The American Spectator

Reader Mail

An Inspired Profession

1.30.07 @ 12:01AM

(Page 2 of 4)

Further, with Bush's tax proposal, if I understand correctly, I would be eligible for reducing my taxable income by $15,000, which would provide $4,200 of additional tax relief, which would go a long way toward offsetting the $6,084 I pay for premiums for my high deductible policy. I would be paying out of pocket then $1884 of premiums, plus $6,450 to my savings account, tax advantaged to be only $4,278, for a total annual expenditure of $6,162, of which I could possibly retain $6,450, making my potential net expenditure a negative $288.

I stand a chance of actually making money on my insurance policy! Better me than Dr. McGuire (recently forced out CEO of UnitedHealthcare, who received about a $2 billion retirement package, after back-dating his own options). I won't, however, pass up my follow-up colonoscopy, or my wife's mammogram and bone density study, and I will keep taking my cholesterol medicine, so my savings would not be quite so great.

Exercise and diet, however, are free. My family is quite healthy, and thus would look on this system as a godsend financially. My wife and I will potentially have an account from which to help pay Medicare deductibles and co-pays when we retire (although even at our ages, we are doubtful of Medicare solvency when we retire). Had we been doing this all of our lives, we likely wouldn't need Medicare coverage. I'm certainly hoping that my son won't, as I am fairly certain Medicare will not be viable when he hits 65, or 67, or 70, or 80...or whatever the coverage age is in 40-50 years. The benefits have been vastly overpromised by unscrupulous politicians for too long, and will continue to be so.

One advantage for me would be if the deductibles on the high deductible policy were allowed to rise, so that as I accumulate resources in my savings account, my premiums paid out of pocket would fall. When I had $20,000 in our savings account, I would like to increase the deductible to $20,000, and thereby reduce my monthly premiums, which would make the system even more financially beneficial to me. If I had expenditures out of my savings account, depleting the balance, the deductible could fall again, etc., but be adjusted according to my balance in the account. Maybe some Congressperson will advance such legislation.
-- Kent Lyon

STAND-UP GUYS
Re: John Tabin's The Long Shot Compulsion:

In spite of (and maybe because of, too) a rather eccentric run for the presidency, you have to love Mike Huckabee. During his first years in office, when his opponents derided him for not raising taxes enough, he set up an Arkansas government account called "Tax Me More!" Anyone who wished could send in more money. He didn't get many takers.

People like Governor Huckabee, Dennis Kucinich, Joe Biden are wonderful comic relief. I love these buffoonish politicians who take themselves SO seriously!
-- Judy Beumler
Louisville, Kentucky

BORN SNIPING
Re: James Bowman's Wise Guy Webb:

What can you do but shake your head at those poor old donkeys? In political and other discourses, they seem to know few other cards to play than the "we're right, you're wrong" one. Impugning others' integrity is something they also seem to find irresistible.

They've got a dreadful sense of timing, too. Handed an opportunity to show true leadership to the nation and they do what? Squander it with Webb's indignation and self-righteousness. That vindictive junk's got no place in solving problems or unifying our country -- and if they can't offer anything insightful then they should be silent.

Things could've been worse, I guess. Webb could've looked squarely into the camera, scowled and, while pointing his finger at the camera, said to President Bush: "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Who knows: Maybe the Dems and their allies are reserving that for their next national opportunity to really show us what leaders they are and what fresh ideas they have?
-- C. Kenna Amos
Princeton, West Virginia

James Webb has pulled off a remarkable accomplishment: providing Virginia a senator worse than John Warner.
-- R. Trotter
Arlington, Virginia

NO GREATER LOVE
Re: John Renehan's Of This World:

God bless you and your fellow soldiers, Lt. John Renehan. Do know there are many of us out here who support fully your noble mission and understand the concept of moral victory; and thus are humbled by your absolute sacrifice in achieving this goal.

My prayers are that you and your brothers and sisters in comrade come safely home to your love ones and the respect and honor you so valiantly deserve.
-- Joellen M. Arrabito
Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Social Security, Law, Iraq, NATO, Conservatism, Immigration, Medicare