Raising Medicare age: "terrible," "fiscally irresponsible" policy, but Republicans want it so OK?

[ProSense]

That's Ezra Klein hosting The Rachel Maddow Show

Video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc-rachel_maddow_show/#50125323

Transcript excerpt.

Despite the fact it's unpopular, republicans really want to make cuts in medicare and want to raise the age by two years from 65 to 67. that's also super unpopular...What's weird is it's always presented as the height of fiscal responsibility even though it's fiscally irresponsible. Which brings us to the challenge. why raising the age does not save you very much money and is probably a bad policy idea in under two minutes...The seniors turning to private insurance will have to pay more from the same coverage. 3.7 billion more in the first year of the policy...it's a terrible policy, but because obama care and employers and others are there to catch a lot of these people, it might get more votes while doing less harm to seniors than the alternatives.

Got it: It's a "terrible" and "fiscally irresponsible" policy that doesn't save money and will cost seniors "$3.7 billion" more in the first year alone.

The alternative, taking Medicare off the table, doesn't harm seniors. The alternative, doing nothing, doesn't harm seniors.

Klein cites a Jonathan Chait piece, which presents a very bizarre argument. He's positioning this ridiculous proposal as a counter to Republican attacks on ACA. Chait:

What’s more, raising the Medicare retirement age would help strengthen the fight to preserve the Affordable Care Act. Republicans may be coming to grips with their lack of leverage over the Bush tax cuts, but their jihad against universal health insurance lives on. Having narrowly lost their wildly tendentious legal argument for striking down health care, they are devising newer and even more implausible ones. Republican governors continue to turn down federal funding to cover their poorest uninsured citizens and refuse to set up private insurance exchanges.

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/12/go-ahead-raise-the-medicare-retirement-age.html

Chait is basically saying: Raise Medicare to strengthen ACA because Republicans lost the legal argument and the election, but they're going to keep trying.

Republican Governors are going to do what?

Christie Vetoes Bill That Would Establish Obamacare Exchange
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021937786

[Wounded Bear]

1. I just turned 60....

Fuck all Republicans, and frankly, any Democrat who would go along with this.

They should lower it to 50.

[ProSense]

2. Yes, that's a start, and then

they need to open it to everyone or move ACA significantly toward a Medicare-like program.

[Wounded Bear]

3. I have hope.....

that the move to single payer will happen at the state level.

Vermont (NH?) is already in the process. Hawaii already has it. I know that my state, WA, had a pretty good Basic Health plan for low-income people. I used it for a while until the budget cutter got a hold of it. The ACA does not preclude the states from setting up some kind of public option, so I think that's where the movement will occur.

As I said, though, I don't think it will be in time to help me.

[ProSense]

4. So do I. It's a viable path. n/t

[ProSense]

5. Kick! n/t

[Overseas]

6. K&R for highlighting the twisted arguments being foisted upon us.

I wish all Democrats could say -- Stop The Madness! No more cuts to Main Street. It is now time for cuts to Wall Street!