why don't they just say "unless you have private healthcare you have to pay a % income tax towards public healthcare (because at some point you're going to have to use that)"? - which would be effectively what the National Insurance system in the UK does, except that we don't get a discount for having private insurance.

Because that would be Socialism, which is Bad and would lead to Rationing of Health Care and Death Panels. Besides, everyone knows that we have the Best Health Care System in the World.

(Icon directed at the fearmongers and isolationists, not at you.)

Wow. No matter which way I look at it, I am still screwed WRT medical coverage. Looking at the timetable then makes me realize that expendable me will be free of this mortal coil before any of it is implemented anyway.

Sorry. Don't mean to hijack your post but I am indulging in a massive pity party right now. I will delete if you feel it is appropriate.

This is a perfectly appropriate comment to the material posted, and I wish like hell it didn't have to be.

Well, the house tax on income if you don't have insurance is at least recognizing that there *might* be a relationship between income and ability to buy health insurance.

But the Senate fines are completely outrageous. At the high end, they are meaningless. At the low end, where the hell am I supposed to get the money to pay the fine when I'm having to scratch to pay for the light bill?

You and I and others like us will either end up in jail with those who use 3 oz or less of weed (and subsequently get free medical care) or TPTB will look as blank as the anti-abortionists look when asked what sort of punishment we 'deserve' for breaking the law.

Ye bloody gods! And we elected these people.
Why, why, why, why can't we have reps that live in the real world?!?