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Landmark Health Insurance Bill Passes House
theodp writes "A hastily-crafted amendment imposing tough new restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies helped pave the way for the House to approve the Democrats' bill to overhaul the nation's health insurance system. 'It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans,' said Rep. John Dingell. Rep. Candice Miller disagreed, calling the legislation 'a jobs-killing, tax-hiking, deficit-exploding' bill. The 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion legislation passed by a vote of 220-215 and moves on for Senate debate, which is expected to begin in several days."
Update — 11/08 at 13:45 GMT by SS: Changed vote totals above to reflect the actual bill vote. The 240-194 number was for the abortion restrictions amendment.
We already have a 12 TRILLION dollar debt, 10.2% unemployment, and fiat money. Now we want to increase the deficit, and print out another trillion dollars? Face the facts: Keynesian economic DON'T WORK. Our money is WORTHLESS, and our government is driving it further into the ground. We haven't had a 'free market' in a hundred years, progressive policies will be the ruin of this country. Goddamn.
Democrats screwing over poor people!? Never!
An abortion isn't going to break the bank. Yes it is expensive, but it's cost is also relatively fixed. So here's a thought, if your poor and can't afford one nor can't afford a baby, then don't be unsafely whoring around. It makes sense. Stupid people will whore around anyways, but at least the public won't be paying for their idiocy to destroy a fetus, only to raise the fetus into a child that hopefully learns not to be an idiot like their mom. This isn't like out-lawing abortions, nobody sane is going to stab themselves with a coat hanger and put their life at risk just to save $8 thousand dollars or whatever it costs.
The more we become like the rest of the world the less American we are.
The stench of Randroid droppings is thick in the air today.
Guaranteed! This comment 100% Anthrax free!
"I wish I could see the faces of those people who oppose a health care bill that kicks the "health" industry's ass, when they then get denied coverage, and have to die. Slowly. And painfully."
You are more certain to see the faces of those people who are told they have to wait 3 months for that kidney transplant or are given a pill for a heart condition and sent home because of rationing and end up dying slowly and painfully.
Of course, if they can afford a ticket to Asia, they can still get great quality care there.
When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
>>>The legislation kind of makes up for that by forcing everybody to buy health insurance (with threats of jail or heavy fines if they don't),
Please show me where in the People's Constitution Congress is authorized to levy fine for failure to buy a product. Oh wait... here it is: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
In other words the Congress is forbidden. The States can levy fines. The U.S. can not.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
The government is pushing flu vaccines with nasty side effects for a flu with a lower-than-usual mortality rate, producing record profits for the manufacturers, and you're shocked and amazed that the republicans and democrats worked together to make sure the federal government would pay big pharma as much as possible for prescription medications, ensuring that the public health option does not cut into their profits? And you say "the dems" are stupid?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
>>>Streamlining the payment process:
It probably would have, but since Medicare got involved with auditing everything the hospitals do, it went the opposite direction. In other words, precisely what you'd expect with government bureaucrats.
As for illegal aliens, 10 million of the so-called "40 million Americans without insurance" are illegal residents. I'd say it's a significant issue, and if you don't believe me then I'm going to bring my stuff over and setup my bed in your spare room (since you apparently think illegal entrance is a-okay).
>>>It could have been so much better:
Yeah. The government could have charged a 100% tax, and then just let Congress run everything - medicare, healthcare, food stamps, retirement (SSI) savings, free housing, GM-provided free cars. Then nobody would have to live without anything. (poof). Ooops there's goes the People's Constitution in a flash of fire.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Nonsense, capitalism is awful at things that don't make a profit and where value is not easily expressed in terms of money. This includes things like education, environmental protection, and health care. Quit spewing dumb soundbites.
Guess what? No one asked you. You live in the country that panders to rich fuckheads and freedom-for-the-rich-loving fuckheads more than the rest of the world combined. If even that country can't pander to all your fuckheadedness, you are SOL.
Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
The bill is a compromise. It's not written by some shadowy extreme-left "they".
Ooh really? What did conservative get out of it? What did those who value freedom get? What did those who want to keep the money they work to earn get? Or was it just a compromise between different groups on the US left who don't care what the US Constitution says?
Falcon
Should there be a Law?
Yes yes, that and the "interstate commerce clause"... Let's forget about all the reasons the constitution was created, and write off anything the government can concoct to a few words taken out of context.
The constitution exists for one reason. To keep the federal government from becoming too powerful and overtaxing it's citizens. This was the reason we left Britain in the first place. Dammit, now my America is striving to become more like Britain. If you like someone else's government... MOVE THERE. Don't force their socialist ideals on me, because I want to live in a free America like the one developed by those who wrote the constitution. So let's look at what it says:
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into
Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this
Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or
Officer thereof.
So how is universal healthcare necessary or proper to execute the powers of government? Umm, it's not, the government can continue to function even if people have to pay for their own medical care. You forget that when this country was founded, people not only paid for their own healthcare, but they were lucky if any healthcare was available. Most people just DIED. You should be grateful you can run over to the nearest drug store and purchase any multitude of products to cure your ailments. Which by the way, isn't legislated, it's provided by the free market.
Actually the founding fathers were quite clever, they made not one, but two amendments to the constitution that they thought would stop idiots like you from bending the constitution to whatever you want:
Amendment 9
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed
to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment 10
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to
the people.
Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?