pass laws to force people to change their moral compass.

We have nearly 48 million Americans that make too much to qualify for Medicaid, they fall into the cracks. 15 million children fall into these cracks. One person tells people to get a job and buy insurance, these people cannot afford it, however they will be able to afford it when everyone is insured and the profit and greed is removed by a one universal health care plan.

It is amazing how one uses the quotes of Thomas Jefferson to twist and turn this issues of universal health care for every American into some
conspiracy of the government to control their lives.

The bottom line is this. The country cannot stay o the course it is on regarding the present profit making health insurance business. More and more people will not be able to get proper health care and my comment to those that are fighting this is this. Do you have health insurance? If you don't and you get sick, do you want to die because you can't get health care because the way it is now, you would have to sell nearly all of your assets to qualify for Medicaid. That is what I find ludricious and Medicaid needs to be done away with an replaced with a Universal Health Care insurance program. Just because one becomes sick and needs medical treatment they should not be forced to liquidate their assets to get Medicaid to pay their hospital bills. If they don't, and they don't file bankruptcy,( 60% of all bankruptcies are now caused by huge medical bills ), they will be paying medical bills the rest of their lives.

It is amazing how ignorance of what is the obvious that needs to be done seems to guide people to fear which then leads people in the wrong decisions thus creating more problems in the end. Americans are known for creating more problems because of this ignorance and lack of common sense to do the obivious.

In England, everyone has a flat amount take out of their paychecks, but everyone has health care and dental and eye care in England and it also includes prescription drugs. There are no co-pays either. England finally realized to have fair and equal access for all of their citizens regardless of position in life, they had to eliminate for profit making insurance companies and have one Universal Health Care plan for all of their citizens.

Health care should be a right, not a priviledge and
that is exactly that those that have no moral compass and compassion for their fellow man is saying when they object to a Universal Health Care plan for all Americans.

David Dewey wrote:

I see the fear tactics are alive and well in the comments. First, I do not agree with the section that is still in the Senate concerning criminal prosecuetion, however, sadly, in this country the only way to change the moral consciousness to do the right thing is to pass laws to force people to change their moral compass.
We have nearly 48 million Americans that make too much to qualify for Medicaid, they fall into the cracks. 15 million children fall into these cracks. One person tells people to get a job and buy insurance, these people cannot afford it, however they will be able to afford it when everyone is insured and the profit and greed is removed by a one universal health care plan.
It is amazing how one uses the quotes of Thomas Jefferson to twist and turn this issues of universal health care for every American into some
conspiracy of the government to control their lives.
The bottom line is this. The country cannot stay o the course it is on regarding the present profit making health insurance business. More and more people will not be able to get proper health care and my comment to those that are fighting this is this. Do you have health insurance? If you don't and you get sick, do you want to die because you can't get health care because the way it is now, you would have to sell nearly all of your assets to qualify for Medicaid. That is what I find ludricious and Medicaid needs to be done away with an replaced with a Universal Health Care insurance program. Just because one becomes sick and needs medical treatment they should not be forced to liquidate their assets to get Medicaid to pay their hospital bills. If they don't, and they don't file bankruptcy,( 60% of all bankruptcies are now caused by huge medical bills ), they will be paying medical bills the rest of their lives.
It is amazing how ignorance of what is the obvious that needs to be done seems to guide people to fear which then leads people in the wrong decisions thus creating more problems in the end. Americans are known for creating more problems because of this ignorance and lack of common sense to do the obivious.
In England, everyone has a flat amount take out of their paychecks, but everyone has health care and dental and eye care in England and it also includes prescription drugs. There are no co-pays either. England finally realized to have fair and equal access for all of their citizens regardless of position in life, they had to eliminate for profit making insurance companies and have one Universal Health Care plan for all of their citizens.
Health care should be a right, not a priviledge and
that is exactly that those that have no moral compass and compassion for their fellow man is saying when they object to a Universal Health Care plan for all Americans.

I read the rants and smoke filled logic of you and your fellow travelers with disdain. Health care a right? No! Emergency and charity health care a privelige provided to the sick, lame, and lazy by a compassionate society? Yes.

So, let me ask you liberal fools something: Do you itemize your tax deductions in order to pay less taxes? If you do you are hypocrites and liars by then demanding others pay more taxes for you to feel better about yourselves by handing the blood money out to other people...after keeping a tidy percentage for yourselves, of course.

Jail to the chief.

David Dewey wrote:

I see the fear tactics are alive and well in the comments. First, I do not agree with the section that is still in the Senate concerning criminal prosecuetion, however, sadly, in this country the only way to change the moral consciousness to do the right thing is to pass laws to force people to change their moral compass..........

I do not object to a universal health care. Just one run by the government. You can only tax the rich so much before they run out of money. Then it will be our turn. You yourself tell how bad medicare is. How well do you think this is going to be? I do not see congress putting themselves on the plan they are putting out. Can you really trust a health-care bill written by a bunch of bureaucrats?? I feel our current system might be able to be fixed if they could do away with the lawyers and let doctors make decision based on their judgment and not what they have to due to avoid getting sued.
When has the government been able to do anything at the first cost. If all this passes I bet we can see the cost at least triple what is estimated today. And how are the private companies going to compete with the government? What happens if private insurance goes away?? How many more people will be out of a job thanks to the government? And the last question is how is the current system going to handle an additional 30 to 50 million people. I already have a wait of an hour or more just to see my doctor. You can not train medical people in a couple of weeks. It will take up to 10 years to get enough doctors and medical personal to cope with the work load.
This is not England!! We do not have a flat tax (good luck trying to get congress to take that up)
The truth is not a scare tactic. If all this passes things are only going to get worse not better!!!!!

It is interesting how some people resort to name calling to justify themselves.

A Universal Health Care Plan that I am talking about is one where it is run by non-profit health exchanges, not by corporate profit making insurance entities. Where is this taxing the rich coming from as someone posted? I said NOTHING about taxing anyone more unfairly.

I said nothing about taxing the rich more. For it to be fair and equal for health care, a flat tax for a Universal Health Care Plan would be the same for EVERYONE and it would be CHEAPER than the premiums that those that are now paying for health insurance. The tax is deducted from paychecks just like other taxes.

It is interesting how those of us that look at this problem using intelligence and common sense are called all sort of names as liberal fools etc.etc.

What no one still has NOT answered is what I wrote in my letter.

Why is it in the richest country on earth that we
have 122 Americans a day dying because of a lack of health insurance and why are we allowing 15 million children without any type of health care. Where is the moral compass of this country ? The country has no moral compass in my opinion when these incomprehensible things are being allowed to occur.

Would someone please answer those questions.
Why are we allowing this to occur in this country?
None of the comments posted thus far have answered those questions.

Again, why are we allowing such things to occur in this country? Instead of calling people names, using arguments that have no basis of fact, why don't you come up with solutions to these problems?

What I find amusing is this; those that are complaining and fighting a Universal Health Care plan, don't have health insurance. Have you stopped to think what would happen to you if you got sick? And let's say you could not qualify for Medicaid, unless you liquidated your assets to qualify for Medicaid to get treatment. Or another example, your spouse gets sick, you have no health insurance, run up huge hospital bills and have to file bankruptcy. Do you know how many Americans in 2008 filed bankruptcy because of medical bills
and it is growing at a rate of 20% a year!

I remember something my Grandmother told me once.

"Those that can't see the handwriting on the wall are the ones that are the true fools - those that scream the loudest against something are the ones the most ignorant to the facts and the problems. They always complain about everything, want everything, but never come up with a solution to a problem."

That is what is occurring with the health reform issue. We have alot of ignorant people that do not know the facts, that can't see the handwriting on the wall. We are on a train that is about to have a major train wreck. I hope that enough people will wakeup to the "real" facts before it is too late and we have such a problem in this country regarding health care that only the rich can afford treatment.

Instead what I see is this: There are those of us that are trying to inform people with the facts that the sky is going to fall on their heads, however, those people will argue it isn't until it actually hits them in the head..and then they will ask, "What happened?"

This I call sheer stupidity for not seeing the handwriting on the wall as my Grandmother once said.

The sky of health care in this country is about to hit EVERYONE in the head. We must do something to prevent this.

Not only will this health care bill affect the millions of americans on programs such as medicare, but it will also affect the health care industry. For example, when I was living in Germany where they have socialized health care, a nurse made no more than $7.50 per hour. If nurses are only making that amount of money, then what are they going to pay doctors? People will be dropping out of the health care field left and right.

David Dewey wrote:

It is interesting how some people resort to name calling to justify themselves........

To answer your question. Because this is a free country. There is no doubt that our current system needs some reform. I would start with limiting lawsuits against the medical industry. Reduce the tax burden on the industry. Allow insurance company national access. Provide tax credits to people who work in the field.

Now I have a couple of questions. How many people are dying everyday that do have health insurance? How can a universal system stay solvent without having to increase its burden on the people who support it? How would a universal system attract people to work in it? And the biggest question would be. How do you keep from collapsing the whole system for 250 millions people who are covered to cover the 15 to 48 million who are not.
It has nothing to do with our country's moral compass. It has to do with our freedoms.
I do like the flat tax system (no more having to file a tax return), Problem with that is our government would have to give up a lot of control over us. No more increased taxes on alcohol and tobacco.(big money maker for the government from the poor). They would have to scrap the cap and trade system they are working on. The would have to overhaul the IRS (yippee). It would also help reduce the size of government also. It would be great for business because they would be able to reduce overhead cost and be able to work taxes into their finical goals. Sure there will be some businesses that would end up paying more in taxes, I think in the long run it would even out on them though.

Just because someone opposes a point of view does not make them less intelligent.

You ask why?
Because you have politicians in Washington who are influenced by lobbists, the pressure to remain party loyalists, the need to remain in power, so reelection is on their minds. Get rid of the special interest in Washington, Demand term limits, stop earmarks, etc....
Now before the universal health care train pulls into the station, you need to worry about the real big example of Washington finest example of mismanagement on Social Security, and the nations defecit...
Health care should be a few pages long allowing all to cross state lines to buy insurance, no disqualifing condition, morality correct malpractice insurance, and a government plan for more doctors and nurses.
The house bill is more of the same bs from washington, and it will create more issues.

Basic rights in the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt:

"In our day certain economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. A second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, or race, or creed. Among these are: The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines throughout the nation. The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation. The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living. The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom, freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad.

The right of every family to a decent home. The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health. The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment. The right to a good education. All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward in the implementation of these rights to new goals of human happiness and well-being. For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."

US Navy wrote:

<quoted text>
To answer your question. Because this is a free country. There is no doubt that our current system needs some reform. I would start with limiting lawsuits against the medical industry. Reduce the tax burden on the industry. Allow insurance company national access. Provide tax credits to people who work in the field.
Now I have a couple of questions. How many people are dying everyday that do have health insurance? How can a universal system stay solvent without having to increase its burden on the people who support it? How would a universal system attract people to work in it? And the biggest question would be. How do you keep from collapsing the whole system for 250 millions people who are covered to cover the 15 to 48 million who are not.
It has nothing to do with our country's moral compass. It has to do with our freedoms.
I do like the flat tax system (no more having to file a tax return), Problem with that is our government would have to give up a lot of control over us. No more increased taxes on alcohol and tobacco.(big money maker for the government from the poor). They would have to scrap the cap and trade system they are working on. The would have to overhaul the IRS (yippee). It would also help reduce the size of government also. It would be great for business because they would be able to reduce overhead cost and be able to work taxes into their finical goals. Sure there will be some businesses that would end up paying more in taxes, I think in the long run it would even out on them though.
Just because someone opposes a point of view does not make them less intelligent.

The only problem with the flat tax is you end up overtaxing the little guy. Under the current tiered system, those with tons of cash pay a higher percentage...they still end up with tons of cash and the little guy gets a little needed break.

40 percent of America don't pay income tax so how is that tiered system working out for ya.

Sure, but some wingnut will find someone from Canada or England who didn't get proper health care. Then they will tell us that one person is more important than thousands of Americans.

Gorky wrote:

Basic rights in the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt:
"In our day certain economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. A second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, or race, or creed. Among these are: The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines throughout the nation. The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation. The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living. The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom, freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad.
The right of every family to a decent home. The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health. The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment. The right to a good education. All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward in the implementation of these rights to new goals of human happiness and well-being. For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."

Good words...
But they are NOT in the constitution..
The congress does not have teh RIGHT to impose a insurance program on the people and then impose a FINE for not getting it. That is NOT in the consitution. It took amendments to get a Tax system, and it SHOULD take the same for this type of healthcare as well.
Why not put it to the people like that....??
I'll tell you why...
becasue it would FAIL!!!!!!!!!!
This bill that just passed now makes my TRICARE taxable income! Men and women how faithfully served thier country will now have to pay taxes on thier healthcare because TRICARE is considered a "cadaliac" system....
It will also increase my co-payments up to $6,301 dollars a YEAR!
Of course, all you military haters will say that we need to start paying for our healthcare.... It's the "RIGHT" thing for all us freeloaders to do....
We offer our lives to our country, get a promise of healthcare for our 20+ years of dedication, and along comes a do-nothing legion of haters to take our benefits away in the name of fairness...

But keep quoting IDEAS from a former president that are not in the constitution....
They all sound good, especially if you want to have the government take care of all your needs from cradle grave... So much for personal achievement and goals.... Let the government give you them as well!??

I perfer to WORK for my rewards.. All you extremeists should try it for a change