With so many uncertainties in the future of the American economy, it’s difficult to ascertain which hot-button issue is the worse of many evils. Regardless of which issue personally affects each of us, one can’t argue with the very real concerns of how individual health insurance will look a year from now. So many unanswered questions, our political leaders bickering as though they’re a group of badly behaved two-year olds, each in the midst of his own temper tantrum and a new and controversial bill that leaves far more unanswered questions than the collective country is comfortable with.

The new bill, if passed, will fine American families who refuse to buy medical insurance, much like state laws now fine automobile drivers with insufficient or no insurance. With the potential of $1000 fines annually for families who don’t have or can’t afford medical insurance, it’s unclear as to what the purpose will serve. For the now 50 million-plus Americans with no health insurance, it’s certainly not because anyone is refusing it. It’s simply not an option when families are struggling to make their mortgage payments each month while keeping groceries in their cupboards. Who determines what “affordable” is remains to be seen as well and hasn’t been addressed, at least in the media, to sufficiently answer this and other questions.

With the clever name our equally clever political leaders have devised, “Shared Responsibility Payments”, the fines will be based on what the government defines as “affordable basic family medical coverage”. It’s the basic medical coverage now that’s responsible for 66% of all bankruptcies being filed in this country. It’s insufficient even when folks aren’t being forced to buy it and certainly not enough to keep people from going bankrupt.

As with most national programs, there’s always a saving grace that’s meant to address many variables associated with an across-the-board program. In this case, those families who are experiencing extreme hardships and cannot afford the basic family medical insurance premiums, a government exemption will be available with proper application. It’s not clear who will define “hardship cases” or what the guidelines might be. Whoever it is will have a tall order to fill with unemployment numbers that continue to climb, despite reassurances from these same government leaders that the recession is on the decline. Will a family who’s lost not only their jobs, but their homes and every possession they’ve worked for be enough to justify a hardship case? If so, look out – the line will definitely be long for those wishing to apply for the exemptions.

Medical insurance, or the lack of it, is certainly a priority in this country. But it stands to reason that a decline in unemployment will take greatly reduce those who have no health insurance, homes, groceries or automobiles to get to those jobs. Americans refusing medical insurance? That’s doubtful. It’s more like Americans refusing to allow the government to shove insufficient medical insurance that will serve very little purpose down their throats, especially when there are clothes to buy for the school year, food to put on the table and utilities that require immediate attention