On the mandate, who is going to be genuinely outraged?

[ProSense]

More than 250 million people already have health coverage, whether through the VA, Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.

Who is going to be outraged?

Every American with coverage will benefit from some aspect of the new law. They will now be protected from insurer abuses and skyrocketing premiums.

Of the 32 million who will gain coverage, how many of them are going to complain about being able to afford insurance?

Also, anyone whose premium exceeds 8 percent of income, will be exempt from the mandate. That means if you don't want to purchase health insurance, you don't pay a penalty.

Still, how many people are going to opt out of purchasing insurance if it's under 8 percent of their family/individual income?

I've seen some people claiming their premiums are now $1,000 per month. After reform, unless you earn over $150,000 per year, you would be exempted from the mandate.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Not Noam Chomsky.

Gosh what a corporatist sellout he is.

[tekisui]

2. Chomsky supports it?

That is interesting, do you have a link?

[ProSense]

5. Interesting comments:

"If I were in Congress," he said, "I’d probably hold my nose and vote for it, because the alternative of not passing it is worse, bad as this bill is. Unfortunately, that’s the reality."

"If it fails, it wouldn’t put even limited constraints on insurance companies," he explained, noting that the bill takes "at least has some steps towards barring the withholding of policies from people with prior disabilities." The consumer protections from dodgy insurance practices are among the bill's most popular components.

The mandate to purchase insurance has been a central qualm of progressives and conservatives opposed to the effort. Chomsky, while admitting it’s a boon to insurance companies, called it a "step toward universality," asserting that "without some kind of mandatory coverage, nothing is going to work at all."

link

Convoluted, but interesting.

[tekisui]

6. I like that convolution.

I have the same approach. I grew increasingly less enthralled by the bill as it went from the House to the Senate last year. However, I applaud its passage as an important first step. Much needed regulation and protections for Americans.

[Cha]

4. I googled and saw a headline

"I'd hold my nose and vote for the bill"..Chomsky.

It's a start..and that's why the real progressives voted for it.

[alc]

3. me.

It's fine to focus on the positives of the bill, but don't forget that it is now considered an appropriate role of government to mandate purchase of products. I do not trust all future congresses to use this precedent only for good.

[phleshdef]

7. You don't have to purchase it.

Just pay the small tax instead.