Demented Rants

I am all about ‘Freedom of Speech’ even when it comes down to you looking like an ignorant douchebag, but seriously, if you are going to debate with me over anything, you need to do research first. Or at least don’t stick your fingers in your ears and say “LA LA LA I CAN’T HEAR YOU LA LA LA” when presented with several sources that your ‘facts’ are actually bullshit being fed to you by the people who oppose bills/laws/statutes/etc.

Over the past 12 hours, I’ve had many many lengthy conversations about the biggest news of the past 20 years: The Health Care Reform Bill. I’ve talked with people from every spectrum, from those who are convinced we are somehow more communist than we were before to those who are totally for the new bill.

The main issue that is coming out of the people against the bill is higher taxes. Unfortunately, this is a weak leg to stand-on. The only people who should see any increase in their pay to the government will be those who make $200,000-250,000 a year. Soon, they will see an extra Medicare tax as well as an increase to the current Medicare tax. That’s it. Not Joe Schmo who barely rakes in 40k a year with his wife. In fact, Joe will see some serious benefits to this, as he may be eligible for rebates on his insurance premiums. And daughter Suzy, who’s had an existing heart condition since she was born, will now have access to the health insurance she so desperately needs to survive.

The next group of people who will see any sort of monetary ‘conflict’ will be the 17-19% of Americans who can afford to pay for ‘Cadillac’ insurance: i.e. high premium, low deductible full coverage insurance. Since most of these same people are the ones making 200,000-250,000 a year, it wouldn’t really go to say anyone other than upper class will be monetarily affected by this new bill.

Now, the issue I’m seeing across the entire internet: This bill does not, I repeat DOES NOT setup a universal health care system. Which is sad, in fact. The US is one of the few industrialized countries that don’t have some form of universal health care. I had several people say “Oh, well their economy’s are in the shitter”… So’s ours? What’s your point? At least their people are taken care of and are trying to help the economy recover by being able to work more and thus spend more, because they use less sick days.

Another false comment creeping it’s way across the board: “Small business owners will have to close up shop because they can’t afford health care for their employess.” Not true at all. In fact, it only applies if you have 50 employees or more, and chances are if you do, you already have some form of health insurance. You will not receive a fine if you don’t have 50 employees. Period. No ‘reduced fine’, no ‘oh that 50 is a rough estimate’. Nothing. Your employees might get pissed about it all because they face a fine themselves if they don’t get insurance (and can afford it) but that’s about it.

That leads to the next point: If you can’t afford health insurance, you aren’t going to get fined. If you live within 150% of poverty level, the government claims you can afford to spend up to 8% of your yearly income on health insurance. Is it a feasible number? Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never lived outside that range in my entire life. (Btw, as of 2009, 150% for a single person in the48 continental states, is $16,245, a married couple: $21,855 and a 4 person family: $33,075). The higher up (up to 200% or 250%, I don’t remember which) the less leniency you will have, but can still qualify for a rebate of a lesser percent for paying back premiums. Nice check from the gov’t to help you afford living. OMG!

Now, the only even remotely communist thing that has happened is this: The government has stepped in and told a private institution that they have to follow certain rules. This has been happening all of our lives. The FCC (government) tells people what they can and can’t do on TV (as well as regulates electronic signals to reduce interference). Oh, and what about all those regulations that have been put on necessary utilities like phone, gas, water, electricity…. Those have been in place since most of us were still wet dreams. So don’t get all high and mighty now. We’ve had communist ideals for 30 fucking years people!

I think the comments that disgusted me, though, were those saying they don’t want their money going to ‘charity’. Holy shit, god forbid you actually do something non-selfish with your income. Unfortunately, it’s been going to ‘charity’ (aka health programs for those who can’t afford it) since LONG before you were born, and it’s not going to change anytime soon. And these will be the same people complaining to everyone when their Social Security check is a day late. I guarantee it.

Will this bill fix our health care system? Fuck no. It’s a corrupt bastard child that isn’t just the fault of the insurance companies. Will it go a long way to helping those of us who can’t afford to spend 40% of our income on hospital bills or insurance? Definitely. And it doesn’t make us communist… at least, not anymore than before. Gotta problem with it? Vote in different people. Rally your own support. Get elected and ‘make changes’ or stfu and at least get your facts straight before you start backing an institution that is obviously flawed, greedy, broken and out to spend less than 80% of it’s earnings on shit OTHER than their supposed supplied service. Don’t like it? Move to a country in Africa. None of them have any form of universal health care, and I certainly don’t see it happening anytime soon.