Susan! Don't just blame the Democrats. Yeh I know they are suppose to be in control, but we almost have to blame all of them. It would be nice if they would drop their party affiliation and work for the people. By looking at the voting on any of these issues it seems as if neither party is going to let the other party make any headway no matter how good of a plan they propose. The vote in the house proved this when the bill passed by only a few vote over majority. Surely if the proposal was a good one that would benefit us all, there would have been a wider gap in the voting. That is what is leading me to believe they are just voting one party against the other and not on the issue. And if this continues, we will be working on the health reform issue ten years from now just as they,and some of the same congressmen have been working on it for the last thirty years,   By the same reasoning I hold back from blaming the president in many cases no matter who he or she may be. At times I think the Pope would have trouble with congress even congress would see the Lord standing next to the Pope.

I also agree with you and others, that AARP is either not doing their job or they are having the wool pulled over their eyes smarter people following the money trail.

I am terribly saddened by the penalty system

There is a huge population of homeless people on the street who have post traumatic stress disorder or some other problem that keeps them from being able to manage paperwork - even the sometimes minimal kinds at homeless shelters. They'll never be able to manage the paperwork required to get assistance. YOU CAN'T HELP/MAKE THEM do things. They CAN'T do things.

Next, let's meet some lower income and middle class folks  - working hard, giving it their best in a climate of rising unemploymet and lower wages.  Let's take their last dime or throw them in jail  too!  If they had any money at all, they won't be able to get legal aid. Some might be able to sell their homes to pay for it. Did I hear one say "whew!?"

Put them in jail with moms and dads who are unemployed and can't afford penalties for their whole families! Then lets find a whole bunch of new jobs!!!! CHILD CARE workers fpr all the children whose parents go to jail when they can't buy health care or pay the fines. We're going to be in fat city for even MORE jobs - counsellors for all these kids  who are now on the way to being pernamently scarred without their parents while they are in foster care.) If they are lucky, maybe they'll be able to be lucky enough to be able to actually visit and see their criminal parents in jail! Some will need treatment for that.  We'll need some money for their health and dental care - I trust we are going to pay to feed them? And their parents will need help too - treatment to cope with the things that happened to the in jail. Anyone know what that might be?

Oh boy - YES! Go get these innocent  naughty people and lock them up!

Oh yes - and  we know all the things that happen to them in jail, right?

It's called CONTROL.

Why can't those know nothing Democrats leave the health issues alone? What part of NO can't they understand?  Americans do not want any of these changes they are trying to make!!!!!  AND where did AARP get the idea to endorse the whole issue.  I saw boxes of petitions on the news.  Well, I nor any of my family and friends that or were members of AARP ever received petitions.  I think the whole thing was fabricated!  Of course I suppose AARP must endorse OBAMA CARE since they spent so much time and effort to get him elected.  I really believe they would support any thing he throws out there!!! Well I am sick of AARP and OBAMA.

SusaninMississippi

It is very unfair. It is also not morally right. Why punished the Americans for doing their best to make ends meet. If they can not afford insurance, how can they afford the penalty?  Yes, I have heard that they could get government credits to help pay for the insurance, but I bet it won't be enough to pay for the insurance. What happens if they do not pay the penalty?  I have heard jail time, but that won't happen because there would not be enough jails.