How Do We Fix Healthcare? Part 3
How do we collect $3 trillion dollars on a fair basis to give healthcare for all? Do we need to collect that much if it is double the average of other developed countries?
I am a flat tax proponent, at the income tax level, for funding healthcare because it levels the playing field. Nobody pays more or less, only a set percentage on income. The first $25,000 of income is not taxed for healthcare. You are just trying to survive on that amount. Above that, everyone will pay 3% of gross income for healthcare. Not just individuals, but corporations, associations and partnerships. Any organization that takes in money must pay. There are no tax-exempt organizations (e.g religious institutions). That is the price of “admission” to operate in the US.
I support the “sin” taxes. That is, cigarettes and alcohol, especially cigarettes. I would have a $5 a pack tax as a minimum on cigarettes. Reducing the number of people smoking would greatly improve the cost of healthcare. Obesity is a national issue that needs to be addressed. I would tax any product that has high fructose corn syrup. You can almost trace the introduction of that product and the rise of obesity. We have to break the lock that sugar has in our nutrition. In no way do I want to eliminate it. I love it. We just need to moderate the consumption.
I do not what to overly tax the public, but healthcare for all does not come cheap. All must pay, the rich are not going to be able to pick up this bill all by themselves. Of course, “the rich” is highly subjective depending on where you are on the economic scale.
Healthcare is an extremely complicated and emotional issue. It will take compromise from all sides. It will take leadership. It will take cooperation from the states and federal government. It needs buy in from all sides. If it comes down to somebody “winning” and others “losing” we all lose. We can’t hide our heads in the sand. Let’s address it, fix it, fund it and move on.
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