Reply #11: I agree completely

[karynnj]

I know my opinion has always become more informed after looking at the breath of articles and opinions others bring here. That is why this is my favorite place on the web. (other than the obvious that there are lots of nice people here.)

The Time article is interesting because it addresses the idea in detail. The fact that there are so many articles - and ones looking for flaws, has to be a sign that it is being taken very seriously.

I found the heritage one interesting because of their sleight of hand. They criticized it for the real failings of McCain's plan pretending Kerry is taxing all insurance plans, while redefining the Republican plan. McCain's plan took the tax exemption from all plans. They now speak of "capping" the amount that remains untaxed as the republican plan.

In essence, they are aligning themselves with the rough equivalent of Kerry's plan done via caps on what is tax free rather than an excise tax on that same portion. Meanwhile, they are distorting Kerry's proposal to be equivalent to McCain's failed politically dead plan that taxes all plans.

(The good news is that it means they like the plan - I would not be surprised if a Republican sponsors a plan to do this via capping what is tax free.)