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Opinion
Take realistic view of health care bill
Top Headlines Now the insurance lobbyists will launch their "in reality" distortion attacks claiming a "government takeover," "trial lawyers outrageous litigation," "deficit expansion" etc. In reality, more will be insured, no pre-existing denials, portability of coverage, competitive pricing, etc. Now if the Senate follows suit and maintains the heart and soul of HR 3962 in their legislation, the combined bill will truly be historic and greatly benefit all America's citizens. Paul E. Grady, Lakeville THIS WRITER is a former chairman of the Attleboro Democratic City Committee. Belated Halloween unforgettable for N. Attleboro kids On Halloween this year, my 4-year-old son Danny was sick with H1N1 and was devastated to learn that he would have to miss out on being "Spiderman." Since his younger sister is only 2, we decided to keep her in as well, as she would be none the wiser. This past Saturday, I received a call from my parents and sister. Since Danny was well, they wanted my kids to have a Halloween. Danny was excited to be able to wear his Spiderman costume after all, and his sister Katie dressed as Minnie Mouse. First we went to my parent's "Bammy and Papa's" house where they got lots of candy and bags of goodies. Then it was on to Auntie's house. My sister's house was still decorated with spooky lights, spiders and a showing of Casper the Friendly Ghost in the garage. But the treats did not end there. Her neighbors had heard about Danny missing out on Halloween and wanted to be a part of his "Halloween." So, off to several neighbors' houses we went. The kids were so excited to go house to house "trick-or-treating" and the look on their faces was amazing. As a mother, I was bowled over by the generosity of these people. So I felt compelled to write in so I could thank them from the bottom of my heart. They gave my kids a Halloween and for that I am truly grateful! Thank you Bammy and Papa Sloan, Auntie Kerrin, Uncle Rich and Haylee Nugent. And thank you, thank you to the angels on Ryder and Alton Road: the Weeden Family, the Goss Family, the Estrella Family and the Hurley Family. You gave my kids a night that we will never forget. Cindy Locke, North Attleboro New beginning will follow school board departure I would like to take a minute to thank all of those who have voted for me over the last 18 years to represent them on the Attleboro School Committee. I also must express the great appreciation I have to the dozens of you who have written notes, sent e-mails, posted on Facebook and called to express your feelings this past week. Please know that your comments have been treasured. Please also know that in education one learns that there really are never endings, only new beginnings and that is exactly where I am at this timeon the threshold of another new beginning. Nothing truly ends. Everything is always turning, changing and beginning anew. While I may no longer be a member of the Attleboro School Committee, I will always be involved in education. Again thank you for your support in so many ways. It has been an honor to represent, assist and be a part of providing your children with the excellent education that they have received. Jackie Romaniecki, Attleboro Keep intimidation factor low at Attleboro City Hall An open letter to the people of Attleboro: More than a year ago I decided, with the support of my wife and son, to run for the position of city councilor representing Ward 5. This past Tuesday, 366 residents of Ward 5 bestowed upon me the honor of their vote. First and foremost, I need to say thank you to all of those people who believed in me. I will spend the next two years working to make you proud you cast your vote for me. I will work just as hard to earn the respect of the 318 voters who cast their ballot for my opponent, John Davis. As I walked house-to-house trying to earn your vote, I heard some complaints, some concerns and a lot of positive ideas. I will share as many of those ideas as I can with my fellow councilors as we all work together to make our city the best it can be. One comment that really resonated with me happened just a few weeks ago after I attended a traffic study meeting with some residents of Hope Garden. As we walked out of the meeting, one woman looked at me and, with great appreciation for the process, said that she is no longer intimidated by City Hall. It was not that she had ever had a negative experience with any official; just simply that she had always perceived the place to be intimidating. When I started attending city council meetings, I had several councilors approach me to see if there was a specific reason I was there. As I continued to attend, I saw the same approach with virtually anyone who attended meetings. My point is many people at City Hall want to help. I will work to continue that approach. So to all of you who had my signs in your yard, held signs, went door-to-door with me, took photos and wrote letters to the editor, or supported this campaign in some other way, thank you. To the people at Park Street Pizza and Tex Barry's Coney Island and Nelson Family Dental, thank you. And to Mary and Eryk, thank you. Duff White, Attleboro THIS WRITER is city councilor-elect for Ward 5. If they're in, kick them out Dump all incumbents in the goverment in all states, cities, towns etc. If you're not able to figure out all our governing people are failing us miserably, you are living in a bubble. Get rid of the leeches, let the ones who have courage get rid of lobbyists. That's the real problem: Get rid of the bribes by the lobbyists and we common people might have a chance to make a living. Bill Gallant, Attleboro
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s-plumb wrote on Nov 11, 2009 5:00 AM:
Vladsback!! wrote on Nov 10, 2009 7:40 PM:
WINGNUTS! "
billybear wrote on Nov 10, 2009 7:13 PM:
If you are going to continue to whine about "government interference in health care" then start saving your pennies NOW for grandma's health care. You can opt her non-productive carcass OUT OF MEDICARE at your very earliest convenience. Same applies to any VETERANS in your family as well. They can also live on cat food and take a pass on that gub'mint cheese they are getting in the form of free health care. You're all a bunch of hypocrites. "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 5:31 PM:
He was so busy with "emergency" health care (that will sit for weeks) that he turned down an invitation to commemorate the anniversary of the fall of Communism at the Berlin Wall.
The same insensitive brain-child, who when addressing the nation on the Ft Hood tragedy, gave a 2 min jovial campaign speech before he even mentioned the shootings.
He still refuses to acknowledge this 1st act of terrorism on our soil since 9/11!
The truth is that he appears to believe is socialism, Marxism, and Communism, and he doesn't care about keeping the country safe, or solvent! His beliefs are different than that of most Americans. "
Anna D wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:37 PM:
mca19580 wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:35 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:34 PM:
Imagine sharing a cell with the same individuals who think they'll be getting a free ride... "
Anna D wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:30 PM:
VladsBack!! wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:15 PM:
Anna D wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:09 PM:
Anna D wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:09 PM:
Plus these people will pay eatra taxes to cover the insurance costs fro people who make less than they do, who will get their insurance for little or no cost (welfare). "
Anna D wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:07 PM:
I hope so because many of the people who will be compelled to buy health insurance make $40-50K or so and I read that the "acceptable plan" will cost them about $5K plus another $2K copays. "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 3:27 PM:
I didn't buy health insurance. "
VladsBack!! wrote on Nov 10, 2009 2:48 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 2:41 PM:
I'm starting to like this socialism stuff. "
VladsBack!! wrote on Nov 10, 2009 2:25 PM:
Tookis Taitz! Orly, you are too much. "
orly_taitz wrote on Nov 10, 2009 1:34 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:43 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:32 PM:
No, I don't believe that mandated coverage is Constitutional. This is why SS is a "tax" that goes into the general fund, leaving SS broke. "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:29 PM:
http://thesunchronicle.ning.com/forum/topics/health-care-view-the-bill-the "
harkin wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:23 PM:
Shouldn't disobeying a law (i.e., 'legislation' or Public Law - P.L.) carry a penalty? Isn't that the point of laws? "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:12 PM:
Section 7201 felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years. "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:31 AM:
12 (b) ELECTION TO OPT-OUT.An individual de13
scribed in subsection (c) may elect to waive enrollment in
14 the CLASS program at any time in such form and manner
15 as the Secretary shall prescribe.
16 (c) INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED.For purposes of en17
rolling in the CLASS program, an individual described in
18 this paragraph is
19 (1) an individual
20 (A) who has attained age 18;
21 (B) who receives wages on which there is
22 imposed a tax under section 3101(a) or 3201(a)
23 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:27 AM:
Take a stab at pg 241 line 17. It refers you to section 208...and round and round "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:19 AM:
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:14 AM:
harkin wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:11 AM:
TITLE IV--AMENDMENTS TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986
Subtitle A--Shared Responsibility
PART 1--INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
SEC. 401. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
(a) In General- Subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new part:
`PART VIII--HEALTH CARE RELATED TAXES
`subpart a. tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage.
`Subpart A--Tax on Individuals Without Acceptable Health Care Coverage
`Sec. 59B. Tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage.
`SEC. 59B. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:11 AM:
Again it's at:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/interview-with-the-president-jail-time-for-those-without-health-care-insurance.html " "
SeenitallB4 wrote on Nov 10, 2009 10:45 AM:
s-p can't find his backside with both hands so don't look to him to explain the house bill. If we could only put wingnuts away for 5 years. "
harkin wrote on Nov 10, 2009 10:40 AM:
Maybe we could offset the cost of US healthcare by ending deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Seems many are uptight about "death panels" for sick 90 years olds but don't seem to get worked up about the wasteful killing and maiming of our 20-somethings in the Middle East.
Bill must be lots of fun at social events. "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 9:08 AM:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/interview-with-the-president-jail-time-for-those-without-health-care-insurance.html "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 8:56 AM:
http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner~y2009m11d9-Is-prison-time-good-for-your-health-care "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 8:50 AM:
If you do not pay the penalty you face $250k fine (and?)/or 5 years in prison.
The CBO has already priced this monstrosity at $1.2 trillion over 10 years. This is a massive increase in spending.
The kicker is that in the same CBO analysis, only 2% of the population would be eligible for coverage. Why not just deal with those 2%, and allow for interstate competition? "
socal1 wrote on Nov 10, 2009 7:59 AM:
mansfield dan wrote on Nov 10, 2009 6:17 AM:
When you people were trying to take over Mansfield on Saturday with your Senate debate, did you realize your stooges took away over one half of the parking from a local food shelter? Yes, you are for the people!
Time was, being a good Democrat actually meant something but folks like you and Mr. McGovern have lost your direction and truly are "looney lefties" who really think you count. "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 10, 2009 5:36 AM:
Get your family and friends, prepare your card board box, walk away from your home, and pool your unemployment funds to buy your $15000 policy. Food? Ahh...can't help ya there. Then again, maybe the free 5 years of room and board would be a good thing. "