Health Insurance

Obama misses the point on health insurance.  I can't hire employees because their health insurance can often cost more than their salaries.

A $5000 tax credit would go a long way towards making it easier for me to hire people and give them healthcare.

Obama's plan makes it easier to dump healthcare entirely on the federal government.  That's where a lot of businesses are right now.  It's such a hassle, and if you're a microbusiness, you're getting hosed.  So if it's coming, might as well let the government handle it and get it off your plate.  Of course, that's because the regulations and restrictions and Medicare impact on healthcare have ruined it.  A common theme.

Government interference causes a problem, and government steps in to help "solve" that problem.

Comments

[John J.]

You do realize that you wouldn't be getting that $5000 credit as an employer, right? In fact, under McCain's plan, if health benefits are treated as income, you will have to pay more in payroll taxes for your employees. This is why every independent organization that has looked at McCain's plan project 20 million people will be dropped from insured rolls as employers would no longer be able to afford to provide those benefits.

Obama's plan takes into account the notion that providing health care is a pain to businesses. This is why businesses that don't qualify as small businesses will be required to pay into the government plan if they don't provide benefits directly.

Obama's plan isn't to take over the insurance system. His plan is to provide an affordable alternative to individuals who separately wouldn't have the negotiating power the do collectively through their employer or the government.

[Jim Durbin]

It's amazing to me that you have the nerve to accuse me of parroting Republican Talking Points (on Twitter) when you're taking at face value statements made on the Obama website.

The goal with healthcare is to drive everyone to a government plan, making it too expensive and too much of a hassle to deal with.

Obama can make all the promises he wants, but he'll have a Democratic Congress trying desperately to bring universal healthcare, and if you think he's going to stop them, well, I have a healthcare plan to sell you.

[John J.]

When discussing a political candidate's plans, you have to work based off what their plans say. If you want to criticize his plans, criticize his plans, not your Republican talking points of socialized medicine.

The goal of his plan is to give everyone access to a health care plan they can afford. He will not require anyone other than children to be insured (children because they don't have the choice whether or not to insure themselves).

If I wanted to argue the same way you are on this, I would be saying "John McCain wants to end Social Security and Medicaid completely!" Although I believe his plans would have serious consequences on these programs, that is not his plan for them. It would be intellectually dishonest for me to say that. It is equally dishonest for you to make the claims you have.