Some Costs of ObamaCare

On February 12, 2009, President Barack Obama gave another of his inspirational speeches to Caterpillar employees at the Caterpillar plant in East Peoria, Illinois. During his address, the president asked the audience to recognize that

what's happening at this company tells us a larger story about what's happening with our nation's economy - because, in many ways, you can measure America's bottom line by looking at Caterpillar's bottom line.

Oh, really, Mr. President? Let's just take a look at Caterpillar's bottom line.

Just this past Wednesday, Caterpillar announced that due to the new healthcare legislation advanced by the president and his comrades, the company will have to take a $100 million tax charge in the current quarter. Caterpillar said the $100 million hit will only be a one-time expense, but they are also anxious about the higher taxes and additional expenses that will be enacted with the launch of the new law. That's a lot to swallow considering that Caterpillar also lost 75% of its profit in 2009.

How's that "bottom line" thing working out for you, Mr. President?

Unfortunately, Caterpillar isn't the only business experiencing this new burden. Both AT&T and Verizon, the two largest phone companies in America, are reporting that healthcare reform will cost them millions of dollars. For this quarter alone, AT&T's additional costs will actually reach $1 billion!

Consequently, AT&T said in a government filing on Friday

As a result of this legislation, including the additional tax burden, AT&T will be evaluating prospective changes to the active and retiree healthcare benefits offered by the company.

In other words, we are somehow going to have to account for these expenses and will probably do so by cutting some benefits for our employees and retirees.

Verizon has sent letters to current employees informing them that changes to their healthcare plans are imminent. I hope these workers are wise enough to know that it's not going to be an improvement.

These companies are just beginning of the list of big businesses taking immediate hits from the new bill. Deere & Co., Valero, AK Steel Holding, 3M Co, and others to come are reporting that they will be forced to incur new and substantial expenses.

On the other side, there actually are people out there who see this as a good thing. They believe that these corporations are basically so greedy and evil that they deserve to be taxed like this. Their naive and ignorant minds fail to recognize that AT&T and the others will not actually pay these bills, though. Any person with a basic understanding of economics knows full well that these costs will either be passed on to the consumer or balanced out by eliminating employees. Does anyone really think that's good for the country?

I guess that makes it obvious that some people (Obama, Pelosi, Ahmadinejad, Satan, et al.) don't really want what is good for America. Harsh? I think not.

It looks like Pelosi was right after all. We did "have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."

I guess we'll also find out she won't be the Speaker much longer, as well.

ObamaCare

Last night, the most devastating piece of legislation ever concocted in this country was passed to thunderous applause by 219 traitors in Washington D.C. With only partisan support from rabid liberal ideologues, complete control of healthcare and at least one-sixth of our economy was given to politicians and bureaucrats who are already out of touch with the desires of American citizens.

As our country proceeds on its downward slide to socialism, many of our leaders fail to acknowledge the devastating effects this will have on our nation. There will be no good to come of this bill. There is no beating around the bush. To think otherwise makes you a fool.

This vote was labeled as "historic," but rather it seems to fall under the category of everything Obama does in that it's historically awful. From his strategies in warfare to his ideas on global warming, the president has repeatedly shown that he may very well be clinically insane. Nothing the man wants to do in this country will ever have a positive outcome. Nothing!

After the vote, Plastic-face Pelosi went on to declare that this new law will be great for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Is she serious? As a pharmacist, I have this little dream of opening my own store in the future and serving the community where I live. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the federal government has atrocious reimbursement rates for healthcare services and will now be subsidizing medical care for the entire country, my dream is basically unattainable. So much for entrepreneurship...

Bart Stupak (D) also proved to America that the idea of a Pro-Life Democrat working in Congress is something that will never happen. His act of treason alone may be the single most egregious of all. After vowing for weeks and weeks that there is no reason he will vote for the bill as it is written, something happened that made him change his mind at the last minute to cast a "yea" vote. He claims that it was our president's promise to sign an executive order outlawing federal funding of abortions, but law experts from left to right claim that this promise, even if fulfilled by the honorable one, will actually not even be worth the paper on which it's written. To pretend Stupid... err, Stupak... is not aware of this fact is plain asinine. He is fully aware of this reality, and it can easily be concluded that there were other favors or goods offered to ol' Bart to force his sudden change of heart.

By the way, did anyone else notice Pelosi's remarks about how she is both "proud" and "humble" about her ability to pass this bill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those words basically opposites. It's kind of like Stupak labeling himself a Pro-Life Democrat or a liberal claiming to be intelligent and of sound mind. Funny...

Fortunately, this does mean that many of the nation's newest traitors who are also on the government payroll will be fired from their lofty positions in Novemeber. Their arrogance and selfishness in voting for this legislation will lead many Americans to vote for their opponent even if it's Big Bird on the other side of the ticket. For example, if my choices this Fall are between Jim Cooper and a hot pile of horse waste, I'm voting for the waste. It smells less than Mr. Cooper.

Yes, I miss W! At least his first 7 years...

Bracket Challenge

I know it's very last minute, but I just created a group on ESPN.com to play the Bracket Challenge. It is called simply, "Group by Ross." Join in on the fun!