Apparently the individual mandate in Obamacare is basically unenforceable anyway

[bluestateguy]

See this very good segment with Larry O'Donnell and an actual political scientist who has read the bill.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755883/vp/47898977#47898977

Don't expect the ignoramus news media to get it. There is a lot of technocratic policy talk here; that might be too much for Candy Crowley and Jake Tapper to be intelligent enough to figure out.

[elleng]

1. Yes, saw this.

By its TERMS, its practically unenforceable; means NOTHING, really, but don't confuse anyone with mere FACTS!

[still_one]

2. Even though that may be true, the legislators are idiots to make that ambiguous. Overcomplicate is

all they can do well

All they needed to do was have a public option, or better yet Medicare for all, instead they wrote a bill that is essentially insurance regulation, but not as the name applies, affordable healthcare

[Autumn]

3. You must remember, Obama himself called it insurance finance reform.

Health care is no more affordable than before.

[still_one]

5. you are right. /nt

[Warren Stupidity]

13. Actually it is probably marginally more affordable.

The cost ratio regulation has already resulted in rebates from insurers. I absolutely do agree that Medicare for all would be far better, but this insurance reform is not all bad.

[pnwmom]

15. The analysis done by the nonpartisan Congressional budget office

says it has already begun to bend the cost curve down.

[Autumn]

17. If you premiums take up a good piece of your monthly income

there is no money left to pay co pays. I was in that boat. When they raised my premium again, I dropped it. I figured why pay for something I couldn't afford to use. I felt like I was paying for a service I couldn't use.

[watchdogg]

8. +1

Even if they didn't actually care about a public option, they needed it to make this constitutional - not to mention, have a prayer of helping make real reforms.

[bluestateguy]

9. That is largely a talk radio/internet myth

and scare tactics.

[bluestateguy]

14. OK, I'll disbelive it

The language in the bill (the subject of the video) forbids explicitly the IRS from collecting the tax penalties on people who don't pay it. In effect, you have a tax penalty that is assessed and the government has no way to make you pay it.

[dionysus]

20. and people like Rush and Hannity.

[dionysus]

19. they let their slip show using pure RW radio lies...

[SoutherDem]

6. One night this week on Rachel Maddow's show

I think Friday showed how the mandate is a Republican idea and was suppose to be a compromise. But of course the Republicans don't want compromise but to stop Obama.

I have said for some time the best way Obama could get anything to happen would be to push for the opposite of what he wanted. The Republican would be pushing for the very thing Obama wanted, Obama could then give up make the Republican think they won when they really lost. If the Republicans are going to act like preschoolers use a little child psychology getting them to do what you really want.

[watchdogg]

7. good find

that's important info (so yes, don't expect it to be covered elsewhere)

[TheKentuckian]

10. It is tough to impose on folks who don't have their taxes deducted but easy for those of us that do

they'll just deduct it from any refund due, if your refund doesn't offset it then you just won't ever get one.

Also, since 85% of us will be dictated to take whatever our employers select, there isn't a surefire way to be able to avoid it anyway. Like the taxes, it'll just be taken. I'm not sure that coverage can just be declined without showing proof of other coverage as it is today.

Larry is in the world of a small percentage that gets a tax bill and writes a check. All of which are not rich by any definition often being they are the contractors and small business owners but it isn't the vast majority of us.

If the mandate is meaningless and unenforceable how can it be the centerpiece of "reform" and must be protected at all cost? People are talking out of both sides of their mouthes on this one.

The same person cannot truly hold these competing "truths" in their heads. It isn't a large nothingburger AND the spine of a hugely critical piece of legislation that we burnt 8 years of Bush blowback political capital on.
How is a person going to be in sackcloth and ashes if the mandate is struck AND the same mandate is meaningless.

I think Larry is lying to reel in a few more on the left, Larry protects and serves the establishment.

[girl gone mad]

11. Good points. n/t

[spin]

18. Great post. Thanks! (n/t)