PPACA Mandate: Penalty or Tax
 

What a feckin' stupid gotcha-type of debate this issue has become. Both candidates at different times state that it is or isn't a tax and both are running away from their previous assertions. WTF? I just can't see how this matters. Freeloaders will have to pay a penalty/penalty/fee for their freeloadin' ways, as they should, both under RomneyCare and ObamaCare. Why should what you choose to call the tax/fee/penalty matter so much?

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

It's a penalty. As you say, it's assessed against the freeloaders. In other words, it's punitive. Taxes, onerous though they may be, are not assessed for punitive reasons.

Oh, and by the way, did you know that at one point Romneycare was going to use wage garnishment and the withholding of drivers' licenses to force compliance?

John

It doesn't matter at all.

The only thing is that a few years ago, the president said it wasn't a tax. And, as I see it, at the time he may have believed this to be the case.

However, I agree. Whether you call it a penalty against freeloaders, or a tax targeted at the same freeloaders, what difference does it really make? None. The Republicans are incorrectly painting as a tax levied against the entire middle class and this simply just is not true. If you already have insurance you pay nothing, AFAIK. And, for the wingnuts peaking in; Even if they "sneak" something in on me elsewhere.....I-DON'T-CARE.

Did you see the "Face the Nation" interview wherein Mitt gave us a peak at his plan to replace Obamacare? Yep, you guessed it................rename, repackage, resell.

Mitt, and his party, are nothing but a bunch of slick salesmen and their product is a bunch of shit, IMO. When they speak of "freedom", I hear the voice of Janis Joplin; "Freedom's just another word for nuthin' left to lose......". And they are certainly out to take it all.

But, hey. At least I'll still be able to buy a gun to hunt with.....I'll be needing it.

Dave

Yeah, but at least they don't call it a tax so it's okay..........:rolleyes:

Dave

It's a tax penalty.

But it's not Obamacare. It's Romneycare on the national level.

All this talk about Tax or Penalty who cares really. Pay for your insurance and be done with it! You do that and nothing else will happen on your 1040 right?



Barney

The Republicans do. Because, three years ago, Obama said it wasn't a tax and now we find out it is.....ummm, errrr, well kinda sorta. It's a tax now, because the SCOTUS said so, and the only way to keep PPACA alive is to call it a tax.

So, now, in order to keep his landmark bill alive, Obama goes along. Some say this make him a liar. I say it just makes him a guy who wants to implement his program. So----"Call me a liar, nothing new there, I don't care. I was right, you were wrong, my PPACA is constitutional, so blow me."

Dave

Holy shit, did he REALLY say that???

John

Apparently, the Murdoch empire isn't fond of Romney handling of this silly issue:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...734793044.html

I read somewhere that Murdoch is demanding Romney fire his staff, WaPo.
Tough bunch over there. I guess for $100,000,000 donation they actually do expect something in return? Sounds like bribery to me.