Pay for Progress

Written by Sang Hyun Jung



During the past few months, President Obama has delivered on his campaign promise to aggressively tackle the rising cost of healthcare in the U.S. Now the president faces stiff opposition from Congress, as both cynical Republicans and overcautious Democrats try to slow down the Obama administration’s healthcare reform bill.

These critics highlight one argument against spending: Cost.

The healthcare legislation is expected to cost upwards of $1 trillion. That’s 12 zeros. Compound that with the first recovery stimulus that cost $789 billion, and the fact that the Congressional Budget Office projects this year’s budget deficit to round out to $1.7 trillion, and you can see why Obama’s plan has many detractors.

The price tags of these legislations are enormous. There almost too large to comprehend. But the costs of these bills are well worth it, if they bring what they promise.

The economic stimulus provided funding for invaluable social programs that focused on poverty-relief, education, and cutting the rising cost of Medicaid. The bill contains more than $150 billion in public works projects for transportation, energy and technology.

The healthcare legislation’s promise is also ambitious and far-reaching. The bill outlines tax-relief to low to middle-income class Americans, funding of cost-reducing technology, and a single-payer system where all Americans are insured with affordable healthcare.

It’s almost certain that we will experience a rise in taxes due to the amount of spending. But I say it’s worth it.

For so long, decade after decade we cry out to our government to keep us safe, repair our roads, and fund our children’s schools. We then scream, even curse at our government for raising our taxes to pay for these social programs that will benefit us and our communities. We eat and eat, but we balk when the check comes.

We have to recognize that are no free meals. We ask a lot from our government, and we have to pay the cost. And no cost is too high for progress.

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Labels: congress, Congressional Budget Office, Healthcare reform, Obama, Stimulus, tax relief

Pay for Progress

Written by Sang Hyun Jung



During the past few months, President Obama has delivered on his campaign promise to aggressively tackle the rising cost of healthcare in the U.S. Now the president faces stiff opposition from Congress, as both cynical Republicans and overcautious Democrats try to slow down the Obama administration’s healthcare reform bill.

These critics highlight one argument against spending: Cost.

The healthcare legislation is expected to cost upwards of $1 trillion. That’s 12 zeros. Compound that with the first recovery stimulus that cost $789 billion, and the fact that the Congressional Budget Office projects this year’s budget deficit to round out to $1.7 trillion, and you can see why Obama’s plan has many detractors.

The price tags of these legislations are enormous. There almost too large to comprehend. But the costs of these bills are well worth it, if they bring what they promise.

The economic stimulus provided funding for invaluable social programs that focused on poverty-relief, education, and cutting the rising cost of Medicaid. The bill contains more than $150 billion in public works projects for transportation, energy and technology.

The healthcare legislation’s promise is also ambitious and far-reaching. The bill outlines tax-relief to low to middle-income class Americans, funding of cost-reducing technology, and a single-payer system where all Americans are insured with affordable healthcare.

It’s almost certain that we will experience a rise in taxes due to the amount of spending. But I say it’s worth it.

For so long, decade after decade we cry out to our government to keep us safe, repair our roads, and fund our children’s schools. We then scream, even curse at our government for raising our taxes to pay for these social programs that will benefit us and our communities. We eat and eat, but we balk when the check comes.

We have to recognize that are no free meals. We ask a lot from our government, and we have to pay the cost. And no cost is too high for progress.

HTML Comment Box is loading comments...

Labels: congress, Congressional Budget Office, Healthcare reform, Obama, Stimulus, tax relief