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quote:
Originally posted by dakine
Yeah well leilanidude this thread started out making us aware of an effort by lawmakers to introduce a bill that could make the state the first in the nation to offer long-term care benefits to seniors. Raising the excise tax by 0.5% to provide help for ailing and less advantaged senior citizens and their caregivers is very reasonable methinks. As a senior citizen that has been a caregiver myself I am keenly aware of the issue and the burden it brings to the entire family. I can only imagine how those without resources cope with it. As such I find anyone raising the old Republican ideology without actually discussing the need that is being highlighted, and at least offering alternatives, to be a sad example of the state of our community.
Another twist on the issue by dakine...
Yes, senior care is a serious issue, but this state has an especially poor track record with tax money. Every year, we hear about "more money for education" and what happens? More administrators end up being hired with no results at the children's level. Look at the miserable excuse of a facility that Pahoa has! Sure, they have a nice new gym that goes almost completely unused though.
Do you really believe that any tax money this state raises will actually go towards senior care in the manner in which the original bill says? Another person suggested direct tax credits - that could be done without the need to hire hundreds more state employees...
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Another twist on the issue by dakine...
I think the juxtaposition between PunaLover's post and leilanidude's says a lot about the state of affairs as they are. About the polarization that is developed in our society over social issues etc. Individualism verses social consciousness. The problem, imo, in America is our politicians try to appease both. Take the Affordable Healthcare Act for instance. As long as we have an insurance industry built into the system it is BS, gutless, and being dragged down by greed. But without them the lobbyist would never have 'allowed' us to have national healthcare at all. So we allow greed into a system where it flat out doesn't belong and then everyone grumbles about how screwed up the system is.
The funny thing is when Bernie says he's a socialist everyone cringes. But we all are socialist. Our school system is socialistic, Social Security is socialistic, libraries! For Gods sake the military is socialistic! All systems where we are collectively taxed and the money is redistributed for 'the greater good of all'. So what's the problem? Taking care of the elderly, is that really the issue that should 'break the camel's back?'
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the lobbyist would never have 'allowed' us to have national healthcare at all
Case in point: we didn't get "national healthcare", we got "mandatory insurance".
Anyone who thinks the two are equivalent hasn't needed to see a specialist.
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Look, the reality is you will get old and need care. Should the onus be on you to save and plan and prepare for the inevitable or is it your neighbors responsibility?
Let's say your parents get old and cannot afford their healthcare. After exhausting the entitlement programs who should cover the difference? You or me?
Personal responsibility is an outdated concept according to Dakine and others. I appreciate how enticing a cradle to grave social services safety net is, but at what cost?
BTW Dakine - lifelong Dem here so keep your party polarization to yourself.
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Taking care of the elderly, is that really the issue that should 'break the camel's back?'
How many reading Punaweb know what is supposed to happen on January 15th? Or January 20th?
Federal quarterly tax payments were due on the 15th, state quarterly and excise taxes were due on the 20th.
Some taxpayers need to pay thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to the government on those days. When other bills are also due, they know what might break the camels back.
A few years ago the state moved up the due date for excise taxes from the last day of the month to the 20th without sending out a notice, and then wanted to charge interest and penalties for late payment if you didn't read about it in the newspaper. The reason they wanted the money 10 days early? The state was broke, from bad management practices.
Then, also a few years back the same agency that wanted to charge us for late payments, managed to take 4 months to send out tax refunds. Again, they were broke and couldn't afford to give back over-payments to taxpayers.
So yes, let's give these same people another .05% and see how much of it makes it's way to the elderly. I'm betting 50% at most. Make it a tax credit and it will be closer to 95%.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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Personal responsibility is an outdated concept
You're looking at the wrong end of the stick: it's perfectly fine to pay taxes if you get something in return. A letter from the insurance company explaining the customary fees and charges related to denial of a claim is not actual value for the monies paid, much in the same way that State Ag doesn't earn their keep ("we have no idea how the fire ants got here"), and let's not even mention their response to dengue fever....
the same agency that wanted to charge us for late payments, managed to take 4 months to send out tax refunds
They did, however, manage to send those refunds before any interest was accrued.
Some taxpayers need to pay thousands or tens of thousands
Dispensary licensees will have to make those payments in cash; State will need to hire more staff to count the money. Progress!
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Expanding dependent care tax credits could very well be a positive step towards finding a set of workable solutions. Of course tax credits alone are far from a complete solution across the board, particularly for the elderly who may not have care provided by family members as an option available to them. One way or the other, ensuring a decent safety net is in place to safeguard all the elderly is essential to maintaining a civilized society.
Policy brief from the College of Social Sciences at UHM:
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.p...-brief.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwiU8IWW_8XKAhUUWWMKHRFNDpgQFggTMAE&sig2=DCRhd2H2QUNeBmHXLwMlTg&usg=AFQjCNHQ6CWyPHaZTziYW59IeXyvY4rgVA
...from 2008. May or may not be a little dated, but hopefully might be helpful here.
Edit: incorrect link, looking to correct.
...no luck doing so on this device. In the meantime, for those still reading and quoting from the lips of 1980's George H. W. Bush,...:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/cl...are-216136
