Interview with the President: Jail Time for Those without Health Care Insurance?

I agree with the post about auto insurance. I can choose to ride a bike instead of drive a car, and thus avoid the auto insurance. Every other tax I pay incorporates my free will. I pay sales tax, but I choose what to purchase or not purchase. I pay property taxes, but I have the option to rent. This health care tax, though, is essentially taxing me simply for living in this country. In order to be a citizen of the US I now MUST pay a health care tax? Simply for being alive and living here? The idea of that makes me ill. It stomps all over my rights as a citizen of this country. This health care plan is a disgrace to our nation and the liberties upon which it was founded. Have we really become such a capitalist, profit-driven society that drug and insurance companies can now dictate our federal laws?

This plan is not a FAIR universal plan. Even though it takes away my civil liberties, I would be willing to pay a tax to support a FAIR and truly universal (socialist) health care plan. After all, we all pay medicare. I feel proud knowing my paychecks help support my grandmother. But this plan isn't fair, isn't equal, and isn't universal. It's not controlled by the government. It is STILL a private insurance system, with the GOVERNMENT acting merely as enforcers and watchdogs. The GOVERNMENT is saying that I have no choice but to line the pockets of the insurance companies, and if I refuse then I will line the pockets of the federal government. Either way I have NO FREEDOM. I will pay, regardless. And where does all that penalty money go, anyway?

I'd be happy to pay for mandatory health care insurance provided the illegals are made to pay too.

This yokyl, masquerading as president has it all wrong. And he is lacking intellegence and judgement. The solution is to provide a low cost alternative that americans can purchase. Not have rammed down their throat. The so called 900 dollar annual premium is just the beginning if this idiot gets support to pass this mess. Watch, once congress gets their hands on this money they will act irresponsibly and squander it on their pet projects.

Low income individuals or families will not be required(forced)to buy insurance and nobody is ever going to jail for not having health care. Also, the "purposed" penalty would NOT apply to low income individuals or families. So for the unmarried mother that does not work, this penalty does not even apply to you. The idea is to only penalize people that make ample money but choose not to purchase coverage and expect to receive medical care when they need it. Who do you think pays for that? Yes, you and me. It's interesting to me that imposing penalties for not having health insurance has been around for awhile. Just take a look at penalties for Massachusetts residents who can afford health insurance but do not purchase it. The maximum penalty for those who flout the law and do not buy health insurance will be $912 a year for 2008, compared to $219 in 2007. The health reform law, signed by former governor Mitt Romney in April 2006. It’s very disappointing how people base their ideas and principles on clips from biased media sources. Do yourself and America a favor and do your due diligence before making decisions that affect the integrity of this country. Use common sense, and stop believing everything you hear or read as accurate or even true. You might as well say you didn’t like a movie after watching just trailer and hearing a critics’ thought.

our founding fathers are turning over in their graves, who is Obama and the government to determine what I can or can not afford?its obvious what our country is turning into. fascism

this is horrible

((((Im a stay at home mom, my boyfriend and i are not married for me to recieve his benefits and im not going get married just for that reasoning. I do not work to receive healthcare and my boyfriend makes to much to get medical card through welfare, so what options would there be for citizens such as myself in this situation.)))

Holly, you would have to do what every welfare mom has to do. Go to work. Stay at home moms will probably not have the choice anymore. After this sadly stay at home moms will be for the rich only. There is so much about this health care that no one is thinking through.

This is ludicrous! I AM one of those poor people who they claim they are supposedly helping. No way can I afford to be obligated to purchase health insurance. I haven’t been to the doctor in literally 20 years (since I was a child). It’s been 18 years since I’ve been the dentist. Why? BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD IT!!!! Now they will financially PUNISH me for being poor? How ridiculously stupid! Are they going to pay my rent, buy my food, and maintain my car so I can buy their damn insurance? I exist on a tiny $50/month after I pay my normal bills. It’s my only shred of income I use to actually try to enjoy my life and they wish to steal all that and more so they can pat each other on the back and claim they are doing “good”? The worst kind of evil dons the mask of benevolence

If people our out of work, How can
they pay for health insurance?
What about the folks who don't have
any money at all? Wake up!!

They can't MAKE PEOPLE BUY
HEALTH INSURANCE! WHAT IS THIS??
TWIST OUR ARM AND MAKE US BUY IT??
THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
We get fined ?? Good Luck!
Health care should be an option!

Well well I guess we voted for the Devil not a savior. So what is next on the damn government agenda, Start hanging people in the middle of a town center so they are mocked at for their foolish crimes. What have we come too, why do we still vote for the evil men to run this country. Huh, just thinking of that that might be the next crimnal crime no voting you go to prison, no pass go don't collect $500. I guess we now in salvey of the Devil, Hail Hitler.

Wanted to correct a previous poster. If you don't pay the fine you do go to jail, if there was no force behind the fine why would anyone pay it at all. Sad that you stick your head in the sand to ignore the violence you are perpetuating.

So this is what I get for fighting for my country? Forced to buy insurance I can't afford or be threatened with fines and jail? I gave a leg for this country and now I can't work because no-one hires crippled war veterans in a recession. I am now ashamed that the people and ideals I fought for allowed themselve to have thier rights for free choice to be ran over. So when one of your countriy's warriors go to jail for the crime of being poor, you can only blame yourselves.

Very interesting. I can choose to ride a bike to work and not pay insurance. If I'm going to be forced to buy insurance to live, I don't really have any other options. Fine, I'll like 'insurance', but I don't want to be forced to buy it from the profit driven private corps.

This bill will be the domestic undoing of our country! First, I am in the same situation as a previous poster. My girlfriend lives with me and works a minimum wage retail job. We raise 4 girls between us. I have a good job and make a decent salary and have healthcare for my kids. Her daughters are covered by their father but she is not covered. We file taxes separately so will the tax police come take her away because she does not pay the tax penalty? Well, I AM a police officer and I can say this much - I won't arrest her, my friends won't arrest her and anyone coming to collect her for not having health care had better not come collect her and they probably should not come alone! That will be the shot heard across the world (again). I'm sick and tired of the liberal laws that I am forced to police on the community that I work in. When did this job become so oppressive? I have an incredible amount of discretion as a police officer. If I am expected to turn my head to minor drug infractions (because the court does nothing anyways) then you had better believe that I won't be enforcing this law anytime soon either! I won't take someone to jail for this, I simply will not! I will either quit or be taken away myself for refusing to enforce the law. Another thing that the readers here had better understand.. our rights are being taken from us a little at a time so start using what freedom of speech rights you have left before they are gone completely! Speak out and oppose this instead of standing in line like scared sheep waiting for the wolf to come and eat the slow, weak, or ill. Call me a nut, call me whatever you want but I believe in this country and our rights - I may be the one sent to collect YOU for not paying your health care tax penalty! I bet then, you would want me on your side in your 11th hour! Stop voting for idiots that propose such legislation.. our country ran very well in the 50's and 60's why do you think that was? Just do the right thing!

Nobody is ever going to jail for not having health care. Also, the "purposed" penalty would NOT apply to low income individuals or families. So for the unmarried mother that does not work, this penalty does not even apply to you. The idea is to only penalize people that make ample money but choose not to purchase coverage and expect to receive medical care when they need it. Who do you think pays for that? Yes, you and me. It's interesting to me that imposing penalties for not having health insurance has been around for awhile. Just take a look at penalties for Massachusetts residents who can afford health insurance but do not purchase it. The maximum penalty for those who flout the law and do not buy health insurance will be $912 a year for 2008, compared to $219 in 2007. The health reform law, signed by former governor Mitt Romney in April 2006. It’s very disappointing how people base their ideas and principles on clips from biased media sources. Do yourself and America a favor and do your due diligence before making decisions that affect the integrity of this country. Use common sense, and stop believing everything you hear or read as accurate or even true. You might as well say you didn’t like a movie after watching the just trailer and hearing a critics’ thought.

Im a stay at home mom, my boyfriend and i are not married for me to recieve his benefits and im not going get married just for that reasoning. I do not work to receive healthcare and my boyfriend makes to much to get medical card through welfare, so what options would there be for citizens such as myself in this situation. The president needs to remember that in a recession and people losing jobs, they obviously can not afford healthcare. and for myself who is in college online with a 2 year old at home. i would be working for daycare costs and thats it. what the heck does anyone have to do to get that across. Yeah free country, heard that one. whats free anymore. now we are forced to do something we arent able to do. UMMM if i could afford healthcare wouldnt i have it already to begin. he with. Obama better look at the low income families, and realize one thing. if it was this easy, it would already be done.I have bills to pay to keep my children warm, clothed, and fed. my house needs repairs and i need my vehicles fixed. i think this is absolutely absurd, and we should not be forced into anything. they will find anyway to take us for more money. Seatbelts you get tickets. health insurance you get fined if without. c'mon whats next. are we going to get in trouble smoking in our own home now. they already banned that in public places. freedom is far from the word needing to be used. its like now the government wants to control us. soon we will have to have cameras in our homes so the government can watch our every move. its trapping, and forcing us to live rich and some of us are far from that. Homeless poeple, who have no job no home, no car, whats going to happen to them, they going to send them off somewhere else, is slavery going to come back into play????? remmeber this this is what it seems it will eventually come to. and eventually we wont be able to leaves comments on here, because our opinion will be illigal.

I had pretty much enough of posting about this mess after a few weeks passed. Heck I went to nearly every site I could, registered if needed, and posted about it..

Next thing I did was started bringing up the topic with friends and family...

The Irony here, is alot of my friends, especially co-workers, had voted for Obama..

Their response on average 'No way.. There is no way the courts would let that happen, and let someone goto jail for not paying a tax due to not having health insurance'

I said.. Well, way. Take a look at the document on the internet. Get health insurance, or else pay, if you don't pay.. you may goto jail..

The really crazy thing here, is the smoke and mirrors put up. 'Oh well.. if you don't get Health Insurance, well then it's just a 'tax' added to your taxes.. and hence.. well it's not that you goto jail for not paying.. it's that you goto jail for not paying your taxes!!'

Just wow.. I find it so funny.. An average 3rd grader with some intelligence can see clearly what is going on here.. what does Obama think were all a bunch of dumb cattle waiting for his brand to be put on us?

I'm sorry, I'm not someone to get into politics, not some crazed super 'all for freedom' type with a gun in my hand.. etc.. I'm just an average joe working hard, and what I've seen going on here.. it's just wrong. I figure I can just stand on the sidelines and do nothing, or I can start saying something now.

And I don't care about the president's skin color, and I don't care about the president being republican or democrat..

I care about our government turning into a dictatorship.. That I care about.

I care about our countries government casting away honor and and true values for the sake of 'making things work'..

Obama reminds me of a dirty company executive.. the type that only see's the dollar value on things.. and does whatever it takes to get the 'best bang for the buck'.. even if it means sacrificing integrity, even if it means stealing from others.. even if it means shaking hands with the enemy.. Whatever makes the system work..

That's not the America I have believed in for so long. And no matter what happens, I will always beleive in the good men and women whom sacrifice themselves for this country, yet it would be a sad day to see myself hate the leader whom gives them orders :( ..

I am trying to figure out why it is we spend so much on health insurance but then have to turn around and pay a deductible at the upwards of $12,500 per calendar year. Our health care system is completely screwed up any way you look at it and no one is making it better it's just going to cost us more in one way or another.

democracy and freedom was not suppose to suceed in the beginning and we are getting screwed for it. and again people who commit crimes go to prison and most of them are on death penalty and yet it is not taken care of and so the prison gets crowded and and they get to live the a life of low royalty. they get a free bed a free meal and FREE HEALTH INSURANCE while GOOD CITIZENS ARE SCREWED EVERYDAY. how fair does that sound?