The Foundry, the Heritage Network blog, has published a primer on the pitfalls of Obamacare that is so simple even a liberal should be able to follow it. The post includes four bullet points:
—If you have private insurance, Obamacare is projected to increase the cost of premiums in the individual market by $2,100 per family.
—If you’re young, you will be hit with higher costs from health benefits that you must purchase but may never use.
—If you like your current coverage… an estimated 7 million people will lose their employer-sponsored health insurance.
—Even if you’re healthy, businesses are cutting employees’ hours because they cannot afford to implement Obamacare.
Cynics will object that the list offers no specifics. Fortunately, the internet is lousy with real-life examples of how this ill-conceived law has already done more damage than good to the people it was meant to help.
To offer one, take this hard-luck story from the heartland, reported by LiveLeak complete with video (see below):
A fast-food chain is slashing employee hours so franchise owners don’t have to pay health benefits. Around 100 local Wendy’s workers have learned their hours are being cut. A spokesperson says a new health care law is to blame.
‘Thirty-six to 37 hours a week.’ That’s how many hours T.J. Growbeck works at the 84th and Giles Wendy’s restaurant [in Sapry County, Neb.]. The money he earns helps him pay for the basics, but that’s not the case for all his co-workers. ‘There are some people doing it trying to get by.’
The company has announced that all non-management positions will have their hours reduced to 28 a week. Gary Burdette, Vice President of Operations for the local franchise, says the cuts are coming because the new Affordable Health Care Act requires employers to offer health insurance to employees working 32-38 hours a week. Under the current law they are not considered full time and that as a small business owner, he can’t afford to stay in operation and pay for everyone’s health insurance.
There are 11 Wendy’s restaurants in the metro. ‘It has a huge effect on me and pretty much everybody that I work with,’ says Growbeck, who understands the reasoning and says other part-timers at other fast-food restaurants are facing the same problem. ‘I’m hoping that I can get some sort of promotion because then I would get my hours, but everybody is shooting for that because of the hours being cut.’
Burdette says the decision affects around 100 employees. It was a tough one and he understands why people are upset, but the hour reduction is effective in two weeks for all non-management. Management employees will continue to have benefits as they are officially full time.
Obama claims to be an advocate for the middle class. He insists he is looking to grow the economy from the middle out. His pipe dream is as naïve as it is impossible. The economy has never worked that way and never will.
Nevertheless he should sit down with the families of the hundred employees in Sapry County and ask how much his policies have helped them.
