Intentionally gave this thread a boring title to keep the people who think politics is all about whether you're for or against FOX News out. Well, at least for a little bit...

Now that Obama is realizing his stupid plan has no chance in hell of passing, the bill with the next most support is the Wyden-Bennet Health Bill, a.k.a. the Healthy Americans Act. With, as there always is, some items that don't make sense to everyone, this bill is a hell of a lot closer to reality than that government-controlled nonsense Obama was hyping.

The main thing for me, is that it breaks the govt.'s mass manipulation where if you have insurance through your job, you get preferential treatment. If you're retired before 65 or just between jobs, amongst other scenarios, you get nothing. This is what Wyden has to say about the inequity:

Quote:

And Labor? Unions have every right to bargain for the best possible package, he says. "But nobody, be it a CEO or a labor [union] member ought to be getting what amounts to gold-plated coverage with the tax subsidies paid for by somebody who is a modestly compensated woman at a small business who doesn't have a health plan."



Source: Click

How he breaks the govt.'s prejudice towards business supplied health insurance is taking away their tax deduction for it and giving it where it belongs, to individuals. Which not only gives them a tax break, but restructures the market towards individual policies instead of group ones. So, peopel aren't dependent upon a company to provide health insurance they're happy with.

The weirdest thing to me is how Wyden applies the tax benefits for individuals. Here's how it works:

Quote:

Individuals and families earning at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) would receive a subsidy to offset the full cost of coverage. Individuals and families earning up to 400 percent of the FPL would receive a partial subsidy based on a sliding scale. In addition, the bill establishes an "above the line" tax deduction for health care. The deduction begins to phase out for individuals earning above $62,500 and families earning above $125,000. It is fully phased out for individuals earning $125,000 and families earning $250,000.



Source: Click

I don't know how the math works as to what the government can afford. But, if there's such a small percentage of "families" who make more than $250K/yr., why is it necessary to exclude them from the tax breaks? And, if it is a "family" making over $250K, from links I've posted here numerous times, if they do make that much, they are often a small business owner. This tax hike on them, it's money they could use to expand their business, which is the most immediate event that expands our economy. Just don't get the soak the successful philosophy.

Problems, but this system sounds workable. It's not so fucked up even some guy who's just a news junkie can tell it's a piece of shit.