| Nothing is more complex and difficult for politicians | | | | conduct modification through your bank account. |
| to deal with in this country than health care. Well, | | | | In the case of health insurance, the President is |
| President Bush is about to enter the fray with a | | | | playing with the tax deductions. Currently, |
| new proposal. | | | | employers can write off whatever they spend to |
| There are many controversial subjects in our | | | | pay for health coverage for employees. The |
| country. From abortion to the death penalty to | | | | payments are also not taxable to the employee |
| Iraq, there is plenty for everyone to get worked | | | | as income. The problem, however, is this doesn't |
| up regardless of their political affiliation or personal | | | | cover people who are not employed full time such |
| views. One subject that is less glamorous is health | | | | as self-employed individuals. |
| care. Frankly, our situation is a disgrace. By most | | | | President Bush's answer is to create a tax |
| measures, we are the wealthiest country in the | | | | deduction. Although the details are a bit murky, it |
| world. Despite this fact, a huge number of us | | | | appears that individuals will be able to deduct up |
| don't have health care coverage. | | | | to $7,500 for payments they make for health |
| When it comes to health care, more than a few | | | | insurance. Families would get a bump up to |
| politicians have crashed and burned. The issue is | | | | $15,000. If you paid less than these amounts, you |
| complex and expensive. There are no clean, clear | | | | would still get to claim the full deduction. If you |
| answers. Throw in issues of political compromise | | | | paid more than the deduction amount, your |
| and lobbying by medical groups and the picture | | | | deduction would be capped at the $7,500 or |
| gets much murkier. With incredibly low popularity | | | | $15,000 figure. Roughly 35 million Americans pay |
| numbers, President Bush apparently feels now is | | | | more than these amounts for health insurance |
| the time to swing for the fences. Yep, he is going | | | | coverage. |
| to enter the health care fray with his own plan. | | | | Regardless of your politics, the President should |
| In addressing health care coverage, President | | | | be congratulated on taking on the health care |
| Bush has decided to take the green carrot | | | | answer. Regardless of political affiliations, this is |
| approach. What is the green carrot approach? He | | | | the kind of issue a President would typically only |
| is trying to offer a financial solution through the | | | | tackle if they were very popular. Trying to |
| tax code. This is a common approach with the | | | | address it without such numbers takes a lot of |
| government. They can't make smoking cigarettes | | | | political courage. Will it work our or is it even a |
| illegal, but they tax them to high heaven in an | | | | good plan? We will have to see, but at least it is a |
| attempt to stop you. This is generally known as | | | | start. |