The hidden Healthcare debate
While many of us debate the minutia of the various bills and proposals, dissect the monetary costs, discuss the cultural price tag and wallow in an overwhelming sense of foreboding, Massachusetts is already living some of the consequences of this foolishness.
Today on Boston.com it was reported that the commonwealth is upwards of $200M short in tax receipts. Now, this is not directly related to the Mass healthcare debacle that is unfolding daily, but it is an indirect result. You see, our healthcare mandates have pushed up expenses quite a bit and to cover that, the moron governor pushed through a 25% tax increase from 5% to 6.25%. The opponents continually pointed out that it would not raise the revenue that they forecast, but the governor and his troglodytes in the legislature pushed it through anyways.
The result, predictably enough, significantly less revenue than expected.
Why?
I’m not an expert, but I think it’s pretty safe to say that Rep. Michael Rodriguez isn’t the exception when he drives across the border to New Hampshire to buy his liquor without the sales tax. People change their behavior when you charge them more. This isn’t just a rule of taxation, it’s a fundamental rule of economics.
If I were to run a business like Taxachusetts is run, I would expect to double revenue if I doubled the price of my widget. “Gee, wow, I made $1,000 selling these for $1 each.. I need $10,000 — so i’ll just sell them for $10 each.”
Do you really think 1000 people will buy the widget for 10x more? I suppose, if it’s insanely awesome, they might, but more than likely, if i do that, my revenue will drop to almost nothing.
All of the healthcare proposals on the table are completely unrealistic. Government can try to raise taxes to pay for the monstrosity, but in the end, people will avoid the taxes, and revenues WILL fall. Then we’ll not only be worried about paying for the stupid healthcare shenanigans, but any and all other services we’ve come to rely on.
It’s even worse, really, because there are even wider repercussions of these insane policies…
First of all, people will work less. Why work more for the US Govt? Why not just sit back and rake in the welfare? It’s not like you won’t have health insurance or a paycheck.
Another unavoidable effect of confiscatory taxation is that the best and the brightest will relocate, either out of the country, or to the parts of the country where the tax code and business situation is the friendliest. This will leave the dregs and the scum running the places most in need of the best. There is a reason why the most Liberal areas are shrinking at the fastest rate.
You’ll notice that all of these things are indirect results, but they are real and provable. The types of policies being pursued in this country right now are destructive to the economy, destructive to the social fabric and most certainly unsustainable for any length of time.
All of this starts us down a convoluted path, where every niggling little bit of economic spewtum is examined for it’s usefulness to government. Agencies are required to track all behaviors, because ultimately all behavior is economic behavior. I was reading on hotair.com about tax exemptions for pets - and that is really the next logical step isn’t it? The government starts offering lollipops on the bank counter. Everyone loves a little gift, it makes them feel like everything is good. yes, it’s a republican proposal, but that’s really just a symptom of the larger problem. This isn’t about the cat or the dog, or the behavior, this is about tossing a bone to the tax payer to keep them from boiling. Government, Republican and Democrat, now use whatever they can do bribe the electorate.
Healthcare is the final step. Once you have power over a person’s life…and death… there is no need to bribe. Take what you need by gunpoint and demand what you want.
Massachusetts will pretend to make ‘tough choices’ and ‘do the right thing’ but in the end, nothing will change, people who are smart will leave, and the commonwealth will grow more and more a cesspool where no rational person will want to live.
Ultimately, THAT is what this healthcare debate is about. Do we want to be a gray lifeless totalitarian cesspool state or not?