Lott casts key vote to save Medicare bill he opposes

Associated Press ^ | 11-24-03 | MARK SHERMAN

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the ping, bourbon.

I'm a babysitting fool this week, and am completely out of the loop on this. This thread will allow me to catch up.

[Pukin Dog]

No you dont get it.

Think of this bill as a big cow, getting fattened up for the slaughterhouse. The Congress have given private providers a target to shoot for pricewise. In 5 years, seniors will leave Medicaid, because they will find better plans in the private sector. Then, Medicaid will WITHER ON THE VINE.

[MichiganConservative]

Maybe this is part 1 of the plan to completely eliminate government involvement in health care. Understanding how Newt Gingrich was savaged for his "wither on the vine" comments years ago, I can understand why people would want to keep it under wraps. But I haven't heard that.

What bothers me is the notion that I have to get permission from Nanny Government to use $5000 for health care, etc. Where's this money coming from? Is this from the government? Or is this my money? If it comes from the government, it's been plundered from someone else and there's the bureaucracy that get's their share. If it's my money, I'm sick of the paternalistic tendencies of Nanny Government telling me how I can or should spend my money.

The reform I want to see for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security is me getting the hell out of all three forever in every way, shape, and form. All they are are ways for Congressional Parasites to keep power over the slaves.

I know, I'm an ungrateful slave who's getting uppity. I should just go away and be thankful for what Nanny Government allows me to do and what they allow me to keep.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Because it allows for the privatization of Medicare for the upcoming generation of workers.

Also, Medical Savings Accounts will allow us to keep $5,000 per year tax free to spend on health care"

This benefit alone is worth cheering about.I wonder how many who are opposed to the Medicare reform, realize how much of their elderly relatives' health care is subsidized by the top 5% of taxpayers,the elderly themselves,hospitals and physicians? There is nothing preventing those angry about this bill from opting out of Medicare and encouraging their elderly relatives to opt out.But,they must be prepared to help Grandma and Grandpa pay their medical bills.If Grandma needs a 50,000 heart operation and can only pay for 10,000 of that-the rest of the family has to be prepared to step up and chip in-even if it means forgoing the new boat and the summer trip to Disneyland.If enough of the younger generation decides to privately subsidize the health care of the seniors in their family, who are unable to pay their medical bills(and that means the full freight,not the discounted Medicare rates),Medicare,as we know it,will wither and die. And once Medicare shrivels to the most indigent,there must be a concomitant income tax reduction and FICA elimination for all taxpayers,in addition to medical savings accounts.The 50 somethings and younger should be preparing for either the bankruptcy or elimination of Medicare and adjusting their fiscal planning to reflect this eventuality.

[doug from upland]

It did more than slam the RATS. I agree that all of this big government nonsense is bad for the country. What is of overwhelming importance, however, is the re-election of the man who recognizes evil and calls it what it is. The damage done to this nation if a DemocRAT is elected in the next election is incalculable. Bush and the GOP have managed to take the issue away from RATS. The AARP came sided with a Republican president. That is stunning. Now, if another 20% of blacks get off the RAT plantation, and we just manage to secure about 20% of the illegal votes, we'll be in good shape for '04.

[michaelt]

So Kennedy really has a reason to want to kill this bill?

It isn't just out of spite for Bush?

I just don't know what to believe on this bill, and I don't have time now to look at it - but is the bottom line something for Grandma (prescription drugs), and something for the future (privatization, MSAs)?? Not a totally bad bill but not totally good either?

[rivercat]

Other than slamming the RATs at their own game, can you tell me why this is a good thing for conservatives, Repubos, and the country in general?

It's not! In fact, if we don't start threatening to NOT vote for Bush next year, it's only going to get worse. At this point, I'm seriously considering voting for some obscure, conservative, third-party candidate. The Pubbies are letting us down, big time.

[michaelt]

Doug, if the Republicans got 20% of the black vote and 20% of the dead vote they would win every contested election out there.

[what's up]

I agree with you. But this is a first step...and it's a huge one...in communicating to the millions who don't "get it" that it's our money.

Anyway, the $5000 will greatly help us next year.

[Jorge]

Just the fact that Ted Kennedy hates it so much is good enough for me.

Yes. I think Ted Kennedy needs to "wither on the vine" a little more.

[sultan88]

What's up, Pukin Dog, and reformed_democrat have another very intersting take throughout this thread that even Rush missed.

[Dane]

It's not! In fact, if we don't start threatening to NOT vote for Bush next year, it's only going to get worse. At this point, I'm seriously considering voting for some obscure, conservative, third-party candidate. The Pubbies are letting us down, big time

Yep and paving the way for Hillary or Dean signing an $800 billion bill with no medical savings accounts or other reforms.

You cut off your noses off to spite your face types are humorous.

[petitfour]

If Billary had presented this same bill to Congress, would Republicans have supported it?

[Dane]

If Billary had presented this same bill to Congress, would Republicans have supported it?

Non-sequiter, billary would have never presented the same bill. It would be double the cost with none of the reforms.

[Hildy]

Has anyone here actually READ what's in this bill?

[cyborg]

I heard on the radio today that James Garner is going to challenge Caroyln McCarthy for her seat. I want to see how this shakes down.

[Pukin Dog]

I have read what is in the bill, if not the bill itself, and I have no idea why everyone is so upset. This bill forces Medicare to compete with private health plans, paving the way for privatisation. Like I said before, the bill is a cow being fattened for slaughter.

[MichiganConservative]

I have no idea why everyone is so upset

The only thing many people have heard about this bill from most media outlets is that this is "free" prescription drugs for oldsters. This seems like a huge new entitlement and more wealth transfer from poor younger people to richer older people. The reforms that you and others talk about have not gotten any attention that I have seen. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's only heard about the prescription drugs part.