Let me explain. From the time I was a young child I always had an interest in science, gizmos and sci-fi–the “what if” science. All the books and magazines I read led to a future of robotic service to free mankind from work. Gene Roddenberry promoted this concept theory in his Star Trek series. People living life as they felt. No money because everything was “free”. Everyone had their niche and only worked their “shift”; always finding time for family, FO time or just hanging out in 10 Forward, getting stewed. Sounds so lovely, doesn’t it? Well, it seems we’re trying to get there without robots but still with the need of money.
The CBO came out with a report that shows Obamacare “frees you from job lock”. Read this article. Now normal people who feel they have job lock (and are currently working) would apply for a different position or even another job to get what they need BEFORE they changed or reduced hours. Here (If you can even decipher this inane diatribe) we learn that it creates entrepreneurs. You can now do art or yoga or be with the kids or just meditate all day in your bathroom and not have to worry any longer about your healthcare because it is subsidized. You can work less because there is always a dept. of the government that will give you a handout so that you are equal with the common person and how they live. In other words “who cares about work. Someone is going to take care of your dead ass.” And that care takes money……someone else’s money.
The recession ended in 2009. People still can’t find jobs and we enhanced 26 weeks of unemployment payouts to 99 weeks. Then extended it. Then extended it again. Who pays for that? Employers and taxpayers. We give and enhance the rolls of all types of subsidies. Who pays for that? The taxpayers. Now you have people with job lock becoming emancipated with healthcare subsidies. Who pays for that? The taxpayers. If you are on subsidies, that means you don’t make enough in payment to afford the goods…..which also means you can’t afford to pay much in taxes. So who are the ones that can afford paying taxes? The ones with job lock and responsibility. Only problem is is that there is a balance point where if more is paid out then comes in, you can no longer support the people on subsidies.
What does this mean? Let’s look at France as an example. Their work week is like 35 or 37 hours and when they retire, they get some irrational amount for the rest of their lives. They’re crying the blues because retirements cannot be fully paid out. Why not? They have socialized medicine. They don’t have job lock. Of course their tax rate is something ridiculous like 80% and their millionaires are leaving the country. Why would we want to emulate a culture and economy like that when we have seen that it doesn’t work time and again? Their economy sucks and is getting worse. Our economy sucks and, regardless of what the government tells you, we ARE getting worse.
I got two pieces of mail the other day. One was from my banking institution which relayed to me some new fees being introduced. This institution never had these fees before but now seem to feel they must supplement losses they are incurring. The other was from my benefits center. My employment agreement contained bargained 1x my salary in group term life insurance free and any multiples to 5 paid for by the employee. I have 1x in retirement. Now I am getting a statement asking for a significant tax (as reported to the IRS with Medicare and SS withholdings needed) for that insurance. I can pay for the same policy personally for LESS than the tax they want me to pay. And why are they asking for Medicare and SS from that tax? Seems companies are hurting from this economy more than is being let on and the government is finding more sneaky and devious ways to pick people’s pockets.
Don’t talk to me about job lock bullshit. Obama plus Obamacare equals the ruination of the middle class and America as we have known it. If I wasn’t raised correctly with moral ethics maybe I would even think about getting some of that free candy and become a squirrel whisperer!
