Shawn Messonnier, DVM--

As you’ve probably heard, one of the major provisions of the (unconstitutional) healthcare plan now being debated concerns punishment for those who do not purchase health insurance. According to the bill now being debated, if you do not buy health insurance you would be fined and then sent to jail if you do not pay the fine.

This brings up some interesting questions and unexpected consequences that have not yet been discussed. Since it’s currently estimated that 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 people in our country choose not to buy health insurance (either because they don’t want to pay for it or can’t afford to pay for it,) these consequences will affect a good proportion of our population.

1. How long will I spend in jail if I don’t by government mandated health insurance?

2. When I’m released from jail, will I have to buy health insurance then or be sent back to jail for continuing to refuse to buy health insurance?

3. If I’m sent to jail for life for refusing to buy health insurance, what would be the punishment if I murder someone, rape someone, or rob someone?

4. It costs a lot to incarcerate someone for life (estimates vary between $25,000 per year all the way up to $100,000 per year.) Wouldn’t it be cheaper to not incarcerate me, not force me to buy health insurance, and just let me go to the free county hospital whenever I get sick?

5. If I can’t afford to pay for health insurance now, how I afford to pay for it once I’m released from prison since I’ve had no gainful employment to produce income?

6. Since I’m the primary caregiver for my household, how will my family pay for health insurance once I’m in prison?

7. If my family has to go on welfare and receive Medicaid and food stamps while I’m in prison, wouldn’t it just be cheaper to not imprison me and let us go to the county hospital for free healthcare when we need it?

8. If the 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 people who choose not to buy or can’t afford to buy health insurance are all imprisoned, will we have to build more prisons? Won’t this get kind of expensive?

Are you surprised at any of this? Don’t be. This is politics 101, where people who don’t have gainful employment try to force their ideas on us and create many more problems than currently exist.

Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM the host of the weekly award-winning radio show, "Dr. Shawn-The Natural Vet" on Martha Stewart Radio (Sirius 112 Tues 8-10 PM EST and Sat 9-11AM EST) sits on the advisory board of the Journal Veterinary Forum, and is a holistic pet columnist for Animal Wellness, Body + Soul, and Veterinary Forum. In addition to serving clients in his Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, he has written several books on the natural care of pets, including The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats, The Allergy Solution for Dogs, 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, Preventing and Treating Cancer In Dogs and most recently Unexpected Miracles (Forge Books/ Aug 2009). He is also the creator of a new line of organic pet products, Dr. Shawn's Pet Organics (www.Dr.Shawnspetorganics.com)  You'll find him online at www.petcarenaturally.com

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