11 Facts about the tax debate -

[Bill USA]

(administrator, this is public information, not copyrighted material)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/08/15/11-facts-about-tax-debate

Unless the House of Representatives takes action before January 1, 2013, taxes will go up on 114 million middle-class families. Nearly everyone in Washington agrees that’s a bad idea. That’s why President Obama is calling for -- and the Senate has already passed -- legislation that will keep the middle class from paying thousands of extra dollars next year.

Republicans in the House of Representatives, however, are refusing to extend middle-class tax cuts without also giving massive tax cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. In fact, House Republicans have proposed their own tax plan that would actually raise taxes on 25 million families making less than $250,000, while giving families making more than $1 million an average tax cut of $160,000 next year.

Here are 11 facts about the two plans and what's at stake for middle-class families.

[KansDem]

1. I can't afford the GOP plan!

What makes them believe the average voter will accept this?

[Bill USA]

2. because they lie their fucking asses off and the corporate media won't question them on obvious

obfuscations and Big Lies. It works mainly because of coporate media complicity.

Unless people come to the web and search out the truth ... if they just listen to corporate (funded) media sources (ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS!... of course, Fox News Channel (cable) is just GOP tv) they won't be able to figure anything out.

here is an article in USAToday that is entitled: "Medicare drama mostly hype"

The authors, Saving and Goodman tell the reader their isn't a dime's worth of difference between the R&R medicare plan and Obama's approach. They leave out the part that individuals given a fixed amount voucher for health care will have NO BARGAINING POWER WITHE THE INSURERS. THIS IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN OBAMA'S APPROACH WHERE THE PEOPLE WILL REMAIN IN MEDICARE AND THEY WILL BE ONE VERY LARGE BUYER OF HEALTH INSURANCE. UNDER THIS CIRCUMSTANCE AS ONE LARGE BUYER, THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE BARGAINING POWER AND WILL (WITH THE GOVERNMENT ACTING AS THEIR AGENT) BE ABLE TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOW MUCH INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN GET AWAY WITH IN TERMS OF PREMIUM INCREASES.

But Saving and Goodman don't bother to mention that.

In fact, there have already been rebates (for 2011) sent to policy holders this year (because of ACA's 80:20 rule - 80% of premiums must go to paying for professional services from health care professionals - not for Insurance co. G&A)... by that I mean individuals who have their own policies with insurance compaies - not those in Medicare.

People with Medicare have saved about $600 per person due to closing the donut hole in Part D Medicare.

"In 2011, the 3.6 million Americans who hit the donut hole saved an average of $604 on the cost of their prescription drugs."

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/02/20120202a.html

[Zoeisright]

3. Because the average voter is really stupid.

They also vote on issues that are absolutely none of their business: gay rights and abortion rights.

[DavidL]

4. Put this on my Facebook, suggest others do the same.

Especially if you have independent or Republican friends.

So, you might get de-friended by some Republicans, does it really matter that much?

I'd rather get one more vote for Obama than keep all my Republican friends on Facebook, but that's just me!

[Bill USA]

5. good idea. I tend to forget about FB, but it attracts viewers too.