(299) TWILIGHT ZONE
I thought there would be a sonic boom when you crossed into the Twilight Zone, but, instead, we have slipped into the Zone without the slightest tremor.
When I was in law school, a speaker assembled the students and told us we were going to have Socialism in the United States–it was just a matter of deciding what kind of ‘ism’ it would be. It could be democratic, or totalitarian. I was the only person in this assembly that said, ‘That’s a ridiculous idea and will only lead to the destruction of the country.’ The assembled masses looked at me like I was insane, and the speaker chuckled and said, ‘You fool!’ with his eyes.
The morning paper brought the news unions think high-end insurance programs should be taxed. What utter nonsense. Just for the hell of it, let’s follow this to its logical conclusion: first, assume that I have a huge reservoir of cash, and I have no interest in owning an insurance program, high-end or otherwise. We have to ask, ‘What does an insurance company pay?’ Rarely does an insurance company give away benefits without charging a premium. I pay the insurance company, the insurance company pays the medical bills, and we have to pay taxes on it if the policy is provided to us by our employer (I assume that’s the nuts and bolts of the deal, but it may be that everyone has to pay tax on it whether it is provided by the employer or not). Back to me paying my own bills. What happens if I don't have an insurance company? Do I have to pay taxes on high-end medical care?
Let’s move to the employer-provided insurance issue: John Q. Public has two job offers. They pay about the same amount, and the duties and expectations are about the same. He takes the job that provides health care for him and his family. He may or may not pay a contribution toward the cost of the plan. Now, the government wants to tax him because his health benefits are paid for by himself and/or the company. The unions, in a closed-door session meeting with the President, have agreed that high-end health care should be taxed. Simply amazing.
Earlier in 2009, a poll was conducted and 80% of respondents to the poll believe that health care should be provided to everyone by the rich.
My assertion that Socialism would never land in the United States was dead wrong. Now, it is becoming a vindictive Socialism with the government wanting to fine people who do not buy into the government’s health-care provisions.
* * *
The world community is fighting a disaster in Haiti. The airport is jammed with planes, and there is a bottle-neck that prevents the supplies from getting to the public. The UN food supply was looted. Instead of pulling together, some Haitians are using the self-help system. All of this is expected behavior, however, two extraordinary things occurred. First, Rush Limbaugh said that we shouldn’t contribute money to Haiti's relief because we already contribute through the taxes we pay to the government. I agree with Rush, we do pay taxes, but what if I want to send a few extra dollars to try to help the cause?
Even more bizarre, Pat Robertson (there is a village somewhere missing an idiot) said that Haiti was being punished because it made a pact with the Devil. That headline got my attention, and I re-read the article three times. Each time, I would say, "That can’t be right!" Unfortunately, it was. Robertson says that in 1791–repeat 1791–the citizens of Haiti practiced Voodoo, which according to Robertson is a pact with the Devil that produced a slave uprising against the French. If this has anything to do with God’s will, God is also not paying attention because it has taken him 220 years to express his displeasure over a pact with the Devil and Voodoo. This is akin to getting a speeding ticket and, 220 years later, the authorities demand payment.
May the Force be with you.
Sincerely yours,
Donald M. Heavrin
When I was in law school, a speaker assembled the students and told us we were going to have Socialism in the United States–it was just a matter of deciding what kind of ‘ism’ it would be. It could be democratic, or totalitarian. I was the only person in this assembly that said, ‘That’s a ridiculous idea and will only lead to the destruction of the country.’ The assembled masses looked at me like I was insane, and the speaker chuckled and said, ‘You fool!’ with his eyes.
The morning paper brought the news unions think high-end insurance programs should be taxed. What utter nonsense. Just for the hell of it, let’s follow this to its logical conclusion: first, assume that I have a huge reservoir of cash, and I have no interest in owning an insurance program, high-end or otherwise. We have to ask, ‘What does an insurance company pay?’ Rarely does an insurance company give away benefits without charging a premium. I pay the insurance company, the insurance company pays the medical bills, and we have to pay taxes on it if the policy is provided to us by our employer (I assume that’s the nuts and bolts of the deal, but it may be that everyone has to pay tax on it whether it is provided by the employer or not). Back to me paying my own bills. What happens if I don't have an insurance company? Do I have to pay taxes on high-end medical care?
Let’s move to the employer-provided insurance issue: John Q. Public has two job offers. They pay about the same amount, and the duties and expectations are about the same. He takes the job that provides health care for him and his family. He may or may not pay a contribution toward the cost of the plan. Now, the government wants to tax him because his health benefits are paid for by himself and/or the company. The unions, in a closed-door session meeting with the President, have agreed that high-end health care should be taxed. Simply amazing.
Earlier in 2009, a poll was conducted and 80% of respondents to the poll believe that health care should be provided to everyone by the rich.
My assertion that Socialism would never land in the United States was dead wrong. Now, it is becoming a vindictive Socialism with the government wanting to fine people who do not buy into the government’s health-care provisions.
* * *
The world community is fighting a disaster in Haiti. The airport is jammed with planes, and there is a bottle-neck that prevents the supplies from getting to the public. The UN food supply was looted. Instead of pulling together, some Haitians are using the self-help system. All of this is expected behavior, however, two extraordinary things occurred. First, Rush Limbaugh said that we shouldn’t contribute money to Haiti's relief because we already contribute through the taxes we pay to the government. I agree with Rush, we do pay taxes, but what if I want to send a few extra dollars to try to help the cause?
Even more bizarre, Pat Robertson (there is a village somewhere missing an idiot) said that Haiti was being punished because it made a pact with the Devil. That headline got my attention, and I re-read the article three times. Each time, I would say, "That can’t be right!" Unfortunately, it was. Robertson says that in 1791–repeat 1791–the citizens of Haiti practiced Voodoo, which according to Robertson is a pact with the Devil that produced a slave uprising against the French. If this has anything to do with God’s will, God is also not paying attention because it has taken him 220 years to express his displeasure over a pact with the Devil and Voodoo. This is akin to getting a speeding ticket and, 220 years later, the authorities demand payment.
May the Force be with you.
Sincerely yours,
Donald M. Heavrin
posted by Donald Heavrin at 2:59 PM
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