Kennedy Fails to Prolong Senate Medicare Bill Debate

Bloomberg.com ^ | November 24, 2003 | Bloomberg

[Digger]

Only thing I know is that I was told that if I voted for AlGore I would get an expanded government with more entitlements, etc. ( As always, it doesn't matter which faction of this "Two-Party Cartel" that one votes in - you get the same) Your freedom to spend your hard-earned money again got stolen from you, your manufacturing jobs have gone in the name of Globalism, the PC crowd has received more money for indoctrination via the additional Billions to the public schools & none of the so-called conservative judges to the more prominent postitons have been placed. But the pubbies think that they are winning by putting in Fabian socialism. We even got Tom DeLay saying this is a good deal. There is NO stopping the spenders in Congress. The socialist Europe Euro eating up the dollar. Donch think it is time for a 3rd party to take this is cartel out?

[4CJ]

The ever-growing population dependant on the system would vote out ANY politician that tried to restructure the system.

Bingo. We have a winner folks.

[m1-lightning]

I find it difficult to believe that dozens of articles are incorrect in their reading of the bill, or that the AARP has been unable to convince their membership that this bill is a good thing.

Did you watch ANY of the debates in the House?

[CyberCowboy777]

Sure…. Except how many of us would vote to diminish our take from the coffers? The numbers eating at the trough are increasing and they all vote.

It is the “Third Way” as defined by Hitler, Mussolini, Blair, Clinton, Albright and others.

They cannot remove capitalism completely, no, not total socialism. But a third way, part socialism, part capitalism.

That is what is scary, Americans would not buy into socialism, but mask it with social concern and a dash of capitalism and you got a winning platform. Progressive Capitalism or Capitalism with a heart.

Compassionate Capitalism anyone?

[Peach]

Are seniors who are angry misinformed about any of the following things that make them angry:

$1 billion to illegal aliens;

No coverage for drug costs between $2,250 and $3,600 out of pocket;

Low income subsidies (welfare);

Bribing companies to retain current coverage of retirees; (memo to government: written contracts aren't permitted to be broken typically except in the event of a catastrophic event like bankruptcy)

the considered opinion of nearly every expert I can find is that this will embolden corporations to drop their current retiree benefit plans (I don't know how/why they figure that but they ALL do - every think tank, the Congressional Budget Office, the health insurance experts, etc.)

Which one of those points is incorrect and therefore the seniors are misinformed?

[m1-lightning]

You know a better nation to live in?

[Peach]

Yes I did watch some of the debate. What's your point? What points are seniors misinformed about? See my previous post.

[Reactionary]

"If you'd rather not pay so much in taxes, what do you suggest these seniors do who simply cannot afford medicines?"

That's what everyone says, isn't it? Yet seniors, as a class, have more wealth than any other social class in America. As for those who aren't rolling in the dough, there are probably a dozen government programs available to take care of them.

But it's never enough, is it? Working people get to foot the bill for all of it.

[Peach]

BTW, I've yet to find conservative commentary that LIKES this bill. Not including individual senatorial web sites, of course.

For that matter, I can find darned little liberal web sites that like this bill.

[Right_in_Virginia]

The Medical Savings Accounts in this bill are fantastic and I, for one, will take advantage of them.

Agree.

[CyberCowboy777]

I have a certain amount of understanding for the Bush administration.

At least they are trying to pass a plan that would have happened anyway only with the democrats providing details.

With the competition provisions and the drug imports they are trying to reintroduce the free market.

I personally don’t like the strategy; I’d let the Liberals have all they want until the system collapses.

The Republicans can lead the push, follow it or block it, if they block they will be replaced. At least that is their thinking; I personally do not think the outcry would be so great. Tearing down Medicare or Social Security would be political suicide.

[KantianBurke]

I was under the impression that access to those savings accounts would be strictly limited and wouldn't even be put into operation till 2006. Good luck getting one.

[HoundsTooth_BP]

("If you'd rather not pay so much in taxes, what do you suggest these seniors do who simply cannot afford medicines?")

Let them do without. If I can't afford something, I DO WITHOUT.

They would be better off not to take drugs for the most part.

I dislike the republicans for this, but the dems are no better. There clearly is no difference. I dislike them all.

[playball0]

I know this looks really bad, but if the reforms take place, we might be able to restrain the overall cost.

Besides the current system is skewed to expensive operations and hospital care rather than cheaper drugs and out-patient services.

And hoping for Teddy to win is like waiting for Mary Jo to float to the surface.

[m1-lightning]

$1 billion to illegal aliens;

I billion to the hospitals who, by law, have to give treatment to these people. I support the CLEAR act, I hope you do too.

No coverage for drug costs between $2,250 and $3,600 out of pocket;

Actually the bill states $2,001 to $3,500 So that's a rough $2,570 a year max that one would have to pay which includes the deductable and the premiums.

Low income subsidies (welfare);

They still have to pay $600/year, so it's not 100% free.

Bribing companies to retain current coverage of retirees; (memo to government: written contracts aren't permitted to be broken typically except in the event of a catastrophic event like bankruptcy

C) "employers, who cover over 170,000,000 Americans, find providing coverage increasingly difficult because of rising costs and double digit premium increases"
This came form the bill I'm still looking for the part about bribing companies

[m1-lightning]

Let them do without. If I can't afford something, I DO WITHOUT.

I've got a better idea. Have the drug companies share the patents so we can make our own drugs if we can't afford them. By the way, aren't most of these companies using federal grants to fund their research anyway?

[m1-lightning]

$1 billion to illegal aliens;

Actually, as I read further on this, that money goes to the states, not business or hospitals or citizens. The 6 states with the highest number of arrests of illegal aliens will get to split $83,000,000 each year. I guess that would be incentive to arrest more illegal immigrants if your state is cash strapped.

[Peach]

Lovely sarcasm.

What is it you think seniors are misinformed about? Why do you think they don't like the bill and have you found ANY conservative commentary (or for that matter any commentary) that likes this bill?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[hattend]

Why would the 'Rats really want to block this? It's the camel's nose for eventually taking over health care.

Their blocking try is merely cover.