Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Should They Or Shouldn't They?

There is a point to be made when it comes to taking time to construct legislation. Financing the health care overhaul has been a big hang up but now the ideas are coming forward. Tax plastic surgery!

Of course this is a boon or bust issue. Take me for instance. I am well aware that insurance does not pay for such luxuries therefore I don't partake even though there are several places on this tired old body that could use some enhancement. I won't list them. Those who know me know from whence I come, to everyone else. Well, tough. So it's a bust issue for me.

It's a boon for all those members of Congress who indulge. Both Nancy Pelosi and Hillary are suspect and we all know Joe Biden had hair plugs. It probably wouldn't cover bad toupees but it should! But then again, there would be a whole lot more of those ridiculous comb overs male politicians love to sport. It wouldn't really matter though because Congress exempts themselves from every law they pass that we have to abide by.

Thinking about that, I'd feel a whole lot better if it were written into any health care legislation, that they cannot exempt themselves; that they'd have to choose from the same plans offered to us.

It would be a bust for the news and entertainment industries. What would the likes of Joan Rivers do? I figure the onset of high definition TV sent our news anchors and reporters scurrying to the nearest plastic surgeon. We know they already need the teeth whitening, nose straightening and probably tummy tuck services but the tax write off would go away. I mean come on, how can you trust what a news person tells you when they lie about how they really look?

I've been watching the promos for the fall line ups on the networks. There are more and more reality shows because it's what the advertising demographics watch. Would that be cool or what? If everything on the tube had to be reality TV?

If taxing plastic surgery should become law, it might help women get over their self image problems. They'd find the icons of image aren't really so very different from themselves. I see this as a positive since some 86% of the patients are female.

It's also thought to be a tax on the wealthy since only they can easily afford it. Those who can't sometimes set aside money for years to get the procedure they want! Take for example the price of a nose job . It ranges between $3000 and $8000. That's a lot of spare change stuffed under a mattress!

Think of all the lost buying power! How long would it take to save that much? For me, had I started in my 20's I'd probably still be saving because things would have come along for which I'd have borrowed from the fund. I'm self indulgent on a lot of levels. And now? Who cares?

7 comments:

Linda said...

Look at Caroline Kennedy's nose. What's the deal with the top of her nose? Is that bone? Did she have a broken nose at some point in her life? I believe she could afford to have it fixed, tax or no tax.

Margie's Musings said...

Oh, I agree with you!

Anonymous said...

Your speaking of plastic surgery and enhancement; then using the sentence of it being "a bust issue for" you leaves a reader wondering if a different choice of words should have been used........

Sara Diana said...

I had a lumpectomy and senitnal node sweep in Feb, the pain was horrible not to mention the side effects of anaesthetic! Therefore I dont understand why people put themselves through surgery! I have low self esteem and body image problems, indeed, I have battled eating disorders but I would never go for surgery. My ears stuck out when I was a kid (still do) and the other kids made fun of me, mum told me I could get surgery to have them pinned back and I refused on the grounds that if people didnt accept me the way I am then they can get out of my life!
32 years later and I still feel the same way xx

Anonymous said...

A good face lift runs $12 to $15,000.00. This is out of pocket, insurance doesn't cover and it is not a tax write off. But it is a personal choice and to claim that taxing cosmetic surgery is a tax only on the wealthy, is not only incorrect, it feeds into the class warfare mentality.

Word Tosser said...

Say nothing of the biggest insurance rip off... the coverage (no pun intended) the Viagra pill...
I could not believe that the insurance companies pay for that ..even Medicare... come on..give me a break

Mari Meehan said...

Since I termed it a boon or bust issue I think my meaning is perfectly clear. If you choose to think otherwise, well, I guess your meaning, too, could apply. Lol.

Funny though, no one else chose to mention it.