Of COURSE America should punish citizens who don't buy medical insurance !!1!

[elehhhhna]

Can you believe we're even having this conversation?

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE, yanno.

USA! U!S!A!

[JuniperLea]

1. I cannot believe all the different takes on this...

when we all, hopefully, have read the same thing.

Weird.

[Captain Hilts]

2. I'm starting to have a whole new understanding of how difficult this must have been in the '90s

I was out of the country and missed the debate as it evolved.

[elehhhhna]

3. debate? there wasn't one. had BC been serious about HC reform,

he'd never have put HC in charge.

IMHO

[sandnsea]

12. It was worse, as this will be

And it was on top of the backlash against DADT and Waco and I don't remember what all. Fun times. I have subsidized health insurance and that is why I will be thrilled if we even get that far, provided the subsidy is as generous as Oregon's.

[New Dawn]

4. Forcing people to buy anything from a private company is fascist economics.

It is no surprise that the DLC is promoting this. We need a real universal healthcare system like Canada and the UK has, and not a vile regurgitation of old fascist Italy's policies.

[Thothmes]

5. Brought to you by the "Change we can Believe in"

crowd.

[hfojvt]

10. awesome. keep those PUMA claws sharp.

Nader 2012!!!

[elehhhhna]

6. Ya think? BTW, it WAS called "medical insurance" until the late 80's or so --

when it became "health" insurance. A total, swift, and very successful rebranding, btw.

Since then it's been all about denial of care. Can you say "conflict of interest"? When you consider it objectively, it's an absurd situation. Bushlike, even.

[valerief]

8. Sounds like the HMO era rebranded it. nt

[elehhhhna]

11. BINGO, valerief!

[Captain Hilts]

7. More corporatist. nt

[hfojvt]

9. except that I heard on the TV that there is a government option

it's not that much different than forcing people to pay taxes to pay for single payer, and it's a step towards that single payer.

[elehhhhna]

13. define "not that much different"

[stray cat]

14. No medical insurance no medical care - is that better?

I have a hard time letting people who exercise their freedom not to participate in a national health care problem die if they get sick but I guess that is there choice and the practice of their freedom. Universal health care has to be universal.