How the Republicans fuck us and look out for the people who own them
Hey Folks -
This is what Republicans do. The people have a problem and there IS a solution to the people's problem, but the solution would present a problem to the powerful minority that benefits from the people having the problem in the first place.
To stop any effort to solve such a problem, the first tactic is usually high-powered demonization and fear-mongering aimed at convincing folks that any real solution would destroy what little they already have; aimed at getting folks to act against their own self-interest. In our Madison Ave. world it isn't too difficult for well-heeled interests to bury the solution under mega-tons of propaganda (remember the Clinton Health Plan?).
Failing that, or facing a resurgence of a formerly thwarted solution, the next tactic is to become "proactive." The idea is to propose a "solution" to the problem that, while not solving the problem - and often actually making it worse - serves other fundamental aspects of the elite agenda.
You will find a good example of just such a "solution" below. Read carefully and think. Does this "solution" actually help poor, uninsured people (how much "insurance" coverage will $5,400 per family provide [ that's a family-plan premium of a little over $400.00/month] ?).
Whatever, but it WILL get businesses out of having to provide insurance, and it WILL direct our public tax dollars into the hands of private interests, and it WILL allow Republicans to say honestly that they provided health insurance (no one needs to know that it was essentially worthless).
GOP senators offer plan for universal health insurance
Friday, July 27, 2007
By Barbara Barrett
McCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON -- A group of conservative Republican senators put forth a plan yesterday that seeks to ensure every American has health insurance -- a cause long championed by the political left.
The bill encourages families to find their own coverage and offers refundable tax credits of up to $5,400 per family.
But advocates for the uninsured say the proposal could jeopardize low-income families and chronically ill patients, as well as the employment-based health-care system, which now covers
65 percent of Americans.
"It's time for a major debate on health-care insurance," Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said. "Not enough people have access to affordable health care, and the Congress has not done enough about this crisis."
Martinez was joined in introducing the bill by fellow Republican Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Bob Corker of Tennessee.
The bill could bring health coverage to millions of Americans now without it. But Burr said it also would begin taxing the value of health-care plans that many employers now offer workers, a controversial provision sure to face opposition. Such benefits are now tax-free, both for the employer and the worker.
"Our aim is to remove inequities in our tax laws and make tax relief for health insurance available to everyone," Martinez said.
The legislation would offer special tax credits to help cover the cost of health insurance and other health bills: $2,160 per person, up to a maximum of $5,400 per family.
The legislation, called the Every American Insured Health Act, comes amid debate this week in the House of Representatives and the Senate over the renewal of a states-run children's health insurance program. Republican leaders, including President Bush, want to keep the program as is.
Democrats, however, are trying to expand the program to cover more children.
Polls show health care as one of the top concerns of voters. Democratic presidential candidates are being pushed to unveil their health-care plans.
And several states are considering legislation to cover uninsured residents.
Kathleen Stoll, director of health policy for Families USA, an advocacy group in Washington, said the idea in the bill isn't terribly new. Republicans have long been working to dismantle the employment-based health system that most Americans now use, she said.
"When we eliminate that tax break for (the system), we should do that with extreme caution," Stoll said.
Advocates for the uninsured fear that employers could drop health benefits altogether. And for many families, $5,400 won't buy a lot of health insurance.
This is what Republicans do. The people have a problem and there IS a solution to the people's problem, but the solution would present a problem to the powerful minority that benefits from the people having the problem in the first place.
To stop any effort to solve such a problem, the first tactic is usually high-powered demonization and fear-mongering aimed at convincing folks that any real solution would destroy what little they already have; aimed at getting folks to act against their own self-interest. In our Madison Ave. world it isn't too difficult for well-heeled interests to bury the solution under mega-tons of propaganda (remember the Clinton Health Plan?).
Failing that, or facing a resurgence of a formerly thwarted solution, the next tactic is to become "proactive." The idea is to propose a "solution" to the problem that, while not solving the problem - and often actually making it worse - serves other fundamental aspects of the elite agenda.
You will find a good example of just such a "solution" below. Read carefully and think. Does this "solution" actually help poor, uninsured people (how much "insurance" coverage will $5,400 per family provide [ that's a family-plan premium of a little over $400.00/month] ?).
Whatever, but it WILL get businesses out of having to provide insurance, and it WILL direct our public tax dollars into the hands of private interests, and it WILL allow Republicans to say honestly that they provided health insurance (no one needs to know that it was essentially worthless).
Read the story below, and when you're done, if you think the vampires it mentions are truly looking out for the American people, I sincerely hope you have good health insurance and it will pay for psychiatric help.
- Uke Man
GOP senators offer plan for universal health insurance
Friday, July 27, 2007
By Barbara Barrett
McCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON -- A group of conservative Republican senators put forth a plan yesterday that seeks to ensure every American has health insurance -- a cause long championed by the political left.
The bill encourages families to find their own coverage and offers refundable tax credits of up to $5,400 per family.
But advocates for the uninsured say the proposal could jeopardize low-income families and chronically ill patients, as well as the employment-based health-care system, which now covers
65 percent of Americans.
"It's time for a major debate on health-care insurance," Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said. "Not enough people have access to affordable health care, and the Congress has not done enough about this crisis."
Martinez was joined in introducing the bill by fellow Republican Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Bob Corker of Tennessee.
The bill could bring health coverage to millions of Americans now without it. But Burr said it also would begin taxing the value of health-care plans that many employers now offer workers, a controversial provision sure to face opposition. Such benefits are now tax-free, both for the employer and the worker.
"Our aim is to remove inequities in our tax laws and make tax relief for health insurance available to everyone," Martinez said.
The legislation would offer special tax credits to help cover the cost of health insurance and other health bills: $2,160 per person, up to a maximum of $5,400 per family.
The legislation, called the Every American Insured Health Act, comes amid debate this week in the House of Representatives and the Senate over the renewal of a states-run children's health insurance program. Republican leaders, including President Bush, want to keep the program as is.
Democrats, however, are trying to expand the program to cover more children.
Polls show health care as one of the top concerns of voters. Democratic presidential candidates are being pushed to unveil their health-care plans.
And several states are considering legislation to cover uninsured residents.
Kathleen Stoll, director of health policy for Families USA, an advocacy group in Washington, said the idea in the bill isn't terribly new. Republicans have long been working to dismantle the employment-based health system that most Americans now use, she said.
"When we eliminate that tax break for (the system), we should do that with extreme caution," Stoll said.
Advocates for the uninsured fear that employers could drop health benefits altogether. And for many families, $5,400 won't buy a lot of health insurance.
1 Comments:
HI Tom,
Isn't this ludicrous? First of all, how many poor families pay 5400 dollars in taxes? Where do they get the money to pay in the first place? Just more smoke and mirrors. Sondra
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