If you, like me, are frustrated by the actions of our government, the acrimony between the two parties and the inability of the news to present information in fair manner. I thought I would share that it takes me just about five minutes to find the data and or facts about any issue on the internet. 

Did you know, that the US Agencies publish a wealth of information. If you want to know the population statistics on healthcare coverage? The US Census Bureau is your source. If you want to know more about drilling for oil, and what our resources are? Go to the website for the US Department of Energy. I suggest you start with the quick facts link and you usually find what you want.  It has done wonders for my piece of mind. In conversation, you can stump the Democrat. When they scream about the disparity in income.  Ask them which scale they are using. The equivalence-adjusted or the traditional money income concept.  Then in the silence, tell them you know the statistics.

If they want details, reply that you have determined the following:

·        Income is spread pretty evenly over the population.

·        The average median income in the US is $48,201.00. 

·        Only 3.4% of the population is considered at the lowest level, followed by 8.6 and 14.6 and 23.0 respectively according to a quintile scale.

·        Only 22% of the population are in the top 5% of money earners. 

·        This means most Americans fit into the 2-4 quintile range.

·        Traditionally the 3^rd and 4^th quintile are “middle class”. The 2^nd is “lower middle class”. 1 being poor and 5 the wealthiest.

Then explain why you do not want more government mandates to provide relief . 

For example: I recently wrote an opinion on my Townhall Blog “It’s All Relative,” about Massachusetts’s new insurance law.  If you have not read it - Massachusetts’s recently enacted legislation that requires all adults 18 and older to be covered by a healthcare plan. Not any plan but one that includes physician co-pays and a prescription plan. If they do not they pay a tax penalty, losing their exemption plus a fine equal to one half the cost of the yearly premium for the health care plan.  One of the adult victims, is a self-employed single woman with no dependents, her income 25K a year. She has to pay $100 a month for the healthcare plan with all the bells and whistles.

Why so much? Surely that income rates a lower payment.  The one thing they never seem to mention about government programs is the income factor. When it comes to calculating benefits they use a scale, any income over the Federal Poverty Limit counts   against you. Because her gross income is above 200 percent of the federal poverty level,(1 person 10,400.00) she has to pay a graduated rate. By the way she also makes too much to qualify for rental assistance and or food stamps. A democrat may say with the nationalized plan there are guaranteed coverage levels and it is cheaper compared to buying on your own today. That is not the issue. At issue, is the lady’s control of her financial choices.  Also at issue is whether she is better off . Her cost is now a mandatory $100 a month. Now compare that to probable Doctor visits in a year. If only once or twice at $100 a visit she has overspent $800 on health care. Money she could use for groceries, rent, utilities, transportation and clothing. 

Actually only 3.6% of the population will benefit from “free” healthcare. The rest of us, we will have to pay a mandated rate out of our teeny tiny paycheck according to a graduated scale.  Forget about a part-time job in this case, it actually hurts you to earn more as they will raise the premium.  I make $42,000.00, fortunately I have my insurance paid by my employer.   If I didn’t, as I am single and have no dependents,  I would probably be the full rate or more for the same coverage. The quotes I received were about $350.00 a month. I couldn’t afford it. Could You?

I think rather than discuss universal care, how about health care options as choices. How about a fixed rate plan to cover minimal care that includes an annual physical, but no co-pays, prescription reimbursements and partial payment of expensive tests at a low cost.  

That should be a better value and if you have to be hospitalized, or are in an accident there is coverage for that. Oh wait, there is an insurance plan for that it’s called high deductible coverage. Of course there are the HSA’s, (Health Savings Acccounts) You can save pre-tax income to pay for health expenses with no tax penalty. It would be good for the time you have an accident and break your arm. So in conclusion tell the democrat no thanks, I’d rather stick with what’s available and save my money for a rainy day.

FYI below is the 2008 Poverty Guidelines established by the Department of Health and Human Services.

2008 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States

and the District of Columbia

------------------------------------------------------------------------Poverty guideline

Persons in family                        

------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.................................................    $10,400

2.................................................     14,000

3.................................................     17,600

4.................................................     21,200

5.................................................     24,800

6.................................................     28,400

7.................................................     32,000

8.................................................     35,600

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For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,600 for each additional person.