I thought the debate last night was dull. Boring. The format was awful - the "town hall" format was a joke. The pre-selected audience was filled with corpses and the pre-selected questions were monotonous and uninspiring. Brokaw was a stiff. I hated it and kept wishing for a Sarah Palin cameo. Gawd.
I think the Ayers thing and the other Obama associations are certainly a critical issue. However, the health care issue is sort of on my mind tonight because I'm finally beginning to sludge my way through it. I mean, straight up - and I know this will irritate the stuffing out of some of you - I resent having to pay health care costs for someone who will not work and decides to have eighteen kids without a means to pay for them. I know that's not everybody, but come on. I don't mind doing "my part" as a responsible citizen but where in the hell does the Constitution say that health care is a "right"??? It is NOT. Neither his having a car. Or living in a $200,000 house. Or your college education. It is NOT a right. You have the right to EARN one, though.
McCain's health care proposal is so much more sensible than Obama's. I mean, the simplified version is that as it is now, if you pay insurance through your employer, you don't pay taxes on that income. It is sheltered. It totals to almost $300 billion in "lost" revenue for the government in tax dollars.
McCain wants to offer a tax credit - $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families. You could do this or stick with what you already have with your job. No change. Status quo. If you have NO insurance through your job, this is a pretty good deal though, and you should be able to afford health insurance on your own. In fact, insurance rates would get more competitive in order to attract your business.
Mr. Obama, however, does not want to give you this option. He claims that McCain is actually now taxing your health care benefits. NOT. According to the Wall Street Journal, "workers would come out ahead with the McCain plan. According to the left-leaning Tax Policy Center, the average taxpayer would see his tax bill drop by $1,241 in 2009. On average, lower-wage workers have more limited coverage as part of their compensation, mostly from small- or medium-size businesses. But the more generous the employer health plan, the more the tax subsidies increase. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the current employer benefit is only worth between $600 and $3,000 for people making under $100,000. The upper-income brackets save between $4,000 and $5,000".
The Obama plan is more about expanding big government and government run health care. Seriously, since the government has done such a bang-up job with social security and everything else lately, do you really want some "suit" telling you what doctor to see and if your grandmother can have a transplant? And then you have to wait months for that service? If you don't die first?
Obama said several things in the debate last night that I took issue with, (one on his statements on drilling and energy) but the biggest issue on my mind today was the health care one. I do NOT believe that health care is a "right." And he said it.
Again, I thought overall it was dull. Neither guy came off as great to me last night. Maybe the campaign is taking its toll. I think the last month will be great though; I think both candidates are feeling the pressure of the close race.
11 comments:
I agree that I don't think healthcare is always a right - I think it's a privilege. I really do. I get the "we're a privleged country so we can" - but so what, I disagree with Obama on that b/c I don't want to support some junkie who goes to the hospital continually to survive his habit's side effects so he can keep on, for one example. I am torn but in the end, I think I don't think it's a "right" at least. I do not, however, like McCain's plan at all b/c when you cross state lines everyone will go where it only benefits the provider and gives the consumer the least. Working in corporations/legal and now banking for the last years - it is true that EVERYONE is in Delaware b/c it's best for the companies and nothing else. It sucks. Far as the rest - I have my own blog I'll post tomorrow night on my version/take on last night's debates.
A close race? Haha. What polls are you looking at? As of today Obama has an 11-point lead and CNN is predicting him to win multiple swing states. At this point it's really not all that close. It's not decided, but Obama has a very significant lead. If I were in Vegas I'd definitely bet on him winning.
Ok now I'm waffling b/c I really do feel torn!! I talked to Mike - who waffles on it like I do - b/c you get so pissed off at folks that do take advantage and you the taxpayer pay for them. But medical care - god - it's past "shelter" - you really CAN'T do that for yourself. You can't find a bridge downtown that can fix your broken arm like you can to find shelter - sooo - what about the poor kids growing up with lousy educations, hand me downs and going hungry that truly don't have time to figure out health care - they suddenly don't have a right when they're sick to get help that is out there? I realize that if I think they do - then I have to agree to pay for them through places like Parkland in Dallas - and well - I guess I think I have to be ok in the end with that b/c I have to think of the comman man, fellow man, community some of the time and not just ME. I also think that I have to accept that yeah - some folks are going to take advantage. But now that I am getting a grip on it (and thank you for the entry b/c it sparked conversation that helped me) - IF I have to choose btw responsibility, privilege or right - black/white -then I have to take right. It's HARD decision - but yeah, it's not just all about me and I can't expect a perfect system where no one takes advantage. Plus it's medical care - they don't give Parkland great treatment - it's life death stuff, it's waiting 19 hours and who's bleeding the most - I can give that right? It's like breadcrumbs but it's better than "fuck you bleed in the street" b/c not all folks that need it, use it are losers you know?
Today's Zogby poll has it 4pts.
How many polls had Kerry winning up until election night in 2004? I don't put a lot of stock into polls.
I agree with everything you said, Pat! The debate was awful and all of Obama's plans for EVERYTHING from health care to college education fall under the umbrella label of socialism, plain and simple. I don't want to live that way and I'm willing to bet most of the people who are voting for him don't either, they just don't get it yet.
On a side note, I know someone who was at the debate and they didn't know they'd be called on to ask their questions until the very moment they were called, which I think is one reason they all seemed so stiff, scared, and anxious! LOL (Or at least I would be.)
The rights of American citizens are plainly laid out in the U. S. Constitution and the Amendments.
I've read the Constitution numerous times and have yet to see where a person has a right to housing, health care, or personal desires. And there is a difference between a need (ala Maslow's Heirachy) and a right. There are ways to meet the needs of the poor without destroying the whole Capitalistic system. Instead of individual housing for welfare recipients, and if its good enough for people in the army, it's good enough for them. Barracks kind of housing, they go to a centralized dining hall, and entertainment is a tv in a place called the "day room". If you don't like the meal that was fixed for the day, don't eat or go somewhere else at your own expense. If your sick, go to a centralized medical facilty, where health care is meted out just to take care of the problem at hand. Yes, folk, health care is a limited commodity. Welfare people may not be able to see a doctor within an hour of getting to the office, but they do get health care, they may have to wait four five hours to see a doctor, but they aren't turned away. We can help these people, but not expense of the hard working citizens, by giving these people the same "RIGHTS" as you call them on the same level as those who actully work and earn the privilge of owning a house and has health care.
Its time we stopped catering to these people and help make them responsible and productive citizens.
A note for Sarah: just because people support Obama and his policies doesn't mean they "don't get it." You have your opinion and I have mine. Just because I disagree with you (and my mom) doesn't mean I don't understand. I deserve more credit than that.
Rick,
Thanks for stopping by! While I agree on some points - I don't think health care is a "right", I also don't think all people in need are "welfare" cases. Yes, there are people that take advantage and work the system, but there are also people who legitimately are in need. I guess the good thing though, is that where I live, and I guess most other places, there are hospitals where health care IS provided to those people based on what (or if) they can pay. Basically, as I see it, everyone has access to health care if they want it.
Thanks for the comments!
Nikki - I didn't mean to offend you, but I didn't say EVERYONE doesn't get it - I said "most people."
I have friends who know what he stands for and they're cool with that, and that's fine if that's what you believe in, more power to you. Everyone has a vote, thank God!
But I also know and see a lot of people who plan to vote for him who have no idea what he stands for and that bothers me.
Yeah, but unfortunately it goes both ways. I hate when I ask someone why they believe in a certain candidate and they say, "Because I'm a Democrat" or "Because I'm a Republican" or "Because I always vote with my party" and know nothing about either of the candidates. I've seen it on both sides. That is so irritating and irresponsible.
I'm to the point now where I'm shying away from the political debates because people are getting so ugly and attacking each other, and I can't stand it. It has made ME super defensive now, too. I'm even annoyed with the candidates for the finger pointing and nastiness. It shouldn't be about that, and I'm so ready for this election to just be over.
I'm tired of arguing with everyone too.
I have a friend who couldn't be more different from me as far as political matters go (so far we've avoided talking politics this year) who sent me this long list of things to defend about Sarah Palin who I do obviously like.
I wrote her back and said no offense, but I'm not going to answer any of it. We'll just get in a huge fight and both of us are pretty set in what we believe and are not going to change each other's minds, so why even argue about it? That's sort of the mentality I have right now!
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