The charge: Sanders' Single Payer plan will raise taxes on the Middle Class

[hedgehog]

The problem: define Middle Class.

As near as I can make out, people making as much as a joint income of $250,000 will see lower overall costs. If your health care costs drop more than your taxes go up, that's a win.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/jan/13/how-much-would-bernie-sanders-health-care-plan-cos/

Unless you're renting in San Francisco or Manhattan, $250,000 a year means you're way past Middle Class.

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. I understand that if any tax increase is less than heathcare costs ...

then, "that's a win."

But I don't understand how someone can argue that there is NOT a tax increase on, not just the middleclass; but, ALL workers. I, also, don't understand the focus on the $250K number, as it represents (about) a 26% increase to the Payroll Cap. But, even, with the increase of the cap, it STILL represents a tax increase on everyone from the minimum wage earner to those currently at the cap.

[hedgehog]

2. Sometimes the truth is different from the facts. This is a "Yes, but" situation.

Will taxes go up? Yes, but overall costs will go down.

As far as the focus on people making $250,000, I think that is a sample of how poorly some understand their status in this economy. I have no doubt that many people making $250,000 a year or more consider themselves middle class because they are still working for a wage. This misunderstanding means that many in the media don't understand the problems facing people who are middle class.