Kuuso on 22/3/2010 at 09:55

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You a troll?

Kuuso on 22/3/2010 at 10:02

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I find it silly how scared americans are of "socialism". Anyways, I found (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1914020220100319) this article from Reuters, which is quite easy to read! It explains what happens when. Here's the first year:

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT

*Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.

*Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

*Young adults will be able to stay on their parents' health plans until the age of 26. Many health plans currently drop dependents from coverage when they turn 19 or finish college.

*Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.

*A temporary reinsurance program is created to help companies maintain health coverage for early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. This also expires in 2014.

*Medicare drug beneficiaries who fall into the "doughnut hole" coverage gap will get a $250 rebate. The bill eventually closes that gap which currently begins after $2,700 is spent on drugs. Coverage starts again after $6,154 is spent.

*A tax credit becomes available for some small businesses to help provide coverage for workers.

*A 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps goes into effect on July 1.

Kuuso on 22/3/2010 at 10:09

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Even more so, why is socialism such a bad thing to you americans? It's silly.

Vae on 22/3/2010 at 10:35

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I was exaggerating to make a point. I was also playing off of Renzatics' comment. Even so, quasi-socialism is still a form of socialism.

CCCToad on 22/3/2010 at 10:45

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Can't speak for most people; my answer is different than most. Most historical examples of (pure) socialism are characterized not by the government insuring a more equitable distribution of wealth, but actually mean an extremely wealthy power elite controlling the vast majority of the country's wealth and using it to serve their own interests.

Course, a moderated dose of socialization can do a lot of good to curb the destructive effects of free market capitalism, but a lot of people either cannot easily distinguish by degrees or are scared of a "slippery slope" effect.

In other words, "Socializing medicine might help some people, but it will start the ball rolling on a shift that will result in the USA becoming a communist state).