President Obama: Jail Time for Those Without Health Care Insurance
No Insurance
As the health-care debate rages, one cannot help but read about this issue of penalties and jail-time for those who refusing to participate in the new and improved government-run health care system. Think I’m making this up?
During an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Jake Tapper today, President Obama said that penalties are appropriate for people who try to “free ride” the health care system but stopped short of endorsing the threat of jail time for those who refuse to pay a fine for not having insurance. The President starts;
“What I think is appropriate is that in the same way that everybody has to get auto insurance and if you don’t, you’re subject to some penalty, that in this situation, if you have the ability to buy insurance, it’s affordable and you choose not to do so, forcing you and me and everybody else to subsidize you, you know, there’s a thousand dollar hidden tax that families all across America are — are burdened by because of the fact that people don’t have health insurance, you know, there’s nothing wrong with a penalty.”
Under the House bill those who can afford to buy insurance and don’t’ pay a fine. If they refuse to pay that fine there’s a threat – as with a lot of tax fines and of jail time.
So all those words about Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness are pretty much out the window with the health-care bill. What if I chose not to pay for health-care, but instead chose to take care of my health? Instead of sitting on my butt eating Hostess Twinkies, I chose to eat right, work out regularly, watch my weight, take a good multivitamin, don’t smoke, don’t drink or do drugs; you know, generally take responsibility for my life, my body and my health. If I choose to live that way, according to the President of the Free World, I should go to jail and face a heavy fine. Is this now my America?
Mr. Obama said penalties have to be high enough for people to not game the system, but it’s also important to not be “so punitive” that people who are having a hard time find themselves suddenly worse off, thus why hardship exemptions have been built in the legislation.
“I think the general broad principle is simply that people who are paying for their health insurance aren’t subsidizing folks who simply choose not to until they get sick and then suddenly they expect free health insurance. That’s — that’s basic concept of responsibility that I think most Americans abide by,” Mr. Obama said, “penalties are appropriate for people who try to free ride the system and force others to pay for their health insurance.”
Force others to pay for their health insurance? Isn’t that exactly what you are asking imposing demanding of the American People when you force your health care upon us? Force this upon us even though the majority of Americans oppose [source: Rasmussen] your health care reform?
Putting the icing on the cake of jail-time for this whole health-care agitation;
The President said that he didn’t think the question over the appropriateness of possible jail time is the “biggest question” the House and Senate are facing right now.
Well of course it’s not a big concern for you and your congressional cronies, Mr. President, you are not the one that would have to do a nickel up at Attica.
via: ABC news.
Tags: health care bill, health care debate, health care system, insurance, jail time, jake tapper, Obama, tax fines
I don’t have health insurance. Never had it and I don’t ever want it. Isn’t that my choice? Isn’t this America? Don’t I have the right to choose? I take care of myself. I’m in my 50′s and I still kick butt on you gen Xers.
What if you know that the health care professionals are a bunch of greedy lying pill/drug pushers who would rather see you slowly whither and die? What if you knew the so-called medicine makes a ‘body’ worse off, or worse, has no real effect? What if you would rather die in the dessert with dogs chewing your bones, then set foot into a ‘hospital’? You’d rather not let them know that you even exist, then give statistics about your physical well being. I have more faith in my own ideas and ways of healing then all that I see about so called doctors. With the exception of broken bones; heart attack; dental; eye surgery; car crashes and accidents and a few others, I don’t want to go to them. From birth, parents should save money or gold for the purpose of securing real health care where ever one has to travel to get it when and if the child needs to use ‘professional’ allopathic care and/or advise. Or, simply live and die when your time has come and you have no more money to give. It is what the New Order of the Elite want anyway, for us slaves.
Congrats Bill. But when you fall on your ass and break a hip, you’re going to want health insurance to cover the 30k bill it will take to get you back on your feet.
It’s time to stop using the government’s orwellian-speak of ‘health care’ bill/reform. Call it what it is – ‘Insurance Company CEO Care’ (pronounced ick!). Obummer “said penalties have to be high enough for people to not game the system.” That “system” is the one he & his cabal are shoving down our throats – this “system” didn’t exist before they brought it up.
And contrary to his assertion, people don’t have “to get auto insurance” and people are not “subject to some penalty” if they don’t have it. Many people don’t have it and are only penalized if they get stopped by the cops or are in an accident. And many people don’t own a car – so they don’t have “to get auto insurance” to begin with. But everyone alive owns a body and obummer is forcing All of us to get his damned ICCC.
But with a tanking economy, 20% unemployment, & rising homelessness, obummer&gang are delusional that US citizens can afford this. Since there are scads of millionaire congresscritters, let them pay for all our ICCCs.
PapaTodd is right about taking care/responsibility for own’s own health. If part of this responsibility is seeking non-allopathic/alternative therapies, ICCC will Not pay for this; ICCC will only pay for AMA-approved disease treatment – and there is No regulation in ICCC requiring ICCC-insurance-companies to even pay for any of that. Insurance companies will take all our money but can refuse to give any treatment in return.
Call your senators TODAY and DEMAND they STOP this atrocity!! Whether that works or not – considering most congresscritters are heavily invested in BigMed/BigPharma stocks and stand to profit mightily with this ICCC – we shall soon see.
there’s a thousand dollar hidden tax that families all across America are — are burdened by because of the fact that the people in Washington DC are spending too much money on things the Federal Govt has no business doing.
There is a flaw in the reasoning. You are required by law in most states to have liability insurance if you want to register a vehicle and many offer alternates such as posting a bond. You are not required to register, or even own a vehicle or pay a fine or go to jail if you don’t. Many people live where a vehicle is not needed. Now the auto makers and the insurance companies would make more money if auto ownership and registration were manditory but the last time I checked it was not the role of Government to ensure the success of a particular business (I may need to check again though as recently with GM and all it seems like the Constitution has been suspended.)
No, this analogy between health care and auto insurance is badly flawed. But being flawed it is consistent with the rest of what is being forced upon us.
As far as gaming the system being a crime, maybe we should persue this a bit further. I would be willing to bet that almost all in the congress and the Whitehouse belong in the bighouse if gaming the system is a crime, as that is what politicians tend to do.
Bill, there was a change in January. We now live in the United Socialist States of America.
To A,
Thank you so very much for your concern, but, IT IS NONE OF YOUR FRIGGIN’ BUSINESS! And that proves my point exactly. It is my problem, NOT YOURS A. IF [God forbid] and I do fall and break my hip, I will deal with it. And I don’t need yoiur help or wise counsel. Thank you very much. And of course, you never thought of the point that I might NOT fall and break my hip. Either way it is my business, not yours and certainly not the geovernments. For the government to get in the middle of MY LIFE and MY HEALTH and MY CHOICES violated everything I believe tha made America great. I suppose yoo are OK with the government dictating what kind of light bulb you have in your bedroom too? Well that’s a law already on the books. When and where does it stop?
Well, I believe that there will be a lot of us in Jail soon. I have asked my children(whom I paid for in cash… No insurence) to make sure that they come and visit me. I will have health care in prison, they have better coverage than outside.
Also, the tax fine that will be imposed on me due to my lack of insurence, will be enough to overwhelm my income, so i will be forclosed on, and living in the street, then I can live on access.
So the way I see the future, I will be covered any way I choose t live. Since prosperity and taking care of myself is no longer a part of this country, I will not have to worry.
A great comment to be sure! My doctor takes cash payments when we do have to visit him. An interesting point, a friend of ours also goes to that same doctor. His CO-PAY is higher than my cash price for the same visit. Ther is a lesson there for any who are paying attention.