Every day that passes without legislation involving universal healthcare is a good one. A couple of recent developments and updates:
- The cost begins at $630 billion over 10 years though "$630 billion is not sufficient to fully fund comprehensive reform," according to the President. Conservative estimates put the cost at least three times higher.
- On May 20th, the Senate Finance Committee put forth a laundry list of tax increases to pay for this boondoggle including one on the sensible Health Savings Accounts (HSA's).
- On May 21st, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (uh...H.E.L.P.) issued a briefing paper listing various mandates, price controls, etc. Included was a statement saying, "Employers, just like individuals, must assume a fair measure of responsibility, especially when their workers can only rely on public coverage for themselves and their families." In other words, your business is no longer your business...you will pay if we tell you to.
I grew up in North Dakota and always said the easiest way to meet a Canadian was at the hospital. All kidding aside, a nation of 33 million cannot pull this off - it will be an unmitigated disaster here. In Canada, there are actual sites dedicated to improving wait times and care rationing (although I must admit the report names are clever). Fun for all. And if the bar is not low enough, see what passes for victory in the British system.
It's not too late. Go to http://www.freeourhealthcarenow.com/ and sign the online petition. Contact your Congressmen and Senators today. Work with your trade associations, Chambers of Commerce, and business organizations to press Congress on this potentially crippling decision. If you do not belong to such organizations, join them. Find out where they stand and move them if necessary. Numbers matter.
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