Everyone that reads Delaware Liberal can probably agree that health insurance is a huge strain on Americans, businesses (big and small) and the government. For instance, according to the New York Times, small businesses are looking forward to a sharp increase in health insurance costs.
Insurance brokers and benefits consultants say their small business clients are seeing premiums go up an average of about 15 percent for the coming year — double the rate of last year’s increases. That would mean an annual premium that was $4,500 per employee in 2008 and $4,800 this year would rise to $5,500 in 2010.
The 1950s to 1970s Republican Party was the party of small business, but yet, in this health care debate, I see the Republican Party of today has consistently sided with the health care industry and consequently saying no to their base of small businesses. The GOP has shown their hand several times in health care reform — 1992, the years they were in control of the government and today — that they are fine with the system the way it is. Will these small business owners ever realize that the GOP is not concerned with them anymore?
(Note, you can’t say that the Republican Party is the party of small government when under Reagan and Bush II, the government grew and grew).