Louis Mascolo: "Do you know who I am? My husband works for the government!"

You know who I am? My husband works for the Government!

By Louis Mascolo

     Sometimes I think I live in the dumbest country in the world. Of course, there’s Pakistan, Iran and Somalia to contradict that. The healthcare industry is out of control and have been ripping us a new one since they came up with private health insurance and nobody calls them on it. Obama is getting called a Nazi and a socialist and a tyrant for suggesting that America does what the rest of the civilized world does. Give everyone medical coverage. Of course, he doesn’t have the courage to suggest a public option.

       I see all these gray haired protesters (I’m gray haired but not one of them) screaming, cursing and making a scene about public money being spent, and meantime, they’re collecting social security, they’re on Medicare and Medicaid and probably during their lifetime collected unemployment insurance. Who do they think is paying for that? Not Corporate America. Especially not the health care industry whose executives walk away with tens of millions of dollars in yearly bonuses and laughing all the way to the bank.

      I’d gladly pay an additional four or five thousand dollars a year in taxes to get rid of the $11,000 a year policy that the insurance industry is clipping me for. That’s about the profit margin these guys are working on. An extra seven or eight thousand a year out of everyone who isn’t on the public payroll or covered by an employer. And if you’re on the public payroll, we’re already paying taxes to cover you and your family. What about us suckers who don’t have a government job? It’s okay for you, but not for us?

It reminds me of an episode that happened to me many years ago. I was pulling into a parking spot at a shopping center and this woman saw me turning and hurried to get in before I did. Of course, being young and tough there was no way I was going to let her. I zipped in. She went to the next aisle and found a spot directly in front of me and pretty much banged into my car, got out and started screaming at me. Of course, a shouting match ensued and then she, in a thick Italian accent, delivered a comment I’ve never forgotten. “Do you know who I am? My husband works for the government.”

        There you go. Her husband works for the government. In Europe, Italy, France, et. al. if you have a government job, you’re set for life. Until recently, you couldn’t get fired. You got medical coverage, generous vacation, benefits and a regular paycheck until you died. So people who had government jobs were pretty much envied and given special privilege.

That’s what’s going on here in America now. Probably half the population has a government job. If you’ve got a government job, the government just keeps raising taxes on us private citizens to cover you. I don’t see any massive layoffs of government employees. Even now when there is 13% unemployment in Cumberland County, homes are being foreclosed on and the private sector is struggling just to keep up, government workers yearly pay still goes up, benefits keep accumulating, very few get fired or laid off.

       I see Vineland is raising its municipal tax rate 7 cents this year. Who knows the school tax rate will go up. Why? Mayor Romano doesn’t want to inconvenience public employees by using short worker furloughs to keep the rate from rising. How nice of him. Wouldn’t want to upset the public employees while the rest of us get hammered.

       It’s time for everybody to get a fair deal, not just those who already are receiving government benefits or happened to be a public employee. Stop buying into the healthcare industry propaganda and the politicians who promote their interests. It’s nice that Congressman LoBiondo pays for his own health insurance. From what I understand he’s a millionaire, maybe several times over. He can afford it. We can’t.  Times are tough and the sacrifices and BENEFITS should be shared. Those of you who are receiving the public benefits that are provided at the expense of taxpayers and are against healthcare reform--especially the public option--need to get down off your selfish horses. We contribute to you. How about returning the favor and contribute to us. There should no one shouting, “You know who I am. I work for the government.”