Jobless and hopeless in America

[espo1357]

What happens when the high premiums become a burden and they drop the insurance? They still could get their free care at the ER. Guess who pays? The obesity tax can help defray the healthcare costs and over time instill behavior modification.

The obesity tax? WTF are you talking about?

Where do you get your stats?

I mean, grow up. SS is ***. I have paid into it for 20 years, and I am not counting on it. I could care less if I get it, because I like to work, and have more street smarts that most people.

Not trying to be rude, but you throw percentages around with no source, nothing. Defray the costs of healthcare and over time instill behavior modification? Come on dude, we live in America, let people do what they want and stop with this crap.

[jacko]

What you could do is charge the states sales tax on these items and use the revenue to reimburse the hospitals who get stiffed for unpaid bills from patients who do not have the means.

I think that's kind of ridiculous. Junk food doesn't always equal higher cost in medical. I shouldn't have to pay 6 bucks for my rare package of Oreos. (I buy almost all organic and make most of our meals from scratch. There are very few processed foods in my house, ever)

Flat tax and medical care for people that pass the means test. Problem solved. You are welcome.

[espo1357]

Shark, I'm really starting to like you.

Very little tax on something I choose to indulge in every now and then is too much. It isn't up to you or to me to police someone and their eating habits. It isn't up to you or the government to decide what is healthy. No one would like what my idea of healthy is. That isn't my job, it isn't yours and it isn't the governments.

Edit: More government gets me going. Every where I turn I've got big brother barging into my house. I'm tired of it, and I'm tired of paying higher taxes in the name of "safety" and of course "to protect the children" blah blah blah. I don't need the government to tell me how to eat, how to educate my children or to pay even more taxes on stuff they have no business being involved in.

Very well put.

These are the intellectuals in society, that think they know what is best for us, and these are the most dangerous people in the world.

Good to hear that some of us can think for ourselves!

[jacko]

That is so unrealistic. If Health insurance policies become a financial burden, it will get dropped. Than they will clog the free Er's and drive up the cost of gov't.

This is why since there's no easy answer to this problem I think it's better to shut the door on the whole free health care thing and stop with all of these taxes. Health insurance should also be priced on risk like car or home owners insurance.

If the obese junk food addicts don't get healthy then they won't be around and that will solve the problem all by itself.

What is so wrong with this?

It worked very well for many centuries before social medicine was even a thought.

One thing I tend to notice on why the middle class is dying is too many people (dem or repub, doesn't matter) create too many programs and have too many ideas that distort how the system really is.

For example as I mentioned earlier it used to be if one was fat, lazy and ate too much they would get sick or worse and wouldn't be a problem for very long.

Now that there is a program to "solve" every problem known to man we prop up pretty much everything there is. It could be a zombie bank or failed car company or a smoker or a McDonalds french fry addict.

The only fix it seems will be once the US Treasury finally runs dry then you will see those being propped up disappear either by becoming healthy or worse.

The world doesn't have an infinite amount of money and resources to just "help" everyone that needs help.

[jacko]

Yes I see something wrong. This is pretty much why this whole subject just makes me so sick I need 3k a month worth of treatments just thinking about it!

I noticed my whole life that technology once it matures becomes cheaper. Computers, cell phones, digital watches and the list goes on with these items that come down in price in time.

Health care costs always rise every year.

Anyone know why? You guessed it the governments involvement! Also don't forget the trial lawyers.

Know its not. Legal costs are under 2% of total care cost. Government under Medicaid has a 3% overhead cost versus the 30% for health insurance firms.

[jacko]

What happens when the high premiums become a burden and they drop the insurance? They still could get their free care at the ER. Guess who pays? The obesity tax can help defray the healthcare costs and over time instill behavior modification.

I am with you trust me! I just feel they should be taxed directly in the form of higher insurance premiums with private insurance or "slam the door" on them with public funds!

I don't agree with tobacco, beer, micky dees or twinky taxes.

Some feel the taxpayer should continue to pay, others feel the "rich" should pay, but I feel those that engage in their own unhealthy habits should pay. We already do this with auto insurance. Why stop there???

[jacko]

People paid into it, so why should they not receive it? SS is not the issue. SS surpluses have been funding-subsidizing the rest of the gov't over decades.

It also wasn't the expectation that someone else would pay your way until death.

Social security wasn't set up to be a "for everyone" program. It was means tested, just like wic, food stamps, etc. and it should be again.

[lovemybugs10]

Shark, I'm really starting to like you.

Very little tax on something I choose to indulge in every now and then is too much. It isn't up to you or to me to police someone and their eating habits. It isn't up to you or the government to decide what is healthy. No one would like what my idea of healthy is. That isn't my job, it isn't yours and it isn't the governments.

Edit: More government gets me going. Every where I turn I've got big brother barging into my house. I'm tired of it, and I'm tired of paying higher taxes in the name of "safety" and of course "to protect the children" blah blah blah. I don't need the government to tell me how to eat, how to educate my children or to pay even more taxes on stuff they have no business being involved in.

[msm859]

I think that's kind of ridiculous. Junk food doesn't always equal higher cost in medical. I shouldn't have to pay 6 bucks for my rare package of Oreos. (I buy almost all organic and make most of our meals from scratch. There are very few processed foods in my house, ever)

Flat tax and medical care for people that pass the means test. Problem solved. You are welcome.

Well you must eat a lot of Oreos to be worried about the idea. If there was a 10% tax on the items it sounds like with your life style you would pay very little tax which is why it would be targeted on the people who "over indulge" and who probably do create higher medical costs for us all. As to a "flat tax" -- not enough time to explain all the problems with that proposed "simple" solution.

[shark66]

California does NOT charge tax on food bought at a grocery store.
I too agree that we should tax junk food, fast food, alcohol and tobacco to help offset the increased medical costs we will all end up paying for people who over indulge in those life styles.

And who exactly is going to define what "healthy" foods are? FDA? Their "pyramid" is a carb-galore which is why so many Americans are diabetic in the first place...not that daily visits to McDonald's or KFC help one's diet by any means.

With all of that said, junk food is still legal in this country. If you really want people to be healthy, just ban it. But that's not Bloombergs of this world want: we'll point the finger at you - it's oh-so-shameful what you're eating - so we'll teach you by taxing the heck out of you.

Hogwash. Plain and simple. Never worked and never will. Ask Bloomberg how much he's losing in taxes yearly after they bumped up a pack of cigarettes to $10 - now close to $15. Ask small businesses, local bodegas and grocery stores about their losses and sufferings. How much is lost on taxes there...no one wants to discuss that part of the picture.

Taxes do not work as a deterrent. Because people find their way around them. Always. Period.

Smokers have become a minority for several reasons, and the combination of science and technology was probably the biggest factor. The ability to see the picture of one's lungs after 30 years of smoking is scary to anyone.

Mind you, I'm still smoking...

But don't worry since you won't be paying for my nasty habit...got one of those "Cadillac" healthcare plans that Obama wants to tax to death so he could subsidize everyone else's healthcare...

Good luck to us all.

[lovemybugs10]

California does NOT charge tax on food bought at a grocery store.
I too agree that we should tax junk food, fast food, alcohol and tobacco to help offset the increased medical costs we will all end up paying for people who over indulge in those life styles.

I think that's kind of ridiculous. Junk food doesn't always equal higher cost in medical. I shouldn't have to pay 6 bucks for my rare package of Oreos. (I buy almost all organic and make most of our meals from scratch. There are very few processed foods in my house, ever)

Flat tax and medical care for people that pass the means test. Problem solved. You are welcome.

[msm859]

oh yes, nj also...shoot we were charged on much of the foods....also California...

California does NOT charge tax on food bought at a grocery store.
I too agree that we should tax junk food, fast food, alcohol and tobacco to help offset the increased medical costs we will all end up paying for people who over indulge in those life styles.

[lovemybugs10]

PS. Discouraged- Ugh, I am missing the 50's from last week. At least the snow has finally stopped though; maybe now they can catch up on the roads!

Edit: Is that creepy? If so, sorry. I just noticed you were in the same city and state as I am.

[lovemybugs10]

It also wasn't the expectation that someone else would pay your way until death.

Social security wasn't set up to be a "for everyone" program. It was means tested, just like wic, food stamps, etc. and it should be again.

[discouraged]

The thing about a hundred years ago is that people didn't live so long either. THAT makes a big difference in health care costs, nursing home costs, etc. And people shared and took care of each other. In my last job, it was dog eat dog. Awful environment. Even with the economy, I was glad to be laid off from there. Things were way different 100 years ago.