How Does The Mandate Tax Affect The Middle Class?

The GOP is up to its usual game of misrepresenting the ACA bill.  They even got Mitt Romney to argue that the penalty is really a tax when it is part of a bill passed by Democrats.  The penalty or tax only applies to 20% of US households that are not covered by some form of insurance. The ACA bill provides a substantial discount for the low income households that do not have insurance.  They have a choice of being insured at a very low cost, or paying a small penalty, or tax, for choosing to remain uninsured.  Its really a no-brainer.  The GOP is much better at misrepresenting the mandate than the Democrats are at explaining why it is such a good deal for families who can't afford to purchase health insurance.  That is because taxes are always bad and they only have to call it a tax.  The Democrats have to do their homework and learn more about the ACA so that they can explain how it works.  They will lose the debate if they default to Fox News for an explanation of the bill.