OMG! I can't believe that I actually can agree with George Stephanopoulos on anything, but certainly in raising this question, I do. On ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos which aired today, George interviewed President Obama and addressed the cost of Obama's healthcare program, and in particular addressed the mandate that everyone must be covered or face penalties.
Here's the transcript from Stepanopoulos's Blog:
President Obama signaled in our interview that he was prepared to address some of the concerns raised by key Senator Jay Rockefeller, who called the Baucus bill a "big middle class tax increase" this week.
That means he'll support more subsidies for middle class families.
But in our most spirited exchange, the President refused to accept the argument that a mandate to buy health insurance is equivalent to a tax.
Here it is:
STEPHANOPOULOS: You were against the individual mandate...
OBAMA: Yes.
STEPHANOPOULOS: ...during the campaign. Under this mandate, the government is forcing people to spend money, fining you if you don’t. How is that not a tax?
OBAMA: Well, hold on a second, George. Here -- here's what's happening. You and I are both paying $900, on average -- our families -- in higher premiums because of uncompensated care. Now what I've said is that if you can't afford health insurance, you certainly shouldn't be punished for that. That's just piling on. If, on the other hand, we're giving tax credits, we've set up an exchange, you are now part of a big pool, we've driven down the costs, we've done everything we can and you actually can afford health insurance, but you've just decided, you know what, I want to take my chances. And then you get hit by a bus and you and I have to pay for the emergency room care, that's...
STEPHANOPOULOS: That may be, but it's still a tax increase.
OBAMA: No. That's not true, George. The -- for us to say that you've got to take a responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase. What it's saying is, is that we're not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore than the fact that right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase. People say to themselves, that is a fair way to make sure that if you hit my car, that I'm not covering all the costs.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But it may be fair, it may be good public policy...
OBAMA: No, but -- but, George, you -- you can't just make up that language and decide that that's called a tax increase. Any...
STEPHANOPOULOS: Here’s the...
OBAMA: What -- what -- if I -- if I say that right now your premiums are going to be going up by 5 or 8 or 10 percent next year and you say well, that's not a tax increase; but, on the other hand, if I say that I don't want to have to pay for you not carrying coverage even after I give you tax credits that make it affordable, then...
See the rest of the interview here:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/09/20/obama_rejects_notion_health_plan_would_be_a_tax.html
What was also revealed here is a prime example of how Obama directly contradicts himself in the same interview or speech (wouldn't that be considered lying - hmmm???) and how he uses word games to disguise or confuse the issues that are raised.) However, as is clearly demonstrated in this video, when pressed for which point is the truth, Obama becomes defensive and tries to turn the tables.
When I looked up the online Merriam-Webster definition of "tax", here's what it says:
1 : to assess or determine judicially the amount of (costs in a court action)
2 : to levy a tax on
3: obsolete : to enter (a name) in a list
4 : charge, accuse also: censure
5 : to make onerous and rigorous demands on
It sure sounds like a tax! Please note, this mandate is not applicable only to those who make $250,000 or more; it's on everyone! Regardless what it's called, it's still a large amount of money that will be required from middle-class Americans, and in effect, removes yet another freedom of choice from these individuals.
There is something else to note as well. Obama says that his healthcare plan will not increase the national debt. Of course he's aware that millions of people won't be able to either pay for insurance or pay the penalty. So, as many people are now understanding, in order to insure those individuals, the government will have to cover that expense by cutting Social Security, Medicare, and/or other programs, then the cost to continue those programs will in turn have to be raised elsewhere - perhaps a "new mandated compliance" or "tax" increase or further cuts in services. It's a classic "rob Peter to pay Paul" - then stealing from Paul to pay John! And so on.
If you take this mandated healthcare coverage "tax" and add it to the proposed Cap and Trade taxes on energy-producing companies which, of course, will be filtered down to middle-class tax payers, what you have is a huge amount of money that will be removed from individuals' incomes. Most middle-class people live paycheck to paycheck now, so how will they be able to handle these increased "tax" burdens? The answer is they can't.
This run-away governmental reform/restructuring and unlimited spending has got to stop! Those who oppose this mandated coverage (and cost for non-compliance), and especially those who will be hit the hardest, had better wake up and smell the coffee, and come together in opposition of these "taxes" before they are forced into abject poverty. I urge everyone who is concerned to get educated on the issues, share the facts with friends, and make their opinions known to their Congressmen. This fast track that the Obama Administration is on has got to be slowed so that people can become aware of the issues and express their opinions to their representatives - and hold them accountable - or it will very soon be too late for America.
Showing posts with label Universal Insurance coverage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Universal Insurance coverage. Show all posts
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Obama Healthcare Plan - With Sugar Coating
When I was a child, my mother gave me some really horrible home remedy "medicine" for a childhood ailment. It was the most bitter, vile-tasting liquid on earth. So, her method of delivery was to put a few drops of it in a spoonful of granulated sugar and make me take it under the threat that my father would hold me down and force my mouth open if I didn't comply. Holding my nose because it also had an indescribably bad smell, I ultimately gave in and swallowed it. But even though there was much more sugar than liquid, it still was horrible tasting, and the sugar made it only a little easier to swallow. Why she felt her treatment was better for me than what the doctor would have prescribed was known only to her and a few others who believed in that type of home remedies.
This reminds me of what is going on with the Obamacare issue. There are portions - the drops of liquid - of the healthcare debate that are non-negotiables to the liberals in this proposed healthcare legislation. (And these are laid out in HR3200 which is a "pattern" piece of legislation from which everyone else is developing their own plans.) HR3200 spells out exactly what the far left is wanting to see in this healthcare reform package. So, it doesn't matter how much sugar-coating is done, it still has a very bad taste. I don't care how Obama shrouds the "liquid drops" of his universal healthcare in his carefully selected words, it still stinks. My real-life example may actually be a metaphor for what we will see if the Democrats proceed with the Ratification process.
I'm not against healthcare reform. I believe there are things that need to be changed about the healthcare system. I just differ with our legislators on what it is that needs to be changed. It makes more sense to me, as it does to many others, to reform the areas that are not working rather than dumping everything including the things that are working well in favor of a totally new healthcare system at a huge cost - regardless of what politicians say. I’m smart enough to see that if the “upfront” costs for the new plan don’t come directly from out of pocket expenses and insurance premiums, we still will have to make up the difference wherever cuts have been made. There’s nothing free in this world. Everything costs something!
There are legislators and doctors in Canada and in the UK who are saying that America's healthcare system is the best there is. To adopt the healthcare systems similar to these two countries is to go down the wrong path. They will tell you that this type of healthcare has failed in their countries. So, why are our politicians hell-bent on pushing this through. Simple answer. It's greed! It's a way to line their pockets, and a way to gain favor with the few at the expense of the many.
Below are some oversimplified suggestions that will lead to the kind of reform that I believe most Americans would prefer to see. At least it’s a place to start and which can be implemented without totally dismantling our present system. If these suggestions do not become part of the legislation, and Congress does create a new healthcare system, we can be assured we’ll have a socialistic plan that is of less quality than 90% of Americans presently have now
1. Stop frivolous lawsuits and absurd settlements and jury awards.
2. Shorten the patent terms for drug companies and open market to generic drug competition.
4. Require an open playing field for health insurance companies across state lines.
4. Make it possible to have affordable insurance offered on an individual basis rather than through employers.
5. Establish fair parameters for covering people with pre-existing conditions.
The real problem with our healthcare problems is unadulterated greed, plain and simple. It’s not that we don’t have adequate quality care. In fact, 90% of Americans have good or excellent healthcare. Here’s a thought: perhaps the other 10% could be considered "a group" and offered affordable group healthcare insurance for at least catastrophic coverage.
And again, why do you suppose our legislators don't listen to those who have experienced the type of healthcare that is being proposed when those people are saying it’s no good? It’s called graft. It’s what is putting money in the pockets of our legislators and is what keeps them in power. Washington, DC is never going to do anything about it on their own. Therefore, it’s up to the citizens to expose it and to keep attention on it until the pressure affects change.
(Side Note: Americans didn't like the new Coca-Cola either! Remember what happened? If we who do not want this socialistic healthcare, we must stand strong and we will prevail!)
This reminds me of what is going on with the Obamacare issue. There are portions - the drops of liquid - of the healthcare debate that are non-negotiables to the liberals in this proposed healthcare legislation. (And these are laid out in HR3200 which is a "pattern" piece of legislation from which everyone else is developing their own plans.) HR3200 spells out exactly what the far left is wanting to see in this healthcare reform package. So, it doesn't matter how much sugar-coating is done, it still has a very bad taste. I don't care how Obama shrouds the "liquid drops" of his universal healthcare in his carefully selected words, it still stinks. My real-life example may actually be a metaphor for what we will see if the Democrats proceed with the Ratification process.
I'm not against healthcare reform. I believe there are things that need to be changed about the healthcare system. I just differ with our legislators on what it is that needs to be changed. It makes more sense to me, as it does to many others, to reform the areas that are not working rather than dumping everything including the things that are working well in favor of a totally new healthcare system at a huge cost - regardless of what politicians say. I’m smart enough to see that if the “upfront” costs for the new plan don’t come directly from out of pocket expenses and insurance premiums, we still will have to make up the difference wherever cuts have been made. There’s nothing free in this world. Everything costs something!
There are legislators and doctors in Canada and in the UK who are saying that America's healthcare system is the best there is. To adopt the healthcare systems similar to these two countries is to go down the wrong path. They will tell you that this type of healthcare has failed in their countries. So, why are our politicians hell-bent on pushing this through. Simple answer. It's greed! It's a way to line their pockets, and a way to gain favor with the few at the expense of the many.
Below are some oversimplified suggestions that will lead to the kind of reform that I believe most Americans would prefer to see. At least it’s a place to start and which can be implemented without totally dismantling our present system. If these suggestions do not become part of the legislation, and Congress does create a new healthcare system, we can be assured we’ll have a socialistic plan that is of less quality than 90% of Americans presently have now
1. Stop frivolous lawsuits and absurd settlements and jury awards.
2. Shorten the patent terms for drug companies and open market to generic drug competition.
4. Require an open playing field for health insurance companies across state lines.
4. Make it possible to have affordable insurance offered on an individual basis rather than through employers.
5. Establish fair parameters for covering people with pre-existing conditions.
The real problem with our healthcare problems is unadulterated greed, plain and simple. It’s not that we don’t have adequate quality care. In fact, 90% of Americans have good or excellent healthcare. Here’s a thought: perhaps the other 10% could be considered "a group" and offered affordable group healthcare insurance for at least catastrophic coverage.
And again, why do you suppose our legislators don't listen to those who have experienced the type of healthcare that is being proposed when those people are saying it’s no good? It’s called graft. It’s what is putting money in the pockets of our legislators and is what keeps them in power. Washington, DC is never going to do anything about it on their own. Therefore, it’s up to the citizens to expose it and to keep attention on it until the pressure affects change.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
(Side Note: Americans didn't like the new Coca-Cola either! Remember what happened? If we who do not want this socialistic healthcare, we must stand strong and we will prevail!)
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