By FITSNews || Socialized medicine is officially the law of the land … for now.
U.S. President Barack Obama signed his government health care takeover into law at a signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House Tuesday – less than forty-eight hours after it passed the House of Representatives by a narrow 219-212 margin. One of the most draconian expansions of government influence in American history, the $2.5 trillion law mandates that individual Americans purchase health insurance or face fines amounting to 2.5 percent of their income.
“We have now just enshrined … the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care,” Obama said in signing the bill.
Obama’s law also includes $570 billion in tax increases and nearly a half-trillion in subsidies for the insurance companies that he so vehemently criticized over the past fourteen months.
Ironic, isn’t it?
Also the Congressional Budget Office – which fudged deficit numbers like never before to help the President pass the bill – has acknowledged that the new law will raise health insurance premiums on the middle class by as much as $2,100 per family.
Also, the version of the law Obama signed Tuesday includes the infamous “Cornhusker Kickback,” “Louisiana Purchase” and other shady backroom deals engineered by Democratic leaders in an effort to gain the votes necessary to pass the proposal. It also contains none of the pro-life language that was sought by Rep. Bart Stupak, who cut a deal with the White House on the issue of abortion just hours before the House vote. Stupak had threatened to lead a small group of pro-life Democrats in voting against both bills, but caved at the last minute when Obama promised to sign an executive order affirming that the bill will not allow federal funding for abortion.
Having signed the bill into law, Obama will now embark on a nationwide tour to “sell” his proposal beginning with a stop in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday.
Meanwhile Republicans – and some conservative Democrats – in Washington D.C. and beyond continued to blast the proposal as an unconstitutional usurpation of individual liberty.
In fact, at least a dozen states will be suing to block the implementation of the new law, while ballot initiatives and other legislative “fixes” are being introduced all over the country.
A new Rasmussen reports poll showed that 49 percent of American voters support these lawsuits, compared to 37 percent who oppose them and 14 percent who remain undecided.
By WorkingTommyC March 23, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Oh, lordy! Someone catch me! I’m about to faint!
What a miracle has happened!
I am HEALED!
No, wait, I mean, I am SICK!
Whoo-hoo!
Free to be sick at last!
Now, who is going to heal the economic ruin this will unleash?
By Katherine Jenerette March 23, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Round One of the Socialized Federalized Medicine-Man fight is over. But, beware of the Obamanista Viper in the Tent.
As soon as President Obama signs on the dotted line, Round Two will be initiated with a herd of raging bull Attorney Generals (AG) from around the country; all in a charge at the red cape of the constitutionality of congress to mandate the purchase of health insurance by individual citizens.
It’s a set up guys. Obama and his brain trust are out in front on this one. They put the ‘thou-shalt-purchase’ clause in the bill deliberately knowing every freedom-loving, red-blooded Republican AG would charge. They intend to have the Republican’s object to this in bit-and-pieces instead of a full frontal attack that the ENTIRE Bill is unconstitutional.
We Republicans bit the bait real good, but, it was a Trojan horse covered with shiny stuff like the abortion debate; deliberately set to get our attention. While all along, ‘Obamanistas’ fully expect that the Supreme Court will strike down the parts that mandate a person will buy insurance or they will pay through the nose to BigFed one way or another. There are bigger problems ahead, so save some ammo.
We had a saying when I was in the desert in the first Gulf War, ‘It’s not just the mouse that ran through the tent you need to worry about – it’s the viper that’s chasing the mouse you better be afraid of.’
When the Supreme Court decision is finally made – with the anticipated ruling, the bumper sticker “I Heart Socialized Medicine” liberal crowd will pull out the already prepared Round Three plan: Public Option in tandem with the Federal Government picking up the tab incrementally to offset the loss.
“But, what else can we do? We can’t leave people without health care can we?” Liberals will sob as the complete implementation of socialized; taxpayer health care is implemented with Under New Management Federal Clinic signs being put up over the old Mayo Clinic signs, and hospitals across the country, et.al.
It’s part of the plan. For example, do you believe that Obama just wrote that Executive Order about Federal Funding of Abortions in the eleventh hour before the vote? That thing was written months ago and held to the last minute to make it look like some kind of ‘real’ concession to the hold-outs.
The liberal guys are not some lightweights. They have a plan while we Republicans do a Saint Vitus Dance jerking around the details and nickel-and-diming our attacks that should have been coordinated years ago. It’s not like the Democrats didn’t start this with Clinton Care in the early 1990s.
Anyway, it’s critical that we need to understand their game and focus on a way to repeal this bill and counter it with workable market approaches to health care with the doctors providing that care and the patients at the center of gravity:
(1) States should implement; as difficult as it is, meaningful health care reform for its citizens at the appropriate level of government. Health Care is a real problem.
(2) States should intervene and represent any citizens of their state that the Federal Government decides to fine for failure to purchase insurance.
(3) States should facilitate competition in health care providers and health care facilities, and increase the number of students entering medical and nursing schools.
(4) Republicans better send ‘Constitutional Gun-Fighters’ and thinkers to Congress.
(5) States should band together – repeal the 17th Amendment, and take their Senators back. This action will give the states a place at the table in Washington and put teeth into State Sovereignty again.
If we thought the nightmare of the Federal ‘No Child Left Behind’ program was hard to deal with, just wait for General Hospital USA.
By lars March 23, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Next up on the agenda–legalizing 30 million illegal immigrants in time for the 2012 election!
By Liberty For Me March 23, 2010 at 1:50 pm
WorkingTommyC…..
What are you talking about?? This thing is revenue nuetral!!
In fact the more people that drop private insurance the more the government will make.Soon we will all be rich.It only makes sense.
By Sid March 23, 2010 at 2:04 pm
funny how whenever the CBO comes out with numbers that FITS agrees with, the CBO is right on the money but when the numbers don’t fit his narrative then of course, the numbers must be getting “fudged” to help the president.
more hypocrisy from the so-called Conservatives. (also funny how we don’t hear any of you teabaggers pounding on the table about the wasted millions of taxpayer money that will go into these lawsuits that everyone knows are going to fail.
yeah, y’all better hunker down for those death panels and the gulags because now sick kids can actually get healthcare coverage! oh the horror.
and exactly how can it be socialized medicine when private companies are the ones providing the coverage?
put on your tinfoil hats, it’s gonna be a bumpy night!!
By SC Moderate March 23, 2010 at 3:53 pm
What wrong with requiring coverage? We require people to have car insurance for the same reason. And sure, you can choose not to drive… but no one can be turn away from the hospital in emergency situations.
(The 2.5% is for upper income brackets and doesn’t start until 2016.)
(The few people who will see an increase in premiums because of the increase in minimum benefits, will for the most part, have that increase offset by a tax credit).
This Bill is not perfect, but it is not what many political opponents protray either. It does place some regulations and on Insurance Companies to provide needed safeguards/ and begin to curb Insurance Company antitrust status.
But for those who think we should not have Medicare & Social Security, then of course you are not going to like this Bill… and thats an honest philosophical disagreement.
By Joe March 23, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Car insurance? Does the Federal Government require you to buy and drive a car? (no) Don’t individual state laws govern car insurance? (yes) Isn’t insurance for the OTHER DRIVER in the event of an accident? (yes)
The problem with requiring everyone to purchase coverage (that they mandate) is that it is unconstitutional. The Federal Government CANNOT force individuals to buy anything, much less coverage that – in many cases – will be more costly and of lesser quality than we have right now.
The question was “and exactly how can it be socialized medicine when private companies are the ones providing the coverage?” Well, Sid, when it’s now the Government calling the shots over these companies and making the rules and REQUIRING all people to purchase under penalty of a fine —– THAT is socialism.
You sad people….why don’t you just drive to Washington and hand over your money, your credit cards, your belongings and your freedoms to what passes for our political “leaders” and just save the rest of us the trouble?
By Sid March 23, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Oh, Joe. You mean socialism like how the U.S. government provides police and firefighters and military and parks and roads and on and on and on…
I’m sure your freedoms are so in danger now that we’re finally REGULATING the insurance companies, which is hardly a government takeover.
Face it, all you teabaggers want is Obama to take a hit politically, and you’ll do and say anything to achieve that goal — including denying sick children and senior citizens healthcare. You’re the sad ones. Why don’t you go spit on a nun or call a black man a foul name. it’ll make you feel better.
By Jack March 23, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Sid, you need to go back to school. Its not socialism when the government is paying for the military, Coast Guard, roads, hospitals, postal service, fire service, police, FBI, CIA, Secret Service, immigration control, stock market regulation, Flood Insurance for beach houses, and FDIC insurance for our bank accounts. Those are just not things a socialist would pay for. Sure we are coming together and paying for those things collectively, and sure some of us benefit from those things more than others. But we are just spreading the cost for good things, that productive people benefit from.
Now I agree with you national parks smack of socialism. Any self respecting American knows we need to sell those things to the highest bidder and reduce the federal deficit. Why are we spending billions of dollars a year on national parks. Mt. Rushmore, the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, The Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, The Florida Everglades, could all be sold for significant money, especially those with significant timber and minerals. We could most likely pay off the national debt.
South Carolina is also sitting on some valuable state park land. I would like to see that auctioned as well. In private hands that property could be developed. It would bring in jobs and produce tax revenue. Not to mention the fact we are maintaining all those beaches we maintain. We could sell those to people who could charge for access. We could probably eliminate income tax if we would just sell the beaches.
There is a lot of left wing nut job propaganda out there. Like the allegation there are members of the Tea Party who receive Medicare and Veteran’s Benefits. That cannot be true, because that would be socialized medicine, and no member of the party would accept socialized medicine.
By EM March 23, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Mrs Jenerette, I’m not in your district, but I’ve been watching you and Mr Scott because I think you are the two best candidates. You just pulled in front because of your comment here. You get it. Mr Scott might too but you just spelled out what I believe to be the case. Thank you
By Joe March 23, 2010 at 7:43 pm
See what I mean by sad? Hey guys – many of the things you speak of are actually in the Constitution of the United States. The one Obama and his minions flushed down the toilet over the weekend. Show me where it says I have to buy health care or be fined or pay for somebody else’s abortion.
And oh by the way, seniors are ALREADY covered – it’s called Medicare – except that this bill is going to cut about $500 billion from the program to help pay for this golden egg of “universal health care.” But I guess that IOU the Gov will replace that money with is OK with you.
Don’t bother to arm yourself with any facts about this bill (one bought and paid for by the pharmaceutical companies, need I remind you). Just take what the Obama cartel dishes out and be happy with your share. Don’t whine when you’re hit with higher and higher taxes, your doctor’s visits last hours longer (if you even get an appointment), your quality of care goes down the tubes and you can’t get the medical procedures you need. Unless of course, you are the premier of Canada (a universal health care nation) and you can afford to get it in another country like he did.
Hey, speaking of taxes – where is that tax cut Obama promised us during the campaign? And spitting on nuns is boring and if I were to call a black man a foul name, I would have to get in line behind Joe Biden, Harry Reid, Robert Byrd and Jesse Jackson.
By Preston March 23, 2010 at 9:30 pm
THIS MOMENTOUS DAY!
Not one day in anyone’s life is an uneventful day, no day without profound meaning, no matter how dull and boring it might seem, no matter whether you are a seamstress or a queen, a shoeshine boy or a movie star, a renowned philosopher or a Down’s syndrome child.
Because in every day of your life, there are opportunities to perform little kindnesses for others, both by conscious acts of will and unconscious example.
Each smallest act of kindness – even just words of hope when they are needed, the remembrance of a birthday, a compliment that engenders a smile – reverberates across great distances and spans of time, affecting lives unknown to the one whose generous spirit was the source of this good echo, because kindness is passed on and grows each time it’s passed, until a simple courtesy becomes an act of selfless courage years later and far away.
Likewise, each small meanness, each thoughtless expression of hatred, each envious and bitter act, regardless of how petty, can inspire others, and is therefore the seed that ultimately produces evil fruit, poisoning people whom you have never met and never will.
All human lives are so profoundly and intricately entwined – those dead, those living, those generations yet to come – that the fate of all is the fate of each, and the hope of humanity rests in every heart and in every pair of hands.
Therefore, after every failure, we are obliged to strive again for success, and when faced with the end of one thing, we must build something new and better in the ashes, just as from pain and grief, we must weave hope, for each of us is a thread critical to the strength – the very survival – of the human tapestry.
Every hour in every life contains such often-unrecognized potential to affect the world that the great days for which we, in our dissatisfaction, so often yearn are already with us; all great days and thrilling possibilities are combined always in THIS MOMENTOUS DAY!
Excerpt from Dean Koontz’s book, “From the Corner of His Eye”.
It embodies the idea of how the smallest of acts can have such a profound effect on each of our lives.
By Rick March 24, 2010 at 8:29 am
You’re right Preston….and I just wasted 2 minutes of my life reading some dumbasses drivel.
By Preston March 25, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Just for Ricky: “Likewise, each small meanness, each thoughtless expression of hatred, each envious and bitter act, regardless of how petty, can inspire others, and is therefore the seed that ultimately produces evil fruit, poisoning people whom you have never met and never will.” Come on Ricky lets see those pearly whites, don’t fight it give in.