Laying the groundwork for the hoped for Republican Resurgence of 2010.
"This bill is a stunning assault on liberty," said Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona.
The scary part is, he is right. Forcing Americans to buy a product ....without giving them an Option IS an assault on liberty, a stunning assault, and unprecedented assault. It is a totally new concept and one that marks a VERY disturbing crossing of the lines between government and the Corporations.
There has never before been a law that mandates that Americans have to buy a product from a Corporation.
Is there anyone who can look at this sentence:
You MUST buy this product, or the government will fine you.
And not be at least mildly alarmed?
Can anyone look at that sentence and NOT see a real (as opposed to their standard manufactured ones) winning issue for Republicans to run on that WILL outrage a major portion of the American Populace? Can anyone here not see this as THE linchpin of a Republican "Anti Big Government" campaign strategy?
Yet the idea that in order to lower costs and provide Universal Coverage while eliminating recission and pre-existing conditions loopholes is nearly impossible to argue with. Therefor their must be a mandate.
That leaves only one way to short circuit not only a REALLY bad idea...forcing people to buy a product for the first time in history...but a winning political issue for Republicans.
If you are going to have a mandate, you must also offer a choice. A way to opt out....an...Option. An Option for the Public. A Public Option!
An inclusive, non-triggered Public Option. An Option not open to just the desperate and highest risk (and thus most expensive) patients/consumers/voters...but to everyone.
Or at the very least to Conscientious Objectors who don't want to be forced to support the very industry that caused the Health Care Crisis to begin with.
The Corporate Option, a HCR Bill with only a Ghettoized Public Option whose main function is to force the government to pay for the "5% who can't get insurance" (in other words, the most expensive patients) and thus even further increase InsCo profits is a windfall boondoggle. A windfall boondoggle not just for the InsCo's....but for the Republicans as well.
Not only is the Public Option a damn good idea all on it's own; to force costs down and provide a non-reversible, non-loophole containing, non lobbyist written form of market driven regulation of Insurance Corporations...
It is also the only way to make sure that the Republicans can't turn HCR to their political benefit.
And to shut John Kyl up!
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Update! Since lots of folks are bringing it up in the comments...no, auto insurance is not the same. Mandated auto insurance has a built in Option, you can not drive a car.
The Health Insurance Mandate gives no similar option. If you are alive and have a body....you are forced to give your money to a FOR PROFIT Corporation.
Also, mandated auto insurance is imposed by some, but not all states. So you have the option to move to another state as well.
Plus....do you LIKE being forced top pay for auto insurance ...at whatever rates the InsCo's can ding you for?