General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPaul Krugman- Zombies Against Medicare
Medicare turns 50 this week, and it has been a very good half-century. Before the program went into effect, Ronald Reagan warned that it would destroy American freedom; it didnt, as far as anyone can tell. What it did do was provide a huge improvement in financial security for seniors and their families, and in many cases it has literally been a lifesaver as well.
But the right has never abandoned its dream of killing the program. So its really no surprise that Jeb Bush recently declared that while he wants to let those already on Medicare keep their benefits, We need to figure out a way to phase out this program for others.
What is somewhat surprising, however, is the argument he chose to use, which might have sounded plausible five years ago, but now looks completely out of touch. In this, as in other spheres, Mr. Bush often seems like a Rip Van Winkle who slept through everything that has happened since he left the governors office after all, hes still boasting about Floridas housing-bubble boom.
Actually, before I get to Mr. Bushs argument, I guess I need to acknowledge that a Bush spokesman claims that the candidate wasnt actually calling for an end to Medicare, he was just talking about things like raising the age of eligibility. There are two things to say about this claim. First, its clearly false: in context, Mr. Bush was obviously talking about converting Medicare into a voucher system, along the lines proposed by Paul Ryan.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/opinion/zombies-against-medicare.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
spanone
(135,792 posts)seafan
(9,387 posts)Krugman nails it.
Jeb is now walking it back.
He is still pounding his chest over his "accomplishments" as Governor. We are still reeling from his legacy.
A housing bubble made Jeb Bush look great. Then it tanked Florida's economy.
daniel acker/Bloomberg, via Daily Herald
We must all roll up our sleeves to stop the march of this punitive, cash-greased, self-entitled insanity.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Medicare for all! Right fucking now!
Moostache
(9,895 posts)From your keyboard to reality please!
The idea that of all advanced economies the Unites States alone cannot figure out how to handle health care rights is astounding.
Its time to stop couching the debate in terms that the plutocrats and fascists like, you know "makers" and "takers" and "entitlements"...BULLSHIT!
Health Care is a RIGHT as a citizen of this country.
No citizen of the country should EVER be forced into bankruptcy by illness.
No citizen of the country should EVER be forced into for their life because treatment options are "too expensive"...
Health Care Rights may not be as sexy as other causes, the ones that get people's ire raised and shouting at each other despite common cause, but make no mistake, without Health Care Rights other issues will continue to fester and rot.
Racial justice without economic justice without equal (or ANY) opportunity without health care rights is simply sticking band aids on gunshots. The middle class - in concept, in reality and in opportunity - has been eviscerated, sacrificed in the name of corporate profits and a business model of capitalism run amok. Just as millions of minorities, and millions more Caucasians, know all too well, if you are dead from a treatable disease, that is far worse than dead broke, and worse than persecuted dead broke.
Health Care is not a profit center. Health Care is a RIGHT (it cannot be said enough).
It never should have been "for profit" insurance, and those in the insurance business who insert themselves between doctors and patients and treatments as a middle-man skimming off the top, would be tried for crimes against humanity if ever a full and honest accounting of their depravity was produced.
Health Care is a RIGHT!
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)mountain grammy
(26,598 posts)IT CAN'T BE SAID ENOUGH!
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)central scrutinizer
(11,637 posts)If you have saved money for retirement or have equity in your house the Republicans plan to give it all to their cronies in the medical-industrial complex. Either through huge insurance premiums or via losing all of your assets through medically-induced bankruptcy.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)mountain grammy
(26,598 posts)Of course! Krugman, always the voice of sanity and reason.