Posted by
Tom Rand on Sunday, July 22, 2007 11:02:19 AM
From Michael Moore’s documenta-scary “Sicko” to Barrack Obama’s “…right to affordable healthcare” to Hillary Clinton’s “…ensure[ing] Americans have the healthcare they need,” one would tend to believe we are all standing with one foot in the grave while the other is firmly planted on a banana peel at the same time an SUV driven by an insurance agent bears-down on us—laughing fiendishly of course—at a high rate of speed.
How have we ever survived without their stewardship? How could the Founding Fathers have missed this right? We neeeeed it after all and if we need it, government should provide it! Three cheers for mommy and daddy government (and don’t forget fat Uncle Mike)!
So, what happens to a medical system run by a government bureaucracy? Ask the men and women who did time at Walter Reed. Better yet, ask someone from one of the “success stories” that are so often referenced as examples for us stupid Americans (by decidedly smarter Americans—don't believe 'em, just ask ‘em).
From a country where “free” social programs are paid for by such things as $7.21 per gallon gas prices, comes this short example:
In Germany, if one earns less than 47, 250 euros ($65, 230) per year (not exactly in the poor haus), one is automatically enrolled in the government healthcare system. Compulsory care for your own good…”Take your liverwurst oil Hans, it is gut for you” “Ja mummy, I vill! I vill!”
Not only is the German government saying you must be insured but, it is saying you must be covered by their plan! Wait, wait, it gets better…you get to pay for it too! Ge-sund-heit! This “free” service costs around 13% of income. Even Tony Soprano never muscled-out a sweet deal like this. But of course, he’s Italian. I mean, Italian-American.
Once one adds income tax—21%, social security—8.5%, unemployment—2% and unification tax—1.16%, it comes to a grand total of 45.66%! This does not even count church tax which thankfully, you can opt out of (around 2%).
As if this was not enough (is it ever?), add 19% value-added-tax on nearly everything you purchase. (Some things, such as unprepared food, are at around half this percentage.) Tax rates do differ a bit depending on income but in this example, someone just below the magic $65,000 per year gets to keep about $35,400 of his hard earned schnitzel. So, after starting-off at a respectable 65k, one is left with 35k to spend. Of that, subtract anywhere from 9 to 19% for consumption. And the best part of these types of “free,” “caring” and “right thing to do” social entitlement systems are that they cover less and less each year while costs go up and up. What a great plan to emulate!
To properly comprehend Universal Healthcare, pull out the word universe and think of the late astrobiologist Carl Sagan (come on, it’s not that big of a leap) and remember the catch phrase “buh-illions and buh-illions.”
Because that is exactly what it’s going to cost us.