Blue Dog Egos, Health Care and Paying the Price
16 July 2009 1:36 pm by Taylor Marsh
The story in The Hill quoting a frothing Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) is getting a lot of attention. It should. Because it illustrates the bankruptcy of the health care reform argument in the hands of self impressed politicians who aren’t willing to do what it takes to change the system that’s failed so many Americans, including their own constituents.
It’s obvious what is driving Ross. Ego and conservative fear mongering over money. As far as I can discern, some Blue Dogs are channeling Republicans on the cost of health care reform while ignoring the implications if we don’t do anything. Oh, except what they want.
Via Yglesias, we get more on Ross from Arkansas, who is grabbing his 15 minutes of fame with the gusto of an aging star who is reminding the leading man hunk that to make his movie successful it depends on how the guy billed second sets him up.
Below are the Blue Dogs’ bottom line beefs, which drive home the impact of a 50-state strategy that elects conservative Dems, but also that politicians in the end let their egos rule when they see Republicans in their rear view mirror.
… –The cost of health care reform, both for the explosion in the deficit they fear and the dearth of real savings for consumers they also fear. …
–And there’s the whole respect thing, with the Blue Dogs tired of being forced left by Pelosi while the Senate goes a more moderate way.
Another problem is outlined in The Hill piece, which goes to the disingenuous way we attack health care that ignores our own preventive role, which I talked about through rationing earlier, as well as getting serious about the diseases we cause ourselves.
It has to do with how we pay for reform and what or who gets taxed to get the job done.
Others are worried that they could be forced to vote on another kind of tax when the bill comes back from the Senate, meaning opponents would hit them for voting for two taxes.
“It’s more that it’s a tax, not this tax,” said a senior Democratic aide. “Raising taxes on the wealthy is the least painful version.”
The strong objection I have is what this “senior Democratic aide” called “the least painful version.” Bluntly, it’s called soaking the rich. Making the wealthy pay for the privilege of, well, being wealthy, by instituting a higher tax on them so they can foot a portion of the bill for universal health care.
The House bill proposes slapping a new surtax of up to 5.4 percent on those with incomes of more than $400,000 a year to help pay for the plan. – ABC News
Hold on, because I’m rebelling again.
The wealthy people I know started from nothing and got where they are by long hours, sacrifice and by earning it. Besides, they are already paying plenty.
So, over taxing the wealthy may be “the least painful version” seen by some, but count me out.
But since we are talking about health care, wouldn’t it be nice if we actually targeted the things that are driving up the costs?
What heresy!
Tax products like soda, another tax on cigarettes, add a liquor tax (maybe wine is exempt because “it’s good for us”?), etc., and quit ignoring the products that are killing us. The liquor tax would hurt me and my husband the most, because we won’t stop cocktail hour even if our favorite libation goes up. But since I’ve been uninsured quite a few times in my adult life, I’d be willing to swallow that tax.
Just quit applying philosophy that rich people owe the rest of us their money because they have it.
If your favorite soft drink or candy bar is taxed a bit more, maybe people would think about what they’re putting in their body? Would we tax bacon then?
–Insert taxing the wealthy is “the least painful version” here–
But people would then actually have a choice about funding health care, while we simultaneously target products that can lead us straight to the doctor. Having to silently admit the product they’re about to consume is COSTING THEM IN THEIR HEALTH CARE POCKET.
Too bad the Blue Dogs aren’t making cogent arguments based on real health decisions people refuse to make every day, instead opting out for the I’m An Important Democrat And I Can Scuttle Health Care With My Coalition subterfuge.
