5:08 am March 22, 2010, by Henry Unger
Like it or not, Congress passed health care reform Sunday.
Now the question is, do you like it or not?
How will the overhaul affect you? Your workplace? Will it make things better or worse? Why?
What do you think about the tortuous political process to get us to this point?
Will what happened affect your vote come November? How?
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Get inside Atlanta's and national business news and how it affects you.
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,329 comments Add your comment
Only Thing
March 22nd, 2010
6:50 am
The only thing sad about today for you Republicans is that the Democrats have FINALLY done to you what you have done to them and the American People for so many years!!! Replace Obama with Bush and you would be jumping for JOY! Great Job, Mr. President and staff!!!!
Charles Jackson
March 22nd, 2010
6:52 am
I say that all that voted for this bill be forced by goverment degree be required to be covered by this aborition.
James
March 22nd, 2010
6:52 am
It’s a great day for all Americans! Great job Mr. President and Mrs. Speaker! Thank you for standing up for the health and well being of all US citizens!
Jeff
March 22nd, 2010
6:53 am
Shows just how stupid they are in Washington- They clearly did not listen to the american people…which is typical in Washington. Cant wait to see our “elected officials” on mid term election night. The theme will be “cry me a river” lead by the speaker of the house. Hopefully the american people stand up and vote all out of office. Then maybe they will get the message of what is it all about….It’s JOBS you idoits!
greg
March 22nd, 2010
6:54 am
Guess what the first thing that Bush put in Iraq, well it was socialized medicine, that’s right you chumps, how come its good enough for them but not us. They just gave the retired CEO of Cigna 110 million dollars to walk, how many people were denied coverage to pay that piece of crap his 100 million. You stupid people.
luangtom
March 22nd, 2010
6:57 am
My grandchildren and their future children thank the Democrats for something that they will be paying for throughout their lives. The fall of the Roman Empire came and went, the fall of the British Empire came and went….the American Empire is falling……….we can’t pay for our past mistakes and we just added another rather overwhelmingly large one. Remember this in November, America. The historical deficit is unprecedented and now to add this to it does not bode well. The America our forefathers knew and died for is falling by the wayside. I will bet that one of the next major bills to go forward will be to grant amnesty, across the board, to illegal aliens. The immigrants that followed the rules and met all of the criteria be damned. King Barack will just create more of a voting-base with addition of the current illegals to his rolls. Long live King Barack.
Commonsenseagitator
March 22nd, 2010
6:58 am
the hate, racist, filled commentary coming from georgians doesn’t suprise anyone, I’ve been here all my life, was born here, and it still amazes me that people are so blissfully ignorant. You people are all sterotypes of the ignorant, backward southerner you should be very proud of yourselves
That's RIGHT
March 22nd, 2010
7:03 am
the only thing bi-party in this vote, was the NO vote, weher all republicans voted NO, and 34 democrats voted NO. WELCOME TO THE UNITED SOCIALIST STATES of AMERICA…. The legacy of OBAMA….. the birth of the USSA
Dave
March 22nd, 2010
7:04 am
Commonsenseagitator – and you’re the kind of know-it-all hate filled yankee that should have stayed up north and made both of us happy. Delta is ready when you are!
Bob
March 22nd, 2010
7:04 am
To hell with liberty and freedom! It was overrated anyway.
JR
March 22nd, 2010
7:04 am
m915 you are an idiot. Of course us white folks are unhappy with the situation at hand, because you and the rest of the second handers are looking for hand outs. The gig is going to be up in November.
Dave
March 22nd, 2010
7:04 am
I am 60 years old it won’t kick in till I reach Medicare age. Our system right now is a trap where people are trapped in jobs. They are usually one sickness away from possibly facing bankruptcy from illness or being scorned by all insurance companies as a pariah by being priced out of coverage and then facing prexisting illness by any other insurance company. Yes there may be less Medicare coverage for me than there once was, but I unlike some don’t believe Medicare should spend hundreds of thousands on me to give me another few months of a horrible life if I get the wrong terminal disease. Some of you claim to believe in God if so why do you fight so hard in the end when God is maybe sending you a message you have been called home. I question whether some of you believe in God maybe this is where your faith is being questioned and you are lacking in that regard.
Georgian
March 22nd, 2010
7:04 am
Alice Powell,
I am ashamed of you. First of all, you say that you are forced to pay for minorities of this country who have always expected the government and everybody else to take care of them.
First of all, I am a minority and I have never expected the government to take care of me, nor has the government taken care of me. I have also worked hard and paid taxes. Most likely, I pay more taxes than you. My husband was in the U.S. Army for 26 years, and our family sacrifice a lot for this country. Also, we will be in the over $250,000 category in the health bill, so we will be taxed more. But, we also pay school tax with no children in school and other taxes that do not pertain to us.
Secondly, it is more Whites (Caucasians) in this country that receives government assistance than minorities. So while you are spouting off, try looking at the last census report, which will let you know your premise is totally wrong.
Thirdly, you say as God as my witness, well first of all God would never entertain your racial bigotry.
Rick Cole
March 22nd, 2010
7:05 am
In the battle between the makers and the takers, score a big one for the takers.
Redbone
March 22nd, 2010
7:05 am
Hiel Obama! He is our leader so lets blindly follow him.
Howard
March 22nd, 2010
7:07 am
“F” obama and peloski with her dead looking ass!
David
March 22nd, 2010
7:08 am
I am a doctor and can’t understand why so many people are against this bill. They must not understand what is really happening with for profit insurers and our current health care system, which eventually will collapse under it’s own dysfunctional weight. The US spends twice as much per capita on health care per capita as European countries and we are no healthier. Health care bills are the largest source of bankruptcies in the United States. Meanwhile, many people can’t get health insurance unless their employer offers it. I understand that some employers, such as Wal Mart in the past, didn’t provide meaningful health insurance to their employees, leaving the lower paid ones to sign up for medicaid (guess who pays for that). Many private businesses don’t offer health insurance at all. An unregulated free market health insurance system will not solve the health care problem, because insurance companies are looking for profits, not improved health care. Haven’t any one of the republicans so opposed to health care reform had any family members who couldn’t get insurance or had their coverage denied because of the pre existing condition gimmick? I’m sure this bill will have problems, but it’s the first step in reforming a system that will bankrupt the country if it’s allowed to continue in it’s present form.
Prisca
March 22nd, 2010
7:09 am
At almost 70 years and in cancer treatment–I lost 15 pounds just worrying about how to pay for treatment, even though I receive Medicare–I am grateful for any change that makes health care more accessible. I hope my children will never have to deal with the kind of anxiety that put me into a terrifying tailspin. We have finally taken a great step forward.
chip
March 22nd, 2010
7:09 am
For those who think that Tricare and the VA are wonderful health care systems try being on the receiving end of the payments and the denials…go to a non VA hospital, not everyone has one close by, on what the VA considers non-emergent care guess who pays the patient or the taxpayers of the patient doesn’t pay…
And to Representative Lewis – health care is not a right it was a privilege – I have always worked hard to have insurance, I truly believe that this bill will leave me uninsured because I can’t afford the insurance the government is providing if my employer chosses to know longer cover us. But don’t worry the Congressmen will have all the coverage they need they just don’t want us to have it
Bill
March 22nd, 2010
7:09 am
I am SO proud of my country!
Jody Beaumont
March 22nd, 2010
7:10 am
The ignorant comments by Georgia born and bred folks does not surprise me. Georgia was among the first to vote AGAINST women having the right to vote, and was tied with Tennessee as the LAST state to vote in favor of women having the right to vote! Georgia is still very much a part of the old Southern Confederacy with active Klan members. Georgia along with the other Southern “states rights first” states will always resent federal legislation that benefits all of the people, especially the poor and diverse. Guess the plantation owners are still among us…
Will
March 22nd, 2010
7:10 am
If the Georgia General Assembly wants to pass legislation allowing free loaders to “opt out” of health insurance, do you think they will include a provision that, if these free loaders “opt out” they cannot come running for a government handout to pay their medical and hospital bills?
Me neither.
Jessica
March 22nd, 2010
7:12 am
Hip! Hip! Hooray! The Democrats against the bill were only afraid of backlash at the polls. Some of the Republicans who voted against the bill did so ONLY because they want Obama to fail. Like my grand daddy used to say, “when you dig a ditch for me, you better dig two, cause the ditch you dug for me might be meant for you”.
Eric
March 22nd, 2010
7:13 am
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I prayed that you would shove this down the throats of the American people and you arrogant Pr**s did it!!
Voted for the end of the Socialist Democratic Party .. I can’t believe it.
The only slogan you need to get elected this fall… “I’ll repeal it” …
and it doesn’t take effect for 4 years, when we’ve already run every Democrat out on a rail and Barry can’t get 20% of the vote.. I mean really.. these guys are idiots.
Thanks Barry, thanks Nancy, thanks Harry .. LMFAO
Marie R
March 22nd, 2010
7:14 am
Freedom, as we know it, has died!
David Hoffman
March 22nd, 2010
7:14 am
This all would have gone better if the US Senate did not have the filibuster. It is time to get rid of it. If there had been no need for 60 votes, some of the wheeling and dealing would not have been needed. Eliminate the filibuster and the 60 votes needed to end it. Use specified debate time limitations like the House of Representatives does. Simple majority of the senators passes the bill.
Walter S
March 22nd, 2010
7:14 am
Hictoric day, Any Group of people or political party that did not vote for this bill in my humble opinion is NON-AMERICAN……
Howard
March 22nd, 2010
7:16 am
Georgian you’re a true sucker! You claim to be a minorty all because of color, you’re the racist! Rick Cole you my friend nailed it! The takers have scored a big one.
Jessica
March 22nd, 2010
7:16 am
These comments are so funny! I love when “some people” run scared beause what they want they don’t get. GROW UP! Thanks President Obama and every Representative and Senator who voted FOR this bill.
Debbie
March 22nd, 2010
7:18 am
For the first time in my adult life, I am ashamed of America. The scale has finally tipped. 51% of American’s now believe that 49% of us should take care of them. Our founding fathers, that bled and died for our freedoms, are turning over in their graves today. I’m so sick of people saying the government “owes” them something. My family doesn’t have money. We live from paycheck to paycheck, but we don’t ever think it’s the governments JOB to take care of us in any way. Take care of your own families and STOP taking money out of MY pocket to do it. Government money is OUR money. It’s tax dollars. The government doesn’t have money except what they TAKE from us. You have been duped. My husband works with guys who live with women who are on welfare and are proud of the fact they get so much free stuff (even though these guys make good money). Ahhhhhh! It’s NOT FREE. You are making US (the 49%) take care of YOUR family. Now,,,, we have to pay for your health care too!!! You should be ashamed. I’m ashamed of you. You are sheep being led by wolves who have re-enslaved the poor folks looking for any and every handout they can get. You are at their mercy.
It’s a sad day in America. And,they broke laws that protect us from this sort of “take over”, to do it. Ugh….I’m sick to my stomach.
RedStateFan
March 22nd, 2010
7:19 am
Conservatives and Republicans today suffered their most crushing legislative defeat since the 1960s.
It’s hard to exaggerate the magnitude of the disaster. Conservatives may cheer themselves that they’ll compensate for today’s expected vote with a big win in the November 2010 elections. But:
(1) It’s a good bet that conservatives are over-optimistic about November – by then the economy will have improved and the immediate goodies in the healthcare bill will be reaching key voting blocs.
(2) So what? Legislative majorities come and go. This healthcare bill is forever. A win in November is very poor compensation for this debacle now.
D.e.w.
March 22nd, 2010
7:21 am
I’m not surprised at all when the politicians(Dems)say they are amazed at the protesting there in the nations capital. They really didn’t listen did they?!? GET OUT AND VOTE OR IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN!!!
Jules
March 22nd, 2010
7:22 am
When the president says “We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people,” what “people” was he referring? He’s playing poker with “the peoples” money, and they are going to win in back in November.
This is a pathetic dispaly of our government.
Georgian
March 22nd, 2010
7:22 am
Luantorn,
You are thanking the wrong people for this country downfall. You should be thanking your last 2 Republican Presidents, Bush 1 and 2. They added over 8 trillion dollars to this countries deficit. Let’s not forget your Republican Senators and Congressmen who rubber stamped every spending bill those two put before them. Most of all, lets thank you the Republican voters who did not protest their enormous spending bills. I’m sure that you was not one of the rich who received a tax cut, but you did not complain. So, thank yourself.
Socialist Law Rules!
March 22nd, 2010
7:23 am
Welcome to the New Socialist States of Amerika! We all get what we want. Free housing, free retirement, free health care and free food. When do we get free cars and free tv’s?
Mary
March 22nd, 2010
7:23 am
We have become the most selfish American people of all time..thinking you are owed and everything in life is FREE, but just go to the schools and see what you are raising or the colleges where you think you are entitled. Sad Sad day for America..and America will speak in November and hopefully reverse this madness…Most of you don’t even know nor do I what is in that bill and what will be in the final bill..there was NO TRANSPARENCY at all…when half of America asked you to STOP and go slow..you did not..and where are the JOBS..she kept saying saving Education..well tell that to all the teachers in Georgia and schools that are closing and loosing their jobs..Why don’t they have to take this insurance..and why are we going to have to buy insurance when we can barely put food on the table anymore..that is right to have not a PRIVILEDGE!!!!
luangtom
March 22nd, 2010
7:24 am
This one is over. Now, let’s get the Immigration Amnesty Bill rolling……it’ll help the voting-base for King Barack and his court come 2012 elections……………..that way, more people will get to utilize this wonderful care-for-all bill.
4 Jacks
March 22nd, 2010
7:27 am
Hope when the tax increases we will have to pay for this so called health bill starts people will finally understand just what the democrats have done. The democrats have just forced this bill through with no regard to what the majority of americans wanted. If we were not to be sheared God would not have made us sheep. The ignorance of the american people that support this, is just astounding. However, most of them could not tell you what is in the bill, because most are to ignorant to research it, read it and understand what is in it. Therefore we are sheep. Hope you enjoy being sheared.
Georgian
March 22nd, 2010
7:27 am
David,
These people are reacting to the Republican Party lies. They do not realize that the only reason that the Republican Party did not want this bill to succeed was because they would lose because they had 8 years beforehand and did nothing. Also, race plays a big part in their feelings. If the President was White, they would think this bill is the best thing since slice bread.
Boogers in your Soup
March 22nd, 2010
7:27 am
Sad yet funny.
Sad that the hardworking Americans are once again screwed over so the “will nots” might have something for nothing.
Funny in that Obama and the Dems have just sealed their fate. November 2010 isnt far off and this adminstration has little time to force upon us other debacles.
Obama is BIGOT just like his boys Al Hastings and John Lewis.
Alecia
March 22nd, 2010
7:28 am
How interesting! There are 78 comments on the board and only 7 agree with healthcare reform. Wow, that tells us what the people really want.
Ribo
March 22nd, 2010
7:29 am
Instead of focusing on jobs for our state and this country, this has been the priority?! Instead of fixing the immediate concerns of healthcare (Pre-existing conditions, insurance premiums rise, etc), we now have something that the majority of this country doesn’t want. I’m angry at the Democrats for forcing this down our throats so fast, the Republicans for not trying to create a bill that would’ve been more palatable and to the President for acting so arrogantly. Remember this in November!
Howard
March 22nd, 2010
7:30 am
Walter S
you are so right!!!! I’m a Black American, not non-american! we are screwed and you know it! but it does not matter to you because you think health care is a right. Yeah, you have the right to get a job and provide for yourself, that’s a right but to take money from me to pay for somebody else is BS and you know it. We need jobs so that we can buy healthcare di you think about that? The people who are unemployed don’t give a sh*t about healthcare reform, they want jobs so they can pay for what they need not what obama wants to force down our throats. Why is he not trying to force jobs down our throats????? Simple you cant control a man who makes his own way and a man with a job is hard to control.
Allyana Ziolko
March 22nd, 2010
7:30 am
The majority of the people did not want Social Security either, but let’s see how many of you collect it when you retire. And let’s see how many of you lose your insurance at some point and fall back on this. I do not see one single constructive criticism in these comments that would offer to take this lemon and turn it into lemonade. Not one compassionate view of people who lose their jobs and have no insurance to fall back on. No one knows what lies down the road for them and when they will need this. Many folks lived swearing they would never collect unemployment or food stamps and now they are using it as a means of survival. How many of you bought a car on the “cash for clunkers” program? As long as you have, if the other guy doesn’t have, it’s okay to knock compassion.
Uncle Sam
March 22nd, 2010
7:33 am
12/7/1941
9/11/2001
3/21/2010
Dave
March 22nd, 2010
7:34 am
Yes, the naive and gullible ruled the night. The voted for bread and circuses, and they got it. The people who actually work for a living will win in the end, when we take back the House and Senate in November, and the White House in ‘12. If I was a Liberal, I’d be really scared about now. But in true form, the Liberals are too deluded and naive to see the impending storm.
Bitter EX democrackkk
March 22nd, 2010
7:34 am
Hopefully this will be overturned or further ‘reformed’ before it all kicks in …
REMEMBER, healthcare is NOT a RIGHT NOR a FUNCTION of our government. period. Get the government OUT of healthcare and watch the costs go down. Now the best doctors will retire early.
And the newer crop loses ambition. SHAME on these people who passed this, but I believe it will be overturned in the end. Hopefully the Senate will vote NO.
Race has NOTHING to do with this. Never has. Errant political ideology by an INCOMPETENT Presidunce DOES!
Boogers in your Soup
March 22nd, 2010
7:34 am
Allyana Ziolko
Typcial bogus BullShyt from your type.
Crazy People
March 22nd, 2010
7:39 am
This is not a racial thing, why make it so. This health care reform bill is just going to put this nation into great debt but people are too dumb to see that. Yes we need health care reform, no one is saying we don’t. But right now we need jobs more. Without people working and paying taxes, states and federal government will not be able to fund all these programs. Why can’t people see that. If this health care reform is so great, then all our elected officials should be on it but the Democrats said no way.
As far as Bush 1 and 2 doing everything to this country, you are so far off the mark it isn’t even funny. Exactly who do you think said they everyone should own a home regardless of whether or not they could pay for it and told mortgage companies to give them a loan. That was the Demcrats. Go back and check your facts. This one thing started the down fall in this country. People getting homes they couldn’t afford and couldn’t make the payments. Now the Democrats want to help all those that make up to $80,000 to help pay for their health insurance. Explain how they are going to do this. Sure wish we had made $80,000 while raising 4 children and had help paying for health insurance.
Nothing in this country is free unless you are illegal because they get everything free to begin with or you are too lazy to go out and try and find work and think you are entitled to entitlements.
Way to go Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy what freedoms you have now because when China calls in our debt to them, you will become part of China and their rules. And when Mexico takes over the USA with all the illegals we are letting in and giving amensty too hope you will be satisfied.
Tony
March 22nd, 2010
7:40 am
Welcome to the United Socialist States of America. Let’s adopt a similar slogan that Obama used in his campaign. It’s called “Change 2″ where we vote every single democrat out of office this November. I bet over half the people who voted for Obama couldn’t name over two items that he stood for on his platform. I no longer sing God bless America. It’s now God have mercy on America.