Health care legislation

I don’t know if I feel strongly that the U.S. Government should be responsible for providing healthcare for Americans. However, I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad idea. There are so many variables to consider with regard to this controversial topic. Where should the money come from to support it? What would this healthcare bill do to private insurance companies? How would providers be affected? Would Americans “abuse” the system? These are just a few of many that come to mind. There has been a final plan proposed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California that could be up for a vote on the House floor next week. The final proposal would require employers to offer insurance to employees or face penalties, provide subsidies to lower income families to help them purchase insurance and would fine Americans who do not elect coverage. Funding for this particular bill would come from taxing high-income people and cutting $500 billion in payments to Medicare providers (whom are already reimbursed at lower rates than they are by private insurances). Taxing the “rich” people? Sounds like a good idea to me (probably because I am not one of them). I think employers should be required to at least offer health insurance to employees. However, I think it’s terrible and ridiculous to fine Americans who don’t purchase coverage. That seems a little excessive. I feel there are times when a line has to be drawn and the government should mind their own business, this would be one of them. How are they going to require people to purchase some sort of insurance? That’s not practical. I hate to sound cliché but you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip. Despite all of the different variables that remain to be considered and ironed out, I think it’s a good idea for the government to offer Americans some sort of alternative to private healthcare.