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A federal appeals panel's ruling striking down the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul moves the question of whether Americans can be required to buy health insurance a step closer to the U.S. Supreme Court.A divided three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Congress overstepped its authority when lawmakers passed the so-called individual mandate, the first such decision by a federal appeals court. It's a stinging blow to Obama's signature legislative achievement, as many experts agree the requirement that Americans carry health insurance � or face tax penalties � is the foundation for other parts of the law and key to paying for it.
Here are the two basic arguments for both sides of the issue:
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In the Atlanta ruling, Chief Judge Joel Dubina and Circuit Judge Frank Hull found in a 207-page opinion that lawmakers cannot require people to "enter into contracts with private insurance companies for the purchase of an expensive product from the time they are born until the time they die."
and
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"Individuals who choose to go without health insurance are making an economic decision that affects all of us � when people without insurance obtain health care they cannot pay for, those with insurance and taxpayers are often left to pick up the tab," said White House adviser Stephanie Cutter.
So. While I tend to idealistically favor the first viewpoint (it bothers me to have the federal government tell me what I have to buy with my own money), the second, opposing viewpoint is a real issue.
What I really think is that it's time to take a serious look at some of the health care systems around the world that do work, and revamp the whole thing. Health care, in my opinion, is something everyone will need, sooner or later -- not a commodity to be treated similarly to other capitalistic profit-making endeavors.|||When I learned about that part of the US health care proposal, I just shook my head in disbelief.|||I don't care for gov control over all things... but gov should intervene to reduce abuse, and also for basic necessities. I think healthcare is one of them.|||Anyone who has studied the Tragedy of the Commons knows the government has to include such a provision for things to work. As concerned as I am over government overreach, it's hard to deny that the US has some of the worst access to healthcare in the developed world.|||I don't know crap about the Tragedy of Commons, but, if what David says is true, and this part of the law is basically required for the rest of the bill to work, I'm pretty sure that is exactly why it is being fought against. Then people can say "Obama didn't didn't deliver universal health care like he said" (and, as an aside "Can I have my bag of money now, Mr. Insurance Company?").
This country's politics are so screwed up.|||Anything to get rid of insurance companies...what frauds they are.
Insurance company: "We're here when you need us. We'll assist in any way possible."
You: "I need you."
Insurance company: "Ok, but first we are going to investigate to find out all of the details to try to get out of helping you as much as we can, so that the hundreds of dollars you pay us can line our pockets while we spend very little on you."
You get punished for having health insurance (and other insurance for that matter) and you get punished for not having it. Gotta love lose-lose situations!|||Should they choose not to cover you, they should reimburse you with interests. Thieves.
At least with the gov insurance, you know they won't have stupid loopholes in their coverage.|||Quote:
At least with the gov insurance, you know they won't have stupid loopholes in their coverage.
Not necessarily true.|||Quote:
Anyone who has studied the Tragedy of the Commons knows the government has to include such a provision for things to work.
I'm not going to study the Tragedy of the Commons to find out why.
If what you say is true--and I have no reason to doubt you--then if we are going to be forced to buy health insurance we cannot keep the insurance companies operating the way they are; overall coverage for everything at a high price being the only choice. There needs to be an a la carte kind of approach, where young people can choose catastrophic coverage only and pay less than those who have cancer/abortion/sex change/psychiatric/drug and alcohol rehab, and everything else ridiculous, covered. In my opinion.
Health insurance is prohibitively expensive. Unless something can be done about that, there will always be rebellion against being forced to purchase it.|||I just hope that in the end whatever health care system the country uses takes care of people's best interests rather than exploiting their needs to expand the economy.
Because right now it seems like the economy has made everyone servants to it.
In other words be careful of what you grow to depend on, cuz it's going to find every possible way to ensure its growing needs are satisfied by you.
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