Congress returned to D.C. for respite from some tough town halls. The manufactured health care crisis looms as a political Pandora’s box with a host of tax ills to be visited upon future generations. The citizenry cannot idly wait but must redouble its contacts with representatives and senators.
Too many elected politicians still remain unaware of what the proposed health care bill contains. This was typified by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers who cavalierly announced, “What good is reading the bill if it’s a thousand pages and you don’t have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you read it?” Appalling, considering he and similar politicians will vote on something that will usurp 17 percent of the economy.
According to the National Center for Policy Analysis “most Americans are satisfied with the U.S. health care system.” Unlike the Germans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Britons were “70 percent” say their systems need “fundamental change” or “complete rebuilding.” Yes, even our northern neighbors determined a pet can get a CT scan in one day while a person waits an average of a month. Can you say “arf” or “meow” for quick service?
Our nascent president said Americans should have the same coverage as the medical plans workers have. A telling statement begging the question: With unemployment nearly 10 percent, we have an immediate crisis. Why not focus on developing jobs in the private sector so more have the aforementioned medical insurance? Tax cuts, dollar-for-dollar medical tax deductions, medical savings accounts, tort reform and open up the states to all health plans are solutions which won’t raises taxes.
In the presidential address to Congress the number of uninsured dropped from a previous 45 million to “30 million”– a significant change. (Why not wait a few more months and the figure might drop another 30 percent?) Doing the simple math approximately 10 percent of the people are uninsured and 90 percent are covered to some degree. So wisdom leads the politicians to reform the entire medical system? Logic need not apply. Common sense seemingly continues to absent itself from the congressional health care debate.
The Cost Of Government Day occurs when the American worker earns enough gross income to pay the federal, state, local tax burden. This year’s COGD was Aug. 12, 26 days later than 2008, and “it’s 23 days later than the previous all-time high of July 20, 1982.” Still don’t think you’re paying enough? Go to www.usdebtclock.org. and watch the numbers go by at warp speed. Then imagine the passage of the present health care proposal adding trillions of inflated dollars to be gifted to future generations through fee enhancements, a.k.a. more taxes.
Those admonishing the harbinger’s call for vigilance of Congress display a self-serving Epicurean philosophy — have it today and not worry about tomorrow’s consequences. Persistent scrutiny is needed. Keep in touch with your senators and all representatives and work for term limits.
George Terhaar
Enumclaw
