November 8, 2009
i>(The Swamp) - Late Saturday night, November 07, 2009, The House of Representatives,
dominated and intimidated by the oddly named Progressiveic Party, passed a bill, HR3962,
which includes the following:
• Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.
• “H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.” [page 1]
• “If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]
“Criminal penalties:
• Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:
• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]
Does your family policy cost you $15,000 a year? $7,000, maybe as much as $9,000 a
year, but you're talking about a MONTHLY premium of over a THOUSAND DOLLARS!
And if you don't pay it, YOU WILL GO TO JAIL!
This is insane!
Do you have that much to spend on health insurance? I don't. Yet, the Progressives have assured
us that this is what we all need. They cynically call this AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
Again, I ask you: Can You Afford to pay $1,250 PER MONTH for JUST YOUR HEALTH
INSURANCE PREMIUM?
And that's not counting many new drugs which will not be covered, many important professional
services, which will not be covered, doctors, who will opt out of the system or retire, or
other hundreds of other small consequences which have not been considered by the bill.
Worse, there are common sense solutions which can cure the problem government meddling
represents, yet, Northeast Corridor Progressives insist that their hodge-podge, tortuous embarrassment
is what Americans want!
There is no tort reform. There is no personal responsibility. There is no restraint on government.
There is, however, in the Progressive House bill, a pervasive redistribution of funds from
the producers to the non-producers.
Yes, the way government has arranged things, drug companies don't really compete, and drug
prices are ridiculously high. The way government has arranged things, doctors and hospitals
cannot compete, and doctor and hospital fees are ridiculously high. The way government
has arranged things, insurance companies cannot compete, and rates are ridiculously high.
And, yes, the way government has arranged things, lawyers are free to abuse the tort process
to the point that they will not compete, and we already know what that brings.
Yes, there wasn't enough time to read the bill and warn people, but most of you already knew
what a bunch of cheats the majority party in congress is. The People of America have already
spoken. Progressives have not listened. Since there is no morality on their side, more protestation
is useless.
And, since we are a country of laws, we must hold our tongues and keep our voting powder dry.
However, if we, the people, sit on our hands on election day, 2010, WE will be responsible
for what happens next.
If we do not curb the power lust of Progressives such as Rep. Jack Spratt and Rep. Jim Clyburn,
WE will be the ones who will be called insane.
- Dick Anderson
