"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence.
Did the founding fathers say that I have a right to life? Our Constitution gives us legal rights. I know the First Amendment gives me the right to free speech.
There is a lot of debate these days over health care reform. Some believe government should stay out, they cannot run a health care program. Medicare and the Veterans Administration are two examples of government run health care. I have used the VA and I like the service I received. There are even senior citizen are saying they don’t want government run health care even though they are on Medicare???
SEC filings show that between the year 2000 and the year 2007, profit of the country‘s 10 largest health insurance companies rose 428 %. In 2000, they had $2.4 billion in profit. By 2007, it was $12.9 billion.
The CEOs of the 10 largest health insurance companies were taking home an average compensation of $11.9 million each every year, while the number of Americans without health insurance for whom a burst appendix can mean bankruptcy.
Would a government health care option and reducing these gigantic profits lower health care cost and help pay for the 46 million uninsured Americans? There must be an answer. Who will pay?
The current bill in the House has a "surcharge" (you can see an example below). “All families with adjusted gross incomes below $350,000 and all individuals with adjusted gross incomes below $280,000 will not see their taxes go up.”
1. A family earning $400,000 would contribute $500 to provide access to affordable health care for all Americans – 0.13% of their annual income.
2. A family earning $500,000 would contribute $1,500 to provide access to affordable health care for all Americans – 0.3% of their annual income.
(House Bill)
Total uninsured in Washington State.
1994-96 626,493
2006-07 732,315
(Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Listen to both sides, look at the bill before the debates begin. The facts are out there you just have to peel back the political B.S. We need to do something, cost continue to climb up an average of 10% each year since 1960. (Kiaser Employer Benefits) I know yours and my income has not gone up 10% each year which in turns equates to a pay cut.
Jock
