The right-wing health care "solutions" all come down to cutting taxes

[LuckyTheDog]

The right-wing health care "solutions" all come down to cutting taxes. That is their response to everything. The following is how I responded on Facebook to a guy who was making the case that the government should concentrate on providing tax-free health savings accounts and tax breaks for those affected financially by catastrophic illness or injury:

Tax breaks? So, if somebody with no insurance gets sick, you want to give him a tax break? Every other industrialized nation takes a different approach. They provide universal CARE. And guess what? They spend a lot less than we do and get better results.

You can, if you like, argue philosophically about the wisdom or morality of providing health care on an as-needed basis – as opposed to an “as you can afford it” basis. But, strictly in terms of making the most efficient use of resources, nothing beats providing universal care. Given that, I don’t see why creating a universal health care system here is a bad idea – or even why it should be controversial.

People on the right like to blather about how universal health care makes for “less freedom” and/or will lead us down the slippery slope of tyranny. The only problem with that argument is that nothing like that has happened as a result of universal health care in other Western countries. Few people would describe the governments of Norway, France or Australia as oppressive regimes. So, what does this really, really come down to? Taxes paid by the rich.... See More

By “freedom,” the right really means the “freedom of the wealthiest to pay very little in taxes.” The fear is that any societal benefit that accrues to the general population leaves less available to boost the wealth and income of the people at the very top. Those folks are seen as the rightful owners of anything not “naturally” granted to others by the rigors of the market.

However, even there, the logic falls apart. Wealth creation and distribution in a society is not a zero-sum game. When people are more productive (and health boosts productivity), they generate more wealth and, hence, become more profitable for the organizations they serve. They also get the chance to earn more money for themselves. When middle-class and lower-income people earn more money for themselves, they spend more, generating economic activity and creating new opportunities for growth.

In short, keeping the people down does not really help “the man” any more than it helps the people.

[meegbear]

1. ...

[HughBeaumont]

2. The tenets of any Republican policy primarily rotate around risk-shifting and victim-blaming.

They think everyone, no matter WHAT income level or economic condition they live in, should just be able to pay for everything they need. They spend a lifetime making you believe government and the "have too littles" are the source of all problems.

[bridgit]

3. That and lowering all risk effecting high yield profits bingo! That is republican conservatism

[mdmc]

4. This is a right wing health insurance bill..

[FormerDittoHead]

5. It's like the other meme: "the taxpayers"...

I caught this BS the other day. Some guy from CATO(?) talking about how the gov't spends the money that the "taxpayers" pay, those 60% of people who pay income tax, blaw, blaw, blaw.

Our country does NOT give income tax payers more representation than those who just pay all the other fees and taxes...

[kirby]

6. This is the status quo...

I can already deduct my health insurance premiums.
To the extend that your medical expenses exceed 7% of your income, they are deductible on Schedule A.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blondeatlast]

10. Anchovies and green olives. nt

[LuckyTheDog]

12. Grow up (nt)

[HughBeaumont]

13. Yeah, you'll last long.

Yes, the "Have Too Littles" are the problem. The "Have Way Too Damned Muches" are our FRIENDS.

When will you people STOP DEFENDING FAILURE?? Or is it just not in you to get your heads out of your asses?

[fascisthunter]

8. it seems their agenda is to prevent Americans from pooling resources together

to deal with social issues. Well, without those federally funded programs you will get more, unwanted pregnancies, drug addiction, burglary, gang bangin', and compounding an already delicate situation for many neighborhoods across the country so that a handful of of rich Republicans don't have to pitch in.

It's not that they don't understand the repercussions of underfunding many programs, they just don't give a shit because they don't live in our neighborhoods, especially in the city. Well, we know they don't give a damn about us, so now most of us pretty much not only don't give a damn about them, but we are now bent on taking them down with us all.

[stray cat]

9. And getting rid of employers paying any part of insurance

[Bitwit1234]

11. You forgot to add they want to cut lawsuits to $250,000 cap.

But then any and every solution to any and every thing the republicans propose is a TAX CUT....

[kctim]

14. They didn't forget it

it just doesn't mix with the "Every other industrialized nation" line used in the OP because "Every other industrialized nation" caps the lawsuits.

[LuckyTheDog]

16. If you think lawsuits are the leading cause of higher health care costs...

... you are, well, just plain wrong.

[kctim]

17. What I think

is that bitwit mentioned how capping lawsuits is also a Republican thing, but seems to not understand how important capping them is when under a govt run universal healthcare model.

How you took that to mean I was stating lawsuits are the LEADING cause, is, well, just plain baffling.

[unblock]

15. the vast majority of their "policies" revolve around cutting taxes

they ALWAYS want to be seen as advocating lower taxes, even when(maybe especially when) they know that policy is crap and has zero chance of becoming law. then it's FREE PUBLICITY for their anti-tax status, which wins votes for them.

they want to have a world in which the poor are restricted by their poverty, the rich as free to do as they please due to their wealth, and the middle class can exercise limited freedom only by paying tribute to their wealthy lords.

[old mark]

18. All the republicans have are tax breaks, the government is bad,

the market will take care of all problems, and war.
Bush's regime ignored the suffering caused by the hurricanes in the South,cut taxes to the rich without compensating for it with spending cuts, declared a two front war with no plan on ending it or paying for it, ignored the collapsing infrastructure all over the US, let the banks run wild, and gave the pharmas a huge freebie with Medicare Part D and the famous "donut hole".
Obama has spent much of his first year trying to correct mush of their leftover mess, and the GOP blames him for causing it.
The current republicans are for anything that makes Democrats look bad, no matter what the consequences may be for the people or the country.

mark

[Octafish]

19. The right really means ''freedom of the wealthiest to pay very little in taxes.''

Who also happen to be the same folk who own the MSM.

Thank you for another excellent post, LuckyTheDog.

[ChicagoSuz219]

20. That's not true...

...you forgot about Tort Reform... ;-)

[Odin2005]

21. tax cuts is the RW solution to ANYTHING!