US Shutdown

[zzm9980]

Just saw the video by jimmy kimmel below. Cannot figure out why people are against obamacare (affordable health care).

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/l ... 4482.story

It's funny, but as mentioned below how many people did they have to ask to get those answers? You could probably approach random people on a street in any country and get them to say stupid things if you carefully choose your question (as in this video).

[the lynx]

To balance the weight between pro- and anti-AHCA:

Something I came across while trying to understand AHCA...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ ... story.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are ... xes-2012-7

http://blog.heritage.org/2012/07/25/mor ... uninsured/

This is for PNGMK's question on penalty.

A "penalty" tax for those who don't buy health insurance. This will phase in from 2014-2016. It will range from $695 per person to about $4,700 per person, depending on your income.

http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are ... z2gSL4X88k

http://www.policymic.com/articles/60661 ... -obamacare

One point to note that only the Congress is exempted from AHCA.

(Note: I'm not an American, nor an Obamafan or Nobama)

Edit: I included the Business Insider article twice because it answers both questions.

[sundaymorningstaple]

For Citizens who are non-residents of the US or resident in a foreign country....

http://yucalandia.com/living-in-yucatan ... ng-abroad/

[BedokAmerican]

1. I don't think there is one. My wife's primary concern is being forced to pay a fine if she doesn't take up the compulsory health care. I am not sure that this is true and I need to research it. I can understand an American being pissed that their "free" country forces them to take something up. I get that.

2. My wife's a die hard Born Again Christian. Her view is a little fatalistic - if she gets an incurable disease she has no plans to fight it medically. I on the other hand will go broke paying her bills if we're in the USA.

3. It's a broader spectrum than that - anyone who hates Obama (48% of the USA) seems to be against the AHCA. Hence why they call it 'Obamacare'. An equivalent was when Medicare was brought into Australia (and all taxpayers pay a compulsory 1.5% levy towards it) by the Labor party. The Libs swore that they would dismantle it - 20 years later no one would dream of killing off the most successful social support program in Australia. I keep explaining to my wife that the USA has to try something - the repubs can win the next election and tweak the AHCA but for goodness sakes it has to start somewhere.

1. Americans are forced to buy auto insurance in most states and nobody complains about that. They can be fined for not having auto insurance if stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation and are required to show proof of insurance before registering a vehicle.

2. If you're talking about a "Christian Scientist," then someone in her situation might qualify for a religious exemption, but I'm not totally sure about that. That's the branch of protestantism that doesn't believe in doctors and medicine and thinks if you get sick then it's God's will. On the other hand, a phrase popular with Christians is "God helps those who help themselves" (translated: if you need help, get it).

3. The Australian example made me think of the U.S. Social Security retirement program started in the 1930s by President Franklin Roosevelt, although it's not medical. The conservatives cried socialism, but most older Americans today (including conservatives) would be lost without it.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I could have started drawing SS 4 years ago at reduced rates, but I've decided to wait till I hit 70 to start as I figure I'll be around for a while longer and the additional 8% per year might come in handy. I reckon I'll probably work till I'm 75 if feel half as good as I do at 66.

[PNGMK]

1. I don't think there is one. My wife's primary concern is being forced to pay a fine if she doesn't take up the compulsory health care. I am not sure that this is true and I need to research it. I can understand an American being pissed that their "free" country forces them to take something up. I get that.

2. My wife's a die hard Born Again Christian. Her view is a little fatalistic - if she gets an incurable disease she has no plans to fight it medically. I on the other hand will go broke paying her bills if we're in the USA.

3. It's a broader spectrum than that - anyone who hates Obama (48% of the USA) seems to be against the AHCA. Hence why they call it 'Obamacare'. An equivalent was when Medicare was brought into Australia (and all taxpayers pay a compulsory 1.5% levy towards it) by the Labor party. The Libs swore that they would dismantle it - 20 years later no one would dream of killing off the most successful social support program in Australia. I keep explaining to my wife that the USA has to try something - the repubs can win the next election and tweak the AHCA but for goodness sakes it has to start somewhere.

1. Americans are forced to buy auto insurance in most states and nobody complains about that. They can be fined for not having auto insurance if stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation and are required to show proof of insurance before registering a vehicle.

2. If you're talking about a "Christian Scientist," then someone in her situation might qualify for a religious exemption, but I'm not totally sure about that. That's the branch of protestantism that doesn't believe in doctors and medicine and thinks if you get sick then it's God's will. On the other hand, a phrase popular with Christians is "God helps those who help themselves" (translated: if you need help, get it).

3. The Australian example made me think of the U.S. Social Security retirement program started in the 1930s by President Franklin Roosevelt, although it's not medical. The conservatives cried socialism, but most older Americans today (including conservatives) would be lost without it.

The SS program is a really good example - thanks. (Although we all know it's technically bankrupt).

[zzm9980]

1. Americans are forced to buy auto insurance in most states and nobody complains about that. They can be fined for not having auto insurance if stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation and are required to show proof of insurance before registering a vehicle.

Sure, but no one is forced to buy cars so that's a bad example. And besides, you're only required to purchase liability insurance. Most drivers are OK with that because they assume the other party will always be at fault and they want them insured.

If you could scientifically prove and assign liability for all of your medical conditions to another party (Hey, SMS sneezed and it gave me cancer!) then you'd see Americans very quickly in favor of legally requiring a liability type of medical insurance.

[PrimroseHill]

Or have what we Brits have - postal code lottery

[PNGMK]

this is going to be bad.... I'm thinking domino effect now.... and perhaps a long period of de-stabilisation.

[ScoobyDoes]

this is going to be bad.... I'm thinking domino effect now.... and perhaps a long period of de-stabilisation.

At this stage, you could be right.

The question for the World as a whole is......will a default by the US cause significant problems. In the short term, yes, but I believe in the longer term it will be good for everybody.

Restructure, reform (hopefully) and finally get the country operating more smoothly plus the rest of us wean ourselves off the US' nipple. The EU, Australia, China, S.E. Asia, Japan, Korea, Canada etc. all stepping up and taking a greater responsibility for how everybody operates instead of kowtowing to a nation bankrupt of funds and some would say, democracy.

Having the bulk of our eggs in a US basket is a non-starter if we were to look at it afresh today. It will be painful in the short term but holding cash in multiple currencies and gold should be safer than investing in bricks and concrete. A house, anyway, is for living in.

[Strong Eagle]

A simple explantion of the Republican position (thank you Daddie O):

So, Imagine that the company you work for held a poll, and asked everyone if they thought it would be a good idea to put a soda machine in the break room. The poll came back, and the majority of your colleagues said “Yes”

[Wd40]

The US Shutdown, US debt ceiling and the timing of the Fed Tapering are the top 3 things financial markets are worried about. Wow! Never before news coming out of the US has had so much impact on other markets.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Actually that isn't the GOP position at all SE and you know it. They are ready and willing to fund every program in the US Government immediately, but they are defunding only Obamacare. It's Obama who refuses to negotiate.

Looks like history is repeating itself, or coming home to roost as it were.....

http://www.bordersecurityblog.com/2007/ ... r-was.html

[Wd40]

Interesting take on this by an Indian newspaper:

http://www.firstpost.com/world/two-amer ... 52207.html

[Strong Eagle]

Actually that isn't the GOP position at all SE and you know it. They are ready and willing to fund every program in the US Government immediately, but they are defunding only Obamacare. It's Obama who refuses to negotiate.

Looks like history is repeating itself, or coming home to roost as it were.....

http://www.bordersecurityblog.com/2007/ ... r-was.html

It is exactly the way I described it. What you are describing looks like this:

R's: We're going to burn down your house.

D's: No.

R's: OK - We're going to burn down half your house.

D's: No.

R's: OK - We're going to shoot out all the windows in your house.

D's: No.

R's: Waahhhhh!!! The D's won't negotiate!