Need help understanding this: Bob Herbert's HCR op ed

[Undercurrent]

I'm not a fan of Herbert, but I can usually figure out what he is saying. This op ed is confusing to me. I can't even understand what he's saying about taxes on the middle class.

Can someone help me figure it out?

Thanks a bunch in advance.



-- oops forgot the link --

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/29/opinion/29herbert.html

[SeattleGirl]

1. I was somewhat confused too.

I AM a fan of Herbert, but this OpEd had me confused as well.

[Undercurrent]

2. Fans or not

we are both confused! I feel better already. :)

Thought my blood sugar was tanking, or something. I just didn't get what he was saying.

[SeattleGirl]

3. I think sometimes even the best OpEd writers, which I think

Herbert is, can have trouble making themselves clear.

[grantcart]

4. There is a fallacy in his main point

But because of the steadily rising costs of health care in the U.S., more and more plans would reach the taxation threshold each year

He assumes that people and businesses are going to continue to pay 20% of their income for health insurance, and that is not going to happen. One of two things are going to happen either businesses or individuals are going to reduce their coverage or they are going to go without. A significant percent of the country has reached a ceiling and are not going to accept any more increases, they simply can't.

He's making a bunch of money and I suppose he can afford another 5,000 a year in premiums but most people can't. So without the increases everything else he predicts is not going to happen.

Other progressive analysts have faulted the taxes on the bill and offered other solutions.

This thread contained some of that. Of course the OP wanted to slam the bill and not focus on the alternatives that would make it better.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=100575&mesg_id=101221

[Undercurrent]

5. Thank you!

Posted a bit in berni_mccoy 's thread.

It's so great to be able to post a question like this, and get helpful answers instead of abuse!

[Cha]

6. Yeah, it's like we

struck paydirt.:)

[johnaries]

7. Logic, reason, and LINKS! It's like I'm back home, again.