Oh No We Won't!

Obama is finally going to step up to the plate and address this whole health care thing tomorrow - all by himself. The gloves are coming off – no more messing around. No more standing behind Nancy and her courteous diplomacy.

Max Baucus, Chair of the Finance Committee, must have finally come through with some answers for the big guy. He apparently had been stuck in a dark room for months working on how to pay for this whole health care reform / health insurance reform / insurance overhaul / Obama's make-or-break moment.

"It amuses me sometimes when I hear some of the opponents of health care reform on the other side of the aisle or on these cable shows yelling about how we can't afford this, when Max and I are actually proposing to pay for it." - Obama

So how are Max and Obama proposing to pay for this health care reform?

Glad you asked.

"Now, what I've identified, and most of the committees have identified and agreed to, including Max Baucus's committee, is that there – overall this bill will cost – let's say it costs $800 billion to $900 billion. That's a lot of money. That's a lot of money." - Obama

That IS a lot of money.

But wait – not to worry – Max is here to save the day! It turns out his plan will make health insurance mandatory for all. Just like auto insurance, according to the plan. Just like auto insurance? Really?

Too bad these guys don't think things through before making stupid plans or analogies. Maybe they just hope we won't think them through – remember, the Post Office is the one always having problems = fairness and competition. I, for one, find wool to be a bit too itchy for my eyes.

Last time I checked, driving was a privilege granted to us by the state. Otherwise, what is the point of a driver's license? Just to have a good looking photo of yourself to show the tender of the bar?

Driving is also a choice every individual makes – to drive or not to drive – that is the question.

If I am found to be driving without insurance, my license can be suspended. So once this reform passes and it becomes mandatory to have insurance, if I'm found living without health insurance, will they suspend my health? My life?

When does government end?

You don't have to have auto insurance if you don't drive. So it turns out that auto insurance isn’t mandatory. Since auto insurance is only required if you drive, then is the question regarding health insurance to live or not to live?

It certainly isn't to get insurance or not – mandatory means required, necessary, enforced – those who don't sign up for health insurance will face fines up to $3,800 once the health care plan goes into effect. Now that's change you can believe in! Too bad we're now finding out that it is actually (trillions of) dollars you can believe in.