Obama's "You can keep your plan" failed to anticipate how much Americans love cheap crappy plans

[Demo_Chris]

85. The fine is not as small as you think...

In 2014 it starts at $95 or 1% -- whichever is GREATER -- and it rapidly ramps up from there.

In 2015 it climbs to $325 or 2% -- whichever is greater.

In 2016 it jumps to $695 or 2.5% -- again, whichever is greater. These are per person penalties, so a family of three is looking at a $2100 hit in 2016.

We live in interesting times, both as a society and as a party. By the time the 2016 election rolls around everyone is going to understand all about these penalties, they will have experienced the wonders of Obam's excvhanges for themselves, and will have decided whether this law was a good thing or a disaster. The answer to that question might well decide not only which party wins the election, but sadly, which direction our nation needs to be headed.

We have a LOT riding on this.

In my opinion we would have been better off fighting for, and losing, the battle for single payer or an NHS, rather than passing this. Had we done so, we would have given people a reason to vote for us in 2010 rather than staying home in disgust. But we didn't do that. We didn't even try. And everyone in the country knows it. Instead of healthcare for the people, our party fought for guaranteed profits for the insurance industry and new monthly bill for those barely scraping by. And if it doesn't work, if we fucked it up, god help us as a party and a movement. This was a very risky gamble on a half-assed solution, and it better work or we are screwed.