Posted on 08/19/2009 5:21:10 PM PDT by ransomnote
"Why can't they make Medicare the public option? Allow anyone to be part of Medicare. . . . Seems reasonable unless I'm missing something."
Quoting comment #19 on Democratic Underground website thread titled "White House appears ready to drop 'public option'"
I think the commenter makes a VERY GOOD POINT! Obviously, the inefficiency, fraud, and decrepitude of the Medicare system is so well known that it cannot be expanded without completing crashing the system and if you asked the American public right now "Hey! Wanna join Medicare?" there would be a stampede toward the exit. But IF anything the Democrats are saying about cost savings and quality care were true - THIS would have been the easy answer for the Dems. All they would have to to do is relax the criteria of an established 'successful' program and stand back to watch the so-called competition between gov medicine and private insurance take it's natural course. IF anything the Dems said was true....
they can’t use medicare because the purpose is nationalization of the healthcare system and not insuring the uninsured.
Pardon my manners. I forgot to thank PJ-Comix of Dummiefunnies.com for doing the job that Americans don’t want to do (reading the Democratic Underground) and calling attention to ‘prime’ material. I didn’t link directly to his site because I wanted the date/author information from the original site.
Agreed. Now I wish some Republicans would put this into a bill and let congress vote on it. Oooh and let the people ‘express’ to congress how they feel about being flushed into medicare! What ‘good’ excuse can the Dems come up with? “No! no! We’ll never own you as our chattle if we allow a vote on THAT!”
Actually, if you must have a health plan- opening up enrollment to medicare and medicaid is the easiest, simplest and most direct way to do it. The staff for those programs is already on board.
But they have a much bigger agenda here than just to “get people covered”. They’d like to control every aspect of the medical industry- so a thousand page bill is needed.
Better yet propose using the government employees insurance plan ....
THe Unions....that is Why existing Medicare isn’t a roll into option.
Unions have a clause in their Employee contracts...if ever a Public Option is offered by the Government, Union employees get rolled into it....save the Unions millions for Benefits.
Its a fact, Jack.
Why can’t they make Medicare the public option? Allow anyone to be part of Medicare. . . . Seems reasonable unless I’m missing something.”
A thousand page bill of convoluted legalese that, when interpreted, is said not to exist because there are only drafts out there...so HOW can you object to a draft. But, if we don’t object to scraps, drafts, and rumors, we’ll never have a chance to object at all!
I want the Repubs to call the bluff of the Dems by putting ‘expand medicare’ on to vote as the public option and invite the public to respond. I want the Repubs to brag about having identified the least expensive, least intrusive, least disruptive cost efficient manner in which the Dems can have their way. Imagine the procession of analysts, doctors etc. all parading in front of the camera saying why it cannot work...in detail...with monetary numbers attached... Call them on their socialist aspirations! What could the dems say? No! NO! We’d rather implement our public option via far more expensive, intrusive means! What a show! WE could ask Dems how they plan to reform Medicare!! YES! REFORM MEDICARE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Oooh Mr. Dem! Mr. Dem! Please tell me how you are going to make Medicare into a high quality, cost efficient program! If you do, I’ll join medicare!
Medicare has got to become means-tested, folks, because we are all contributing to the health care costs of many many wealthy folk who are well able to financially opt out of Medicare, which THE LAW allows, but BUREAUCRATS don’t. See www.medicarelawsuit.org, brought by folks who WANT out and CMS won’t let em.
It isn't a Public Option, the public already has the option to purchase Medical Insurance from hundreds of companies.
Isn't it a Government Run Option, or am I missing something?
(You know, like the Libtard on DU is missing something).
I read on another thread that focus groups found that name ‘public option’ was acceptable to the majority of respondents and the name ‘government run’ was rejected by 3 of 4 respondents. So, Obama’s focus groups helped set the terminology for this disaster known as Obamacare. And that’s why he and his minions shriek that it is NOT government run! That’s why the Dems blocked the mailing of Repub memos with ‘government run healthcare’ in them.
I think we should call it a ‘Medical Draft’ Something along the lines of conscription. That’s what Medicare is - the government forcing you to report to doctors and treatment of its choosing. Yes....lets talk about this century’s draft....ooohhh you could sign up for it at the post office as soon as your private insurance and private doctors fold or quit in the face of abusive government tactics...
Oooh and it wouldn’t be an insurance card, it would be a draft card....Photoshop please! Faux Government posters with uncle sam wearing a stethescope saying Uncle Sam wants to examine YOU! Citizens respond by burning their medical draft cards...but can’t quite see the efficacy in fleeing to Canada this time...maybe South America?
That's the reason for everything the Liberal Messiah and His Apostles do.
Actually reforming and opening up the Medicaid program to all is probably closer to what you’ll have in pretty short order with obamacare.
Medicaid is “free” and bars providers from accepting any further payments from patients.
Most medicaid patients get their care from large clinics- where the doctors spend minimal time and are quick with the prescription pad.
I can see real possibility for profits for the pharmacuetical outfits in this- particularly if they play ball with the democrats on this “public option” and give it their imprimatur.
Why stop at just One, FAILED, USELESS GOVT BOONDOGGLE, when an even BIGGER BOONDOGGLE will provide Countless POLITICAL PATRONAGE POSITIONS for unelectable Liberal also rans, to micro manage the MUCH BIGGER BOONDOGGLE on a City Block by City Block basis?
This tidal wave of leftist stupid we’re all currently drowning under is what the ones who could win election have wrought.
Dear God! Save us from the tyranny of the faceless, To Be Appointed, also rans in Every Hamlet who couldn’t even get elected! (and right on out to their fourth cousins)
Federal employees have a choice of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, as well as several other plans, none of which is a “public option”.
I know, that’s what I’m saying .... why can’t we have as good as they have? We’re their employers. How can the ‘help’ have better medical than those that employ them?
'Means-tested'? That's code word for welfare. How about people get a benefit in proportion with what they put in? that's the only fair way. Instead of stealing from the productive citizens to carry the deadwood (as is the democRAT's dream), let the deadwood carry its own weight in the world for a change.
I recall that some congress critter proposed a bill specifying that members of congress would NOT participate in the public option!
It should be noted that not all federal employees have the same options. They vary widely depending on what agency and location the employee works in.
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