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| Home Front: Politix |
| Mandatory Health Care |
| 2009-07-22 |
| LARGO, Md. (WUSA) -- Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat who favors health care reform, faced an audience of more than 500 people (at its peak) Monday evening for what he called a town hall meeting on the topic that is the number one item on President Obama's domestic agenda. With so many versions of the legislation in so many committees on Capitol Hill, the bill's final form is far from known. "We're at the first stages of the discussion of health care reform," Cardin said. And we want to pass it as soon as we can so nobody knows what unconstitutional stuff is in there. Audience members could offer questions on cards that were passed out as they entered the Prince George's County Community College Student Center, or they could line up at microphones to offer them in person. Perhaps the most controversial, came from Robert Broadus of Clinton, Maryland, an audience member who had lost his job and replaced it with one that paid him far less money. "I decided not to get the health insurance. That's working out for me because I'm able to save that extra money and give it to my family members and use it on myself. Senator Cardin, I want to know are you going to tell me, an individual...that I have to buy health care or else you're going to fine me $2,500 every year I don't get it? Our founding fathers assured us we have a Bill of Rights and I want to see you uphold that," Broadus said in an increasingly emotional voice and to scattered applause. Cardin responded by asking Broadus what would happen if he became sick, broke a bone, had a car accident and ended up in an emergency room. "You don't pay. You are part of the population that shifts its costs over to a person who does pay, and they're paying for you," Cardin said. Not necessarily true, of course, those that can pay something have to pay through a collection agency. Explaining how hospitals have often to absorb those costs, Cardin said many hospitals would chose simply to leave the community. "I just think the overriding public interest is to require you and everyone in this country to have health insurance," Cardin said. By his reasoning the Government is no longer by the people and could do anything it wants as long as there is an overriding public interest. The other thing he is saying is it's the taxpayers' responsibility to pay for other people's insurance. These people are very dangerous. |
| Posted by:Deacon Blues |
| #6 OS - The Department of Precrime will be knocking on your door shortly. ;) |
| Posted by: AzCat 2009-07-22 21:18 |
| #5 note that Ben Cardin won't put his own family under the care you're required to enroll in. Think about that and call your Rep/Senator |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-07-22 21:14 |
| #4 OK Senator, you want to tax/fine us for something that MIGHT happen? What's next, a tax bill for the money I might make if I hit the lotto? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2009-07-22 21:04 |
| #3 This title is intentionally misleading, and I'm tired of democrats conflating "health care" and "health insurance" They are two different things! |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2009-07-22 17:44 |
| #2 The masks are falling off. Welcome to serfdom circa 2000 peasants. You are part of the population that shifts its costs over to a person who does pay NO. It's the ruling class that shifts the cost to others. Under the old Christian culture, such shifting voluntary, encouraged, but voluntary. Under the new Socialist culture, those in power insist that transfers occur without the consent of the fleeced class. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-07-22 17:41 |
| #1 I foresee people bribing their way in, not much different from now where the highest paid folks get better treatment than the unlucky poor. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-07-22 17:41 |