JUST GOT BACK from Congressman Dingell Town Hall in Romulus, Michigan. I am and was a voter for President Obama in November 2009 and went into the health care town hall with a OPEN MIND on this bill. Well the opposition was OUT IN FORCE in a state with 15% unemployment and this is NOT GOOD AT ALL. Here is my experience...........
So, a friend e-mailed me about the health care town hall and I decided to go because I wanted to see what was up with the Health Care Bill for my small business. I was VERY OPEN walking in and after walking out, more confused than ever.
First, the line....I swear 500 people easily at the event. Many people in opposition, more so than in support...believe me. The signs were out...Obama/Socialism...Obama/Charlie Chaplin...Obama/Baby Killer. I had some guy trying to get me to sign a petition to remove Obama from office. The racism was the undertone of the day as 90% of the people in attendance were white. Regardless, people were SOMEWHAT calm....except for one guy that had to be removed by the Romulus police during the meeting.
I give Congressman Dingell credit, he held the meeting for over 2 1/2 hours were he answered questions on the health care bill. Regardless, I have to admit that the shouting in the meeting itself was very frighting and I swear makes me VERY AFRAID for President Obama.
Still, I never got my question answered, how this health care will affect my small business. Debbie Dingell, did not have a real clue on it, but I did appreciate that she at least took on my question. I never got my question read to Congressman Dingell. Also, I have to admit that the anti-health care crowd was even getting to me....getting me to listen to them....because at least they had their version of the facts....the other side meanwhile stating, in just, "We have 7 bills".
TRUST ME when I say this, unless the facts of these bills (hopefully ONE bill soon) are presented to small business owners like myself, this thing is going down. I WANT TO KNOW how I will be taxed as a small business owner, if I am going to be mandated to pay into a "employer pool", what type of "proof" will I have to present for my small business for how much revenue is gained, will I get tax credits if I provide my employees with insurance and if so...how much and how is the government going to keep costs under control with this bill so my business will NOT have to pay more taxes or other costs, in the future?
I left this meeting MORE CONFUSED, STILL UNDECIDED and a little angry that we as citizens do not have ONE BILL to go to and check the facts. President Obama need to A.S.A.P. get his act together on this on, get the facts out and tell everyone what their costs will be. NOT TALKING POINTS, NOT HALF-TRUTHS......PLEASE.