Buy Your Own Drugs, Grandma

Human Events ^ | 6-23 | Staff Editorial

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Ditto, double tap, Ditto.

[Sabertooth]

I understand your consternation but Bush and the GOP are making the right move politically.To not introduce their own presciption drug plan would allow the Dems to put their plan,twice as costly,into the realm of public discourse.

To say "me too" to AlGore's pandering in 2000 means that the Dems can bypass questions about the morality of wealth redistribution and commence immediately with outbidding the GOP for votes. This is hardly the "right move politically," not in the long run.

Then we would get the same tired argument that the Bush is "insensitive"to older Americans and give Kerry,Dean, et al an issue to run on.

This will happen anyway. Whatever the GOP proposes won't be enough. Get past this fear of demonization, it's an inevitability. This fear is worse than whatever mean things might be said, because the voters eventually smell it all over the GOP.

Call this move by Bush a "pre-empitve strike".

Call this retreat anything you like, but Bush's prescription drug boondoggle is another entitlement and is bad for both country and party.

[Dataman]

What part of "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people" confuses you most?

You are correct... Not that I want another socialist program... but it seems to be unstoppable right now and opposition to it seems to be political suicide.

During the Revolutionary War, the Brits remained principled and stood in a straight line-- until they discovered that self-sacrifice was no way to win a war.

[lowbridge]

bump

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

BTW; before anybody calls me a BushBot or whatever the name of the cool cliche is around here nowadays. My disgust in what has become breaking news on this forum of nowadays has neither pro nor con Bush leaning-Just an editorial in the breaking news section. I was looking for breaking news, If I wanted to get down and dirty in debate about Bush and prescription drugs I would seek this editorial topic.

[dark_lord]

The President believes, somehow, that Illegals (other than terrorists) are good for the country, so he ignores the will of the people. The President also believes in more spending and bigger government, so he panders to the moochier yearnings of the people.

Yep. You are right. And here is the secret plan.

1st, the powers that be believe the only way to bail out Social Security is to have A LOT more workers here in the good old US of A in about 20 to 30 years. Workers who will come in and work like dogs and instill a similar work ethic in their kids. Whose income will rise so that 20 to 30 years from now their taxes will cover all the old geezers. Where are those workers going to come from? Mexico, of course. You can expect a population of 100 to 150 million former Mexicans (or Mexican guest workers, illegal immigrants, and so forth) here working away between 2020 and 2030. That is their plan for keeping Social Security funded.

2nd, Bush knows darn well that he will lock in the geezer vote by pushing these drug benefits. And just like the DemonRats before maintained their lock on power by "buying off" the people with "free" government goodies, look to see the Republicans do the same. They won't maintain power by being fiscal conservatives. They won't maintain power by being real social conservatives. And power is the name of the game.

[Destro]

It did not work that way-Democracy and "socialist" policy go hand in hand-Athenian Democracy in itself was a tranfer of wealth by the rich down as was the Roman republic. The Athenian rich willingly gave up land and wealth to create a stable middle class because as the Athenains said-better to give a portion of the wealth over rather than have it all taken from us.

This was not socialisim as we know it. The aristocratic Athenians considered it an investment. Like buying land in the hopes it produces good fruit. And unlike us the rich themselves voted directly to do this. The whole Athenian navy could be seen as a make work program with the ships crews, right down to the rowers were paid for from the tax coffers. That Athenian Navy returned investment by crushing the Persian Armada at Salamis.

[The Old Hoosier]

To say "me too" to AlGore's pandering in 2000 means that the Dems can bypass questions about the morality of wealth redistribution and commence immediately with outbidding the GOP for votes.

Amen to that. What ever happened to "dismantling the welfare state." We're only making it bigger, more unsustainable, in a cynical attempt to buy votes.

This will only lead to a society in which the young despise the old. If this passes--which it will--and nothing is done to eliminate it fast, then the euthanasia lobby is going to have its day in 30 years when we can't pay for all this crap for old fogies any more. I don't want it to come to that, but just you wait. I will live to see the day when the government will be encouraging old people to please kick the bucket and stop being a burden on the rest of us.

Bottom line: we should not be making new promises now that we can't keep. The Comptroller General says that we can't even keep the old ones--Social Security and Medicare.

[Sabertooth]

I disagree! He understands that it is becoming a way of life for people in this country after 40 years of liberal control. The people call the shots in this country and he understands that it would be political suicide to attempt to change peoples attitudes overnight.

Recognizing that we can't undo the mess of the Great Society overnight is one thing. Making the problem worse by adding yet another entitlement is quite another.

I'm all for incrementalism, but that means advancing toward the proper goal. Bush's prescription drug folly advances the goals of the Democrats, who want more programs, more spending, more dependence, and bigger government.

[EGPWS]

I understand your consternation but Bush and the GOP are making the right move politically.To not introduce their own presciption drug plan would allow the Dems to put their plan,twice as costly,into the realm of public discourse.Then we would get the same tired argument that the Bush is "insensitive"to older Americans and give Kerry,Dean, et al an issue to run on. Call this move by Bush a "pre-empitve strike".

Well said RM!! You have shown yourself to have an uncanny political insight. :)

[Axenolith]

You are the quintessential politically ignorant right wing citizen.

Didn't you pay attention in the US History Class when they taught you that The United States has a Government of the people, by the people and for the people"?

And this crap is EXACTLY why the founding fathers wrote this GOVERNEMENT LIMITING document called the CONSTITUTION. You have to trample over it mightily to get where we are now, and twist the original meaning of phrases like "general welfare". Bread and circus's will keep the politicians in power giving the "people" what they want but it will be tits on a bull when it comes to grinding those citizens you mention into poverty to attempt (and I say attempt because it won't successfully happen) to pay for it...

Haven't you ever heard of the term "mobocracy"? Ya think it will be right when the masses decide to aquiesce on universal citizen disarmament? How about if they decide to send off some minority group to the camps???

[The Old Hoosier]

This is breaking news--the most breaking news of the day. The level of placidity over the issue is frightening, so I put it there. It's more breaking than 90% of what goes up on the sidebar.

[billbears]

The United States has a Government of the people, by the people and for the people"?

Hmmm, didn't find that in the Constitution, only some words in a flowery speech given by a man that could have given a d#mn about the Constitution

Let me give you a clue about how our system works. When a majority of the American voters want something, politicians run for office promising to do it. Then when they get in office they do it. When a significant minority of voters want something politicians promise to do it... But when they get elected they don't do it.

Really? So no matter if it's in the Constitution or not, politicians are supposed to do it if the majority wants it? Good grief, why have the document at all?!? Perhaps because it limits (and I know that's a word 'conservatives' don't understand) the government from doing things limited and reserved for the states?

What you want to happen will never happen because you are looking for a politician that will promise to do what you want.

No, I just want a politician that promises to actually uphold his oath instead of saying it, only to forget it 30 seconds later

Here is how you get things done.

Ahh, I can see words of wisdom coming. Washington, Jefferson, heck at this point even the most worthless Hamilton?!?

First you convince a substantial majority of American voters to your views... That is it. Then just sit back and watch it happen.

Didn't think so. Just more of the status quo crap. Keep convincing people you're in the right and sooner or later they'll come with you. Tell me sunshine, if you keep going along with these crappy plans instead of speaking out against them, why in the heck would anyone want to follow you when just another government plan fails? Unfortunately I fear this one will eventually bankrupt this nation to the point of no return

[viaveritasvita]

>>"I just hope there's a Part II somewhere in the second term, when they start cutting spending."<<

I'm sick sick sick of this it'-a-secret-brilliant-strategy excuse!!!!!!!

[Sabertooth]

((((((growl)))))

[Destro]

Trickery that can't be sustained as a policy. The drug companies make a profit in part because of tax payer investment. I don't want price controls and I don't want monopolies. If a drug company develops a drug (and 100% of drug developments seem to have had some Federal investment) then the patent should be for a limited time of 15 years after that generics drop the price. Imagine the cost of asprin if Bayer was the sole producer?

[Squantos]

Petco is where to get drugs......cheaper , no prescription , no doctors appointments, no HMO skimming off the top ......cut out the middle man I say !!.... Aisle three next to flea collars and choke chains.

Recently blood sugar and Blood pressure maximums were lowered as 120 over 70 wasn't "considered" healthy anymore. Results ? If your BP is 120 over 70 your prehypertensive now and must take a pill. Blood sugar levels were also lowered and as such diabetics were invented overnight. Who profits from that shit'n'shineola medicine show ?

Albeit some folks are really sick, poor and need assistance.....all of em don't. A blanket coverage free for all is wrong IMO. 2 gallons of clean water a day is best medicine IMHO. Cowboy up and tell the pill pushin doctors to kiss old brown spot right on the nose ! Just my opinion of course....right or wrong .........mine !

Stay Safe AAA!

[carenot]

What you want to happen will never happen because you are looking for a politician that will promise to do what you want. If a majority does not want it done, then they will promise you and break that promise.

Oh, I understand now!
They are all liars! Thanks.

[The Old Hoosier]

I'm not making any excuses for him. And I know I'm certainly wrong, but you have to hold out some hope somewhere.