I don't get it. Every time the idea of taxing the rich to pay for health care comes up, we hear the same old bromide about how that would be bad for the economy. At least half the people I know have had pay cuts, or unpaid furloughs or wage freezes. I haven't heard one comments from any politician about how that's bad for the economy.
In the state of NJ and across the country public workers have had numerous unpaid fulough days, which is some cases have resulted in more than a 10% pay cut. Private corporations, either to prevent layoffs or just to increase profits, have cut hours and salaries for regular workers.
Many public and Private workers salaries are frozen and increases, if they are given, are minimal.
This means that fewer and fewer people can afford to make purchases that drive our consumer economy. I haven't heard anyone talking about how this is bad for the economy. No one is pressuring corporations to maintain or increase the purchasing power of the American consumer.
The only consumers who seem to matter are the wealthy. We have to maintain their lifestyles by not increasing their taxes or the economy will fall apart. That's bull.
Where I work, our health care costs have gone up by 30% percent this year.
This means that I'll be receiving reduced coverage and my costs will go up, further eroding my purchasing power. Relatives of mine have no coverage and the percentage of their incomes that go to health care is increasing rapidly.
By taxing the wealthy to pay for a health care plan that covers everyone, working people will pay less for the health care they need, and
their ability to make purchases to revive the economy will increase. Trickle down economics has never worked. We need a plan to improve the economic situation of working america to get the economy moving again. That plan needs to include affordable health care for all.