In Case You Missed It
McCain’s distortions and fabrications are numerous and well-documented; so well, in fact, that some of the truths he’s told have flown under the radar. Case in point: the McCain healthcare plan. McCain touted his plan during the debates (with 63 million people watching), and millions more have likely seen or read of that performance and plan in the days since.
What isn’t getting much of an airing is one of the intended consequences of McCain’s plan. Those of us who are receiving healthcare through our employers will now find our health insurance taxed as income. Yes, you read correctly; the man who promises to cut your taxes any time he’s within shouting distance of a microphone–the same man who tells you Barack Obama will raise your taxes–is, to borrow a turn of phrase from Sarah Palin, fixin’ to raise your taxes. Well, golly. And he’ll fine those who can’t afford the (on average) $12,000 tab to insure their families even after the $5,000 spoonful of sugar he promises taxpayers to offset the expense. A logical question to ask: who, exactly, benefits here?
A modest proposal to those of you reading this: Tom Brokaw asked during the debate,
“Is health care in America a privilege, a right or a responsibility?” It ought not to be considered a privelage, especially not when we have 47+ million who are, by any definition, “underprivelaged,” which is to say, uninsured. What might be the consequences of treating healthcare like a utility, back in the times when utilities were still regulated?
Tags: Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain, presidential debates