YOUR COMMENTS

The best option, the moral one, would be a single payer system but with the economy as it is we can't go there right now.

Part of the problem is that one of the major costs in healthcare today is the cost of emergency rooms and the number of uninsured who go to the emergency room and don't pay. The hospitals still have to make their obscene profits so they are passing those costs onto the rest of us. In other words we are already paying for those people who don’t have insurance. The thing is we (Society) are paying more than we have to because many of the reasons for these hospital visits could have been avoided with much less expensive preventive care. To say nothing of the pain and suffering of the uninsured and ultimately the loss of life because they can’t afford today’s obscene healthcare costs.

Also remember that Car insurance is already mandated in many states.
- David H, Somersworth NH

The author might be biased but he is correct, this bill does make it a federal crime to not by into the government funded healthcare to be run by the insurance companies.

Vince stated that capitalism is not in the Constitution. Although our founders thought it self-evident, that even an idiot could understand it, "the pursuit of happiness" is indeed in the Constitution.

As to, whomever he is today, from Deerfield, where were you and your ilk when Clinton invaded Haiti, Somalia, or Bosnia? You were all very silent with regard to those wars that were unapproved by the United Nations. Whomever you are we get it already, time to dismount that dead horse of yours, you blindly hate anyone you associate as a Republican or Conservative.
- Don Diamant, Milton, NH

Good stinging comment Eric. Too bad it is just a shill for preventing healthcare. No one is fooled. Democrats protest the wars you have caused, Republicanics protest healthcare. We're now up to 140 times the Republicanics have prevented what they used cry for - up or down votes. The G-No-P is now filled with spoiled brats preventing the actions of those elected by the populace to change the horrible mess Republicanics caused and failed to clean up.
- Robert, Deerfield

Doug - Keep on yawning! Let me assure you that Obama doesn't really have to be a secret muslim terrorist to ruin America, does he? He's doing quite well, Thank You, on the current road he's taken!
Remember: "Ye shall know a man by the company he keeps", and there are enough America-haters in his inner circle to last him a lifetime, be he muslim or not!
- Guy Plante, Manchester

Obama/Pelosi have to hurry to empty Gitmo to accomodate their new health care gulag. Repeal the 111th Congress!
- Mae, Plaistow

Robert in Deerfield,
Liberals may or may not be kind and protective of the weak, but they're evidently not very bright. Please go and re-read all the previous posts. 'Republicans' (and independents) are not protesting 'health care', they are protesting a mandatory, government-run health insurance scheme.
- Eric, Manchester

Joel in Hudson,

In the vent I am confused please allow me to clarify my earlier point. WHat you are referring to as health insurance is actually not insurance at all. Insurance by webster's definition is something you buy to protect you against a future loss. A healthplan provides you prepayed healthcare and may or may not include things like prescription drug coverage, eye care, dental work etc.

You are correct that under the current system only gets you the same services by another provider. Please read my earlier post again and ask yourself why that is? In NH it is the direct result of Jeanne Shaheen well intentioned efforts to punish greedy insurance companies. She led the effort to require all insurance carriers in Nh to provide a minimum level of coverage, hence they all offer the same services. That is not freedom, that is not capitalism, that is big government doing what it does best, screwing up the market driven economy.

I am curious though that you know of "no healthcare exec who doesn't drive a mecedes". If you know so many healthcare execs maybe you can share some of the constructive discussions you have had with them. I have had constructive discussions with patients, fellow health care professionals including nurses, physicians and pharmacists along with senior employees of health insurance companies. The answers to real healthcare refiorm are all around us if we are willing to listen and learn.
- Michael Layon, Derry

@ Vince from Exeter

Newsflash Vince we are a Republic not a Socialist Democracy, feel free to move to Canada or Europe.

Nevertheless since you want to lecture us on the Constitution, why don't you show us the provision in the Constitution that allows the federal government to dictate prices and force people to purchase a particular good or service as a condition of lawful citizenship under the penalties of fines and imprisonment? Clearly you have no comprehension that HR 3962 violates the 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 13th amendments. The fact that HR 3962 violates those constitutional rights means that this legislation cannot be found constitutional under the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and “General Welfare clause” in Article One of Legislative Powers.

By the way, it’s rather funny how many of those "evil" companies have laced the pocket of the very Democrats in power. HR 3962 will also amount to a windfall profit for the politically connected insurance companies that have engaged in this “pay to play” scheme under the bill’s provision of “government approved” private insurance plans – hence those who aren’t forced on to the “public option” get the same rationed “government approved private option”. This amounts to not only government control of our medical decisions, but certain insurance companies will make out like bandits under this unconstitutional, tax payer subsidized, and force insurance market scheme.

What’s even more amusing is dolts like you actually think that you’ll be “sticking it” to the big insurance corporations. So if you think that the insurance companies “profit from death”, i.e. rationing and denying coverage, just wait until they have the blessing from the federal government to get away with it under the guise of the “public option” as the cure all. Sure you’ll jump on the “public option” only to receive more denied / rationed coverage. The bottom line is “Pelosi Care” is not the solution to health care reform; it’s smoke and mirrors for simply more government control of our lives.
- Mac, Newmarket

Hey Todd you have that right. I am an Independent and have learned a painful lesson this last year. I don't think i will ever trust another democrat after what these morons have done in such a short time. If it were not so serious it might be laughable. We don't have the money in the first place. So where will it come from? Cuts in Medicaid = less care for elderly, and higher insurance premiums. My premium for my daughter and myself will be raised $5,000 just on the first year. That is a big chunk of my meager earnings. They have lied about the being able to keep your insurance. And I have read the grandfather clause that is supposed to cover this, it is written as to make it impossible to actually keep it. Meaning come 2013 we are all forced to a single payer system. I see these people commenting about the big bad insurance companies denying claims, what about the government doing it at ten times the rate? I just had my Doctor close his practice to go back to school because he was kind enough to accept government health coverage from many patients. He told me they submit a claim and it gets denied, takes a minimum of 6 months of negotiating and then he ends up getting 10% of the billing. It is not enough to keep his practice alive and profitable. And these people want this in largescale? Thank God it won't happen. And all you who think Republicans don't have a chance come 2010 are wrong. I know I won't trust any democrat again. They lie and although Republicans might do it as well, they at least don't try to ruin this country. They don't crush jobs and leave our soldiers dying while they delay,delay, delay!! We need to take back our country!!
- Stacey, Manchester

Rather than read about people blaming each other for party affiliations, I would like just to state 2 facts and ask for people to really read these:
* FACT Emperor Obama was asked on ABC if he and his family would sign up for the government run healthcare plan he promotes as the best. His response was to smile for a few minutes and refuse to answer. If you don't believe me search the web.
* Fact when democrats congress people and senators the same question they responded they are covered by the Ted Kennedy Healthcare Plan which states they do not have to enter into the government option.

So with these facts, ask yourselves why are they so dead set on pushing this thru? Remember the Constitution is under 20 pages, this piece is over 2k pages. HMMMM? Oh have you all seen the AARP increased advertising for their medical plans? Makes you wonder you they are in bed with doesn't it!
- Paul, Candia

Mac Wade, Newmarket - Yak yak yak socialism communism yak yak yak!

Tell you what Mac, if We The People wanted a little socialism, we could legally have it. That's democracy in action.

There's nothing in the constitution that guarantees capitalism, or that we have to let companies rip us off forever. Sorry!
- Vince, Exeter

Calling all Bravehearts..... Freedom
- dnl, Derry

The Democrat's version of "health care reform" has absolutely nothing to do with either health, choice, or care. It has everything to do with political control by an Orwellian group of power hungry Socialists. And to quote Lenin, "The goal of socialism is communism".
- Mac Wade, Newmarket

First of all this whole bill is highly unconstitutional. But like the frog in the pot, our society has been so incrementally desensitised to what the gov't can and can't do they haven't even noticed. I still maintain the notion that the military has valid and legal reason to go in and remove this Congress, take over, and take back the gov't for the Constitution. But since they too are corrupted by their European bosses, this will never happen.

This is more about managing society (which is done by controlling their energy consumption and access to medical care) than giving poor people access to health care. It is the dream of globalist utopians that now control our gov't and their puppet president and his Mao-loving administration. Mao killed millions and they too may very well do the same via this bill.

Here is a good summation of what is going to happen if we allow Mean Jeanne Shaheen, globalist shill, to vote for this bill...

http://blog.heritage.org/2009/11/16/morning-bell-a-deathblow-for-obamacare/

Bottom line is, thanks to capitalism, the US is 5% of the world's population but we have access to 40% of the world's resources. It's called competition and it serves us well. Our poor do not live without electricity and heat in their homes (unless they want to) and they have access to every emergency room and are not denied. Do you know of any other country like that?
- Sue, Manchester

Dave in Sandwich,
If you need treatment, and you don't have medical insurance, that does NOT mean someone else has to pay for it. My family doesn't have insurance, and I had a family member who needed an emergency room visit. We made arrangements to pay the bill in installments (an arrangement I think practically any doctor or hospital will make). No one else had to pay a cent.
- Eric, Manchester

The progressives want to turn us into them. To make us feel as deprived and depraved and deadened. It's the only way that they can silence the roar of shame and self-loathing. What they don't understand is this: it's not going to happen. There are too many of us who won't be hypnotized. We can see right through them. We know who they are: the most piteous of human beings -- and the most dangerous. Men without a country, orphans far from home. The forsaken and disowned. Mother Teresa was once asked how she coped with serving the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. She responded that what she saw in the cities of the United States was much more disturbing, because it was a "poverty of the spirit."Poverty of the spirit. No truer words can be spoken of the progressive left.
- Lisa, Salem NH

Honesty? Integrity? Neutrality? Don't let the Manchester Union Leader get away with printing support for those words ever again. If not for the texture, the Union Leader's best usage would be as toilet paper.
- Andy Gard, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Brian of Wakefield says "another point about the auto insurance comparison. I am required to carry insurance only for Liability for damage I do to someone else's property or person. I am not required to carry insurance to fix my car or myself."

Auto insurance is quite different, actually. Yes, you can choose not to have insurance, and simply not drive. That works. That's your choice alone.

Or, you can also choose to have only liability insurance, and if you get in a wreck, you simply can't afford to fix your car. You cannot drive. Still your choice, and impacting you alone.

But if you don't have health insurance, and you get in a wreck, are you going to forego medical treatment? Of course not. If you get a terminal illness, are you telling me you're really going to choose NOT to go to the doctor?

Of course not. You will go to the doctor - and you will receive treatment- in some cases, very expensive treatment. But because you don't have insurance, someone else will be required to pay for you. As so many conservatives have already pointed out in these very pages, that is simply not fair.

Thus, cumpulsory insurance. It's fundamentally about fairness, not freedom or power. If the UL would spend more time illuminating it's readers and less time agitating them with misinformation, more people would be aware of that simple fact.
- Dave, Sandwich

What's the constitutional basis for requiring everyone to buy health insurance or face fines or jail time? The argument that people are required to maintain liability insurance on their automobiles and homeowners insurance on their homes is pure bunk. No one is "legally mandated" to own a vehicle or own a home, or risk fines and jail for refusing to take out a mortgage and buy a home / vehicle. So again, there's no provision in the Constitution that gives the federal government the power to set prices or force people to purchase any particular goods or services as a condition of lawful citizenship.

The solution to this Orwellian and unconstitutional scheme will come in the form of the largest constitutional lawsuit our country has ever seen. Anybody care to join me when the time comes to pay a visit to either the Cato Institute, Thomas More Law Center, or ACLU?
- Mac Wade, Newmarket

Hey Tinsley, any chance you can debate like an adult and not throw out childish insults like "deluded", "ignorance", "no clue", and my favorite overused insult, "koolaiders"? You're condescending, self-righteous attitude is hardly swaying anyone.

Do you really think that the pro-life people are ignorant? We know what a zygote is. We just firmly disagree on when life starts. It's usually a bad idea to underestimate your opponents. And school-yard taunts are just a dumb debate technique. But your comment on bio-engineering shows vividly how little you understand the pro-choice argument. You have no idea why pro-choice oppose abortion.

Again, it would make sense to learn your opponents' position before you try to debate. Anything else would be ignorant.
- Marc, Derry

Interesting that the media likes to talk about the Republicans being run by the right but they never mention the fact that the Democrats have been hijacked by the far left.
It is amazing that the left wing cannot talk about the positive attributes of this health plan but instead spend all of their time talking about how stupid everyone that is against it is.
This bill is another boondoggle of epic proportions that once passed (let's hope it does not) will forever strap this country like the other give aways. Every entitlement program ever started has cost more, some tenfold over original predictions, because the government is totally inept at predicting costs or sticking to any predictions.
- Jesse, Orford

I'm amazed at how an issue like healthcare reform can become so politicized. We're talking about healthcare, not tapping phones without warrants or sending young soldiers off to die without a good reason. These happened recently - how come the UL wasn't worked up over that?
- Frank, Dover

An embryo (before 12 weeks,) never mind a zygote, is NOT a "baby." So wake up there koolaiders! It's a bunch of cells with no viability outside the mother. I suggest these complainers go study bio-engineering, develop an artificial womb, and they can have all the zygotes and embryos they can afford to incubate.

Remember Terry Shiavo? Her brain was sawdust for years, she was blind for years, yet the anti-choice crowd swore she could respond to hand movements and her mother's voice. Imagination is a powerful thing! These same people go stare at stains at walls and swear it's a sign of the Virgin Mary.

I feel bad for them in their ignorance, but how to help? The question is; how do you tell a deluded person, with a fantasy that an abortion is murder, that they are fantasizing? You can't, because in fact none of these people have a clue when life begins, they are just extremely focused on controlling other people's beliefs and behaviors.

An old Navajo saying is, "You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep."
- Tinsley, Concord

Wow what dense people. Imagine - We might all have to pay for health coverage whether we want to or not! Oh my!

Hey GUESS WHAT? The uncovered waltz into hospitals and get treated or get medicare, and WE PAY FOR THAT NOW ANYWAY! So wake up folks, we are just sharing the burden more fairly. In the end the nation will be healthier for it.

The "I shouldn't have to pay" myth is one more "death panel" type canard out of the koolaiders. Just like, "keep the government out of my Medicare!" Utter foolishness.

They just can't stand the idea of Democrats actually moving the country in the right direction, it drives them insane. So I say we ought to put a GOP-insanity coverage provision into the bill, to cover all the right wing kooks are will be rolling in the streets when this actually passes. At least move them to asylums....
- Walter, N. Hampton

The problem is that the federal govt. is reaching beyond their constitutionally allowed limits. States can mandate insurance, the Federal govt. can not. This is simple. Auto insurance mandates are implimented by states. The Federal Govt. does not have the power to require us to have health care. It is not constitutional. This is how so many great nations fall, the leaders get too greedy for more power. Get rid of these dumb democrats that think the Govt. needs a hand in everything.
- Tom, Manchester

Michael Layon, Derry - You are one confused fellow! Yes health INSURANCE can cost $10,000 a year! Wake up! "Shopping around" only gets you the same services from other rip off providers. The cost comes from unhealthy, fat, smoking, Americans who won't exercise. It's their god given right to be fat, weak, sick, and complaining.

I know no health care exec who doesn't drive a Mercedes or better, for telling their lackeys to deny you coverage.
- Joel, Hudson

Tom, sorry for labeling you, but your rant sure looked a lot like some ultra-liberal, socialist, view. The "single-payer system" was what clued me in. And I'm not sure what to make of your Kucinich remark.

I wasn't referring to the laws on abortion. Plenty has been said on that. I just didn't agree with you're lumping the choice to abort with the choice of insurance. You're now just starting different arguments and conveniently failing to address mine.

This bill would remove part of my choice of insurance. Your, and Kucinich's, single-payer system removes it totally.

I think I know what choice means. Maybe if you stopped laughing for a minute you'd see. I don't believe people should have the choice (within reason) to terminate a baby. I think people should have a choice to choose what, if any, insurance they have.

"Radical" concept?? Seriously?? FYI - Being against abortion isn't as neo-con as you'd like to pretend it is. Neither is capitalism.
- Marc, Derry

A point that needs to be made again and again: Whoever says there are no alternative proposals for health care is, quite simply, lying. The Republicans have a bill now (though it was late in coming), and long before that in the House, Ron Paul introduced several bills to address health insurance concerns. The key to these proposals is not to take away freedom, but to increase choice and competition.

And Michael Layton in Derry, your post makes some very good points.
- Eric, Manchester

The auto insurance requirement analogy is not a convincing argument either. You can be required to buy auto insurance if you want to drive a car. This insurance mandate will take effect if you want to live.
- Wayne S, Manchestet"

Well said another point about the auto insurance comparison. I am required to carry insurance only for Liability for damage I do to someone else's property or person. I am not required to carry insurance to fix my car or myself.
- Brian, Wakefield

Terry,

You are correct that the plan will be expensive. You are also correct that the right thing to do is to "fix the problem". However, I think you are missing the boat on what the problem is. The real issue that they ought to be focusing on is the costs. We are currently running a 12 trillion plus deficit. In 2012 the Social Security trust fund bill comes due. The US government is in a fiscal morass and we're proposing taking on a HUGE spending program. Is the health fairy supposed to come and pay for it all? Let's try to keep some semblance of fiscal responsibility. And before you say it, Bush was no fiscal conservative.

As to the lost election, are you trying to tell me that the Dems just rolled over and played dead during the Bush years? That's not what I recall. Your partisan blinders are on display for everyone to see. BTW, I'm not so sure about the 7 more years part. The latest polls show the independents moving back to the right. 2010 may not be so kind to the Dems.
- Todd, Atkinson

Well Marc as usual in your radical, right-wing, neo-con-artist rantings you've managed to label someone that you know nothing about. And that's the key phrase--know nothing about. I am not a Democrat. I do not support this health bill, at all. I could care less about whether you support abortion or not. The Supreme Court has ruled on that issue time and again. You don't like the law? Change it, don't break it like the doctor murderers love to do. Work within the system. My argument is the hypocrisy of the U.L. and people like you who throw around words like 'choice' and 'freedom' yet have no idea what those words mean. It's laughable, literally and figuratively.
- Tom, Dover-Foxcroft, Me.

Well Marc as usual in your radical, right-wing, neo-con-artist rantings you've managed to label someone that you know nothing about. And that's the key phrase--know nothing about. I am not a Democrat. I do not support this health bill, at all. I could care less about whether you support abortion or not. The Supreme Court has ruled on that issue time and again. You don't like the law? Change it, don't break it like the doctor murderers love to do. Work within the system. My argument is the hypocrisy of the U.L. and people like you who throw around words like 'choice' and 'freedom' yet have no idea what those words mean. It's laughable, literally and figuratively.
- Tom, Dover-Foxcroft, Me.

my wife's aunt who is 90 years old and lives in switzerland, has been waiting 6 month's to see a doctor for a serious internal problem. is that what we want when we get older? by the way she encourages all american's not to go this route we will be sorry. glen wyman
- glen wyman, wentworth

Any new plan might be expensive and might need adjusting, but the curve of price increase handed to us by our current health care insurers coddled under Bush is KNOWN to bankrupt us all over the next few years. So the logical thing to do is fix the problem. As such the President has asked for any and all ideas on health care - but the GOP only offers continual "health scare."

I sometimes wonder if you GOP dead-enders got the memo: You lost the election! As a matter of fact the older, white, Southern and Western demographic that voted GOP is becoming SMALLER and has little chance to win a national race in 2012. You might say you had your fun under Bush.

One year in and the koolaiders are really steaming, I am going to enjoy the next seven years!
- Terry, Milton

Make everyone have health insurance? Tut. Tut. What a preposterous idea! Pretty soon, they'll want us to have a driver's license to operate an automobile. Nay, nay. Do not interfere with our freedom to plop down in the seat of a car, and drive off with no previous training. And then, they'll want us to pay a federal income tax to support the military. I say we should let the military pay for itself by foraging and looting. Oh, these liberals want to destroy our freedom to do whatever we please without the least regard for the well being of any other human being.
- Gary Patton, Hampton

Liberty to be bankrupt from medical bills without insurance? What choice did 45,000 uninsured deaths have every year? Freedom to die sick? Don’t ever let the Republicans get away with uttering those words again. Remember, if you’re sick and don’t have insurance, the Republicans plan is they have no plan- just die quickly or go bankrupt.

Choice? Freedom? Liberty? Live sick and die doesn’t sound like a viable alternative to mandates. And if you’re a Republican, Live Sick and Die sounds like a great party slogan to me.

Don’t blame Nancy Pelosi for the mandates, blame the insurance industry- they lobbied for it, they practically extorted it, in exchange for covering everyone and not dropping sick people. Yes, Congress is mandating that you have to purchase insurance. And who’s the winner there? Insurance companies!
- Gary, Bedford

First to correct both the Ul article and most of the commentors, what HR 3962 provides is NOT health insurance; It is a healthcare plan. Insurance by defitition is a tool used to guard against risk of a future event. Many so called Health Insurance plans today actually provide a healthcare plan. Insurers are forced to provide coverage for all types of routine medical care; in NH you can thank Jeanne Shaheen for those laws. By forcing insurers to provide healhcare as opposed to insurance, an unintended consequence was thrusting the insurance company between you and your routine healthcare. No longer can one buy catastrophic insurance in NH. We must ask ourselves why "insurance" can cost over $10,000 a year. The answer is "because it is not really insurance". IF peopler were again allowed to buy catastrophic insurance, most could and would pay for their own routine healthcare. The obese, smoking alcoholic would find their regular costs higher than if they chose to live a healthy lifestyle, that should be their choice.

Lets look at this bill for what is really is, a healthcare plan; in fact it is the third government run beaurocratic healthcare mess joining medicare/medicaid and the VAMC. Do we really need three separate government agencies to provide three levels of care?

Why not get government out of the patient doctor relationship? Alet people shop around for the best healthcare at a price that is attractive to them. Until we know the cost of our own healthcare, we will continue to see "insurance" rates of $10,000+ a year as acceptable.
- Michael Layon, Derry

Just a few points for the Obama-ites to chew on:
* not one of our congress reps have read the entire bill, so you know they do what they are told by Pelosi. FACT
* there is at least 3 indepenedent studies in addition to the CBO that states that costs will rise, taxes will be increased and services will be reduced causing longer waits. FACT
* right now there are provisions for federally funded abortions and Carol Shea Pelosi agrees with that. FACT.
* we are now paying over 100+M dollars a year, which will grow, to provide long term health care to illegal aliens. FACT.
* if this bill gets enacted, these clowns in Washington won't be in office to bear the brunt of this farce. FACT.

Finally and most importantly, Why is that when the DEMs/Pelosi-ites boast the virtues of this bill they:
* Do it by invite only- Fact
*Hodes/Carol Shea Pelosi did it in NH at an invite only event where the invitees were fed, so you know they must have contributed. FACT
- Mike, Manchester

Where was this freedom and liberty loving UL when the Patriot act 1&2 were being drafted and implemented, albeit, also for our "own good"?
Where were you when the behemoth and costly bureaucracy that is Homeland Security was being built up?
What was your stance when GWB's executive orders were being issued faster than parking tickets?

Considering all of the restrictions on freedom that have occurred since our founding by an increasingly enormous and unconstitutional Federal government, to lament the loss of liberty strictly due to an arguably overreaching health care proposal is akin to trying to patch a hole in the hull after the ship has sunk.
- Herb C., Concord

Single payer-funded with a GST. Only way to really reform health care.
- Richard, Manchester

Tom Labrie,
Though I would not characterize myself as a 'naysayer' (in case you haven't noticed, there *are* alternative health care proposals in Congress that do not depend on what is basically slavery), and you know no more about 'prehistoric cavemen' than you do about anything else...personally, I will be glad to take the pledge - I do not intend to use Medicare no matter how old I get.
- Eric, Manchester

Tom,

I'm a "NORMAL" individual who thinks this is a terrible bill. Progress? Progress towards bankrupting the nation perhaps. The CBO estimates won't prove to be even close. How do I know? I work in MA and have seen what their version of UHC has done. MA has the highest premiums in the nation. How could this be since it was touted that with everyone having insurance the costs would go down? What these geniuses failed to figure out was that this would create a higher demand for services. Oh gee, you mean to tell me the laws of supply and demand still exist?

We, as a nation, pay about twice as much per capita as other industrialized nations. The Dems are focusing on the wrong problem. They talk about bending the growth curve. How about reversing it! Focus on bringing the costs down and the rolls of the uninsured will drop. If you take care of the costs, everyone benefits.

With regards to mandates, they are an assault on our liberties. People try the "well you have to wear a seatbelt", etc argument, however, I can elect not to drive in a car to avoid that. What I can't do under this proposed bill is elect not to have health insurance. I know people who pay to keep a doctor on a retainer. They would no longer be able to use that method under this plan. It's a bad bill and it must be defeated. Progress? Hardly...
- Todd, Atkinson

I can just see Tom, from Dover-Foxcroft, Me., cackling away while he has his latest issue of Liberal Democrat Lackey Today open on his lap. He, like a typical partisan clone, mixes two different issues and points to some contrived flaw in logic.

The abortion issue isn't about choice. Suppose I "choose" to kill your children, or your neighbor's children, or even someone you never heard of across the state? I expect you would have a problem with my "choice". That's the objection to abortion - not choice, but the killing of innocent pre-born babies. Are you that tied up in your liberal mantras that you can't even see the real argument?

So where does government intrusion into our lives stop? You want all insurance companies to go away and be replaced by one government entity. How about those greedy bankers? Why not one US Bank for all? Greedy car companies? Let's just make nice US Cars and forget those guys. Wouldn't it be great if we had only one US Grocery Store to shop at? Where do you want it to end?

Sorry, but I'm just not ready for socialism.
- Marc, Derry

J Paige, Manchester- keep living in YOUR fantasyland honeybun - HR 3962 Sec. 7203 sets up the directive that if you don't get govt. health insurance and don't pay the fine you can be imprisoned 1-5 years depending on the level of tax evasion. They get you under IRS rules. From Factchecker.org
- Sandy, Thornton

In other countries like France, Sweden their public option has NOT forced out private insurance.

In fact, only the VERY wealthy are not on the public option. The VERY wealthy have private insurance and get better healthcare with no line in those countries.

WE WILL not do well as a nation with this Bella Pelosi Health Care.
- Todd, Andover, NH

Would the naysayers who howl like prehistoric cave men during a thunder storm please agree, in advance, that they will TAKE NO MEDICARE when they turn 65?

No? Then please shut up, you are holding back progress for the rest of us hard working, hard thinking, NORMAL modern folks who know when corporations are killing them.

The lack of understand of how the modern world works out of some people is stunning.
- Tom Labrie, Rochester

Did Alan Keyes, or Ed and Elaine Brown write this little memo for you guys? The strong scent of the preposterous surrounds it. High falutin' nonsense.

Tom in Dover Foxcroft is absolutely correct, the current bill in fact does not go far enough.
- Roger, Rochester

A 2,000 page bill written by Democrat Socialist hacks.
- Bob, Salem

Knowing as many deocrats as I do who don't want this plan only shows me Hodes and Porter answer to someone other than those they claim to represent. Maybe it's time WE THE PEOPLE keep a closer eye on all our politicians and elections for all our sakes because this bill is nothing short of being a dictatorship.
- Deb, Derry

True, we are owned and subjects of the once "our" Government.
Healthcare? Will they cover oppression? This is unjust and excessive use of power! Hodes and Porter do not fear thier constituents. They do not what we demand but what will advance thier own agenda.
Realize this, they who are on Government payroll now outnumber the working public.
We the people can no longer vote or decide what is best for us. The Government now has enough votes to sustain themselves and tax us until we can pay no more.
- Rick S, Brookfield

How come "Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism" when it is only offered by a Democrat? When it is offered by a Republican it's racist or mean spirited? Either you walk the walk or you are a complete hypocrite.
- Andy, Milford

The comments section always has people in fantasy land but for an actual article to be decaring "If you fail to pay the fine, the government can confiscate your body and lock it away" shows how out of touch the UL is.
- J Paige, Manchester

You know, they did this in Switzerland in 1994 and their health insurance companies are still in business despite 'competition' from the 'public option'.
- David, Hudson

I laughed and laughed when I read this. I am not for this bill, like Dennis Kucinich, I believe the answer is single-payer and this bill is just a give-away to the insurance industry who produce and provide nothing, a big zero. Unless of course you consider taking your money to be productive. But what really made me laugh hysterically is the use of words like 'choice' and 'freedom' and 'liberty'. I'm sure that the irony of this editorial is not lost on the women of New Hampshire. Remember, you have a right to 'choose' for yourself and your body.
- Tom, Dover-Foxcroft, Me.

So you work all week but don't have insurance & you are fined and go to jail?! But you can sneak into the country illegally and be covered and receive govt assistance. Something fundamentally wrong with that. Live free or Die !
- ken d., merrimack

When the people fear their government there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson
- Dave, Bradford

Maybe the Congressional Budget Office should score this bill's impact on the Federal Judicial System as well as any increased costs to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. When the Republicans get back the White House should this bill become law ,they first thing they should do is roll back the penalties and pardon the convicted.

Doug in Manchester

The Obama is a Muslim stuff was first floated by the Hillary Clinton Campaign for President. Rev Wright put all that to rest. Obama has never stated he was for Gay Marriage.
- Chris, Nerrimack

A modest proposal: If you decide to not obtain health insurance and you don't have the money or assets to pay for your medical expenses then you should not be able to get medical care.

It is simple - if, for example, you do not have the responsibility to get health insurance and develop appendicitis, you should just go home and die.

Why should citizens who have insurance pay for your medical care (through cost shifting)?
- Putney, Manchester

Q. What do Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, mastermind of the September 11th terrorist attacks, and uninsured 20 year olds have in common?

A. In Barack Obama’s America, they both go to jail — but the terrorist has to be convicted first.


The auto insurance requirement analogy is not a convincing argument either. You can be required to buy auto insurance if you want to drive a car. This insurance mandate will take effect if you want to live.
- Wayne S, Manchestet

What little privacy there still exists between the doctor and the patient will be gone.
- Jim D, Hillsboro

As usual, those who support Pelosi-care try to draw attention away from the flaws and facism that the law is. Had President Bush tried to push this garbage thru the howling by these same people would deafen you. The ultimate goal is to force insurance companies out of business and have government take over the payment for all health care. It will all be paid for by the mythical "rich". The evidence that this is about control rather than fixing the system is that there has been no effort to fix known problem issues first. Government has no business running a business.

Medicare doesn't cover the cost of delivering health care and rejects claims twice as often as private insurance. It also does not cover most "preventive" care. At least many insurance companies have health care professionals on staff and setting policy and as complicated as dealing with a private insurer can be you can appeal an insurance denial. Good luck dealing with know it all medicare clerks. Pelosi-care is like Pelosi. You can have it her way , or off to jail with you. This is clearly not about health care anymore, its about control, and I do not want that short sighted woman, or her stupid poodle Shea-Porter, telling me how to live.
- JEff, Goffstown

Doug in Manchester - you read the comments in the UL regularly. It's not the right wing views that are off the wall. It's the radical left wing that comes up with idiotic and dangerous proposals that the majority of citizens want no part of. Before you criticize the right, perhaps you ought to review some of the left wing proposals and actions offered up during the last year or so.
- Brian, Farmington

Doug and Travis,

Your ignorance and subserience to the govt. is the reason the public can be railroaded.Just lay down,the government knows best.Wake up!!! this is like no other tome in your life !! Socialism is happening and Obama has a Communist agenda.
- Boscawen, boscawen

Remember when all of you "conservatives" stuck to your "principles" and went Galt? Yeah, me neither. I'm sure you're really willing to go to jail rather than buy health insurance, because you really, really, really mean it this time.
- JTC, Epping

Oh brother, that's really a stretch.
- Jim, Manchester

Turn down the drama. You're mandated to wear a seatbelt in most of the US too, but you can choose not to. If you don't and get caught, you pay a fine. If you don't pay that fine repeatedly I'm sure you could be locked up or face other punishment. Settle down for a moment and write a reasoned article instead of declaring the sky is falling at every fluttering leaf.
- Travis Commeau, Manchester

In all fairness, everything the men and women that do business as "the government" say is forced on us. There's no choice, freedom or liberty.

Doesn't matter if you think it's a good idea or not. Doesn't matter if you want or need their services. If you don't go along with their opinions, that they call laws, they extort money from you or throw you in a cage even when you're not hurting anyone.

I have decided that once the opinion about mandated health insurance becomes law, I will refuse the coverage and turn myself in to the authorities.

I read the House version already and decided it just isn't in my interests to go with this coverage. There likely won't be many changes to the Senate version that will change my mind.

I won't pay any fines as a penalty for not believing these men and women know better about my health than myself and my doctor. They'll have to throw me in a cage.

All of my interactions with the authorities will be recorded so others can see the outcome and I'll try submitting a letter to the editor with the details of where those videos can be watched.

I believe the only way to stop these types of intrusions on our liberties is to peacefully not cooperate and openly defy the law. There's no way anyone can use the political system to change this one so I won't bother trying.

How many New Hampshire residents do Hodes and Shea-Porter want to put in jail for disagreeing with their opinion? Is this their idea of good representation?

The reason they're allowed to get away with supporting and passing legislation like this is because they know too many people will hang their heads and go along with it out of fear of the consequences.

Maybe it's time to stop being scared of people that are here to serve the public.
- Mike Tiner, Manchester

NH voters should respond by never voting for these two "yes men" again.

Comrade Pelosi can't even answer the question--do you think it's fair to send people to jail for not purchasing health care?--If you can write something into a bill, you should be able to say whether it is fair or not, the dodging of the question is detestable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUkzV8h3Wp0&feature=player_embedded
- Scott, Manchester

. . . and I'm willing to bet that neither has yet given a satisfactory answer to anyone as to why Congress exempts itself from this legislation that it's imposing on the rest of us!
- Guy Plante, Manchester

Yawn.

You right-wing hacks (and not just the Union Leader) have cried wolf far too many times in the past year to be credible.

Call me when you find the next piece of bogus evidence that the President is a secret muslim terrorist born in Kenya who's spent his whole life plotting to ruin America with death panels and gay marriage.
- Doug, Manchester