Damn Near Speechless

I sit here thinking about the Baucus Caucus farce of a wealth care bill. I find myself offended in ways I cannot describe. What's done it is the inclusion of the so-called "sur-charge" on "Cadillac plans." The very idea, that they would be so self righteous and narcissistic as to presume that they can place some arbitrary boundary on what is acceptable for employers to provide in terms of coverage is...

"...I will ascend to the throne of the most high..."

Who made you God, Max Baucus? ???

This is NOT a fee. It is NOT a sur-charge. It is NOT even a tax. Call it what it is: A FINE.

They have criminalized good health care. I have good coverage. At least I had it, until my employer was pushed off what we had and forced to go elsewhere. (Full disclosure: Our new insurance has yet to kick in; I do not know for sure how good it might be) Our new plan, is supposedly a cadillac plan; as was our old plan. No worries about pre-existing conditions; no fuss over preventative procedures, like ass reamings and tit squeezings; small copays on Dr visits and prescips: $10-15. Was nice. I really never had to worry. And I could add family members and only payed the same percentage of their premiums as I did on my own.

Apparently though, this is some kind of threat. To whom, I know not, but the Baucus Caucus and Gang of Six, has in their infinite wisdom decided that my life is not worth this coverage. Nor is your life. Nor anyone's.

Should the Baucus Bill become law, this will now be a crime and my boss will be fined. They say it's to encourage companies to search out other options. Like... Shittier coverage? Higher copays? Higher deductibles? Lower life time and yearly maximums on payments? My coverage goes crappy, he no longer gets fined.

I thought it was McCain who wanted to dismantle the employer based system? And I thought he lost the election? So that we wouldn't have George Bush's third term? I thought health care would work toward providing better coverage. Not worse.

I feel as though I've just been told I'm only 3/5s of a man.

Meet the new boss; same as the old boss. The Boss from the 1800's.