Geraldo (Jerry Rivers) is a complete moron

Point by point (and I'm going to cuss at the end, so fair warning):

1. Jerry said the new bill removes the ability of insurance companies to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

Jerry, you dumb ass, pre-existing condition denial is already outlawed by COBRA. Provided that you have uninterrupted coverage for the previous 12 months, your new insurance company can't impose a pre-existing condition. I know -- I've had to fight for it, for both myself and for THE BOSS.

2. Jerry says that this bill will prevent insurance companies from imposing wild increases in premiums -- some as high as 30 and 40%.

Jerry, you dumb ass, insurance premiums are set by state insurance commissions. If you have something to bitch about, take your argument to the government board that sets rates. Just because an insurance company asks for a large increase (and may have a perfectly good set of reasons to do so based on previous costs and claims expenses) doesn't mean they'll get the increase. And ANY increase must be approved by the commissions.

3. Jerry says the bill will mandate that insurance companies cover preventive care -- things like annual check-ups, a mammogram, or a colonoscopy (shudder), and the like.

Jerry, you dumb ass. Most insurance companies included coverage for these things already. And in an open and freely competitive market, companies would rather pay for early detection and cure BECAUSE IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE.

4. The new bill allows kids to stay on their parents' plans to age 26 (something Jerry said was good for his kids).

Jerry, you dumb ass. Why on earth are we coddling kids? Parents should kick their asses out of the house after college, and tell them to get a job, just like we as parents do. Allowing them to stay on the parents' plan will keep them as a dependent, and therefore discourage the kids from looking for work. Great idea, there, comrade.

5. Finally, Jerry was giddy with the fact that EVERYONE WILL NOW HAVE INSURANCE.

Jerry, you dumb ass. Just because you want to provide health care for 10 or 20 or 30 million uninsured (the number is in dispute), why on earth do you want to fuck up my insurance to do this? For all the money we're going to spend on this monstrosity, we could have just set up a new program for those who don't have insurance. And WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET ALL OF THE DOCTORS? I swear to God, if I have to wait in line for one of Jerry's illegal aliens, I'll punch that punk in the nose.

By the way, do you get the idea that I think Geraldo is a dumb ass? Good - I thought I was being subtle.

Health care is a privilege, not a right. It is also a private contract between two parties (with a service provider in the middle). It is none of the government's business what kind of insurance contract I want to negotiate with my provider.

Mark my words -- if the government can get involved in setting standard terms for insurance contracts, then they can get in the middle of ANY contract you have. Just like Blue Laws, which we've mostly gotten rid of, the government should get the hell out of the way of my business with whomever I want to contract with (assuming it's a legal contract, of course).

Fuck you, Jerry. And fuck Bart Stupak, too, that traitorous bastard.