Message to Republicans - Medicare

The Washington Times ^ | 12.8.2005 | Robert Goldberg

[weekendwarrior]

Over the last several weeks there has been an insurgency against the Medicare reform and the new Medicare drug benefit. Like most insurgencies, it is run by a handful of people with little popular support designed to demoralize political elites by creating images of chaos and defeat in the mainstream media. In turn, the media creates an echo chamber of like-minded talking heads who agree that both President Bush and democratic capitalism are immoral and unable to overcome the challenge the insurgency defines as unwinnable. In the case of Medicare, the insurgency was successful -- perhaps at the expense of people's health and very lives -- in discouraging them from signing up for free drugs and cash along with drug discount cards. Now that the Medicare insurgency is spreading fear about confusion and being over charged, insurgent leaders such as Henry Waxman, Families USA and AARP are using the echo chamber to spread disinformation about how useless Medicare reform is and how seniors should wait until the Revolution, when all drugs will be imported from Canada and a single-payer system is in place. Sadly, Republicans have reacted to the insurgency by retreating and revising. The echo chamber now resonates with the statements of former Council of Economic Adviser Chair Glenn Hubbard telling the Wall Street Journal "expansion [of Medicare] without substantial reform of the system was unwise fiscal policy." Most recently Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's statements on Medicare have been mischaracterized as an attack on the new drug benefit and new technologies in general.

[weekendwarrior]

A thoughtful piece about the ongoing Medicare debate. Take a look.

[Retired Chemist]

There have been many articles citing the difficulties of choosing a prescription drug plan. I didn't find it difficult but it did take a little study and time.

[Wiseghy]

The left is feeling empowered, and is pushing with greatly renewed vigor for Single Payer. They are bashing incremental reforms, such as HSA's, more openly and working congressional staffers over with more "studies" showing how wonderful it will all be under social medicine.

They are coming for our healthcare folks, and they are DEADLY serious about it. Sen. Clinton will carry their banner into '08.

[lillian]

This is scary. Gainsharing means that some hospital administrator is going to make a deal and decide my healthcare options for me? What if the device they pick isn't the best for me? Will I ever even know?