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Who Gonna Pay?
From the AP:
WASHINGTON - President Bush, in a sharp confrontation with Congress, on Wednesday vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have dramatically expanded children’s health insurance.
It was only the fourth veto of Bush’s presidency, and one that some Republicans feared could carry steep risks for their party in next year’s elections. The Senate approved the bill with enough votes to override the veto, but the margin in the House fell short of the required number.
Now, for some numbers:
Cost of this bill: $35 billion over five years
Cost of the Iraq War: $456 billion (so far)
Cost of the Drug Enforcement Administration: $2.4 billion per year
Cost of the Department of Education: $56 billion per year
Cost of the National Security Agency: classified
Cost of the Information Awareness Office: classified
Disclaimer: I am not a fan of socialized medicine. I am not a fan of the Federal Government. I am not a fan of having my earnings stolen from me by the IRS under the threat of violence. I am not convinced that “universal healthcare” will be anything but another medicare-esque quagmire. That said, here are the facts:
Assuming this $7 billion per year cost estimate is accurate, we might have provided the children of America with 65 years of health coverage for the cost of the Iraq War.
What would we gain by providing American children with 65 years worth of health coverage?
What have we gained from the Iraq War?
Final thought:
Humana One’s healthcare plan offers:
HumanaOne’s easy to choose and use plans include unlimited doctor visits, preventive care, prescription drug (available with a $0 deductible) and emergency room benefits along with an extensive network of providers and $5 million lifetime benefit. Also available: Supplemental Accident, dental and term life insurance.
Just for kicks, I just demanded a quote for this plan, assuming we had two children (we don’t), and that my wife and I both smoked cigarettes (we do). Our estimated cost: $461 per month, $5,532 per year.
At this rate, the cost of the Iraq War could have insured 82.9 million families of four for one year.
Please consider: the average American lifespan is currently approx. 77 years.
In other words, yes, we might have had one year of universal coverage rather than the Iraq War. But what about the other 76? And what if you live into your 80’s? What if you live even longer than that?
Need I remind you we are already 9 TRILLION dollars in debt?
In the immortal words of the worst boss I ever had: Who gonna pay? I not gonna pay!
Not true, Stan. We’re all gonna pay.
Hungry for more?
Actually, Cigar smokers, like yours truly, would have witnessed some taxes on Cigars rise from about 5c a stick to upwards of $10.00 a stick. I’m glad that President Bush vetoed the measure.