Well, it passed last night, and should be promptly signed into law this week. Not exactly sure what's in the bill, that is going to be signed though, they were doing some funny stuff right up until the voting. Still think they should have started over from scratch. They had some great ideas, learned a lot about what people liked and hated, and could have come up with a much better approach, instead of forcing a bad idea through the works. Definitely American Politics couldn't get any worse, than what we've seen on this bill. It didn't pass on it's own merits, or a majority of agreement, but through private talks and deals, bought votes, and shady tactics. I can't remember any other legislation passed in this manner, but got a hunch we will be seeing more of it, before the fall elections. Guess the insurance companies are the big winners, no need to advertise or compete, since every American is now obligated to pay them, and I'd expect a sharp increase in premiums.
I also expect the cost of living to increase. Everything is going to cost more, since the people targeted to pay the $940 billion (probably much more), are the ones who set the prices, and as usual, just pass the burden on down.
Feel sorry for those over 65, since that is where you go from buying insurance, to the government plan (Medicaid/Medicare), which is going to be severely cut, as will subsidies for supplemental insurance. Older people generally need to more attention, now they'll pay more, for less. How many planned this into their retirement?
So this is Obama's first promised 'change', guess he really did earn his Nobel Prize for pulling this off. Perhaps his next project will be getting together with another Nobel laureate, and for the planet to cool down (wasn't cold enough this winter, still a little chilly outside).
