moddersthug

such a "tax" paid to the U.S. Federal Treasury is no better than what the Congress described it as a penalty but maybe it is better to think of it as a fine, or a levy, or a surcharge, or an individual responsibility payment. It is nothing more and nothing less. Obama did not call it a tax, and, now, today (July 2), Romney has said it is not a tax either.
 
Consider as well that whatever one wishes to call this payment, it is intended to motivate Americans who can afford to purchase health insurance to conform their conduct to help out America's health care system by having health care insurance. Has anyone ever received a bill from a vendor in the private market that provides if a payment is not made within 30 days, there will be charged interest on the unpaid balance? Of course we all have. The interest is to motivate us to pay on time. Taking this argument from another viewpoint, what if instead Obamacare provided a $500 rebate, or even a credit on our tax return (like we get as a deduction for property taxes if we own a home versus renting or if we install an environmentally approved device like certain windows) if we buy a health insurance policy? There certainly would not be an outcry that the government is forcing something down our throats, even though a credit or rebate is attempting to have us conform our behavior and conduct in a certain way. Or what about the additional monies paid into government coffers charged for a pack of cigarettes these days in order to get those of us