House Dems Seek To Tax The Wealthy To Pay For Health Plan

New York Times:

House Democrats will ask the wealthiest Americans to help pay for overhauling the health care system with a $550 billion income tax increase, the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee said Friday.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[harriettubman]

This is asinine. Dems can't come up with another plan? If I made my money don't tax me to death to pay for YOUR programs. I'm all for universal healthcare but no, not with burdening someone just because they're wealthy!! Start cutting other programs and you'll find billions. All the research into things like pigs living in mud and state pet projects, cut them out. Charge a co-pay for Medicaid abusers who live in the ER. Start with income limits for lunch in inner cities instead of allowing all the the kids free lunches. Stop giving money to veterans who don't pass drug screens. Stop giving SSI money to any one with ADD or some other behaviorial issue that does not prevent them from learning. The amount of money the government doles out is ridiculous then they come back to the taxpayer. NO!

This is what's wrong with politics today, they look to the taxpayer for EVERYTHING. Look at what's already in Washington and start cutting.

[Tazru]

I do not want to live in the country you describe, in fact not even the same planet. In your world, did same imaginary friend plan for certain people to manage all the wealth for everyone else, and that is why 97% work to support the wealth of 3%?

[dems08]

The government won't tax you to death.

The increase will be 1% for couples in the $350,000/yr range.

[dems08]

Dems aren't going for single payer.

It's called 'public option' (what 3/4 of Americans WANT).

Get with the program already!

[LorettaSingbiel]

You are one SAD excuse for a HUMAN being, Harriet! ... worshiping your MONEY instead of your God! Will there be room in your casket for all that MONEY? ... wouldn't want to chance leaving any of it to the POOR!

[LiteSleeper]

I'm pretty sure you haven't made any money. You probably make under $50,000 per year. Therefore, the tax doesn't pertain to you. And by the way, you aren't going to be making $280,000 any time soon, probably ever. So what are you complaining about?

[proggirl]

If the rich take advantage of the commons, as they do, then it's incumbent on them to contribute to the commons. If we agree as a society that the health and well being of its members is a necessary part of that society, then contributing to that is their duty as much as ours, if not more so.

[Tazru]

Indeed.

Systems Theory helps people understand these relationships.

[Kanuk1]

wealth redistribution was tried in Cuba and the USSR - did it work?

[Tazru]

You might try using a larger sample size and include most of the civilized world. Name any concept and there will be circumstances under which it will not work.

Look at a bigger picture, learn Systems Theory.

[Ergon]

Feh. Tax Wall Street instead on all transactions, derivatives and foreign investments.

[GardenerNorCal]

That's a good one. That could generate some serious cash.

[Skyhawk]

As they should. They've been soaking us since Reagan. This is their country as well, and it's in their best interest to invest in it's future.

[Tazru]

Well said.

[Witchitalineman]

I am all for this. After all they have made their money off the backs of most of us!

[Militant Leftist]

Taxing the wealthy for the common good, and overall benefit of society. Justice finally served (if it happens).

[grn1]

Only if there is some plan on how to spend this money.Government is finding new ways to expand itself through more regulation and taxation. It seems that those they will be taxing are the corporations who spend that lobby money to make their wealthy representatives compliant. In the meanwhile the FDA is gearing up to tax the smallest businesses, holding them in compliance to new regulations that can fine up to $100,000 so the big guys have NO competition at all. HR2749 http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18394.cfm

[mcmutter]

Top 3% own 97% of everything out there - its time for them to finally pitch in - they've had a freeride since the Reagan years.

[harriettubman]

I'm quite sure the Oprah's of the U.S. pay their fair share in taxes. So what if they're rich? It's time to cut wasteful spending, not ring the door bell of someone with money.

[Kanuk1]

the lone voice of sanity in a herd of inanity

[mcmutter]

The average middle class / lower class republican is certainly trained to watch out for his rich cousins. How do they pull that off ?

[jaleh]

A few thousand more from millions is not a lot for the rich. This is what they paid during Clinton and they still made a lot of money. Why do rich people have no conscience? See the comments on NYT article...

I know lots of rich people, they are pretty selfish.

[obamanomics]

Dems don't mind tax increases because they don't pay their taxes. Just look at the king of tax cheats pic at the top of the page.

[Kanuk1]

LOL - very good point - they don't care because they don't pat anyway! That's why Bambam had to put Republicans into his cabinet - they were the only candidates who had paid their taxes - laughable!

[ElsaIndy]

Rangel is such a crook. That aside, taxing the most productive members of society to pay for healthcare will never work because healthcare costs will soon be 20% of the GNP. A complete overhaul of the healthcare industry is needed, foreign healthcare system should be studied, cost containment is crucial if all Americans are to be covered if that is the goal.

Obama's healthcare policy is so incoherent that no one knows that the goal is. He flip flops all over taking every side and never addressing how he will contain costs. Unless he contains healthcare costs, the economy will never recover.

[LHoney]

Good luck getting that thru the senate.

[mick7191]

In order for it to really work, everyone needs to be taxed.

[dirtyice]

Everyone is taxed except rich cooperations and people.

[Kanuk1]

what's a 'rich cooperation'?

[obamanomics]

In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. But let me perfectly clear, because I know you’ll hear the same old claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: if your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime.

President Barack Obama — State of the Union Speech — Tuesday February 24th:

[Kanuk1]

LOL look out below!!

[dirtyice]

Good tax the sob's into the stone age.

[Kanuk1]

don't need to - Bambam is leading us there already

[Tazru]

This would finally be Change that I don't just have to Believe in.
We need to get the ratio back closer to where it was when we had a strong middle class, this will be a good start to fixing the economy, whatever it takes to reverse Tinkle Down. We need a Bubble Up Economy, most of us are soaked in Tinkle from Reaganomics.