I agree that there is a real and serious need for health care reform. But, the bill on the table at this time is not what we need. It needs to go to conference committee and have differences hammered out then both chambers need to vote on it. The rule changes etc need to stop. And yes Concerned Citizen, that applies to previous (plural) administrations.

Instead of saying this bill isn't what we need, tell us why? Why don't you think it's a good idea to cover 95% of all Americans and save 45,000 lives this year alone? Why don't you think it's a good idea to cut the deficit by a hundred billion dollars a year? Why don't you think it's a good idea to provide basic care to people with pre-existing conditions and preventing insurance companies from kicking sick people off their roles instead of providing the medical care they've been taking premiums for?

But the actual topic of this post is that we should be tired of being fed crap by our candidates and we should let them know that fact above all others.

In theory it is a good idea. Some of the things that I don't think are good? IRS is the gatekeeper. Nothing provides for purchase across state lines...all states with two exceptions border at least on other state. Tax on high level benefit plans..that person is already paying a higher premium, why do they need to pay tax on top of that. Yes there are still special deals in this even for Tennessee. It needs to be a level playing field. The medicaid cost to the states and ultimately to the tax paying citizens. The forced purchase of health insurance. I understand that everybody needs to purchase it to make the plan work, but assessing a fine when you don't purchase it?
Do pre-existing issues need to be addressed? Yes
Does the cancellation of coverage (when paid on time etc) need to be addressed? Yes
Does fraud and abuse need to be addressed, in the private sector as well as the Mecicare program? Yes
Can all of this be done without this monstrous bill? Yes
There are special rules, Slaughter. These types of tactics have been used in the past, and it didn't sit well then either.
What would it be like if the voters of this country acted like the House and Senate at election time....? Big mess.
Time constrains me from continuing, so, I'm done, stick a fork in me.

The forced purchase of health insurance. I understand that everybody needs to purchase it to make the plan work, but assessing a fine when you don't purchase it?

That sentence ends with a question mark. Tell us your opinion of the proper way to ensure that people will purchase health insurance. You say you understand the need for people to purchase insurance to make the plan work. It appears that contingencies have been made in the plan for those who can't afford to pay whether they are a small business or individual so why would they not want to take the insurance other trying to circumvent the system.

If you don't have some penalty for not taking the insurance some people are going to decline the insurance, and when they get sick they will go to the emergency room (the most expensive place you can go) for treatment and you and I will end up paying the bill, as we do now. That happening will result in us slipping back into the same old broken system we now have. If those people are compelled to have insurance they will have the ability to go to a doctor for treatment, instead of the more expensive emergency room, which will save us all money.

Can all of this be done without this monstrous bill? Yes

That may be true but if so the question has to be asked, why hasn't it been done before now? It was first proposed decades ago that healthcare should be available for all of the citizens of this country but so far it has not happened. It is my opinion that it has not happened because of opposition by those who rake in the ridiculous profits that is afforded by the current broken healthcare system. We currently have the fox guarding the hen house and that needs to stop and the proposed plan is a good first step toward doing that.

I agree that the current plan on the table is not perfect. But it certainly is better than what we have now.