>>>Do you think our system is worth what we are paying for it?
>>>
>>>I think that our system needs reform but I do not believe anything will be better if we give it to the government. Take a look at Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the Post Office and Cash for Clunkers. All of this are stunning examples of failure, so what makes you think that the government should be trusted with our health insurance?
>>>
>>>A good start would be tort reform and longer patent lifetimes on prescription drugs.
>>
>>For about the hundredth time, there is no proposal on the table that will require anyone to switch from their private insurer to a government plan.
>
>Not forced to go with a government plan, but forced to participate in a plan. I posted the link to the house bill previously, and I posted a couple of the scary points in it.
>
>One worth noting: Obama has promised and promised not to raise taxes on anyone earning less than 250,000/yr. Well, the house bill does just that by enforcing a tax penalty if you do not participate in an 'approved' plan. Here is a synopsis (yes it is accurate - you can compare it to the actual bill I posted the link to earlier):
>
>Mandates on Individuals and Businesses
>
>The bill contains both an individual and an employer mandate. Under the terms of the bill, an individual would be required to enroll in an "acceptable" health plan or face a tax penalty. The only exception would be "hardship" cases. For an individual, the tax would be equal to 2 percent of their income up to the "national average premium amount." Such a mandate would amount to an unprecedented restriction on personal liberty.
>
>"Medium and large" employers would be required to offer an "acceptable" health plan, under the terms and conditions of the House bill, or pay an "assumed" 8 percent payroll tax.[6] As economists generally note, the costs of an employer mandate are invariably passed onto employees in the form of wage or compensation reduction or even job loss. There is yet to be an econometric analysis of the impact of these provisions of the House bill.
>
>
>and, as far as being able to keep your current private insurance:
>
>Promises, Promises
>
>The President has said repeatedly that if Americans like their private health insurance coverage, they would be able to keep it. But in fact, the incentives built into the House bill--a combination of mandates and the provision of a public plan--would guarantee that millions of Americans would lose their private coverage, regardless of their personal preferences.
>
>
>http://www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCAre/wm2515.cfm
>
>This is why I think the other plans out there are better first steps toward healthcare reform.
>
>Here it is - the Health Care Bill Message #1415589
>
>or if you wish, a direct link:
>
>The house healthcare plan:
>http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.pdf

Thank you for the links. I have to admit I am skeptical of anything from the Heritage Foundation. They have an extremely conservative agenda.