As taxes are being discussed in this campaign and the term ‘socialist’ is thrown around like a football by the Republicans and their pundits to scare and divide Americans: What is not being discussed fully is John McCain’s plan on taxing health benefits that millions receive through their work-place.
In just a bit, I will delve into my personal reasons why I am living in terror of a McCain presidency. But, before I do so, in a prior piece I referenced a column written by Nobel Prize winning journalist, Paul Krugman titled, Health care destruction.
In his piece he writes, “Mr. McCain, on the other hand, wants to blow up the current system, by eliminating the tax break for employer-provided insurance. And he doesn’t offer a workable alternative.” He goes onto write, “Without the tax break, many employers would drop their current health plans. Several recent nonpartisan studies estimate that under the McCain plan around 20 million Americans currently covered by their employers would lose their health insurance.”
As someone who is blessed to have medical coverage at this point, the mere thought of a President McCain, scares me to death. In fact, Krugman cited at the end of this column concerning the McCain health-care plan, “I’m terrified” Those of us who do have health insurance should also be terrified.
John McCain has cited that his plan would give each and every family a $5,000.00 tax credit, but what he is not telling you is that the cost according to Krugman’s piece would be $12,000.00. That would leave many families unable to afford medical coverage.
In juxtaposition, Krugman writes of Senator Barack Obama's plan, "Barack Obama offers incremental reform: regulation of insurers to prevent discrimination against the less healthy, subsidies to help lower-income families buy insurance, and public insurance plans that compete with the private sector. His plan falls short of universal coverage, but it would sharply reduce the number of uninsured.”
In a Time.com article published today, Senator Barack Obama had this to add, “Like George Bush, John McCain wants to tax your health care benefits for the first time in history, and let insurance companies keep discriminating against people who need health care the most. It's the same, failed, insurance company first/your family last health care policy – and we're going to change it.”
According to Barack Obama’s plan and where I would feel safer it states, “if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes” Those of us who do have health insurance have the right to keep the status-quo and not have anything change and only Barack Obama realizes this right. In fact in the second presidential debate, he cited that everyone had the right to health-care and there is nothing socialistic about that. What it clearly states is that Barack Obama truly represents family values. He is looking out for you, your wife, your husband and your children. Is John McCain?
Now, I will delve into my personal reasons of why I need a President Barack Obama. Since the age of 15, I have had epilepsy. Without medications, I suffer from grand-mal seizures also known as tonic-clonic seizures. I am now fifty-years-old and will have this condition for the rest of my life and will need to be on two medications for the balance of my life. One drug that I am on, Tegretol is quite costly. In order to obtain these life-saving drugs, I need to see my neurologist three-times a year for check-ups. Without medical care coming from my doctor along with the prescription plan that comes with my medical insurance, should McCain become president, I will seize all over again. I have not had a seizure since January of 2001. Thank God!
Some of you may not fully understand what happens during a grand-mal seizure so I will list what occurs during them as cited by the Mayo Clinic.
Aura. Some people experience a warning feeling (aura) before a grand mal seizure.
Loss of bowel and bladder control. This may happen during or following a seizure.
Unresponsiveness after convulsions. Unconsciousness may persist for a few minutes.
Confusion. A period of disorientation often follows a grand mal seizure.
Fatigue. Sleepiness is common after a grand mal seizure.
Severe headache. Headaches are common but not universal after grand mal seizures.
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