General Discussion

limpyhobbler

(8,244 posts)

30. This is the worst argument ever for the ACA

Mon Jul 2, 2012, 01:47 AM

Jul 2012

Cell phone is a necessity if you don't have a land line. You put an Ipad in the same category as netflix? Sounds like a romney error.

It got me thinking though...

I keep hearing "those who can afford to buy insurance will be required to do so"... that's an argument for the mandate.

But how can the government possibly know what I can afford to do? They are just going by my income. But they are not taking into account my other expenses, like credit card payments, loan payments, transportation/car payments, car repairs, food, assistance to family. They don't know what I can afford unless they sit down and talk to me personally for a couple days.

The mandate sucks. It's trying to get blood out of a stone. Pretending the health care costs issue can be solved by forcing more people to pay. Most people that can truly afford it already have insurance.

The mandate is nothing but a favor to the private insurers. If the gov't is going to require me to pay for insurance, then the gov't should just sell me the insurance directly, to cut out the middle man and control the cost. Especially since the gov't already operates a top notch health insurance plan for people over 65.

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If You Can Afford Cell Phones, iPads, Video Games, Nike Shoes, Netflix, Then Under The ACA... [View all] Yavin4 Jul 2012 OP

K/R (nt) NYC_SKP Jul 2012 #1

I pay $19000 annual+ for insurance of my family of 3. And I have none of the above... Luminous Animal Jul 2012 #2

The ACA LOWERS Your Cost for Health Insurance Yavin4 Jul 2012 #5

Really. I am 55 years old and ACA guarantees that people my age can be charged 3 times more Luminous Animal Jul 2012 #12

Have you run your details through this site? MADem Jul 2012 #37

All insurance companies completely charge 3x more than people younger. this has not changed. n/t progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #61

Not so far it hasn't. BC/BS has gone up significantly since ACA passage. leveymg Jul 2012 #51

If your household income is over 400% of the poverty level bornskeptic Jul 2012 #57

Health coverage has gone up, drastically. Poverty line for family of 3 is $19K. You do the math. leveymg Jul 2012 #58

Then it doesn't harm you. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2012 #53

you pay $1,600 a month for health insurance? I pay $200.. and I"m in my 50s. n/t progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #59

What a bunch of crap rationalization. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #3

How So? Yavin4 Jul 2012 #4

I can't afford a flat screen TV and I can't afford health insurance. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #6

Use The Calculator At The Link Yavin4 Jul 2012 #8

That's where I got the numbers in my post. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #11

Where Are You Getting $4100 A Year???? Yavin4 Jul 2012 #13

1 person. $44,000. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #15

A Portion of That $4180 Is Tax Deductible Right? Yavin4 Jul 2012 #16

That moves to 10% floor in 2014. Ruby the Liberal Jul 2012 #22

Don't take this the wrong way, but unless you are already a dual citizen, Canada doesn't want you. MADem Jul 2012 #10

Well, you would be wrong. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #14

You have a needed skill that isn't present in the Canadian population, or in any of the MADem Jul 2012 #18

I've read that website. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #20

Itemize your income taxes. Are you self-employed? MADem Jul 2012 #36

Yes, there are so many things that factor into the whole equation. Which is why the absolutist Hissyspit Jul 2012 #39

Are you factoring in the tax refund as well? MADem Jul 2012 #45

As long as it allows the poor to buy those things along with ACA... Comrade_McKenzie Jul 2012 #7

Everyone Has to Prioritize Their Spending Yavin4 Jul 2012 #9

Yes, if all those people without insurance would just prioritize their spending Merlot Jul 2012 #25

These threads are so off-putting. girl gone mad Jul 2012 #17

self-delete Skittles Jul 2012 #19

Netflix is like $10 a month Ruby the Liberal Jul 2012 #21

You can get a Tracfone or Net 10 phone for that price, too. GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #47

Why do you assume DUers are stupid? Fumesucker Jul 2012 #23

Interesting point. You win the math test. Zalatix Jul 2012 #40

That was my thought as well. laundry_queen Jul 2012 #42

Netflix costs $8 per month Merlot Jul 2012 #24

As far as moving to another state to get Medicaid, that has been going on for years. When a person freshwest Jul 2012 #26

What an effective talking point. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #27

That's not a 'talking point.' It's a matter of record about how badly the poor are treated. freshwest Jul 2012 #29

I'm not saying you are using it as a talking point. The OP is using it as a talking point. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #32

If you can afford an XBox, you're not poor. OnyxCollie Jul 2012 #28

And yet it has 18 recs. Hissyspit Jul 2012 #31

Those mighty defenders of the status quo, OnyxCollie Jul 2012 #33

This is the worst argument ever for the ACA limpyhobbler Jul 2012 #30

TOTALLY agree. nt Raine Jul 2012 #34

Kind of hard to do when you can't even get rid of Rick Snyder or Scott Walker. Zalatix Jul 2012 #35

I'm UK and have got our NHS dipsydoodle Jul 2012 #38

A Question for all of the posters on this thread who disagree with me Yavin4 Jul 2012 #41

Why does it have to be a regressive sales tax? laundry_queen Jul 2012 #43

A Sales Tax Is The Only Sure Fire Way To Make Everyone Pay Into The System Yavin4 Jul 2012 #46

The rich go offshore in that case. It's what happened in UK. MADem Jul 2012 #49

Your point is entirely valid--it was the tone of your OP that has some up-in-arms. MADem Jul 2012 #48

Sorry for my tone. Yavin4 Jul 2012 #54

It didn't bother me, personally. I kind of saw what you were doing. MADem Jul 2012 #56

"If You Can Afford Cell Phones, iPads, Video Games, Nike Shoes, Netflix, Then " NCTraveler Jul 2012 #44

You ever actually pawn anything? Fumesucker Jul 2012 #60

I've never pawned anything....but I have watched those pawn shop shows on cable! MADem Jul 2012 #63

Auctions are a huge crapshoot.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #64

I was not talking about the OP's list. I was talking about some of the stuff I see people drag into MADem Jul 2012 #65

Maybe, you never really know for sure.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #66

I fear we're separated by a common language, here! MADem Jul 2012 #67

I was just using ebay as an easily searchable example... Fumesucker Jul 2012 #68

There are regional houses that do business, like Skinner's, which is also very high end. MADem Jul 2012 #71

Not sure what this has to do with my reply. NCTraveler Jul 2012 #70

If you can afford to donate to DU and have internet connection you don't qualify for ACA... L0oniX Jul 2012 #50

I buy a pair of Nike kicks, I *get* Nike kicks...Forced to buy health *insurance* , AzDar Jul 2012 #52

This is the same argument the Repukes make about foodstamps B2G Jul 2012 #55

Wait, are we doing that thing where we blame poor people for their own problems? Puregonzo1188 Jul 2012 #62

It isn't that simple, I do medicaid for a living. Puzzledtraveller Jul 2012 #69

That's the big problem with this country, working people's children have it too good, LeftyMom Jul 2012 #72