Posted on 05/20/2009 9:48:23 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Isn't it high time America did less for the elderly? A politically incorrect question for sure. But Medicare has an astounding $34-trillion unfunded liability. And because of rising unemployment, its hospital-stay program will go broke two years earlier than previously predicted.
For my recent ABC special "You Can't Even Talk About It", I spoke with residents of La Posada, a development in Florida that made Forbes's list of top 10 "ritzy" retirement communities. These folks are well off. And they get a bonus: You pay for most of their health care under Medicare.
The retirees love it. Everyone likes getting free stuff. And Medicare often makes going to the doctor just about free.
Why is this a good thing?
"What about those young people [who pick up the tab]? What kind of legacy are we leaving for them?" asks Harvard Business School Professor Regina Herzlinger. "We're really stealing from them."
Some high-school students are alarmed about the scam. "20/20" interviewed a group that is willing to help needy seniors -- they volunteer at a food bank -- but they are angry that Medicare forces them to pay for even wealthy seniors.
"This program, Medicare, is essentially ripping my generation off," Zach Hadaway said.
Policy experts say the kids are right.
"The government spends around $6 on seniors for every dollar it spends on children, and yet the poverty rate among children is far higher," said Andrew Biggs of the American Enterprise Institute (www.aei.org).
The federal government stiffs the young in favor of the old.
So I told the La Posada seniors that the kids called them "greedy geezers." They said, "We've paid our dues." Money was taken from every paycheck they earned.
But, in fact, the average Medicare beneficiary today collects two to three times more money than he paid in.
"I would argue that this is not only unfair, it's downright immoral," says billionaire Pete Peterson.
Peterson is a rarity: a senior who decided he cannot in good conscience accept Medicare. He and his foundation (www.pgpf.org) worry about the looming fiscal disaster. When Medicare began in 1965, six working-aged people paid for each Medicare recipient. Now the figure is four. It will get worse as baby boomers like me retire.
Medicare is unsustainable.
"There is $34 trillion sitting off the balance sheet, waiting for future generations to pay," Herzlinger said.
That's how much more Medicare money government has promised than it has budgeted. It's the price of about 30 Iraq Wars.
We locked up Bernie Madoff for running a Ponzi scheme. Medicare is a bigger one. Seniors think the money deducted from their paychecks was stored in a trust fund. But, in fact, it was spent immediately. The "trust fund" is an accounting gimmick.
The giant seniors' lobbying group, AARP (www.aarp.org), rarely talks about Medicare's coming bankruptcy, and it rejects reforms like means-testing or raising the eligibility age, claiming most problems can be solved simply by lowering health-care costs.
"Do things like make better use of health information technology," David Certner, AARP's director of legislative policy, told me.
The Congressional Budget Office says such reforms won't save much money.
"Well, they're going to have to," Certner said.
That sounds like wishful thinking -- not unusual among powerful lobbies that ignore basic economics. When something is free for one group, demand runs wild, pushing up prices for those who must pay for themselves and the subsidized group.
On top of that, the demographic problem Peterson emphasizes won't go away, no matter how cleverly the "fix health care" argument tries to bury it. Fewer workers per retiree means shrinking Medicare tax revenues -- period -- even if health-care costs are flat.
"Ultimately, somebody's going to have to give up some medical treatment they'd been getting," Peterson says.
Our group of seniors had second thoughts after we spoke. "I hear what the kids are saying," a man said, "When they get to be our age, there may not be any Medicare."
"Tell them to change the law," one said. "If the kids can get the votes, then they can get it done."
Fat chance. The elderly vote on Medicare.
Most young people don't even know they're getting ripped off.
I don't think the choice is in our hands, There are powers higher than us all! Some even believe in God and that He is still in control... I do!
Anybody that relies on government will get what he deserves!
Of course God is always in control but we live on this earth and are supposed to make the best choices we can with what we have. We are discussing a man-made (government made) problem and the best way to deal with it.
That's because old people are reliable voters.
I’d be happy to eliminate all this welfare nonsense. Get rid of all the FDR programs and everything that followed.
My answer didn’t mean I approve of any of this principle.
One of the problems in the country is that no one will actually be able to push through a bloated, bureaucratic Congress what really needs to be done. There is a great tendancy to try and dress the corpse better, use stronger perfume, and more make-up.
The corpse is dead...no matter what its wearing.
Scrap the whole system....of course that won’t work will it? Once the gov’t has its hand in your paycheck, it’s not about to walk away.
Rather than the gov’t paying for healthcare, why not turn it into a subsidy for those in need to be used to buy their own healthcare?
These "social programs" should not exist. Period! Medicare is socialist. Social Security is socialist. Energy Departments and EPA's should never have been created. But, they will end soon!
The cookie jar is getting empty and there's not much flour or butter left to make more...
I understand what you are stating. But Jesus, while on earth, showed compassion and understanding for the poor and sick. He healed the rich and poor alike. Therefore, I believe (and only my opinion) that we have to try to change our world while still making the best of what we have or what the government throws at us.That does not mean we can’t try to institute reform and do away with useless programs. But let us also use what is there in a wise way.
I am involved in local, state,and Federal politics. I also pray daily. Some days require lots of them.
I also like to watch Nascar races, and (as my screen name says) I like to paddle. I walk on the ridges of VA and WV several times a week with Spot, my dog.
It is easy to focus on this crap. It is more difficult to change it. Politics is fine, but prayer invokes more power! In the meantime, support good leaders (like Sarah Palin), or become one. Your mileage may vary.
This letter was sent to Timothy, but applies to all Christians!
Timothy 4
1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. =NIV
I so agree! It is very easy to get caught up in the day to day hassle that Washington throws our way. I will never be the leader but I can sure push, pull and support those who can. I too find myself relying much more on prayer these days, since the election. But I believe we must live of this world and make the best of our time here and sometimes that includes the dirty job of politics.
Report Fraud to the Office of the Inspector General
Email HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov
Call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).
http://www.hhs.gov/stopmedicarefraud/
Why is it that Obama endlessly talks about rising costs of healthcare but never talks about doctors having to insure against lawyers?
Hmmmm,maybe we should discuss this.
Socialism itself IS a PONZI scheme.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.