Individual mandate poll

[usregimechange]

Dem bills require individual mandates to purchase health insurance with opt out and hardship provisions based on proximity to poverty. What do you think about the individual mandate generally?

[stray cat]

1. We could just refuse to treat anyone who doesn't participate

is that better?

[MaineDem]

3. There you go

That's an option.

Everyone else will end up paying for them in the end.

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. No

removing corporatism from health care is better.

[Vincardog]

12. Bingo the uninsured add .6% to the average bill. The Corporate parasites add 30%

Time to quit blaming the victims people.

[DJ13]

2. Its the "individual" part that I find objectionable

Mandates should be done through income taxes, not individually.

That way those with greater incomes pay a greater proportion of the costs.

Individual mandates sounds like a Libertarian plan, not a Democratic plan.

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. Under the present bill...

...those with greater incomes will pay a greater proportion of the costs.

That's why there are subsidies in the bill, and Medicaid eligibility up to 133% of APL.

[DJ13]

7. Are there sufficient cost controls through a real public option available to everyone?

If no, then individual mandates is just an excuse to use the power of the government to force the buying of a product sold by an outside industry.

I find that to be a disturbing, and a precedent that we shouldnt set.

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. We'll see. But your original objection...

...was asked and answered.

[DJ13]

11. Actually, no it wasnt

I said the individual part is too Libertarian, it should be done through income taxes.

You know, the TRADITIONAL DEMOCRATIC WAY.

I dont give two shits if there are some means to offset the expense, its still an individual plan that bears no relationship to a real universal coverage system.

[Davis_X_Machina]

13. One of those is not on offer.

It's like asking what color Lexus I want to materialize in my driveway Monday.

[DJ13]

15. Thats the point

Our weak assed Democratic "leadership" refused to put a real universal payment system up for debate.

Mandating people to buy a product (or face fines and/or jail) in the midst of a near depression is about as stupid an idea I can ever recall a political party doing.

[Frank Booth]

5. It depends.

If there is a viable, affordable public option then an individual mandate is probably necessary to keep costs low.

If there's not, then it's a huge, unforgivable giveaway to the insurance companies, which already have grossly unfair market power. The price gouging will reach a whole new level.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. There's no third option. "universal" = "mandatory" n/t

[ZombieHorde]

10. The mandates are like a school telling all of the kids to give a portion of their lunch money

to the school bullies so the bullies will be less likely to bully them.

[Sebastian Doyle]

14. Either that or the old Mafia "protection money" racket, which is a variation on the same thing.

New Secretary of HHS: Tony Soprano