Hugh,
You are correct. I'm not a neocon, nor a right-winger. I simply don't like to be told what to do. I don't see a mandate to buy health insurance the same as a mandate to purchase car insurance. Driving a car is a privilege and choice, and I can choose not to drive if I don't like the whole mess. However, living, well that's not a choice, but a right.
I would have rather we just up'ed the medicare tax withholding and expanded the eligibility to those currently having low income and no employer coverage. I think that approach would have served our country better.
Instead, what will happen is that small companies will drop their plans and pay the fines where it is more cost advantageous for them to do so (will be many), and then you can bet with that money saved they won't increase salaries, or employee pay, but the employee will still have to purchase their own insurance or pay their own penalty. That means even more people showing up at the ER for gratis care, and no real wellness care for these people...and they will be one major illness away from bankruptcy, forever.
This makes no sense...and in the process, we lost some rights.