It’s no wonder that the progressives in Congress are enraged with Speaker Nancy Pelosi. According to an article in AlterNet originally published in Common Dreams, Pelosi “is pushing for a rule that would ”require a three-fifths supermajority to raise individual income taxes on the lowest-earning 80 percent of taxpayers."
This proposal would make it difficult, if not impossible, to extend Medicare to all, which is probably the most effective proposal that progressives ran on in the recent mid-term elections.
True, it is likely that some lower-income taxpayers will pay more taxes in order to gain a greater medical benefit, but taxes are historically low and the middle classes can afford to pay more to obtain an even greater benefit. As a result, Pelosi’s proposed rule requiring a 3/5 majority to increase taxes on the bottom 80% of taxpayers could—and probably would—kill an expansion in Medicare.
It is patently obvious that healthier people are more productive than the unhealthy and earn a higher net income. Moreover, a general improvement in health would lower overall medical expenses and likely lead to lower premiums for everyone.
As the article points out, Pelasi’s proposal is part of the conservative project, not a progressive or even liberal project. The best description is neoliberal.
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