American Morning
Tax the rich to pay for health care?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/21/pelosi.health.care.getty.art.jpg caption="Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during a news conference on the health care reform bill July 17, 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC."]
In the 1938 film version of "The Adventures of Robin Hood", Prince John asks if there were "any objections to the new tax?" The reaction among the Saxons was to embrace Robin Hood as he and his Merry Men went about stealing from the rich to give to the poor.
As for that proposed tax on national health care, could this possibly be construed as a 2009 version of Robin Hood? Will the rich really be soaked to pay for a health care plan that disproportionately helps the poor?
Well, it may depend on what the definition of rich, is. What about $350,000?
The current House bill would tax families making $350,000 and up – and that has more than a few people very upset. Congressmen have gotten so much heat from some of their wealthier constituents that a large group of the legislators, all freshmen, made a beeline to the White House last Friday to express their concerns. Many of them were upset about the effect that the proposed tax would have on small businesses. Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., who led the group, happens to represent a congressional district that boasts some the wealthiest people in America.
Even Nancy Pelosi, who didn't become speaker of the House by championing the cause OF the rich, seems to have gotten the message. Her office told CNN and Politico.com that she's considering changing the House's health care surcharge so it no longer affects the rich – only the really, REALLY rich. That would include families that make $1 million or more.
The speaker told Politico.com, "...you hear '$500,000 a year,' you think, 'My God, that's not me...'"
All of which leads to the question, does any of this really matter? Will taxing the rich, whatever your definition, provide enough to pay for expanded health care?
It turns out it might not matter, says University of Maryland business professor Peter Morici. He says there's not enough tax money to pay for all the president's proposals. "We simply can't reform health care," he says, "and do all the other domestic initiatives he wants to undertake by simply taxing the top 5% of the population." And restricting a health care tax to people who make $500,000 a year, which is less than 1% of all taxpayers, won't even come close to paying for the program.
President Obama sees it differently. He's looking at costs as well as revenues. On Monday the president said once again that huge savings can be made by streamlining health care and cutting unnecessary expenses. "The bill I sign must reflect my commitment and the commitment of Congress to slow the growth of health care costs over the long run… Let's fight our way through the politics of the moment. Let's pass reform by the end of this year."
What do you think? Tax the rich to pay for health care? How do you define "rich" in the U.S.?
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
We shouldn't tax the rich anymore than they are, why should you strive to do good business if you know that you're going to be penalized for it? I'm not part of that crowd but I want to do my share and earn for what i get not just get it because someone else paid for it. To make it equal across the board tax equally across the board; institute a flat tax and stop targeting special groups.
If the politicians in Washington had to survive like most americans with little or no health care and social security instead of the lucrative taxpayer funded health care and pensions you would see how quick the systems would be fixed. They should have to struggle just like the rest of America and if they did there would not be any struggles.
I believe the primary problem with our health care "system" is that the insurance industry is profit driven and has made huge profits over the years by limiting reimbursements and care. Perhaps Congress should look at taxing the insurance companies and their executives first.
Also any reform bill without a public option or expansion of Medicare will not be enough to really help the unemployed or uninsured. I find it ironic that most of the people I talk to who are against government health insurance are actually receiving Medicare themselves.
'Rich' people in the U.S. are people who make a helluva lot more money than me but, pay less taxes.
Yes, we should tax the wealthy to provide healthcare for the remainder of the population.
Don't worry right-wing-nuts there will still be plenty of rich people for you to worship.
EVERYBODY EARNING UNDER $100,000 A YEAR SHOULD GO ON STRIKE FOR A WEEK, AND LETS SEE WHAT GETS DONE IN THIS COUNTRY. i AM SURE THE CNN ANCHORS WILL STILL BE ON THE JOB, BUT WILL THE TECH'S AND OTHERS WHO MAKE THEIR WORK POSSIBLE BE THERE?
They snivel and whine when their profit margins are threatened, rather than working harder and smarter to create a better Healthcare plan!
In our tax system, once you make above 290,000 dollars, you are in the same tax bracket as Bill Gates. We are there and by no means, are what I would consider rich. We take care of our family as well as extended family. We pay out of pocket a considerable amount of money for our health care. I know we are lucky to have it. I would not want to live in any other country. However, increasing our taxes or people like us will only injure the economy more.
We need REAL competition to force private insurers to reduce the costs to the insured!
Health Care Reform is needed now. In my mother's eyes, I have lived the American dream. I was the first person in my family to attend a four-year university and the first to go to law school. Now I'm a lawyer in a large, international law firm, and my mother is so proud of me. I'm well paid and my benefits include a choice of great healthcare plans. But the same isn't true for her. She has worked odd jobs in the service industry since my brothers and I were young. She started as a housekeeper, then got a job at K-Mart, and finally ended up at a retail company that is now Macy's. But despite all her hard work for much of her adult life to provide a better life for her three boys than she had, my mom has no healthcare. She hasn't seen a doctor for a regular check-up, mammogram, or anything else for years and years. I am terrified about something happening to her health and embarrassed for our country that we don't do better for her and other people in her situation. And because of her age and smoking history, buying a private, individual health insurance plan would be ridiculously expensive. Americans can do better.
Bobby Jindal is another fear monger....
anyone making over $100,000 a year in this country is rich. i'd like to add that most people in this country live like royalty compared to most people in the world even if you're making less than $100,000 a year.
The gap between the average worker (many now unemployed), and the wealthy has been growing since the Reagan era, it is time to reverse this and bring the gap down to a reasonable level. It is the selfish CEO's who give themselves huge bonuses and the EXXONS, which destroy the environment and peoples health for profit who should bear the burden of slightly less profits for the good of the people they harm. Unhealthy food manufacturers who profit while their products make people sick ( pop, chips, cookies etc), who cry wolf while they increase their profits as people get diabetes and become obese from their products who should bear the burden.
They hire lobbyists, how about taxing lobby funds 100% or more, so everybody can have an equal voice. The fossil fuel industry who's products once burned emit volatile compounds which lead to childhood astha, and other respitory illnesses, spend huge amounts of money to fight change for those who cannot afford to hire lobbyists.
People like Bobby Jindal who whine about health care for the poor, while the people of Louissian languish without homes and health care, need to stand up for the poor of their state instead of fighting change. These people are all hypocrites and need to change their attitudes, of course their wealthy contributors would never allow them to do so. tax credits do not help poor people since, the health insurance fees have to be paid up front, and many get excluded. The GOP has to stop representing the wealthy, and the bible thumpers, if they want to be relevant in future elections. Nobody should profit from sick people, that is not humane, while they argue that some bureaucrat will decide your health care, its worse now because some jerk who wants to profit decides to exclude all those who really need health care.
Instead of stating the exact dollar amount that the taxes will increase for the rich, why not present it in percentages of their income? The amount sounds so high when the millionaire's tax increase is more money than most of us will ever hold, but put it in a percentage of their overall income, as compared to what percentage middle Americans pay. It almost seems a rich man's dream to confuse our little, "commoner" heads with these huge figures. I'd really like to see the percentage increase those poor people making 1.5 million a year would experience with Obama's health care reform. And don't roll into that figure the amount their taxes will increase when they lose the big tax breaks they got under Bush......Please! When will our focus ever get back to the welfare of the other 98%(?) of us? I think the folks making even $250,000 will survive. If the problem is for small businesses, then can't we raise the threshold for the small businessman?
Yes, Congress should tax the rich, but the rich should be defined more broadly to include large corporations, not simply individuals and families making $500,000. Congress should re-visit previous legislation that earmarked federal dollars for some large corporations to be paid thousands of dollars per employee hired, re-examining just why they did this and its so-called benefits. Congress could find a goldmine here–if they remember why the majority of Americans voted for President Obama. We are tired of government and corporate greed and corruption. Congress must pass healthcare reform legislation.
I have concerns about the figures in Carol's report... My guess is that the tax totals shown for that couple in Maryland include LOTS more than federal income tax - probably some state and local income taxes, self-employment taxes, business taxes and maybe even property and sales taxes. They also probably have loads of deductions and business expenses, so their actual income tax bills are likely to be less. What income bracket in America actually PAYS close to 50% federal income tax?
My point is that the report and the argument about taxing the rich would be much more powerful if there was full disclosure about the numbers used. If these figures actually represent their federal tax bill, the couple REALLY needs a better tax adviser!
Oh, one other thing... want to curb health insurance costs... have tort reform. There are settlements which are fine and then there are SETTLEMENTS, to the tune of multi millions of dollars, ring ring let that cash register sing! Where does that money come from in the medical professions? EVERYWHERE! From hospital asprin that is $10.00 a pill to health insurance rates that have gone nowhere but up! This administration says it will have no lobbiest working in it... yeah right... but they definitely have the ear of this administration and the lawyers lobby will thwart any attempt to take away a cash cow of theirs!
whose idea was it anyway to have a for profit private health care system? You have the stockholders, the bondholders, the CEO's, and lastly deliver care to the client. Seems health care is not the first priority here. So how many who believe that the uninsured should go without??? watch a child die in front of you and you may reconsider. Even at the beginnings of time, all wise men knew that if you deny people hope for basic needs...you will have a desparate people. Desparate people do desparate things.
Ok people so lets say we tax the rich to pay for health care what guarantee do you have that this is where the moneys go all you have is the word of the government which is not good chances are they will use it on pork or bail outs .
The rich make enough money already, that financelly, they can afford to be taxed extra!!
Wouldn't it be a good feeling to know that you helped pay for such a major cause?
I think the feeling of knowing that you helped many people in your country obtain affordable health care would be good and that should be a reason for you to accept being tax more than middle or low class families. In times like this, it is important to help your friends or neighbors out here and there. If being taxed more to help thousands of American obtain affordable and quality health care, so be it.
I support our President and all that he is trying to do. I am proud of his push for health care reform–it is needed now.
There are many people like myself, living on well under $20,000 a year, who can only afford the most basic needs of life, while CEO's, wall street types, and corporations which make huge profits year after year, but the first time they loose money they want a bailout. Those are the rich that need to be taxed appropiately. Perhaps a luxiry tax on decadent purchases (nobody needs a $100,000+ car) would help define the rich much better. Income taxes should be progressive, for those living under the poverty line there should be no taxes, up to $50,000 annual earnings should pay 10%, $100,000 should pay %15, $200,000 should pay 20% as for the those CEO's earning ridiculous bonuses and others making over $1 million tax rates should start at 50% those earning in the tens of millions taxes should be 75% and the super rich earning in the hundreds of millions taxes should be 90%, since it will leave them more then they need anyway. So it is socialism or social justice?
When I hear the GOP speak out against health care for everybody, I can't help but call them the hypocrite party. Michael Steele should be ashamed of himself, that man is a tool being used to try to put a colored face on a party who's policies are exclusionary and divisive.
I see daily waste in government medicare fees charged by doctors and hospitals. Start by stopping waste.
Doctors' fees are exorbitant. They require too many expensive, unneeded test. I can't really blame them because of the ridiculously high malpractice fees if they don't cover their as...
Hospital fees are off the wall. For a small procedure, using an outpatient type room for 1 hour (no anesthesia), the hospital charged medicare $3000.
Doctors call you back to the office, send in a nurse, then charge for a doctor's visit.
Seniors spend half their days in doctors' offices. I think that is their only entertainment.
Fix the waste first, then you will have enough money to cover everyone.
Stop needless malpractice law suits – protect the doctors and then they can use their educated judgments rather than order every test on the books.
Who wants to be rich in this country anymore? Thanks to these clowns running Washington, I'd certainly wouldn't want to be made the scorn and ridicule of all the ills in this society. But what would the liberals do without the rich?! Obama wants to "spread the wealth around" but should he succeed, there will no longer be a "rich" to base taxes on, therefore, EVERYBODY will get taxed more! You think the government is going to do without?! Heck, this government is passing such wonderful healthcare legislation, it calls for fining people who don't participate and then, after taking their money, forcing them onto the plan, and yet, these same lawmakers in Congress don't have to worry about this plan, it's written in the plan that they are EXEMPT! This health care plan is a risky scheme filled with pitfalls and the Washington bureaucrats know it, but it's good enough for YOU! Ask you local congressman or senator if they agree to sign the plan would they also agree to join it. Those liberal democrats in Washington, those that have had courage, not only said no but said, HELL NO! And to all those people that those idiots Obama, Pelosi, Reid are stirring up with class warfare with their mantra "the rich should pay", excuse me, you dolts, who do you think IS paying right now??? And what will you do when they are gone? Anyway, you want to make those people that are foaming at the mouth in anticipation of it being stuck to the rich again, howl? Have the Health Insurance coverage for all stipulate that those that cannot pay still be forced to sign-up but must provide a total of 8 hours of labor to the medical profession in a non medical capacity. I'm sure hospitals would love to not have to pay for such things as billing services, groundskeepers, maintenance keepers, janitorial services, cooks, diswahsers, etc. that are behind the scenes to keep hospital facilities etc up and running. There is your cost cutting! Yes, have those, who financially can ill afford to pay for their coverage and yet as Obama would say, "Have skin in the game", well, to have skin in the game. Yeah tell them they have to give a total of 8 hours a week. That's just a little over an hour a day of their time and yet still there would be such a cry the unlikes this world will have ever seen. "What, I have to work for my health care?! Why can't the rich pay!" So much for that idiots philosophy of "Skin in the game"!
Those who are economically comfortable and already have affordable Healthcare are sniveling the most about the coming costs of proposed National Healthcare and economic fixes. The system has served them well, yet the whining begins when the system serves us all.
The income tax started as a tax on the rich, recall that.
The American way is NOT to tax one group to pay for benefits for another group. Being a teacher, I am no where near the amount being talked about. However, I strongly believe that everyone should pay a share, just like we do social security and medicare.
This is not a "Robinhood" society.
I am middle class american. I worked as a hairstylist for 25 years making a very good living and in 1999 I purchased ahealth care policy with Blue cross at 39 yo for $120.00 monthly and by 2006 it was 460.00 monthly. UNACCEPTABLE. I have since decided to change professions and am completeing nursing school. I work at a local hospital in a suburb south of Chicago that is presently 80 million dollar in red because most of the not just poor but also middle class people in this community cannot afford health care, however that has not stopped there illness. My question is when will the republican and the weathy wake up and realize where were headedj, when all the most of the hospital have closed just as the banks!!!!!
How can we say who's "rich"? $500,000 in New York City is nothing like $500,000 in rural Mississippi. The Obama/Pelosi approach is arbitrary and is designed to stoke class warfare. But in America, we don't have static "rich" and "poor". With hard work and dedication, poor can become rich and thier attitude toward taxes will change! Rich can become poor, too. Just ask Bernie Madoff.
The wealthy made their trillions in profits, plunging us into this economic mess, so don't complain that the solution will cost the same trillions.
Taxing everybody isn't paying for medicare right now. How will taxing only the rich pay for universal healthcare?
Why is becoming such a big deal health care I mean the whole European nations have free hospitals everybody is insured and everybody works with union and they not going bankrupt. America isn't supposed to be the greatest country in the world ? No health insurance for human beings but it's ok to spend in the war? It's a shame that's why they say live like Europeans not like Americans like animals , just work and sleep no life and health insurance. Common what do Europeans have more than Americans that can afford health insurance? This is the most corrupted country only for riches. Not only health insurance but they have to force employees for union too and demand for vacations . Make it obligation like in Europe .
To President Obama and The Congress:
If the "public option" is the end all be all for our nation's health care, then, a significant provision of any bill should include that our current congressional health program be administered under such a plan. That would convince me to support a national health care program.
I listened to your report, but I think it is misleading. You provided tax totals for the wealthy but they did not include deductions/write offs. People I know that make over $250K pay less than I do in taxes because of write offs and deductions.
Is this whole thing about providing insurance to the uninsured or is it really about taking over the healthcare business just like Obama has taken over banks and the auto industry?
I think something needs to done. I don't have health care. I was able under the clinton administation to go to a clinic,which was very well run. It was shut down after bush. Thanks to his support of private care. I worked at school and couldn't afford coverage. So do you get insurance or pay your bills. The rich can pay for hmos or private care,or even a personal doctor to be on beck and call. Those who work hard need it , you can't work if you are ill. I want health care. It has got to be better than nothing. These insurance companies need to be regulated.that might be a help. Thanks.
If you would like to see REAL health care reform, then insure to the American people that Congress and ALL politicians including the President and his family will get EXACTLY the health care as any other American CITIZEN. NO EXCEPTIONS, NO FAVORITISM in ANY FORM. If they are treated EXACTLY as Joe Smith when they walk into the EMERGENCY room for help, maybe they will give a little more thought to the implications of socialist programs instead of trying to rush a poorly thought out system into place.
P.S. Has anyone done a study of the impact that 20 million plus
illegal aliens have on the price of medical cost?
This is a huge undertaking but everybody benefits from health care and it can't be given away in order to be appreciated, so, everybody should pay their part, by way of income taxes. The percentage of taxes applied whould depend on the yearly income of the individual. Rules should be applied up front to avoid abuse and overloading the medical system. Insurance companies should not have such a monopoly on health care, after all their goal is to make money, not pay it out, and this puts the average citizen, who depends on insurance payback, in stress.
"Pay for performance" in medicine is a tricky proposition. If physicians get paid more for good outcomes, the incentive there is to select out patients that take better care of themselves. Physicians will refuse to see or will sever relations with patients who do not follow their recommendations. Is this what we want? Punative care?
Insurance, the government or the people should pay doctors for their time and expertise, the same way that a lawyer is paid. Patients will determine who is the better doctor based on their satisfaction. This cannot be determined only by analyzing outcomes because there are intangible factors such as a physician's willingness to take on challenging and difficult problems.
You don t need to increase the tax on the rich just close their LOOPHOLES. For years they have paid less taxes than the middle class.
Health Care is a difficult question, the best minds are confused on the correct avenue to take to get everyone insured. Tax the rich, well to the people who can not afford health care, everyone seem richer than they are. I paid less than a $100 for my Medicare Insurance which is about 9% of my benefits, an I feel lucky to have this. It gives me insurance, and Medicare has negotiated lower cost for treatments that I receive. If I had no insurance, I would have to pay the regular fees. This system I believe is about the same as Medicade, accept that the patient has no money taken out of their pockets. Lets lower the 250,000 a year to $100,000 and place a rate that increases as the individual wage increases. If we make any type of Medical Tax deductable, we may help the unisured, but decrease the amount of tax the government receives, thusly affecting our national budget.
When did working hard and making a good living become such a bad thing? My husband put himself through school, and now we both own businesses. But if we're going to lose more than 1/3 of our ENTIRE income, then why do I bother working? My income just pushes us into the biggest tax bracket, so it's counterproductive. Let's move forward to a general flat tax and a luxury/consumption tax. Tax me on what I spend, and then we can start talking about what's fair.
Taxing the rich as much as I don't care for the filthy rich is class warfare and stooping down to the level of Bush is wrong. As far as SC (R)Jim DeMint and CA (D) Nancy Pelosi are concerned, they are both scum of the earth as is both political parties...SCUM! Every time CNN puts these criminals on the air, the only thing your giving your audience is Democrat and Republican talking points. And playing ads that are full of half truths such as the ad about government bureaucrats running our healthcare, that already happens with some fat ass who sits behind a desk, telling my doctor what medicine he can or cannot perscribe and how my doctor can provide treatment.
Carol says the congress is overwelmed with this task, and the task of other issues facing this nation? Perhaps if both these corrupt parties addressed all the issues like fair taxes, infrastructure, healthcare, defense instead of giving into lobbyists and special interest, maybe their task wouldn't be so daunting. But instead Democrats and Republicans put their worthless parties before all the american people and all of them should be charged with treason for failure to do their job. WE DESPERATELY NEED A NEW GOVERNMENT! This one has ran us trillions into debt, sold us out to china, allowed our jobs to be exported, destroyed the middle class, HISTORY is not on either of these party's side because of all the corruption!
Re "should the rich be taxed to help fund healthcare" you posted the tax paid by a couple making $1.5M as over $550,000, or about 38%. Warren Buffet recently stated that his effective tax rate was 17%.
Throwing up statistices like this is not only misleading, but not good journalism. Find out what the average effective tax rate is for people making over $250,000, $500,000, $1M, etc. Then you would be giving the public information that is accurate and useful.
Hi,
By all means, tax the rich. It's about time they paid their share. However, we should tax everyone else too. I think a tax on pop or something in that area would be good. People need to remember that although they may pay a little more in taxes, their medical bills should be reduced or eliminated.
It surprises me that the scare tactic TV ads took so long to appear. I'm surprised because of the extreme wealth created via "health care" in its current state... Big Pharma, Doctors, Healthcare Hospital/Care systems, Political consultants, Health Care Attys, Lobbists, TV stations (from paid advertisments, for example), elected officials (in the form of donations)... the list goes on and on... And of course these are the same groups in control of the message in the media. They are the but a small percentage of the total population, but they have control of the message. What a shame. "We're rich and we don't care about the rest of you, but we're going to fool you into thinking we do". How Anti American it seems. For the record, I'll be one of the Surcharge people... I'm okay with it. It's my duty. This is a chance to pass a better American on to my children. Here is an idea... let's not go to war for a few years! THAT would help pay for it. Let's cut the fat and modernize the healthcare system as a whole... and instead of floating that money back to the system Admins and vested backers, take that money off the bottom line of health care costs.
The savings associated with electronic medical records is very much a delayed gratification. It takes many years to realize the savings and the upfront costs are huge.
I am a physician who makes more than $500K a year. I also have a large Medicaid population in my practice. With this new bill, one almost feels like they are getting punished. What is the incentive to practice medicine? Does congress, the senate and the president realize how much it costs to run a practice? Do they realize we have bills to pay also? What will happen is the same thing as in Canada and Great Britain, doctors who just want a paycheck and don't care about quality of care.
The greatest danger to health care right now is too many overpaid, overinsured network anchors and pundits who think it's a game. While you have fun with this issue, real people are suffering and dying.
I am 28 years old and have worked my way to being able to afford health insurance for the first time this year....this is rediculous. I have not always been poor, but the costs of health insurance is out of control and yes, I would gladly pay to know that less people would experience the scary reality of knowing that if something happens, there is nothing you can do and no one to help...
Perhaps all the money spent on buying votes against reform could be donated to hte healthcare reform bill. That would be an original idea. It's a win win.
I am a physician and I make about $150,000 per year. I had no income and lived off of loans and my wife's income of $30,000 per year as a student. As a medical resident I made about $35,000 per year working 60 to 80 hours per week. We have a system that does not refuse emergency care to anyone. We cannot have the government take over the healthcare system the way it has taken over the financial industry and the automotive industry. It is not in our constitution and it is not good business. We can offer a very basic public health plan to those who cannot afford it, but we cannot provide the equivalent of a premium PPO insurance plan to every citizen. It just does not make sense. Are we to give people cars if they can't afford them? And if we do, are we going to give everyone a Mercedes in the name of fairness? No, what would really happen is that if we decide everyone deserves the same car, we would all be driving a Yugo.
It does make sense for someone getting $500, 000 per year to pay more on their taxes. The rich have an obligation to the society. In the end, everyone will be better off.
I wonder why people are trying to give a headache to our President when he is trying to fight for what's right for everyone.
Some of you people do not realize that in the long run, this will help you too. Give our President a chance to prove what he can do for us or come up with suggetsions that will help the majority rather than criticizing him.
“Tax the rich”, yes. On whose coat tails have the gotten rich? I am a firm believer in capitalism and ethical standards which include a payback or pay-it-forward concept. The “greed is good” era is passé. I am far from rich, never had children, and have gladly paid my fair share of property tax to support public education. It has to do with the cost of a democracy, to enjoying the rights of a democracy I have responsibilities to my fellow citizens or we will all be lost!
Healthcare?! A Black Harvard Professor is arrested inside of his own home, and you guys give the story less than twenty seconds! The media plays down clear and obvious police racism by distracting us with slight of hand journalism. Pathetic!
I think that we should tax the rich and cigarettes to pay for healthcare.
I also feel that if the president would stop all of this Bi-partisanship and just go ahead with the Majority vote his numbers would go up even higher than he expected. After all this is what we voted for and now it seems that the presidenyt is faling right in the republican hands. Mr. president the american people want you to do a majority healthcare now.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING. ALL OF US WILL SUFFER WITH THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING THE SYSTEM.
I have had many conversations with all healthcare professionals....we say the same thing....our system is broken and you will have to die to get in. There are so many issues that are not being discussed. We are amazed at the narrow views.
Should the rich be taxed more for Healthcare? Yes an No. We should all be taxed equally in percentage. If we reform the entire tax code and went to a flat tax taxing those making over $20,000 something like 30% for everything over $20,000 and there would be no other deductions.
That should cover everything, if not reduce spending using the Constitution as a guide. Defend the country first and as the largest expense. Everything else must be less. If that means no healthcare, then no healthcare. If that means no entitlements, then no entitlements.
This country was formed nor do I believe anyone really feels we would be better of living like socialists. We all work we all share equally, sounds a lot like what the former Union of Socialist Soviet Republic was. Where is the incintive to improve in thatr environment?
This health care plan makes no sense at all. This is like the government telling you to take your car and don't take care of it, don't change the oil, put bad gas in it, treat it recklessly and basically abuse it, then the government will fix it for you when it breaks. Until we as people start making a real effort to take care of our cars/bodies then there should be not plan to fix them for free. Your level of healthcare should be tied to your own effort to take care of yourself.
"Trickle down economics" of the Reagan & Bush years didn't work: it "flooded up" to the wealthy instead. Decisions the wealthy made, like shipping jobs off-shore or hiring illegal immigrants, should pay back to the rich now. The rich should fill any gaps in funding a Universal Health Coverage with a larger share of the tax burden. That is long overdue!
Of course they should. This isn't something we should even have to discuss.
My husband and I make $65,000 a year. Down from $105,000 5 years ago. We live in a nice middle class neighborhood and manage to pay our bills by not overspending. Our youngest son is just beginning college and I am paying for it as he goes. l Of course we don't have much, if any, extra income, but still manage to donate some to charity.
I was raised that we help others when we can. It's that simple.
Honestly. How much money can they spend or hoard for themselves?
Would it mean one less pair of Jimmy Choos or no new Mercedes this year? Give me a break. I think they'll manage to survive if they pay higher taxes.
Yes, tax the rich. Repeal the Bush tax cuts on the wealthy. What most people think of as a lot of money, they consider chump change. If they had to pay an extra $9,000 per year, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, except they might act like it would ruin their lifestyles. The middle class is the backbone of this country, and we are being slowly destroyed. We need health care reform, NOW.
Yes, we need healthcare reform. Everyone is the greatest nation in the world should have access to qualtiy healtcare. We do not need to start with raising taxes. We should in my opinion:
#1. enact malpractice reform to reduce frivelous lawsuits.
#2 pass new insurance regualtions to reign in the power of health insuranc companies to deny services to patients and deny the payment of claims to doctors.
#3. we should use any money we do have to spend on healthcare to boost the federal programs already in place so that we can insure more people with good quality healtcare instead of less people with marginal care and we should increase Medicaid reimbursements to doctors who presently can not afford to pay their staffs at current reimbursement rates which is why many of them do not accept state Medicaid patients.
Finally, if we need more money and it comes down to taxes, what about a flat percentage income tax across the board? That to me is the most fair tax we could enact.
I believe the rich should pay taxes. They have offshore accounts not counting the millions that were proffited from oil which was the real reason for the war! That's funny you did not see the Republicans wanting America to fail then and all the while spending America into this deficit that we have. All the President can do is to reform the system if not ... God help us all !
Why not, they have benefited the most from this societies financial situation. They have done so on the backs of the middle class/poor and manipulated the laws into the favor of the corporations they run. Plus how much less rich would they be if they made 1.4 million vs. 1.5 million? They are still rich, and the 100K more in taxes would help benefit the society they live in by helping to provide equitable health care for all americans. The problem is the rich and republicans do not care about their fellow man and instead are consumed by greed.
I believe that not only should the rich pay for health care for all Americans but that the hospitals, medicine companies and anyone that has contracts with the government only be able to charge the government at cost. This would cut the actual cost the government would bear on everything from food, to homeless shelters, NASA, health care systems, even research for new technology. I believe it is shameless that companies jack up prices when they know the government is paying for their services.
-John
I spent half of my life overseas and have been to over 20 countries. All of them have government run health programs and their citizens are much more healthier than Americans. Reason most Americans are weary of this, is due, to the lack of REAL understanding of the issue. If we don't know any different, we are going to be afraid to make changes. I disagree with those who oppose President Obama's Plan and it seems that the Republican Party always sides with the Wealthy, who include Doctors, continue to use the smear scare tactics about taxes and big government.
I am so tired of hearing them say that and if Americans can trust their government, then we will have a healthier nation. I hope 1% of the nation doesn't make law for 99% of the rest of us. Vote for the bill!
those ones whose credit is subpar due to medical expenses are the ones considered "rich". the reason is they cannot afford it. it is selfish for those who can afford it to not want to pay for something to help everyone yet they have no problem using Medicare which is paid by those who have less income. THAT is very hypocritical!
Yes, the "rich" should pay. The tax liabilities of the "rich" are often reduced by a series of deductions not available to the "non-rich". If these deductions are reduced or eliminated, there may not be a need for an actual increase. Either way, it's time they pay.
Why can't we have the same insurance plan as the President, the Senate and the Congress? It is a succussful easy to use plan. I don't want a plan that is not good enough for the President but OK for the common people and I don't want "common" health care. We all need to pay something for healthcare.
Of course we should tax the rich. They have been the recipients of a disproportionate increase in wealth. If the middle can get squeezed thin...why can't the wealthy get squeezed ? The thing I find most amuzing is the "you don't want gov making your health care decisions". Why are they not equally concerned about Private insurance doing the same. Both are trying to save a buck, but Private is trrying to make a profit on top of it. Who has the greatest motivator for denying care? And NO ONE is talking about end of life where we spend most of our dollars on futile care. The American ideal is to want "everything" done when everything is a waste. I know this 1st hand as a 25 yr ICU RN. Milliona dollar babies we call them. Someone needs to say enough is enough.
Everyone's always so quick to add another tax to the 'rich'. Has anyone, including our president, ever thought about what happens when the rich have been taxed to the point that they're not rich anymore? Where will all the money come from? We're considered 'rich', and we get taxed to the point that over half of what we earn is already going to all the various taxes. We'll have to seriously consider moving to a country (a Caribbean island?) where we don't have to give up almost 3/4 of what we earn, which is what we'll be giving up once Obama has his way. We thought this was a democratic country, not a socialistic/communist country. What a shame that we've gotten to this point. I used to believe our country was fair to everyone, but it's not. What a disappointment our leaders have become.
Heck YES!!! How much is your neighbor's life worth to you?? While the financially comfortable sit and whine about their money, others are dying. What kind of human being are you if you won't contribute a bit more so others can live??? Who is supposed to pay for this...the people who can't afford insurance to begin with??? Besides, even if your interest is entirely self-serving, it will save money over the long run as people get early care before diseases cause costly and irreversible damage.
Taxing the rich may be part of the answer – no question that they should make a contribution. But a national solution should also include a national contribution.
As a recipient of company sponsored health and dental insurance, I'd be willing to make may own contribution to a national solution by accepting a tax on these benefits.
While I'm not rich, I don't believe the rich should pay for something like this. Punishing people for success is a bad idea all around. Just like income taxes deter people from wanting to work for a living, or punishing them if they end up doing better than some others. A better solution is a 1% sales tax increase so everyone pays a fair amount regardless of what they pay. Perhaps abolishing income tax all together and using a fair, flat sales tax across the country. Everyone pays a fair amount, rich, poor, legal or illegal, etc. No bias. Just my opinion.
Yes, we are turning into two Americas: One that pays for everything, and one that elects people to tell the first group to pay for their share. We're the wealthiest nation on earth: in a world where million still live on a dollar a day, we declare a minimum wage to be over 7 dollars an hour. So what do we do? We follow the example of failed economies and try to put everything in the hands of government, in the hope that as the rest of the nation gets poorer, we poor people will feel better about ourselves.
Face it, our "poor" people are the wealthiest group of "poor" people in the history of mankind.
No, not just the rich should pay for healthcare. It is sad to see how many people in this country have gone from thinking they should be responsible for themselves and their families to wanting someone else to pay for everything for them. Life is not a freebee and it is not even fair to expect a small portion of the US to pay for everyone else. That is not what our founding father had in mind.
Instead of asking "who should pay for it?" why don't we ask "how can we reform the system to make it more affordable." If we can uncover the real reason why medical procedures are so expensive and correct that, we would actually be saving the country money. Isn't saving money what we need to do right now anyway?
I believe it is time for health care reform. It seems year after year theres a new threat to the public (eg, swine flu,sars). I understand that the rich would be taxed heavily however, it seems they in the end will still take home a 6 digit income. boo hoo.
Tax the rich to give to the sick .this robin hood sanerio may have worked for robin hood but the demacrates are living in fairy tale land back then they only had horses but now theres jet airplanes and moving vans to move the rich overseas along with there money if I were rich thats what I would do is move.
Gee Carol,
Perhaps fairness in reporting is in order here, "I'm just saying".
Your story has a lot of holes in it and doesn't address the critical issue and that is that if we don't address health care reform the entire country will go bankrupt. You didn't discuss the cost reduction methods at all. This is not an issue where you can segregate the different parts. No one "wants" to pay more taxes, but the issue is fairness (that's why we have a progressive tax system) and public policy. Your story leaves much to be desired.
I don't make anywhere near 250,000 or even 100,000. I don't even make HALF of that but even I would be willing to pay more taxes for healthcare reform.
I am not even close to rich! But I certainly don't think it is fair to tax those that have (noting that they pay almost half of their income in taxes)! Reforming healthcare is different from nationalized healthcare! Let's reform, not nationalize. Nationalizing could greatly damage our healthcare...just ask a medical professional!
Large corporations are doing the same thing. There is a sliding scale for medical premium costs based on salary.
To all you people worried about paying the same amount of taxes you used to pay back in the 1990's, do you really want the people at 7-11, the grocery store, all the thousands of restaurants serving you and your children's food to be sick and diseased? Think of it as a built in gratuity that must be spent to keep them healthy and clean. And why do you people in the media keep referring to this as a "Trillion Dollar" health care plan? That's extrapolated out over a ten year span... why not go a hundred years, then you could call it a "Gazillion Dollar" health care plan. Why no mention of the fact the U.S. spends almost a trillion dollars ANNUALLY on defense? Over ten years that's 8 or 9 trillion dollars, which if were health care you'd be raging how it was a 10 trillion dollar plan!
To the Insurance /Drug Companies:
You are the ones who have dictated to everyone on Health Care Reform. (in the back room) This must stop. Everyone got a hand in the pot. You don’t want Health Reform to pass. If it passes, you will lose profits and your edge.
You have some of the Lawmakers in your back pockets who are making money off the backs of the People. That is why some of them are not going along with President Obama agenda for the American People. They will lose out if Health Reform is passed also.
This is to President Obama:
Keep pressing on. You are doing what you were elected to do: the Country and People business. If you must, tax everyone, not just the rich. We are all in this together. it’s only fair.
This is to the Lawmakers:
The problem is your lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans. Some of you are a bunch of pissants that have been punked. None of you can make a command decision about anything. All you know how to say is “how much?”..This, (some of you) have been saying for over 10 years. Sometimes you have to just stop and think back on what the People want for this Country, not what is on your agenda. Give up your health insurance for a year and feel what the people feel. You will not last 6 months. That is why you are so out of touch with the People that you supposedly Represent. Health Care Reform has been attempted, tried for change to no avail for the last 10 years.
The longer we keep “debating” on this topic, the more it is going to cost, plus, more people are going to die. So Lawmakers, you are not helping. You are blustering and “beating” yourselves on the chest”, to show that you are the better persons to defeat Pres Obama agenda on what he was elected to do. This is not a Bipartisan agenda, this is America’s agenda. Do your jobs! Either fish or cut bait. You are wasting time and excuses are no longer on the table.
This is to the People who voted you into Office:
The people, who wanted you to do something , all of a sudden, no longer want you to do anything, because of the “cost“. Nothing is free or cheap. You have to look at your neighbors, friends, relatives to see how bad things are and it will get worse, if nothing is done. Are the People reneging?
It seems that to some people health care is not high on the list especailly when it comes to touching their money. Who cares if only people who could afford to pay for a doctor see one. Many other countries pay for their less fortunate to stay healty. Canada, England and West Indian Islands comes to mind. Heaven forbid that President Obama and SOME of his administration, should have a heart and want this for the common people, just lovely. America's old administration's policy was," The Rich Should Get Richer and the Poor Must Get Poorer!" Why NOT! After all this is indeed one of the riches countries in the Free WorldI. If some people who want this administration to fail so badly, can't look beyond the hate and think about others less fortunate, just maybe it would work.
I am a disabled american and under the current plan, my parents would be taxed to pay for health care reform. I feel it is unfair to simply lump poeple together by their income when deciding who shoud pay for what. For examply, my parents make a great living but they also have to worry about me, as I am permanently disabled. And while they may seem to be "rich" on paper, another couple, without the same circumstances and making considerably less, would be better able to afford paying that extra tax money. I feel there should be exemptions for certain situations.
What is the cost to all of us (in our insurance plans and to hospitals) right now from paying for uninsured healthcare? What is the cost of the bankruptcies and foreclosures caused by huge medical bills that American people cannot afford? What is the cost to doctors and hospitals to provide malpractice insurance? These costs continue to grow and strangle our healthcare systems's ability to provide service to the American people. In addition, what does it say about us as a Country is medical care is only available to those who can afford it?
We are willing to spend billions in other countries at war to protect those people, but when it comes to protecting the health and welfare of our own people, we as a nation tend to run away from the problem if it does not apply to us. It's time to hold true to our American values and protect the health and welfare of every American.
Tax the real estate holdings of churches and religious originations. I saw an article that stated the catholic church was the largest single holder of land in the USA.
This move could raise money or force the property back in the private sector were it would also be taxed.
TAX ALCOHAL AND TOBACCO, the canadian way to pay for health care. I'm an american living in canada who owned a top restaurant and niteclub for 30 years.For years i resisted the high cost of alcohal. Now 72 and on the receiving end of high quality health care, i appreciate all those extra taxes i paid. Having suffered heart and lung problems, i didn't didn't pay a dime. they saved my life twice. SIN TAX IS THE WAY TO GO. Put the tax at the source so the indigenous people also pay.
Income is not the same as wealth. I define rich as a family whose liquid net worth is more than 100x the median household income (about $5mln usd). Such a family could live off of their investment income alone. Only about 500,000 families (or 1/3 of 1%) have such a high net worth. By calling all those whose annual income exceeds $250,000 rich, regardless of their actual liquid net worth, we are falsely classifying (and over-taxing) far too many hard working families as "rich", which negatively impacts the economy.
I'll pay for it. I'll pay $15 a month for the 46-million who don't have coverage and I don't have lots of money. But I give more each month to charities and I don't like knowing that people who might live down the street can't see a doctor unless its in an emergency room. Of course I'll pay into a public plan to give those people some help. Call it a charitable gift or call it a tax, I don't care. Besides, it will probably make my own insurance cheaper. I fight my insurance company every time I put in a claim. I'm already wasting my time arguing with them so it's worth $15 a month to me to put them on notice that they're not the only game in town.
I define rich as makin half a million dollars a year thats my begining terminoligy. but to the ? yes something has to be done im not saying wut the president wants to do is the absolute best thing but im not hearing nothing else positive from anyone so his is better for now until proven other wise
My opinion is that we the people should protest the fact that we are paying Congress insurance that our taxes. We should do what McCain said give Congress $5,000 andlet them pay for their own insurance like they suggest that mainstreet should do.
The president is at it again. Taxing the "rich" will not pay for his programs whether it is healthcare reform or not and his definition of rich will fall until he is taxing everyone to pay for his programs. His push to have healthcare reform before the August recess makes me wonder what he is hiding in his healthcare reform bill. There is no way to pay for healthcare reform at this time without driving small businesses out of business and taxing everyone whether it is on your health benefits or your income to pay for something that isn't going to work!
Taxing a few, who won't vote for you anyway, to provide a benefit to the many, who are more likely to vote for you, may be wonderful politics, but it is a very slipperly slope.
lets have pelosi throw money into the pot...i think she should be back charged for the use of OUR JET....this health plan needs to be for EVERYONE including the whitehouse, the house, the senate, the armed services.....otherwise throw it out with the bath water.
After $1000.oo a month Insurance premiums, DON’T FORGET we also have huge Deductibles for every family member, Co-Pays on Dr.’s Office visits and tiered higher amounts for Pharma needs, the 20/80% Billing to pay and Doctor’s sending out “balance bills” for amounts uncovered by Insurance, then there’s the Yearly limits, and the Lifetime limits.
Medicare? You’ll need three a la carte policies for complete coverage, which together costs about $450. This doesn’t include the infamous Rx “Do-Nut Hole”, which is another $4000 out of pocket for EACH person and paid at Retail Prices.
California Hospitals Open Books, Showing Huge Price Differences State Law Requires Disclosing
Charges for Goods, Services; – Chest X-Ray = S.F. $120 vs. cola Modesto $1,519.oo
– http://www.stopdown.net/med%20$%20Cal%20disclosure%20wsj.htm
NO! other country has these problems, go ask them, “Hey, How do you do it?”
Give us ANY Single Payer Non-profit provider.
YES!!! – DO RAISE TAXES!!!
The “Savings” will come in the “Off-Set” of NOT having to pay all these “High Premiums” and out-of-pocket EXTRA expenses!!!
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/PieChartSourcesExpenditures2007.pdf
I think that the wealthy should be taxed more for health care because honestly, the average American just can't afford it. My mother, a self employed bridal store owner for 35 years, has just lost her business because of our slipping economy. Yet the rich people who make more 100k even, are surviving and are not losing what they have worked for, for years. The truth: If you have more then enough money to live comfortably, give it back to the people.
First, define the rich as Corporate America. Exxon, even CitiCorp are making billions, and most likely not paying their fair share of the tax load.
Also, it would be nice if my insurance co. quit sponsoring fireworks displays and marketing to people who, as individuals, can't afford their product anyway, and paid their claims without dragging their feet. Funnel that money into funding coverage, or reducing costs.
For years now the rich have gotten richer while the rest oif us have stagnated. We are turning into two Americas, and this is not why this country was created. Yes the rich should pay more in taxes as they are the main beneficiaries of our system.