Political Quotes

“Madam President, there has been a lot of discussion about the affordable health care act passed by Congress. In fact, just next week, across the street, the Supreme Court will take up this bill and decide whether it is constitutional. It is an important decision. It is one that will affect millions of Americans, and scarcely anyone understands the impact of this law and what it means to their daily lives. The first aspect I wish to speak about is the most controversial aspect of it, the so-called individual mandate. What is it? From my point of view, it is a basic method of saying to everyone in America: You have a personal responsibility. You cannot say you are just not going to buy any health insurance; that you don't think you are ever going to need it and are not going to worry about it. The problem is, of course, those people who make that statement get sick. Some of them get involved in accidents. Some go to a doctor and are diagnosed with terrible illnesses and diseases that require treatment and surgery, and that costs a lot of money. The uninsured people show up at hospitals. They are not pushed away; they are invited in. They receive the treatment. Then they can't pay for it. It turns out that 63 percent of the medical care given to uninsured people in America isn't paid for--not by them. It turns out the rest of us pay for it.…”