Pelosi: Jail time “very fair” for failing to buy your patriotic ObamaCare coverage
posted at 1:30 pm on November 12, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
It’s very fair to send people who disregard the federal mandate to buy health insurance to prison, Nancy Pelosi says, because otherwise they’ll assault citizens … with a bill for medical services … or something. Apparently, the occasionally unhealthy have become such a security risk that we need to imprison them for opting to pay their own way. Infidels Are Cool has the key exchange::
Stone: Do you think it’s fair to send people to jail who don’t buy health insurance?
Pelosi: … The legislation is very fair in this respect.
Of course, the other option is to make people responsible for paying their own bills. Nothing requires us to pick up the tab for people in clinics or emergency rooms, especially those who can afford to pay their way. This is the point that Pelosi and her statist colleagues seem to forget. People who choose not to buy coverage even though they could afford it assume the risk of paying out of pocket — and that may be a very rational choice, as it is most unlikely that those people would use $3,000 a month in medical services, which is what their insurance would cost now.
If nothing else, it reminds us that statism always comes with handcuffs, and those cuffs always get explained by either fairness or patriotism. In this case, Pelosi uses both.
Blowback
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When will it become more obvious we need to remove these people from the government? They ignore the constittution, pass laws which violate the liberty of citizens who elected them. Spend our money as if they have a right to and ignore our wishes. It may be time for what the founders thought would happen all the time. Next time protester go to Washington maybe the should carry sticks.
Zelsdorf Ragshaft on November 12, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Sincerely, If I am ever jailed as a political dissident – like this, I will strongly consider hunger strike.
WashingtonsWake on November 12, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Sanctuary states.
Christien on November 12, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Early release for those who are just victims of the system – you know, murderers, rapists, etc.
lorien1973 on November 12, 2009 at 1:50 PM
In the dead of night
She’ll come and take you away
Searing beams of light and thunder
Over blackened plains she will find her way
Flying high through the night
she will hide your gate
As she takes your soul from uder
And the blinding light of the castle fades
There is no escape
It’s the ending of your precious life
Your soul slips away
It belongs to the Queen of the Ryche
Yeah, she’s coming for you
You’re fading away
You life cast astray
A victim of the beast shall obtain
The light will not shine
For you’ll die tonight at her shrine
And black is the last thing you’ll see
Over and over
Drams of dying fill your head
It’s the sign of the cross that you’ll find ahead
No one will answer
Your life is fading away
Captive souls are screaming out in pain
There is no escape
It’s the ending of your precious life
Your soul slips away
It belongs to the Queen of the Ryche
You’re fading away. No, no, no
The Queen of the Ryche
You’re slipping away, yeah
The Queen of the Ryche
PaulMorphy on November 12, 2009 at 1:50 PM
I just got the global bill for my maternity coverage. My out of pocket expense is about 1000. The total bill is 3600.
I started laughing when I saw the costs because my yearly insurance cost is…3600. Basically, I’m paying $1000 more than I would if I didn’t have the insurance.
I’m really having trouble seeing how insurance was a sound finanical decision for someone like me with no health risks who really only needs insurance for the maternity coverage. I guess the answer now is that I will go to jail if I don’t keep the coverage. Nice.
Vera on November 12, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Thanks to the Democrat policy of letting felons vote, we’ll still be able to vote them out of office from prison.
zmdavid on November 12, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Hey, if every conservative in America refused to buy health insurance and refused to pay the fine, what are they going to do…line us all up and shoot us? However if only 1000 conservatives man up and do it, they’re toast. Revolution is brewing.
Christian Conservative on November 12, 2009 at 1:51 PM
They can take me to jail after they take my gun… from my cold dead hands.
smfoushee on November 12, 2009 at 1:51 PM
We go to jail.
And then we can watch the fun of watching their new “pure” society collapse on top of itself because all of the wealth-producers on whom their tax revenues depended are now in prison and are no longer making money.
It will be fun – we’ll all be there. :-)
Good Lt on November 12, 2009 at 1:51 PM
So people crawl through the southern border and come here illegally. Congress wants to buy their votes by giving them amnesty – Dems and Reps alike. We pay for that along with all the other costs.
And now taxpayers are faced with fines and jail time for refusing to buy something they don’t want? Congress hasn’t signed up for it. They don’t want it either.
I guess I’ll be in jail because I’m sick and tired of funding the ambitions of others.
Cody1991 on November 12, 2009 at 1:52 PM
I hope Ol’ Pelosi finds it VERY fair, when charges are brought against her, as an enemy of the state. I won’t shed a tear for her sorry boney arse.
capejasmine on November 12, 2009 at 1:52 PM
That is the interesting “unintended” consequence. Illegals will actually not have to pay a dime and will still go to the ER rooms, without fear of being jailed.
AnninCA on November 12, 2009 at 1:52 PM
I’m self employed. I don’t have health insurance. I PAY FOR MY MEDICAL EXPENSES OUT OF MY OWN POCKET!
29Victor on November 12, 2009 at 1:52 PM
FTFY.
The Race Card on November 12, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Peloser, leader of the House of Representatives, Reid leader of the Senate, Biden being Vice President and all under a narcisstic eunuch in the White House. Do you really wonder why our nation is on the verge of economic collapse?
volsense on November 12, 2009 at 1:52 PM
NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL!
/columbia student
blatantblue on November 12, 2009 at 1:52 PM
How about “It’s fair to drag Congressmen kicking and screaming out of Congress when they attempt to destroy liberty and turn us all into serfs on their own little plantation”? How about “If Congressmen won’t obey the Constitution designed to restrict their actions, why the hell should the rest of us obey Congress’s legislation designed to restrict ours if we can find a way to get away with it?”
I wanna get rid of this woman in the worst way but I don’t know how.
Aitch748 on November 12, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Plus, perhaps some people will point out that they can’t afford the cost, and jail is required to provide free medical care.
Heck, this might be a health management method for some.
AnninCA on November 12, 2009 at 1:53 PM
If this goes through, and the Kansas Amendment goes through (says that with the 10th Amendment, Kansas refuses to participate), I may have to pack up my gear and move across the MoKs border and live in my shop.
Got internet connection, beer fridge, and lots of shelf space for ammo. What more does one need?
JamesLee on November 12, 2009 at 1:53 PM
I should start investing in prisons. They’ll be more lucrative than gold.
txag92 on November 12, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Jail is very fair for failing to buy your own Christmas present.
PatMac on November 12, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Hey Nancy let me get this straight, you feel that healthcare is a right that should be bestowed upon all people, which is nowhere in the constitution, and failure to exercise that right is punishable by jail time. Now if I refuse to exercise my right to vote should I go to jail? If I do not own a fire arm should I go to jail? Will I go to jail by exercising my right to free speech by telling you to GO F*CK YOURSELF?
Daveyardbird on November 12, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Jail isn’t so bad. I will opt for Gitmo, balmy breezes and all. They have to tend to my medical needs and feed me, right?
Thanks, Nancy. When we’re all in jail who will pay for this idiocy?
Cody1991 on November 12, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Hey Nancy, See You Next Tuesday.
D2Boston on November 12, 2009 at 1:55 PM
“Gordon Liddy here!
The dollar!
The yen!
The euro!
UNRELIABLE!
Buy your gold where I buy mine!”
blatantblue on November 12, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Should people without cars go to jail for not buying gasolene for cars they do not drive?
seven on November 12, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Another campaign ad writes itself.
thirteen28 on November 12, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Where does this myth come from that we are already paying for other peoples health insurance?
If I go to the doctor, they cannot refuse me, but they will bill me, and if I do not pay, they will send the bill to a collections agency, and they will add a bunch of fees, then take may azz to court and start taking my stuff.
cntrlfrk on November 12, 2009 at 1:56 PM
How come people in jail get free insurance coverage?
seven on November 12, 2009 at 1:56 PM
So why all the political posturing?
Just send everyone to jail and BINGO! – everyone has ‘free’ health care.
Why is it that under the Democrats, you either choose the dogsh*t “option” they offer you…OR ELSE?
Could you imagine if Bush had MANDATED that people buy health insurance or face jailtime?
The Democrats are obviously not advocates for “the poor” with this legislation. They’re merely advocates for enslaving and raping the middle class.
Good Lt on November 12, 2009 at 1:56 PM
“We see you are registered Republican. Parole denied.”
WashJeff on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Daveyardbird on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Jail-government’s Christmas present to the Citizens.
Merry Christmas
BottomLine5 on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I ain’t got that kind of spare cash laying around every year.
Johnnyreb on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
What a scumbag.
galvestonian on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Well, since this congress will not be buying ObamaCare, it might almost be worth it if as a result, congress could be put in jail too.
JellyToast on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
What if you are part of a union that provides insurance to its people, does your employer have to pay it or does the union?
ConservativePartyNow on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
I would say that it is fair to send her to jail for violating her oath to uphold the Constitution…
PatriotRider on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Oh, these crooks are in for some great hearings in 2011. It’s going to be popcorn worthy.
marklmail on November 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
If all the conservatives are jailed and the liberals are guarding us, it will turn into Stalag 13.
Nancy “Sgt. Schultz” Pelosi.
NebCon on November 12, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Question.
When you don’t pay for this health insurance and you go to jail, who then who pays for your health insurance, or do you not get any in jail? And what of a family? Does the father go to jail? How about the mother? What about the kids, after all, they didn’t have health insurance either because Dad and Mom didn’t provide it for them. And when Dad’s in jail (or Mom’s in jail or both), what happens to the kids? And what happens if you lose your job and can’t AFFORD to buy health insurance or it become health insurance or food kind of option…
Just trying to figure out their logic is… illogical! Unintended consequences much!
UnderstandingisPower on November 12, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Jail time’s a two-fer for these vermin.
New jails will need to be built, in blue states and districts, of course. And…
Lower unemployment numbers, since prisoners aren’t counted as being unemployed.
TXUS on November 12, 2009 at 1:58 PM
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I ain’t got that kind of spare cash laying around at the end of every year. $1,250 a month is more than my friggin mortgage.
Johnnyreb on November 12, 2009 at 1:58 PM
MOLON LABE.
translated slightly differently: Come and get me.
Oh and I far* in your general direction, Nancy.
Sir Napsalot on November 12, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Under Pelosi’s reasoning it should also be “fair” to jail all homosexuals who engage in dangerous sexual practices which spread the AIDS virus, since we’ll all be footing the astronomically high AIDS treatment bills.
OxyCon on November 12, 2009 at 1:59 PM
I think Pelosi has jumped the shark with a crack pipe dangling from her lips.
But do you really mean that you are willing to fortify and arm yourself against the government? Really?
Web-bluster is an epidemic. I doubt your seriousness. Unfortunately, there are idiots dumb enough to follow through with similar threats.
The Race Card on November 12, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Since the hospitals and the jails will both be run by the same government, what is the difference?
pedestrian on November 12, 2009 at 1:59 PM
How anyone, even her own party, can stomach being in the same room with this biatch, is beyond me.
capejasmine on November 12, 2009 at 2:00 PM
“If, by the mere force of numbers, a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution”
Abraham Lincoln
Don’t sing it botox biatch, bring it. The only way they will take me to jail for a fairy tale joke like this legislation is in a bag.
Ris4victory on November 12, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Don’t prisoners get free health care?
Pelosi might want to re-think her policy on letting felons vote, if thousands of pensioners at the Alcatraz Healthy Boys Club vote against her.
Steve Z on November 12, 2009 at 2:00 PM
If I’m going to jail, I want to reall EARN it….
1. Feed congress to lions.
2. Feed Keith Olbermann to lions.
3. Feed Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to lions.
HornetSting on November 12, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Felons are only allowed to vote for Democrats.
Bobbertsan on November 12, 2009 at 2:00 PM
I do not understand how they think that people who can’t afford their homes, food or their taxes now are going to be the source of funding for the trillion dollar new program. It doesn’t compute. They had better take those front end taxes and bulid a few more jails.
ORconservative on November 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM
so now people are going to be afraid to seek treatment in the ER because they are uninsured.
Gee – nancy’s bill is going to prevent people from seeking treatment and eventually kill them./
hey dems – you are the majority – can’t you get anything right???
poppieseeds on November 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Same here. It will come down to a choice between food, clothes, electricity, or cars. We’re in deep doo doo, if this goes thru. Bankruptcy, and destitution…here we come.
capejasmine on November 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM
They can’t jail us all.
….can they?
World B. Free on November 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Ha, ha, ha…I was reading a post and realised that they hit the nail on the head, if these cretins send us to prison, they are, in effect, doing the John galt thing for us!!! With productive Americans who refuse to cave to this un-Constitutional insanity in jail, who will earn the money to pay the taxes?
allstonian on November 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Dick Morris is raising money to oust Nancy from her office. I’ve already sent him my money.
yoda on November 12, 2009 at 2:02 PM
@ RaceCard
I’ve thought about that a lot in recent months. Bottom line, if it ever comes down to an individual arming themself against the government, it’s already too late.
Several will try to fight and make a stand if it ever comes to that. But the news will read “Suspected Terrorist killed in shootout with Authorities” or something, and the rest of us will go about our lives.
JamesLee on November 12, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Jail is going to be the very easy solution for many people. What is Jailer Pelosi going to do with all the new inmates?
ORconservative on November 12, 2009 at 2:03 PM
They’d like to just declare red states to be open-air prisons. They just need to figure out where they will get their food from.
pedestrian on November 12, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Well, per their global warming beliefs, they believe the earth is to over populated. Add this to abortion, sterilization, and off’ing the elderly, and their plans are coming together nicely. To bad none of them are willing to sacrifice themselves, for their “greater good” mantra.
capejasmine on November 12, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Let me get this straight. The whole point of this mandate to buy health insurance is to relieve the financial burden to the tax payers who have to subsidize the healthcare of these people who refuse to obtain it. But if I refuse to obtain health insurance then I go to prison where I will get free health care and free room and board with three square meals per day and plenty of activities, all on the tax payers dime. Where exactly is the financial burden on the tax payers relieved?
DoS_Conservative on November 12, 2009 at 2:03 PM
No biggie. They will just build huge internment camps to stick us in. Complete with razor wire and armed ACORN or SEIU volunteers. Then they will set up speakers to broadcast MS-NBC and Ogabe’s mmmmm mmmm mmmm song 24/7 until we “get our minds right”.
FireFly on November 12, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Release the murderers, rapists, child molesters, to make room for the evil, dissidents. So long as the dangerous criminals pledge loyalty to Pelosi…they get a “get out of jail free” card.
capejasmine on November 12, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Can I take free college courses while I’m serving my time?
huckleberryfriend on November 12, 2009 at 2:05 PM
I will never take coverage off my family, but if this passes, I will drop my coverage instantly and DARE them to come get me.
MadDogF on November 12, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Don’t we already pay for their insurance, if only we could stop buying theirs then maybe we could afford ours and to jail for them.
fourdeucer on November 12, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Thanks California for the most Authoritarian little tyrant in the US Govt.
ronsfi on November 12, 2009 at 2:08 PM
So when to we get to send people to jail who blatantly ignore the Constitution of the United States and take cover with the excuse they are passing un-Constitutional legislation to help the American people?
truetexan on November 12, 2009 at 2:09 PM
I figure fairness and patriotism starts and ends with the constitution.
My freedom to choose is guaranteed in fair and patriotic documents called the Constitution and the Bill of Rights! Keep your grimy mitts off it Pelosi!
csdeven on November 12, 2009 at 2:09 PM
hey. If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime. It’s the same as tax evasion.
Objecting to the law on principle makes sense. Objecting to the law because it has penalties attached for breaking it is stupid.
Bleeds Blue on November 12, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Personally, a herd of angry elephants gets my vote, but your idea works just as well.
ICBM on November 12, 2009 at 2:10 PM
I think it’s very fair to say that people should be stockpiling ammo every time they read a new piece of statist central planning garbage. Yes, it’s very fair in that respect.
SirGawain on November 12, 2009 at 2:10 PM
The thought of tens of millions of excon healthcare scofflaws coming after you does not scare the Visitors who have hijacked the Congress?
Jerricho68 on November 12, 2009 at 2:11 PM
I wonder if we’ll all get passes to the head of the prison line….ahead of congress folks, senators, treasury secretaries…folks like that???
GoldenEagle4444 on November 12, 2009 at 2:13 PM
If the political class doesn’t participate in Obamacare are they eligible for jail too?
booter on November 12, 2009 at 2:13 PM
While you are in jail it will just make it easier for them to confiscate your home to pay for your incarceration AND health-care!
Can’t wait.
Bicyea on November 12, 2009 at 2:13 PM
They will do what they do with the tax code…they will find a few evil rich folk who told them to pound sand and they will prosecute them as if they were the Mafia on a RICO case, steal most of their money and give max jail terms and the 99.9% of the rest of your 40% will stumble over themselves to pay up.
Until folk resist with force, anything the government does will stand.
JIMV on November 12, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Aye aye comrade! Or is that brown noser?
capejasmine on November 12, 2009 at 2:14 PM
ding ding ding!
cmsinaz on November 12, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Not subscribing to Obamacare: 25 to life
Burning leaves in backyard: 25 to life
Eating at McDonalds: 10-15
Calling Obama a Poopyhead: Life, no parole
fogw on November 12, 2009 at 2:16 PM
The health care legislation is a well-disguised advancement of tyranny. Will you move to take a better job when you’re only weeks away from the surgery you’ve needed for a year? Will you vote to reduce Federal spending when your health depends on it?
On this week where we remember the fall of the Berlin Wall, it’s worth remembering that Communism was supposed to be government’s plan for keeping people happy and healthy. How long did it take the East Berliners to escape that worker’s paradise?
The whole thing is laughable. Congress says there is a problem with too much health care spending. Who can fix it? Congress, of course! How will they fix it? More spending, of course! It’s like Jefferson said. Government will constantly seek to expand its powers.
If this passes, how long will it take us to reverse it? The GOP is afraid to touch Medicaire already.
hawksruleva on November 12, 2009 at 2:16 PM
When you think about it, the fact the USA has lasted as long as it has is amazing.
jukin on November 12, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Wrong.
If I don’t wish to pay income taxes, I simply don’t have any income. If I don’t want to pay property taxes, I don’t buy a house. Gasoline taxes? Don’t drive. “Mandatory” Auto insurance is often thrown out in this argument, but that’s simple too–don’t have a freakin’ car! Its only mandatory if you wish to operate a vehicle.
Government has always, sometimes rightly and sometimes wrongly, used taxes and incentives to encourage or discourage certain behaviors. Never has there been the thought of requiring individual citizens to purchase a product they may not want or need, for whatever reason.
This whole thing is totally unconstitutional, and your “tax evasion” argument is worthless as well.
JamesLee on November 12, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Spell it out.
Skywise on November 12, 2009 at 2:18 PM
When you think about it, the fact the USA has lasted as long as it did is amazing.
jukin on November 12, 2009 at 2:16 PM
FIFY.
Jerricho68 on November 12, 2009 at 2:19 PM
The answer is simple. The jails can’t hold that many people, so they will have to release us. Kind of like what’s being considered in California except the guys they may release are real criminals.
Of course, the gubmint first has to prosecute those who refuse. That gets expensive, too.
This, again, demonstrates the insanity of Pelosi. She is a ridiculous, dangerous woman.
Cody1991 on November 12, 2009 at 2:19 PM
I’m. Not. Buying. It.
4shoes on November 12, 2009 at 2:20 PM
This woman is unbelievable! I can’t stand her! I get sick to my stomach every time I see her, I immediately change the tv station. If Nancy and the elites of our government get free health care, if they are not paying, do they go to jail, too? I say book ‘em Dano!
txstar on November 12, 2009 at 2:20 PM
BO is Present Sortero’s initials. FU is a common greeting.
Jerricho68 on November 12, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Last two initials mean Barack Obama. The rest should fall into place
gophergirl on November 12, 2009 at 2:20 PM
anuts on November 12, 2009 at 2:20 PM
NP does not go to the bathroom without Obama and Rahm giving her how to speak etc…Rahm and the CZARS are her masters. She always looks
frightened to me.
nondhimmie on November 12, 2009 at 2:21 PM
No dummy, the Constitution was amended, allowing the government to tax its’ citizens.
Nothing in the Constitution allows forcing healthcare on a citizen, and throwing someone in the slammer if they refuse to not participate.
I think we know what’s stupid around here. Rhymes with GreedsGlue.
fogw on November 12, 2009 at 2:21 PM
No it’s not.
Because it’s NOT a tax.
You think about that.
Skywise on November 12, 2009 at 2:22 PM
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