Obama Refuses to Rule Out Jail Time for People Who Don't Buy Health Insurance.

President Obama said that penalties are appropriate for people who try to free ride the health care system but stopped short of endorsing the threat of jail time for those who refuse to pay a fine for not having insurance.

What I think is appropriate is that in the same way that everybody has to get auto insurance and if you don't, you're subject to some penalty, that in this situation, if you have the ability to buy insurance, it's affordable and you choose not to do so, forcing you and me and everybody else to subsidize you, you know, there's a thousand dollar hidden tax that families all across America are -- are burdened by because of the fact that people don't have health insurance, you know, there's nothing wrong with a penalty.

Under the House bill those who can afford to buy insurance and dont pay a fine. If the refuse to pay that fine theres a threat as with a lot of tax fines of jail time. The Senate removed that provision in the Senate Finance Committee.

Mr. Obama said penalties have to be high enough for people to not game the system, but its also important to not be so punitive that people who are having a hard time find themselves suddenly worse off, thus why hardship exemptions have been built in the legislation.

I think the general broad principle is simply that people who are paying for their health insurance aren't subsidizing folks who simply choose not to until they get sick and then suddenly they expect free health insurance. That's -- that's basic concept of responsibility that I think most Americans abide by, Mr. Obama said, penalties are appropriate for people who try to free ride the system and force others to pay for their health insurance.

The President said that he didnt think the question over the appropriateness of possible jail time is the biggest question the House and Senate are facing right now.

More at http://www.abcnews.com

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[Dshizzle1029]

I just farted, and it smells like Obama.

[FPCNEWS]

OBAMA IS OSAMA. ITS OK TO WAKE UP NOW AMERICA!

[MrBolas33]

Fucking asshole. You and your ugly chimp wife belong in jail. You cocksucking piece of shit.

[dsspike51]

I'd love to know how an unemployed person is expected to pay.

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

@stigmajosh its a bullshit comparision anyway, auto insurance mandaes are to cover the damage you would do to other peoples property/person. obama is a lawyer, so he knows that it is an innaccurate comparision. further proving he is a liar

[devilndeepbluesea]

I have a right not to drive a car, but not to pay money into a system....If I am too poor and can't afford it I will be penalized and subsidize those who can afford it...This man is a hypocrite and hope he eats shit and you know the rest.

[stigmajosh]

Yes, you have to buy auto insurance IF you drive a car. Not everyone chooses to drive a car Mr. President. What about the countless thousands that don't own a vehicle in NYC? Comparing manditory Health Insurance to Auto Insurance doesn't compute.

[shaithis80]

@simon6071 of course that is just my own personal take.

[shaithis80]

@simon6071 another point to make is that every since insurance has gotten involved along with long time government interference in healthcare and education, prices have skyrocketed. There might be a thing such as regulation but over regulation doesn't help much of anyone and the unforseen costs of various pieces of legistlation are passed on to the consumer which is why hospital bills possibly get into the six figures. Those that overcharge need to literally go broke with no bailouts.

[simon6071]

@shaithis80 Well said.

I have to make a correction to my previous post . Actually Obama said :Forcing Americans to buy health insurance is like forcing them to buy a house to solve the problem of homelessness. It [doesn't] work.

Of course, he said that before he became a corporate puppet.

[SlapstickCoyote]

It used to be that we had a choice between buying health insurance and self-insuring our own health

[apatriotofusa]

O-bomb-a is the one who should be in PRISON!!!! IMPEACH this Fascist Presidential IMPOSTER..........