Radio Collector's Afficionado's Resource

Should the US government be permitted to tax or impose a penalty on it’s citizens for not spending money? After taking it’s cut, someplace amidst 30-40% for most of us, must the government be permitted to dictate how we spend the rest? Should the IRS be enabled to enforce federal law in spite of the fact that they’re not part of the Judicial Branch, and in doing so deny us due procedure and our Constitutional right not to incriminate ourselves? President Obama and every one who voted for the health care bill seem to think so.

There are presently a lot of lawsuits challenging the health care bill, specifically the mandate as unconstitutional for some reasons. President Obama has been both vague and contradictory when it comes to the mandate, it’s legality, it’s enforcement and even his stance on it. While he was still campaigning, he was versus a mandate. Once he was elected, he was for it, and tried to warrant it’s legality by comparing it to laws requiring all drivers to carry car insurance. That argument is flawed for a couple reasons. There’s no federal mandate that we all have to have a drivers license, own a car, and therefore compensate car insurance. Furthermore, anybody who drives has to by law buy collision insurance but have the choice whether or not to insure themselves and their vehicle. They have to be insured in case they do harm to someone else or their car, but not their own. The opposite is true with the health care mandate.

As far as the tax issue goes, here’s what President Obama said with regards to taxes while still campaigning:

“I may make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes”

Until recently, he maintained that the health care mandate was not a tax, in spite of the fact that it was imposed by the IRS and they would be the ones gathering the fine if someone did not buy health insurance. About a year ago, he sat down with George Stephanopolous:

STEPHANOPOLOUS: But you reject that it’s a tax increase?

OBAMA: I perfectly reject that notion.

However, now that the case is being argued in court in Florida, the Justice Department as portion of the argument for the mandate contends that it’s a valid exercise of Congress’ power to tax and spend. That’s rather a reversal and reminds me a bit of the initial George Bush’s “read my lips” campaign, which, once broken was a huge factor in why he ended up being a one term president. If enacted, the mandate will represent a big tax increase, exceptionally on the middle class.

What it comes down to for me, and numerous others is that we don’t feel the government has the right to dictate how we spend our post tax income. isn’t 30-40% of what we make enough? A fiscally irresponsible, now and again incompetent, most times straightout corrupt government must not be stepping in and telling us what’s best for us, how we spend our cash or live our lives, particularly with a law that is at this point, is finelooking vague, and blatantly ignores a great deal of of our Constitutional rights.

If not buying health insurance is a crime, then humans who don’t buy health insurance ought to be charged and have their day in court, where they would be afforded the Constitutional right versus self incrimination. As it stands now (or when it will be implemented) we have to prove to the IRS (again, not a share of the judicial branch) that we’re insured and if we don’t, they have the right to fine us. At that point, if we don’t remunerate up, then perhaps we’d get our day in court, but it seem right that any individual could be charged with tax crimes for not buying insurance. The IRS was not designed to enforce federal law and will have to not be given that right now.

Many proponents of the health care bill painted the health insurance companies as evil and net profit driven, and more than willing to let the bodies pile up, yet then turned around and passed a federal law forcing each American to buy their policies, which seems a tad ironic if you ask me. The government will have to not have the power to strength it’s citizens to do business with private corporations. Since the health care bill has been passed, one major insurance provider declared they will be dropping a great deal of of the policies they offer, another has declared it will be raising it’s rates. It seems like they still have the right to be evil and greedy, but now we’re all going to be beholden to them, and their rate increases. The thought that anybody could potentially go to jail for not doing business with sure companies in the US is chilling. Just the simple thought that someone who works hard to aid their family and has fallen on a heap of hard times like a heap of of us may to have to choose amid keeping their house heated, or breaking a federal law by letting their health insurance lapse must be sufficient to scare anyone.

Many humans who help President Obama and the health care bill say that he’s not to blame for the mandate, that he had to compromise to get it passed and that and I may see their point. But, and this is just my opinion, it seems like he may have been fighting harder for the health insurance companies than for the citizens. If the mandate is upheld, I think it will set a dangerous precedent where the government could assume the right to strength us to do business with other private companies if they deem it necessary, or good for the country, or even if it could save society a few bucks in the long run. Am I overreacting? Perhaps, but it’s not a chance I’m more than willing to take. Freedom of choice is something we must all take seriously. It’s not freedom to make the smart, or the right choice, it’s the freedom to make the wrong, or stupid choice as long as we’re not harming any individual else. The health care mandate takes that right out of our hands and allows the government to make those selections for us, and no matter how well intentioned it may be, it’s still wrong, and in my sentiment dangerous to give them that much power over our lives and our finances.

Health Reform American Politics Ebook

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama in March 2010 is a landmark in U.S. social legislation. The new law extends health insurance to closely all Americans, fulfilling a century-long quest and bringing the United States to parity with other industrial nations. Affordable Care aims to control quickly rising health care costs and promises to make the United States more equal, reversing four decades of rising disparities amidst the very rich and everyone else. Millions of people of modest means will gain new gains and protections from insurance company abuses – and the tab will be salaried by privileged corporations and the very rich.
How did such a bold reform venture pass in a polity wracked by partisan sections and intense lobbying by special interests? What does Affordable Care mean – and what comes next? In Health Care Reform and American Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know, Lawrence R. Jacobs and Theda Skocpol–two of the nation’s leading experts on politics and health care policy–provide a concise and accessible overview. They explain the political battles of 2009 and 2010, highlighting White House strategies, the deals Democrats cut with interest groups, and the affect of agitation by Tea Partiers and progressives. Jacobs and Skocpol spell out what the new law may do for every day Americans, what it will cost, and who will pay. Above all, they explain what comes next, as critical yet oftentimes behind-the-scenes battles rage over implementing reform nationally and in the fifty states. Affordable Care might end up being weakened. But, like Social Security and Medicare, it could likewise gain strength and popularity as the majority of Americans learn what it may do for them.

Review
“Health Care Reform and American Politics provides great clear or deep perception into what genuinely happened on the road to health care reform. If you actually want to know how the scheme works–and how it doesn’t–this is the place to start.”–Senator Al Franken

About the Author
Lawrence R. Jacobs is the Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance in the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute and Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota.

Theda Skocpol is the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University, a fellow member of the National Academy of Sciences, and past president of the American Political Science Association.

Health Reform American Politics Ebook Picture

Health Reform American Politics Ebook Image

Health Reform American Politics Ebook Pic

Health Reform American Politics Ebook Photo

Most helpful client reviews

22 of 24 humans found the following review helpful.
A Highly Readable, Brilliant Political Analysis of Health Reform
By Health365
This highly readable book is a brilliant political analysis of health reform, beginning with a well-researched, elaborate history of the Affordable Care Act and ending with a realistic assessment of the political forces amassed versus it and a moderately optimistic view of the likelihood of it is implementation. In amongst it offers an enlightening and goal to be attained description of the Affordable Care Act’s affect on standard Americans. The wisdom and integrity of the two writers are reflected on almost each page. The book’s foray into health economics, arguably a stretch for political scientists, is nevertheless credible. Its legal analysis is in general on target, but not sufficiently elaborate to satisfy experts in health law. Although highly factual, this book is more engaging than a good novel. My only problem with it is that I had difficultness putting it down.

7 of 7 humans found the following review helpful.
awesome!!!
By DeBona
Great read!!! magnificent review of the American Healthcare Act and how it was passed; couldnt put it down till i finished it!!! in addition, it gives you a good introduction to the politics of legislation and gives you a behind-the-scene view of the political process!!!!

11 of 13 humans found the following review helpful.
every one will have to read this
By Et in Arcadia ego
Everyone must read this. It explains the Health care refrom bill without all the emotion and lies that surrounded it is passing.Americans need to start out reading more and stop listening to Radio talk show host or others, who just blow a lot of hot air for big ratings, and a large total of cash for themselves. This will give you the truth and facts.

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