Letter to the Editor: Election all about Obamacare
This election is completely about Obamacare and how much power you want politicians to have over your life. The Supreme Court ruling last week on 6/28/2012, Chief Justice Roberts removed the Constitution as a stop against Federal Government expansion of power and brought Obamacare as the main vote shaping policy issue. We now literally live in a country where the only thing protecting our God given individual liberty is our State government and our elected Federal representatives. Now that our political world was turned upside down, each and every one of us have to be involved in the nomination and election of liberty protecting politicians on levels we mostly have never been involved with before.
What are we to do? Many of us don’t have the time to follow politics since we already struggle the jungle of our daily lives. For this election, who to vote for and the direction of our nation can be found in some simple questions. What is your opinion of Obamacare? Many things can be said about it, but one fact is that it will be the largest tax increase in the history of the USA when fully implemented. It will lead many businesses throughout Dubois County to drop their current health insurance and put you and your family on the new universal Medicaid. Second, do you want your Federal government to balance its budget quickly? We have to balance our budgets or suffer the consequences, so is it time for Congress to do the same? Lastly, what position would you ask Rep. Messmer, Rep. Ellspermann, and Sen. Hume to take in shaping the role of the State of Indiana in protecting its citizens?
I want to leave you with this thought–that together, we can stand against the expansion anti-liberty Federal Government power. This week of the July 4th , remember what happened leading up to 1776 and actually read the Declaration of Independence. You might be surprised by what you read when compared to our situation today. It is time to get more deeply involved politically or risk your personal liberty disappearing completely.
Sincerely, Adrian Engelberth Jasper, IN
It is not the largest tax increase in the history of the USA.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statement…
Please keep your false right-wing talking points on the Fox News message boards.
Thought the name of the publication was "Free Press" which meant we all could post our opinions here regardless of which side we fall on. You know, kind of like freedom of speech/ press or maybe that is also subject to change… I guess Mr Engelberth can only have an opinion if you agree with it or it doesn't line up with "Fox News" You or I may not agree with Mr. E but he is entitled to his opinion and has the right to express it wherever he wishes which includes DCFP … It still is America where everyone from every political persuasion has that right.
You just lost a subscriber, DCFP.
Would this be the comparison we should be making this Independence Day?
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good:
President Obama and his Senate allies have refuse to pass a budget in more than three years. They refuse to take up House passed legislation to create jobs by reforming the economy or legislate to reform a social security, medicare, and medicaid system that is failing.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
President Obama refuses to comply with immigration laws and works to undermine states that act to follow the law.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
The Obama administration has created 38 Czars to rule over the American people. The IRS is hiring 16,000 new agents to collect Obamacare taxes.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
The Obama administration is striving to void the 2nd Amendment with the ratification of the U.N. Gun Control Treaty.
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
The National Defense Authorization Act and President Obama's National Defense Resources Preparedness Executive Order nullify the protection afforded the American people by Posse Comentadas which has been in effect since the Civil War.
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
The Fraudulent passage of the Obamacare Taxes.
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
NDAA and National Defense Resources Executive Order open that door to the Obama administration
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
Abandonment of the rule of law in the Obama administration is evident in the government's refusal to enforce laws with which it agrees: Defense of Marriage Act, immigration laws, enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The rule of law is ignored when the government infringes on our religious liberty and picks winners and losers in the market place.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
President Obama and his Progressive allies divide the nation with their endless class warfare which pits men and against women, whites against non-whites, rich against the middle class and poor, young versus the old.
If one were to further this list with grievances against the Obama administration not mentioned by the Founding Fathers, it seems reasonable that the American people would respond at the polls to cast off the shackles of the soft tyranny of the Obama administration. This threat to our liberty should animate every American to mutually pledge to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
"President Obama refuses to comply with immigration laws and works to undermine states that act to follow the law."
During the Obama administration
deportation is up (http://www.themonitor.com/articles/obama-41524-immigration-administration.html)
enforcement against companies hiring illegals has increased (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/dining/08crackdown.html?_r=3)
immigration is down (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-rodriguez-vitriol-20100726,0,3410280.column)
border patrol has increased (http://www.democracynow.org/2010/8/19/obama_signs_600m_bill_to_increase)
"The Obama administration has created 38 Czars to rule over the American people. "
GWBush had 33 czars
"The IRS is hiring 16,000 new agents to collect Obamacare taxes."
The IRS budget has request only 1,300 new hires. (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/oct/13/jon-huntsman/jon-huntsman-says-irs-will-hire-19500-new-workers-/)
“The Obama administration is striving to void the 2nd Amendment with the ratification of the U.N. Gun Control Treaty.”
http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2012/m…
As well, guns are in national parks. (http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/22/local/la-me-parks-guns22-2010feb22)
“The Fraudulent passage of the Obamacare Taxes.”
Upheld by the supreme court with the swing vote coming from Roberts.
The rest I cannot really address. Too vague.
Joseph,
You can do no better than site the stepchild of left wing organizations, like the Annenberg Foundation and the Flora Family Foundation, which are populated by the very same mainstream news troopers who failed to vet President Obama in 2008 and still to this day cover for him?
You really should familiarize yourself with our Constitution. Then you would know that tax bills have to originate from the House of Representatives. Had Progressives not lied about Obamacare being a tax, what was achieved through deception and fraud never would have been passed into law.
I fail to see how reading the constitution would enlighten me to the fact that you play partisan politics when it comes to Obama Czars without a mention of Bush and rip on Obama regarding illegal immigration when he is doing a better job than the previous president. Not to mention the how flat incorrect you were regarding the IRS statement.
Instead of attempting to show the sources as poor why not provide evidence to the contrary from non-partisan sites.
There are 6 different sites listed. Only two citations are from Politifact, which is a nonpartisan fact seeking site. If you dispute that, I strongly recommend you read some of it as well as their monthly letter bag columns. They also cite each of their sources.
That being said, here is some alternative source.
Regarding IRS hiring –
Fox News – http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/cost-of-freedom/201…
To sum up, the IRS wanted to add 4,000 enforcement jobs total (not just for Obamacare) to offset the 5,000 jobs laid off the previous year. These numbers are more recent.
Washington Times – http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/11/g…
This article discusses trying to get funding to hire 900 agents for the new law.
As for the UN Gun Treaty…all international treaties require 2/3 of senators present to approve. (http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Treaties.htm) In short, it is not going to happen if the gun treaty does as you claim and if it were approved it would not just be Obama's fault.
Joseph, below is the sustance of the people upon which President Obama's tax collectors will be chewing.
A 156% increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco
Obamacare Individual Mandate Excise Tax
Obamacare Employer Mandate Tax
Obamacare Surtax on Investment Income
Obamacare Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans
Obamacare Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax
Obamacare Medicine Cabinet Tax
Obamacare HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike
Obamacare Flexible Spending Account Cap – aka “Special Needs Kids Tax”
Obamacare Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers
Obamacare “Haircut” for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI
Obamacare Tax on Indoor Tanning Services
Obamacare elimination of tax deduction for employer-provided retirement Rx drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D
Obamacare Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike
Obamacare Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals
Obamacare Tax on Innovator Drug Companies
Obamacare Tax on Health Insurers
Obamacare $500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives
Obamacare Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2
Obamacare “Black liquor” tax hike
Obamacare Codification of the “economic substance doctrine”
The following Comprehensive list of the TAXES is from American’s for Tax Reform .
First, you go on a rant that I discredit most of, then you come back to this. Please quit moving the goal post.
All listed still don't make it the biggest tax increase in history. See my first post. (or see BIll's)
You want to hear about a crazy tax. I have to pay an annual dubois county property tax on a $20 item for my business that, if I didn't have a business, I wouldn't have to worry about. It isn’t much but I spend more time figuring out what I own than what it is worth.
But I will go through some of these:
"A 156% increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco."
It may be in the bill but really… We are going complain about this one. We could spend more caring for smokers/chewers when they get cancer than what they pay in taxes if more don’t quit smoking. This will alleviate those expenses later. But this is no different than other sin taxes.
"Obamacare Individual Mandate Excise Tax"
We are ALREADY paying for folks that don't have insurance. Every unpaid medical bill is paid by society. Why not use this bill to recoup that cost. You know it originally was a republican idea.
"Obamacare Employer Mandate Tax"
Affects business with 50 or more people.
"Obamacare Surtax on Investment Income"
Why should invest income be treated differently than normal income? It also only affects households whose income is more than $250k. Low investment income rates is how people like Romney get to pay taxes in the mid teens when his others are paying in the 20s.
"Obamacare Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax"
A single person with income of a quarter million will pay an additional $450 a year into Medicare. $7,200 if he made over a million. For couples, earning $500,000 willl pay an additional $2,250. Earning $1 million and they would pay an additional $6,750.
"Obamacare Medicine Cabinet Tax"
Removing OTC drugs (except insulin) from pre-tax spending accounts. No surprise. It was probably hard to police or being abused. It has been chipped away at for awhile and I am indifferent about it. I don't use my spending account on OTC drugs and most folks I know that do don't spend much.
"Obamacare HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike"
I think the hike is too high, but it is a rare occurrence. This one raises the least money if I am not mistaken.
"Obamacare Flexible Spending Account Cap – aka “Special Needs Kids Tax”"
I am not well versed in this one. It seems unnecessary; however, the limit does not apply to hsa or health reimbursement arrangements. It seems the employee could easily switch from an FSA to an HSA which also has the advantage of allowing dollars to rollover year over year and is less policed.
"Obamacare “Haircut” for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI"
I disagree with this one being raised.
"Obamacare Tax on Indoor Tanning Services"
To me this one is like the increased tax on tobacco. In the end, we will all be paying for their cancer care. No different than other sin taxes.
"Obamacare Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike"
Absolutely support this one. Insurance companies should be required to spend at least 85% of my premium on health services. It has been this way in Minnesota for awhile.
“Obamacare Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals”
Only if they they fail to meet new rules and requirements. They don’t even have a guess as to what this would bring in in revenue.
“Obamacare $500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives”
Am I supposed to feel sorry that a CEO guy in the business of insuring my life is being capped at $500K a year? Cry me a freaking river.
“Obamacare “Black liquor” tax hike”
Bio fuel tax. No opinion.
"but one fact is that it will be the largest tax increase in the history of the USA when fully implemented."
Incorrect. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statement…
That's a pants of fire lie.
"It will lead many businesses throughout Dubois County to drop their current health insurance and put you and your family on the new universal Medicaid."
No it won't. There no such thing as "universal Medicaid." The expansion of Medicaid is for people at 133% of poverty. Otherwise the law provides tax credits to small business.
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/employers/…
Beyond that, on this 4th of July we need to remember this nation wasn't built upon right wing propaganda and lies, but if we start running it that way as Adrian Engelberth would suggest, this nation is lost.
I am sorry my thoughts and opinions disturb you. Can you then please keep your socialist left wing thoughts at Moveon.org? Maybe if we all keep very quiet, our politicians will help else…
Sorry, $500 billion is still $500 billion. What I stated was correct, the $500 billion total tax will be the largest in history of the USA. If you want to talk GDP, well I will go through soon enough.
http://www.atr.org/full-list-obamacare-tax-hikes-….
$500 billion is still $500 billion. It is the largest amount of tax increases ever brought onto the nation. You can play voodoo with numbers, but your shows nothing that shows me to be wrong.
You try to justify the massive tax increases with making points of who it will hurt. All good socialists say such things to make it seem ok we treat people differently. You look across the last 120 years, that tactic was used quite well across Europe, Asia, and so on for the political elite to gain power… then drive those countries into ruin. While in your heart it might seem fair, there isn't anything fair about an unfair system. It taxes people differently just because they are successful. It will mandate care down to the doctor based on your health and if you are deemed important enough to have that surgery or medication. The whole law stinks and in my opinion (and the 52% of likely voters this November) the whole law should be struck down.
"$500 billion is still $500 billion. It is the largest amount of tax increases ever brought onto the nation."
A $1000 raise to a millionaire ($0.1%) means nothing but to the waitress, making $25K/yr at the corner deli, it would be fantastic (4%). You have to measure this increase as a percentage to make it mean anything.
"You try to justify the massive tax increases with making points of who it will hurt."
It isn't justification, but it is hard to know whether or not to support a tax increase if you don't know who it affects.
For instance, if you raise taxes on everyone to reduce tobacco price, I would be p$#%^.
No, I try to explain the tax increase so people no who they will affect and they can decide if it a big deal. I include my commentary.
This is much better than listing 21 tax increases without telling the average Joe that only three of them will ever apply to him and others only affect people who willfully harm their health through smoking and tanning.
We have the lowest taxes that we have seen in decades and it is now starting to hurt us because they were unfunded tax cuts and those who benefited greatest from that do not want to help. Reagan is a GOP hero let us return to Reagan era taxes.
"Please quit moving the goal post?" You are on the wrong playing field, Joseph. You think tactically in a micro theater.
Adrian observed that the Obamacare tax ruling "removed the Constitution as a stop against Federal Government expansion of power," and you can think no larger than "It is not the largest tax increase in the history of the USA." Your line of thought and reasoning suggests a perspective incapable of grasping the essence of the great issues of the moment whose resolution will determine the quality of life for our posteriety. That's another playing field
Our nation is again experiencing an ancient struggle between freedom makers and freedom takers. The conflict between Progressives and Conservatives, that is, between those people who expect the state to order our lives and those who trust in liberty and free individuals, seems to be a conversation you do not hear.
To get onto that playing field, you might have asserted that the Court's rulling affirmed a positive constitutional step forward for the country which enables the government to impact the behaviors of individuals by taxing them. Perhaps you could have explained how a government run health care system will result in less costs and an increase in services.
For those of us on the right, the experiences of the Post Office, Medicare and Medicaide, Amtrack, Fannie and Freddie, to name but a few enterprises of the Federal Government, the efficacy of Obamacare, as it impacts the economy, our health, and our individual liberty, could have been explained instead of detail fact checking.
In a speech, when making the case for small government, our late great president, Ronald Reagan observed that, “There’s a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts.” Conservative independents, bluedog Democrats, Republicans, and libetarians stand for liberty and will defend it. I certainly will be appreciative if you can join us on this playing field for a conversation on the role of government and civil society in America.
—Adrian observed that the Obamacare tax ruling “removed the Constitution as a stop against Federal Government expansion of power,” and you can think no larger than “It is not the largest tax increase in the history of the USA.”—
—To get onto that playing field, you might have asserted that the Court’s rulling affirmed a positive constitutional step forward for the country which enables the government to impact the behaviors of individuals by taxing them. —
I group these to comments together because I can respond to them with the same.
I have argued in previous Letters to the Editors that have discussed PPACA, that the individual mandate tax/penalty is no different than any other from of government coercion that we already see.
Assume two people having all things equal:
One not having a mortgage results in a larger tax bill.
One not having children results in a larger tax bill.
One not improving energy efficeincy in their will have a larger tax bill.
One not buying a hybrid will have a larger tax bill.
One not participating in cash for clunker will have a larger tax bill.
Cigarettes, long commutes, alcohol all cost more in excise taxes to that person.
And so on, etc.
One man's tax credit is another man's tax hike. If you want to fight the mandate and get it ruled unconstitutional then you could potentially affect every tax break/credit/refund.
Why not complain about those?
If you want me to agree that the mandate is wrong, you have to explain to me why the others or not or also go after them.
Taxes have LONG been used to coerce behavior.
As it is, this mandate tax is not enforceable. It is written into the PPACA that no one will go to jail for not paying or have liens put on their property for not paying.
— As government expands, liberty contracts.—
Both parties want gov't expansion. Democrats tend to expand on social issues. Republicans tend to expand into private lives and on defense spending.
—For those of us on the right, the experiences of the Post Office, Medicare and Medicaide, Amtrack, Fannie and Freddie, to name but a few enterprises of the Federal Government,—
What about the effects of Enron, Wall street, BP…look at what they cost us.
— the efficacy of Obamacare, as it impacts the economy, our health, and our individual liberty, could have been explained instead of detail fact checking.–
How do you explain something without first doing a detailed fact check?
As usual, you don't attempt to counter any points I make.
"Assume two people having all things equal:…"
I may not have been clear here, but when I went on to list "One does not have…" the implication is that the other does have.
"One not having a mortgage (when the other does) results in a larger tax bill"
Just wanted to clear that up.
"Both parties want gov’t expansion" Welcome to the Tea Party, Joseph! Now all you have to do is learn to distinguish between a Republican and Conservative.
"If you want to fight the mandate and get it ruled unconstitutional then you could potentially affect every tax break/credit/refund.
Why not complain about those?
If you want me to agree that the mandate is wrong, you have to explain to me why the others or not or also go after them.
Taxes have LONG been used to coerce behavior."
You answered the question raised yourself. Conservatives stand for liberty and oppose cohersion in all it's forms. The taxing force of the state to compel and shape private, lawfull behavior is never acceptable. Too much exposure to the Main Stream Media appears to have left you unaware that Conservative opposition to the Obamacare Tax is a principled stand which also applies to those other taxing behaviors. Otherwise, you would not have had to ask.
Perhaps you ought to attend a Tea Party meeting or two to begin weening yourself off the lies and deception perpetrated by the MSM. You might learn that Conservatives, as opposed to Republicans, have nearly as much a problem with the fraud and Croney Capitalism to which you eluded, as we do with the State's suppression of liberty.
"The taxing force of the state to compel and shape private, lawfull behavior is never acceptable. Too much exposure to the Main Stream Media appears to have left you unaware that Conservative opposition to the Obamacare Tax is a principled stand which also applies to those other taxing behaviors. Otherwise, you would not have had to ask."
Then maybe you should start presenting it this way because that is not what I am seeing and that is absolutely not what has not been shared in the comments of the other letters and other forums.
I can respect a contrary opinion as long as the person presenting is consistent. If you find coercion through taxation repugnant, I would love to read a letter to the editor from you calling for the repeal of the each credits, refunds, exemptions that I have listed and other credits and excise taxes that try to affect behavior.
Don't skirt around it with rhetoric.
If you feel dependent exemptions should be removed from the taxing system…
If you feel mortgage tax credits should be abolished…
If you think getting credit for buying a hybrid car is wrong…
If you find getting tax credit for more efficient windows…
If you think getting charged a different tax bracket because you have "work" income rather "interest" income then…put it in print.
Because to be honest, I am not convinced. Sure you say you don't like being taxed, but who does? Sure they want less corrupt government and who doesn't?
At least with the PPACA something will come from it.
After fully implemented:
-No more pre-existing conditions.
-No more insurers price gouging customers.
-New health plans that must include mammograms and coloscopies at no charge.
-New anti-fraud funding and controls
-Insurers can't drop you because you get sick
-Children can be covered until they are 26
-Sin tax for tanning and tobacco use
-Requires restaraunts to list calories
-PCORI
-Increases rebates on drugs for people on medicare
-Insurance companies can no longer discriminate on disabilites or previous domestic abuse
-Allows FDA to approve more generic drugs
-No more lifetime limits
-upper limits on deductibles
-increased limit on the amount that can be deducted for medical care
-no more medicaid gap
-AND states can still create their own plan. Vermont is looking to go single-payer.
The list is could longer and many of these can be elaborated but I tried to make each line as self explanatory as possible.
One of the best readable explanations of what the PPACA does that I have read came from reddit. (http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx) It is very good.
This is a good link, too.
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2010/Marc…
When/Where are your meetings?
08/10/12 7:00 pm @ the K of C Hall, 811 Main St., Jasper, IN in the basement meeting room.
No, we are taking on the Trojan Obamacare Tax because it is a much greater threat to liberty than a tax credit. You are right when you assert "At least with the PPACA something will come from it
after fully implemented." If by "something," you mean a "good outcome," then you would be wrong. The "something" this Trogan Horse will bring is a greater degree of tyranny as the state encroaches more and more upon the people's liberty while providing the wasteful and inefficient health care only government could deliver.
"That list of benefits you presented could be managed in a competitive free marketplace if government, instead of preverting, distorting and corrupting the marketplace, returned to its' responsibility for maintaining an honest, level playing field that encourages enterprise. That is government's job, not aggrandizing power to a centralized, elite political class creating the dependent class long sought by Progressives to extend their control.
When you say thing like "Trojan Obamacare Tax" I can only say that there was nothing "trojan" about it. Nothing all of sudden changed in the bill when SCOTUS called it a tax regardless of what others said it was. Anyone that read the bill knew what would happen.
As I said before, this tax is different than other taxes. The law was written to prevent enforcement measures that other taxes will use.
Regardless, you cannot do some of the key most beneficial features of the bill without everyone paying into a system from early on.
States that have tried implementing similar parts of this bill without a mandate (Kentucky) have seen an exodus of health insurance companies from the state.
As well, each state is invited to create it's own program. Massachusetts residents will likely be little affected. Same with Hawaii. The states fighting this (Florida) have some of the highest uninsured rates in the country.
If you have the time, explain how a competitive free market place would fix it. The only thing I can see happening is more pre-existing conditions and more rescission. I have already witnesses major premium increase with less coverage since the Bush days. How is unregulated free market competition going to benefit us?
PPACA is not my ideal solution but I do believe it will help more than hurt. Only time will tell.
From the DCFreep facbook page: http://img.timeinc.net/time/2012/graphics/healthc…
Nobama 2012!
You can lead a liberal to knowledge but you can't make them learn a thing!
Nobama 2012
I have a Question about Obama… Y is it that he loves to travel when AMERICANS are having issues staying afflote?? Why was it that he was not there to support the Ttroops, Why is it that he woudl not put his hand on his chest , THere are so many things that he has sdone that is very Questionable.He wantrs something differnt yea sure make the peopel who live pay check to pay chek go even more in debt, make it hard for peopel to get medicade and mroe. let the other people who do not need it get it.. So many get things.. I am NOT FOR OBAMA…. He wants money for the rich and forgets about eth poor peopel who keep the rich afflote. Knock out the lowe class you will no longer have the rich.