Medicare backfire

[ccbatson]

Sad? Accelerating the insolvency of Medicare and mandating funding in an expanded fashion meaning that it becomes anchored to the economy...this would be a GOOD THING???

[Bobl]

Medical care for all, and not just the more wealthy, would be good. The end of the current rationing and death panels we have from our insurance companies would be good. Good for most. Not good for insurance company profiteers.
Not good for K Street Not good for pandering politicians. Perhaps, not good for bats.

[ccbatson]

Although a typical Obama lie...he recently confirmed what we on the right have been saying...medicare/caid is heading towards insolvency and threatening the larger economy. The lie? Although not a good thing, contrary to what Obama said, the country can't "go bankrupt" when it can print infinite amounts of money.

[Lorax]

No, it can't go bankrupt, because the government owes China too much for it to ever happen. And since congress is in the pocket of corporate America, corporate America thusly won't allow bankruptcy- they just instruct the fed to keep printing money and legislate away funding for important social safety nets like Medicare/Medicaid.

[ccbatson]

Are you turning on Obama now Lorax?? Good for you.

[Lorax]

Where have you been?

Dozens of posts mentioning how Obama was not my candidate, ever.

I really think the synapses of Rethuglicans are misfiring with regard to this either/or outlook on life.

Not everything is black and white.

Jeez, when will this sink into old brains?

[ccbatson]

You vote for people that you don't agree with?

[Lorax]

Obama held early promise- promise yet unfulfilled.

As I mentioned ad nauseum, I don't waste votes on candidates that are not in the running. Yes, I voted for Obama. Unless things turn around to a more socialist agenda before 2012, he won't get my vote. If there is no more liberal challenger, then I most likely won't vote for the first time in years.

[ccbatson]

If you keep that promise Lorax...your stock will go up in my book [[as far as integrity is concerned). Note integrity is not the strong suit of liberals.

[Stosh]

If you keep that promise Lorax...your stock will go up in my book [[as far as integrity is concerned). Note integrity is not the strong suit of liberals.

It's not the strong suit of libertarians either. Or Randian board runners.

[Lorax]

If you keep that promise Lorax...your stock will go up in my book [[as far as integrity is concerned). Note integrity is not the strong suit of liberals.

You know how much that means to me, seriously- I live through you.

[Bobl]

Rush, yesterday:

""I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system,"

[gazhekwe]

Well, he did OK with his chest pains. Now, take away all his money and insurance and name recognition and give him chest pains and we'll see if he sings a different tune.

[Bobl]

...which is the whole point of the right wing extremists:

I got mine, screw you!

[jiminnm]

And the view from the far left is - you have yours, I don't care if you earned it, but I haven't been able to get mine, so I'm going to take yours away.

[Gistok]

Well libs...what happens to a well to do 55 year old thinking of early retirement if the extension of Medicare down to age 55 passes? The taxpayers pay for his health insurance in exchange for the destruction of the entire program [[already paid for by senior taxpayers) and the economy.

How do libs reconcile this paradox I wonder?

How is a 55 year old going to benefit from a program that you claim is going to be destroyed, as well as the economy?? Really CC, as a spin doctor, you need to think thru your logic before starting these shrill "socialism is coming bandwagon!" threads...

Rarely a week goes by without you starting another one. Maybe you should prescribe yourself some Xanax so that you don't continually have these self induced anxiety attacks everytime you listen to Beck, Hannity and Limbaugh!

[littlebuddy]

With the Baby Boomers getting older and being one of the largest or the largest group of people in this country, and all of them want to live and live good for as long as they can, can America afford this? With so many people living to excess every day [[smoking,drinking,drugs,overeating,STD's, etc) can we afford to fix all this? Have we become a country that wants to dance but does not want to pay the fiddler? If we get universal health care there will be cuts somewhere, what will they be? Lots of older people not getting help? Few new drugs,especially for rare sicknesses. I think until we as a people change our ways of living, this will all come crashing down on our heads. It will not be any President's fault, or Congress,or any corperation, but our own fault.

[Sstashmoo]

Quote: "I got mine, screw you!"

People that have that tone are really saying "I worked for mine, screw you"

[mjs]

Obama held early promise- promise yet unfulfilled.

As I mentioned ad nauseum, I don't waste votes on candidates that are not in the running. Yes, I voted for Obama. Unless things turn around to a more socialist agenda before 2012, he won't get my vote. If there is no more liberal challenger, then I most likely won't vote for the first time in years.

Though our politics often disagree, at least you don't get your information from billboards and MTV's two minute news, so I'd rather see you vote Communist before not voting. For all those that can't name both their Senators and their voting record on at least two bills, rather than rock the vote, just stay home and catch up on whatever reality TV you've missed.

[elganned]

The answer is simple: Death Panels. It's the only affordable option.

[Rideron]

The answer is simple: Death Panels. It's the only affordable option.

That will cut costs. It certainly works under European national healthcare models!


UK: National scandal: Over 36,000 Britons Died Prematurely Last Winter – How Many Thousands More This Winter?

CLOSE [X]

Did you know that whilst our parasitic Westminster “representatives� last year looted the national purse by claiming expenses and allowances to which they had no moral right, over 36,000 needy Britons died prematurely from cold-related illnesses?

In the main, these were elderly people struggling to exist on a miserable state pension and finding it next to impossible to both properly feed and warm themselves.

No such cull, unfortunately, was experienced by Britain’s national herd of Hogminster swine who have taken great care over the years to ensure that their taxpayer maintained pension scheme remains one of the best in the country – if not in Europe.

At this point we draw your attention to the official figures, as compiled by the Office of National Statistics [[ONS). The ONS reports that:-



In the winter period of December to March 2008/09 there were an estimated 36,700 more deaths in England and Wales, compared with the average for the non-winter period [[see definition below). This was an increase of 49 per cent compared with the number in the previous winter 2007/08. This is the highest number of excess winter deaths since the winter of 1999/2000, when excess winter mortality was nearly a third higher than in 2008/09.

The elderly population experiences the greatest increase in deaths each winter. In the winter of 2008/09 there were 29,400 more deaths among those aged 75 and over, compared with levels in the non-winter period. In contrast, there were 7,300 excess winter deaths among those under the age of 75.

The number of extra deaths occurring in winter varies depending on temperature, the level of disease in the population, and other factors. Increases in deaths from respiratory and circulatory diseases are responsible for most of the excess winter mortality. Influenza is often implicated in winter deaths as it can cause complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, especially in the elderly, although relatively few deaths are attributed to influenza itself. According to the Health Protection Agency [[HPA) influenza activity started early and reached moderate levels during the winter of 2008/09, but did not reach the epidemic levels seen in the winter of 1999/2000.

So how many of our frailer fellow citizens will perish prematurely this winter – twenty thousand, thirty thousand – forty thousand perhaps? Who knows? This however is not a question that is likely to trouble any of our bloated “honourable� Members as they tuck into their lavish, taxpayer funded, Christmas dinners this Yuletide.

[maxx]

At least so far they are closing the Donut Hole, which was a big downer for the Prescription Drug plan. Let's hope some good comes of this.

But I didn't hear anything about the government negotiating for lower drug prices like VA does. So we'll continue to pay top dollar for more prescriptions. Looks like a sop to Big Pharma.

[maxx]

Off to Detroit Receiving, I guess.

This bill is so compromised at this point, that it's going to end up being a big loser for everyone, including Obama. Oh well, politics as usual, and the corporate elitists win another one.

Just how many nonpaying patients can Detroit Receiving absorb? Isn't that why some other Detroit hospitals closed? That and the Bushies cut federal funding to things like hospitals so they could give taxpayer money by the billions to Halliburton.

[maxx]

...which is the whole point of the right wing extremists:

I got mine, screw you!

Republican family values: My family is doing just fine; screw yours.

[maxx]

And the view from the far left is - you have yours, I don't care if you earned it, but I haven't been able to get mine, so I'm going to take yours away.

First of all, a lot of people "earn " their money by exploiting others and making deals with the government. The making of the railroads comes to mind. Also the recent subprime mortgage debacle.

Second of all, if you are part of a society, then you should be concerned about all the members of the society. Otherwise, a nation just becomes a jungle. I am just amazed listening to people in the U.S. complaining about the taxes they pay after listening to people from Europe in "Sicko" saying that you help others because it is the decent thing to do. But if you don't understand that, then just think of health care for all as a way to keep contagion from spreading to your family, unless like Cheney, you have a hazmat suit that you plan to live in. Even the wealthy, don't want their servants spreading disease in their houses.