If we end up with a health care bill that only has what the Republicans want in it...

[Joanne98]

What should we do then?

There was a Republican on Hardball that said he would be for making people buy insurance from the private sector. That's forced payments to the insurance companies.

If that in the bill I don't want it at all.

[snappyturtle]

1. I agree! What you said PLUS if there are no reins on the insurance

companies, how can we be certain that healthcare won't become even more expensive despite a greater user base?

edit: replace wrong word!

[TahitiNut]

2. Just call it what it is: "Tort Reform" (or toss the victims of malpractice to the wolves)

:shrug:

[yourout]

3. In other words.....worse than nothing.

It is sure looking like that is were it is heading.

[Warpy]

5. Don't say that until you've had nothing

for as many years as I have.

Masscare expanded nationally won't work for many reasons and this whole mess will have to be revisited, probably within a decade.

However, it will allow people who have been declared uninsurable to get insurance, something that isn't the case now. Subsidies will cover many of the working poor.

It just won't end the abuses contributing to costs that are rising at something like twice the rate of inflation. It won't force insurance giants to face the first real competition ever and it won't offer an incentive for them to get their ridiculous overhead costs down. It also won't change the culture in which the denial of care is the best way to maximize profit.

I'm against a national expansion of Masscare. It will insure more people but it will leave most of the horrible problems we're facing in place.

Still, don't try to tell me it's worse than nothing.

[yourout]

6. A mandate to buy insurance with no public option IS WORSE THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW!

The insurance companies will go on a rape and pillage you will not belive when they know you are forced to buy insurance.

[snappyturtle]

12. I agree with you as long as the insurance companies are not allowed

to charge folks more for pre-existing conditions just to satisfy that insurance is available to all. But, at what cost?

[glinda]

4. First thing out of his mouth was "If it doesn't affect the Insurance Industries".

Second thing was abortion. Third thing was across State lines you can purchase Insurance. Whhhhhhhhhhhaaaaa????? Now I have to pay for gas to get it or go to another State for care????? What? Texas????? Could happen. Ass-wipes.

If the Dems do not get their crap together and just make it affordable and a accessible for all, it is done for.

[provis99]

7. if its only what Republicans want in it,

then Obama should veto it. Because you know it would be worse than the system we already have.

[yourout]

9. Anything that gets more than 4 Republican votes should be vetoed.

That is a pretty good indicator of worthiness.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. I won't pay one red cent to a private ins co. I'm boycotting.

[NightWatcher]

10. what branch of the government is going to enforce and collect the fines from rejecting insurance?

How long before they crank up the debtor's prisons for the benefit of Corrections Corp of America?

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. I wouldn't be surprised if they started a whole new government office to oversee the enforcement ,,,

when they could be administering healthcare benefits.

[snappyturtle]

13. Yep, and they ought to go to the state of MN to find out how.

My son, who went through HELL trying to support himself a few years ago got thrown into jail for not having vehicular insurance. I can't tell you exactly what that cost but it was sizeable plus he wasn't working and getting deeper in debt. His pride kept him from telling me he didn't have the money to buy insurance...it was an awful experience...the police, the courts, the fines, ad infinitum. He still doesn't have a car and walks to two different jobs even when it's forty below. He's doing better now and of course, to get a car he has to pay insurance for an entire year to get tags. You can't win.

[Marr]

14. Can you imagine the same thing happening under Bush?

Can you imagine a bill slowly coalescing into something that was 100% what the Democrats wanted, and then having it signed by the President? Sounds insane, doesn't it? But in reverse, it's called "bipartisanship".