Bushco plans to expand the # of uninsured in the name of tax reform

[salin]

and the media is silent.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1000490&mesg_id=1000490

Bushco in their effort to allow more tax sheltering among wealthier citizens – has a plan that includes taking away tax incentives for businesses to provide heath insurance to employees.

But this is a media as well as a bushco working to increase the ranks of the uninsured. Look at the title of the WaPo article linked: Bush Plans Tax Code Overhaul

Please read the thread, read the article – and note if the story is picked up anywhere that emphasizes the health care provision?

Posters point out that those most likely to rely on the provision are small businesses – and I believe that a large number of Americans are employed by…. Small businesses.

This provision – and the fact that bushco is proposing it – and the reality that it flies in the face of his campaign that expressed concern over the large number of uninsured – needs to become a part of the public awareness/psyche. This HAS to get into the media.

We need to talk about it – and push it – and get enough buzz that others notice it and start pushing it.

[salin]

1. Anyone working for a company that might drop health insurance

due its increasing costs?

If so - this tax plan raises your costs tremendously - if you have enough money to self-insure the increase is at least $5,000 for a single person and much more, per year, for family. If not you can not afford it (and that is a whole lot of extra money - so my guess is that many would not be able to absorb that cost) then you might find yourself in a near destitute spot if a family member has a single, serious health incident.

This plan is so insane - yet if not talked about very well could go through.

[area51]

2. media

The media needs to talk about how, in our insane nazi healthcare system, one severe illness can bankrupt you. This is how it is w/o universal healthcare.

[salin]

3. silence in the media

may be due to the disconnect that many in the media have - they do not recognize that their own employers might drop these benefits at the flick of an eye - and put them in the same danger. I get the sense that they do not recognize that this is a reality for many americans... and thus they don't zero in on this part of the story (in this case the proposed tax laws that would increase the # of uninsured.) Ironic that their own lack of concern - could result in some (not tv media - but print media that does not make huge amounts of $) finding themselves in this same sitaution.

[Telly Savalas]

4. It's faith based health care

Pray every night that you don't get sick.

[salin]

6. they do try to ignore science....why not medicine as well?

*sigh*

[FloridaPat]

5. Word was one of the reason jobs left the US was because of this.

So by eliminating the deduction, they basically eliminate health care. Although I have never seen these jerks screw corporations - so the corporations must want it.

[salin]

7. My guess is that it gives the corps cover

for cutting out carrying insurance. Just a few years ago the pressure would have gone the other way - the pr of dumping health coverage would have been bad for a company. But the mood has changed. More corps have been doing this to where there no longer seems to be a negative pr reaction. But to hedge the bets... why not get cover... tax shelters for our execs... lower costs for us... and our workers... well they should have saved more to cover their own expenses.... {/sarcasm}

[salin]

8. quick media headline search

on googlenews... using tax plan cut health insurance as key words....

headlines for stories that include this item:
Bush Plan Tax Overhaul (Canton.... same story as wapo story)


here is one with irony (posted the day before the tax plan story broke:
Bush Health Plan: What's In Store?
Malpractice Awards, Uninsured Among Priorities
http://www.thelouisvillechannel.com/health/3923344/detail.html

Independent analyses estimate that the president's proposals would provide health care insurance to 6 million to 8 million people who do not have it now. The White House says the number is higher, 11 million people.

Someone really needs to send the author of this report the current taxplan story...

And that's it... everything else that comes up are older stories. Not one major publication raises the issue.

[salin]

9. don't think that this is too absurd to be done...

initial consensus about the iraq policy is that even the bushco wasn't insane enough to push it alone.... that the world community would restrain the impulse.... that the dems had a secret plan to stall the insanity.... and as months went by - suddenly it was clear they were going to do it and the whole dialogue shifted.

[salin]

10. any thoughts from the night crew?

n/t