Published: November 10, 2009 08:32 am      

Democratic health plan a disaster

An open letter to U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly and senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh: I recently called AARP and cancelled my membership. I had been an active member since 1992, the first year I could become a member. I also advised them I would not be taking any AARP Medicare supplemental programs or coverage.

To summarize my thoughts and put them into a short memo of my concerns is needed; as I am not sure the Obama administration or the Democrat congressional party is listening or understanding our real concerns and opposition to this legislation and debate.

First of all, this would be the greatest transfer of wealth this country has ever witnessed. The 1,990 page document is a disaster toward the middle class and any small business person. The true fiscal cost to this is, of course, not known, but even conservative estimates make it over $1 trillion in the next 10 years. I am now 67 years old. This will not affect me that much before I die, but it will be a terrible burden to our children and grandchildren. I do not want to see them face a burden so great that they will never ever be able to even pay even the “interest payments” on this and the other fiscal mess you are putting on us.

I also think you must think we are stupid to believe the "rhetoric" the mainstream media is putting out. Trust me, many millions of us do not believe it or trust you to say what these bills will really do to our insurance industry, our small town hospitals and doctor’s reimbursement schedules and to our ability to have the freedom to choose our doctors and what services we think are needed for our own best health care.

Second, a current example of my own coverage and that of my company The Andersons needs to be used as an example. Because my own company currently provides one of the “best overall health care insurance possible,” future employees and my company will be charged an excise tax because you have deemed this to be an “excessive plan or top of the line plan.” Since when do we discourage companies from offering something MORE than what the government is doing or requiring. Result, instant elimination of any plans doing an excellent job at a company’s own expenses versus the taxpayers cost and the real result will be a federally run and administrated health care system regardless of the lies you are telling us about keeping your own plans and not forcing anyone to change to the “public option plans.”

In addition, it is the total loss of our freedoms, our rights to keep our own plans and not be forced to pay for others who are doing nothing to try and take care of themselves and their own families. We are becoming a socialistic and communistic state.

The cost of insurance for anyone or company trying to maintain their own identity will triple over night. You cannot force unrestricted universal type coverages upon insurance providers or companies and not drive these costs through the roof. Who are you trying to fool?

In addition, your plan would force the largest single taxation burden known in history upon us. The planned $572 billion in new taxes starts with a 5.4 percent surcharge on all joint taxpayers and another new tax on small businesses, requiring them to surrender over 8 percent of their payroll to the government, if they don’t offer insurance or pay at least 72.5 percent of their workers’ premiums . Where are you coming up with these ideas?

Do you really believe there would be anyone or any company still offering private insurance health care coverage? Who do you think you are trying fool?

All of this is just part of why I have cancelled any and all ties to the AARP, and will do all I can to defeat this legislation and undo the current political party in power and control. Our country’s future is at stake and that of our children.

These bills are a disaster in every way I can read them or understand them. Please just fix what is broken and not destroy our whole country’s health care system.

• Thomas K. Weatherwax of Logansport is a retired state senator.