Dear Editor,
Don’t Kill the Golden Goose
If you’re a gainfully employed fifty to sixty-four year old,
thank you. But this letter’s not really for you; it’s for those of us who may
not see the ax falling on your neck. And forgive us for fleeing the political
brouhaha and turning on a Lifetime movie (it’s not that we need to see the good
guys win; we just want to know
who the good guys are for a
change!).
We’re talking American Health Care Act (AHCA) here, in
case you didn’t guess. Yes, you’re a Mainer, so you already know the Medicare
and Medicaid impacts would be real tough here. And pre-existing conditions?
Don’t even go there. We’re not going to talk about those (and other problems
with AHCA), but the Age Tax piece, let’s think about that—because it would
hobble our good breadwinners.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says forty-five to
fifty-four year olds average the highest
weekly earnings; but those earnings stay right up there for the next ten years,
as well. These 6.1 million fifty to sixty-four year old Americans are out there
working hard, but often in small companies—which puts them in the individual (non-group) health
insurance market. Insurance companies will be able to charge these productive
folks five times (or more) what
others pay for the same coverage. Huh?
AARP (a non-partisan
group) put together figures that show a fifty-five year old Mainer earning
$25,000 a year, could have a premium increase of as much as $7,602. And a
sixty-four year old Mainer earning $25,000 annually could see an increase of as
much as $12,701.
To siphon big chunks of income from these folks into
insurance company pockets does not make good sense. Those of us who’ve
retired—and those under fifty who’ve not reached peak earning years—need older
workers to help shoulder the tax bill. Why would we single out this group for
discrimination? Why not find a more equitable distribution of health care
costs?
Let’s insist on new legislation that not only reconsiders
cuts to many critical health programs, but also eliminates a discriminatory Age
Tax. The Age Tax would hurt a lot of productive Maine people, so don’t
support it. We don’t want those folks to get discouraged, retire early, and
turn to the Hallmark Channel.
Sincerely,
Faye Lakeman
Rev. Dan Lakeman, M.Div.
Windham
Dear
Editor,
I
heard a fellow say the other day, that having faith didn’t matter one bit to
him in the war years! I beg to differ on that matter.
You
see, I’m living proof that it is in the eye of the beholder; that faith is a
shield in times of trouble. Oh, faith is not new to me. I accepted faith when I
was a wee-lad. Faith was my strong arm throughout my life. I don’t believe for
a moment that having faith prevents one from being harmed. Faith states, “I
have a calling for you.”
Since
I was very young, faith interceded in my life. I am 91 years old and to state
all the benefits would take too much room in this article. This past Memorial
Day brought back many thoughts. It was the year of 1945. I was 16-years-old. I
just stepped on the beach of Iwo Jima, a Japanese island in the Pacific, as a Marine.
I had no idea what to expect.
I
was suddenly introduced to the rudiments of war! Tiny eruptions in the black
volcanic sand caught my eye. They were all around me. Small holes appeared in
my comrade’s head, between the eyes and we were told that the Japanese wore
glasses and couldn’t see well!
I
glanced upward and said, “I think I could use your help.” The bullets continued
to break the sand all around me as we advanced.
In
the course of 36 days, I felt the warmth of the bullets as they past my body.
Even in the valley that I traversed, puffs of exploding mortars were all around
me as I helped the wounded. There was little to protect the body, you see all
we wore was utility jackets and pants. The strong arm of faith was my shield.
Those
of you that came home: There were and are reasons. My thoughts are that you
were spared to pass on faith for the benefit of your fellow man.
These
are my thoughts on this memorial time of year.
Fred
Collins
American
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