straightUp Loc: California

U.S. Senator, R-OK James Lankford said "This year, a majority of states are seeing premiums and costs double" under Obamacare. That lie has already been debunked. And seriously, no one even had too... Anyone with anything better than 3rd grade reading skills already knew Lankford was lying.

www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/may/25/james-lankford/did-obamacare-premiums-double-most-states-year-no/


That's their own fault for voting Republican. Those states already had monopolized markets BEFORE ACA came along.


For a lot of people that's that's probably true. I see it all the time, where people on the right fail to safegaurd themselves against misfortune and then they come running to the same government that they pissed on for help. But the point made my most people on the left is that we believe in a civilized society where citizens watch out for each other. It's that simple. I don't know why people think that's such a horrible idea. Oh, wait yeah, I do... because they've been brainwashed by the wealthy elite into turning their backs on their own democracy, which ensures the elite will always be in control.


When you learn how to spell Nazi, maybe you will understand that none of the bad things those countries are famous for had anything to do with socialism. In fact the Nazis were defeated by nations with even bigger socialist systems than they had. And just to add to your confusion... Let me offer this little fact... The largest socialist system the world has ever seen (in terms of cash flow) is the socialist systems of the United States of America.

MalG

But to my first question: don't the congress guys have to report lobby contributions on their tax returns? Why do we have to pay the DC puppets if they have a large outside income?

buddy42 Loc: Bonita Springs, Fl

When you learn to spell safeguard, hopefully she will have mastered the word Nazi! Verdad Bobo!

straightUp Loc: California

LOL - touche... But at least my jab was only in passing to what I would call thoughtful responses to her obvious confusion. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the only counter-response would be to make an issue of the jab. I certainly don't see anyone standing up to the main points that I'm making here. zzz

straightUp Loc: California

Yes, but that's where political action committees come in. The money that a PAC receives can be used to pay for all kinds of political support without the supported candidate ever touching it. And now (thanks to the Republicans) PACS can receive unlimited funds WITHOUT disclosure. Isn't that terrific?


Because technically, a large outside income isn't a prerequisite to becoming a "DC puppet". We want the ability to elect representatives based on their merits and morals, not just their income, so we have to offer the position a salary. They only make $200,000/year... That's nothing compared to what they make in the private industry where they're probably gouging you at the point of sale.

Just to put things in perspective...

median household income (across all job markets in the US) = $51,939 (source: U.S.Census Bureau)
11% tax on that bracket = $5,713.29 per year, per household.

average premium for health insurance (family plan) = $833 / mo (source: eHealthInsurance)
times 12 = $9,996 per year.

So, these are rough figures but you can see that the average cost of health insurance is a quite a bit more than the average federal tax bill ...and with the taxes, we get a lot more than healthcare (Medicare), we also get things like national defense... all for just $5,700. What do you get for the $10,000 you spend on health insurance? You get limited healthcare coverage up to a specified ceiling providing you first pay a deductible.

So why is it so easy to fool so many Americans into thinking the government is the rip off?