THE MANDATE IS CONSTITUTIONAL

[Ban Hammer 13,554]

You too Charles - its no good putting it to the back of your mind

but do they have pizza in heaven?

[Captain Oates 911]

I am constantly questioned by people here about health care in the UK. Do you get that too? Usually I'm asked a question about it and after I answer them, they disagree with me and tell me it is terrible there and it is much better here. I will ask them if they have ever used the NHS, of course 99% of them haven't been to the UK and are just regurgitating some republican political commercial they saw on TV. Then I ask them if it is better if someone dies from not having any insurance or if you have to wait a little bit of time for an operation. By that point their brains are ready to explode.

People are always really quick to tell me British food is horrible too, that one makes me laugh. They all think Ihop is edible though.

My wife lived for a year in the UK and had her annual 'women's' exam. She had totally free healthcare for life like everyone else (from day 1)

She came home complaining that they didn't do it exactly the same as the US and were a bunch of hicks

I said "not bad for nothing though eh ?" Lovely new surgery, 3 terrific lady doctors.

She wouldn't have it. She was brainwashed into thinking everything in the US is better

Americans never hear the penny drop until they are thrown out of their houses and end up on the street. I don't know if they get it even then. They probably think that bemoaning the process of being made bankrupt is being a communist or being disloyal to America.

Americans cannot get the fact that there are no contributions or policies or paperwork in the UK

A person can be born a billionaire, never have a job and so never contribute via wage deductions - and still have cradle to grave care totally free

They just look at me blank when I tell them that and they are incapable of understanding how totally free it is to everyone

Even US visitors will be treated for free for any emergency or accident

I have a red passport and she hasn't. If I die, she is on her own as far as the US is concerned and there is only incorrect insurance paperwork between her and living under a railroad bridge

'A sore afraid new world' as Duran-Duran put it

Edited June 28, 2012 by Ashud Cocoa

[Captain Oates 911]

but do they have pizza in heaven?

Yes and 35% goes to the South Carolina Tabernacle Happy Clappy Whoo Hoo annual gathering - so take some dosh with ya

You didn't expect heaven to be free did you ? That would be a commie set up and not the free enterprise heaven every American is promised

[rocks 494]

My wife lived for a year in the UK and had her annual 'women's' exam. She had totally free healthcare for life like everyone else (from day 1)

She came home complaining that they didn't do it exactly the same as the US and were a bunch of hicks

I said "not bad for nothing though eh ?" Lovely new surgery, 3 terrific lady doctors.

She wouldn't have it. She was brainwashed into thinking everything in the US is better

Americans never hear the penny drop until they are thrown out of their houses and end up on the street. I don't know if they get it even then. They probably think that bemoaning the process of being made bankrupt is being a communist or being disloyal to America.

Americans cannot get the fact that there are no contributions or policies or paperwork in the UK

A person can be born a billionaire, never have a job and so never contribute via wage deductions - and still have cradle to grave care totally free

They just look at me blank when I tell them that and they are incapable of understanding how totally free it is to everyone

Even US visitors will be treated for free for any emergency or accident

I have a red passport and she hasn't. If I die, she is on her own as far as the US is concerned and there is only incorrect insurance paperwork between her and living under a railroad bridge

'A sore afraid new world' as Duran-Duran put it

Murrikkka #1! They're all brought up to think America is the best at everything, which is almost never true. Brits are just the same, must be where they get it from.

I have just gone through the biggest nightmare trying to unravel a problem with my insurance company. It's only taken them 7 months to fix it and pay up. The way it works here seems to be in the favor of the companies and not the patient. If the patient gets screwed in the process and has to pay for things out of pocket, oh well! I was told to go into collections while they try to fix the problem. This is not what you need to spend your time dealing with if you are sick or need to see a doctor for whatever reason.

I am in the same situation as you on the passport thing. I have one, he doesn't. I always thought we would go back when we were older and get him a red passport, but as you know that is being taken away from us unless we apply before July 9th.

That's another question I get asked a lot, "where do you like it better?". I always tell them it's different and I like both places, which is not what they want to hear. In relation to health care, the UK wins hands down. If you ask me about immigration, I would have to say USA is MUCH better. Never thought I'd say that.

[Captain Oates 911]

Murrikkka #1! They're all brought up to think America is the best at everything, which is almost never true. Brits are just the same, must be where they get it from.

I have just gone through the biggest nightmare trying to unravel a problem with my insurance company. It's only taken them 7 months to fix it and pay up. The way it works here seems to be in the favor of the companies and not the patient. If the patient gets screwed in the process and has to pay for things out of pocket, oh well! I was told to go into collections while they try to fix the problem. This is not what you need to spend your time dealing with if you are sick or need to see a doctor for whatever reason.

I am in the same situation as you on the passport thing. I have one, he doesn't. I always thought we would go back when we were older and get him a red passport, but as you know that is being taken away from us unless we apply before July 9th.

That's another question I get asked a lot, "where do you like it better?". I always tell them it's different and I like both places, which is not what they want to hear. In relation to health care, the UK wins hands down. If you ask me about immigration, I would have to say USA is MUCH better. Never thought I'd say that.

Last month I was asked about how I liked the US. I said - "it's pretty good really - the petrol is cheap and it doesn't rain as much". Crestfallen faces all round.

They wanted to hear me say that I has never been allowed to vote or have free speech in England and I had been a slave of the Queen and I had been saved and raised up by being allowed into the US

The Americans always compare their country to some fly-blown dump in Africa and never to Europe. I have noticed that.

I do find Americans much more polite (to my face) than anyone anywhere else and much of the stuff that irritates me is a result if brainwashing or ignorance and so they can't be blamed too much. You know that in school they have to stand and put their hands on their hearts and make an oath before god and the flag every day ? You know that in the UK that would be seen as totally 3rd Reich.

There is also a certain percentage of Americans who are incredibly switched on and well traveled and know all the issues and comparators better than I do.

You and I know the scum that exists in England and the US has its own scum. Instead of being drunk and worthless, they are full of ignorance and puffed up with nationalism and false pride. Same type of people I have always had to tolerate in both countries.

So its all the same stuff but presented differently from the UK

Once I realized there are tens of millions of Americans who feel just as I do, I realized I could be a true American patriot by getting behind socially enlighten politics and I don't need to feel at all alien in their company. The rednecks are a dying minority and I have the confidence to tell them so. Heck I might even be in the majority of Americans - the election of Baz Obama says something.

The US continues its evolution and as usual it is following in the footsteps of England but 50 years behind. The important thing is that it is getting there

If it ever gets real socialized health care like EVERY OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATION, it will be SWAMPED with the best immigrants and fully deserve it's incessant boasting for the first time ever

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Remember "it will be his Waterloo"?

Turns out it's actually their Waterloo.

The year is still young. Wait until they post the ads about the biggest tax increase in the history of the universe, and young couples having their first homes auctioned off because they didn't buy the correct insurance policy.

[Captain Oates 911]

The year is still young. Wait until they post the ads about the biggest tax increase in the history of the universe, and young couples having their first homes auctioned off because they didn't buy the correct insurance policy.

Sour grapes from the rightos

They should get used to losing with Barry 8% up in the swing states

I don't want this wonderful day to end

ps ref your signature pic - I am looking for a pic of the US helicopters on the roof of the embassy in Saigon...

Edited June 28, 2012 by Ashud Cocoa

[웃 910]

The year is still young. Wait until they post the ads about the biggest tax increase in the history of the universe, and young couples having their first homes auctioned off because they didn't buy the correct insurance policy.

Supposedly...

"[if you choose not to buy insurance] you have to pay a penalty of $695 a year (that's the 2016 number; after 2016, it rises with inflation) or 2.5 percent of your annual income, whichever is greater....[but suppose] you simply refuse to pay the mandate. What can the government do to make you pay?

Well, unlike if you refuse to pay your taxes, it can't throw you in jail or put a lien on your home or other property (page 336 of the legislation). It can potentially reduce your tax refund, but that's really it. If you're not getting a tax refund, you're free and clear. Given these specifics, it's worth asking why anyone thinks the mandate will work at all. And it's worth saying that some don't."

http://www.motherjon...-whats-tradeoff

Edited June 28, 2012 by ☠

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

ps ref your signature pic - I am looking for a pic of the US helicopters on the roof of the embassy in Saigon...

You can blame the Libs for losing a war that was already won.

Edited June 28, 2012 by ☼

[slim 1,533]

Of course because everyone in this country knows the current health care system is unsustainable, it's current expenditure is 17.4% of GDP and increasing. Compare that to countries who have universal health care with 8-10% of GDP and have much better health care outcomes such as life expectancy, infant mortality etc....

What are the tax rates in those countries compared to ours?

And compared to GDP?

The total cost for my mother - all health care and all residency costs from age 72 to age 95 - NIL - NOT ONE CENT !

So.... she never paid taxes?

I am looking for a pic of the US helicopters on the roof of the embassy in Saigon...

You can look all you want. Just keep in mind the redcoats came here twice..... and limped back home twice.

Well, unlike if you refuse to pay your taxes, it can't throw you in jail or put a lien on your home or other property (page 336 of the legislation). It can potentially reduce your tax refund, but that's really it. If you're not getting a tax refund, you're free and clear. Given these specifics, it's worth asking why anyone thinks the mandate will work at all. And it's worth saying that some don't."

I'm sure it'll be mandatory by the time taxes roll around.

[^_^ 5,021]

I'm sure it'll be mandatory by the time taxes roll around.

They will never be able to take away your home. Look at what Roberts snuck into his opinion...

... the shared responsibility payment may for constitutional purposes be considered a tax. The payment is not so high that there is really no choice but to buy health insurance; the payment is not limited to willful violations, as penal­ties for unlawful acts often are; and the payment is collected solely by the IRS through the normal means of taxation

[one...two...tree 2,762]

They will never be able to take away your home. Look at what Roberts snuck into his opinion...

... the shared responsibility payment may for constitutional purposes be considered a tax. The payment is not so high that there is really no choice but to buy health insurance; the payment is not limited to willful violations, as penal­ties for unlawful acts often are; and the payment is collected solely by the IRS through the normal means of taxation

This had to been well thought out by the Obama Administration's legal team. However, why did they do such a pi$$ poor job in their oral arguments before the court?

[slim 1,533]

The tea tax wasn't so high either.

[Captain Oates 911]

You can blame the Libs for losing a war that was already won.

Well at least you can't blame the Brits for Vietnam.. my pal had his foot blown off by a mine in that war.

50 thousand dead and 500,000 wounded physically or mentally or both

If the US had won, what would it have won, a few paddy fields ? There would still be 1,500,000,000 Chinese with nuclear weapons just up the road

I never met a Vietnam Vet who supports that war so it isn't just the liberals

Its time the US stopped these 'elective' wars especially ones that don't make my gasoline cheaper

Anyway that's off topic.

====================================================================================

For the first time to today, I can see a vision of a USA that would be Equal or be BETTER than Britain

If, in 20 years, the US has full universal health care and no capital punishment, and is a member of the international criminal court, it will be in a position to truly say it is the moral, economic and military leader of the world

Most Americans think their economy and the size of the military makes them the best in the world but it doesn't because the USA lags morally.

In 20 years the US can lead in every way and it really will UNDISPUTABLY be the finest country on the world ON ALL COUNTS

I lick my lips with that prospect and I don't see why Republicans don't want that too

I remember Mrs Obama saying she was proud of America for the first time and everyone howled at her - but I know what she meant. She wanted MORE for America and the republicans want the status quo. I want more for America too and I am not satisfied with the status quo.

I want it to be so good on ALL counts that everyone in the world will say it's the finest country on ALL counts

They don't say that right now

Heck I might shred my red passport if that happens

[^_^ 5,021]

No to the international criminal court. I'm a lib (relative to most here) and even I say F that.