Clarifying the problem with the Ryan Plan for Medicare

[cleduc]

I'll try to keep this simple.

Issue #1:
RR (Romney-Ryan) claim that they're riding in on their white dressage horse to save Medicare because it's going to run out of money.

RR also claim that they're not going to raise any taxes or fees for Medicare beyond whatever is done now (to keep Grover Norquist signing off on their legislation and encouraging the subsidy of their campaigns by the billionaires).

To solve this Medicare solvency problem, RR plan to allow those under 55 to opt out for private care. And if they opt out, they'll give them whatever they've accrued towards Medicare as a voucher to pay for private insurance.

Somehow, from that, all is good according to RR.

But the same number of people with the same health issues will be expecting to get medical treatment for the same medical issues - inside or outside of Medicare. And the money the government is providing to do that is not going up because the scumbags on the White Dressage Horse are "saving Medicare" and cutting spending.

So where's the shortfall? Either there is none (which we know is not true) or someone has to make up the money difference. Wherever the government isn't making it up, those that bail out of medicare with a voucher must be in order to save the government money.

This is a classic con man shell game being played upon those about to become seniors who are unsuspecting.

It's been said before but the media like CNN don't seem to get it. Maybe that will help or someone can correct me where I'm misunderstanding.

Issue #2

While watching CNN this evening, I saw a banner under Romney and throughout Blitzer's interview with Wasserman-Shultz that said "Obama's reduced Medicare by $700 billion" (or something that struck me to that effect).

Here's two good rebuttal links to that claim
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8071.pdf
http://www.cms.gov/apps/files/ACA-savings-report-2012.pdf
beyond a number of articles that have done so.

Imagine Granny sitting at home and she's seeing Obama is taking away some of her Medicare (when he's in fact improved it and saved money doing so). It's got to be upsetting. And it's based upon an outright lie that has been independently and factually verified as a lie. What do we have to do to get CNN and others like them to stop it and hammer Romney on this BS?

[AndyTiedye]

1. Bring Back the Fairness Doctrine

What do we have to do to get CNN and others like them to stop it and hammer Romney on this BS?

Not a damn thing, unless we can get the Fairness Doctrine reinstated.
Until then, the Mighty Slime Machine (MSM) will be at the service of the GOP.

[HopeHoops]

2. How about putting it in simple terms - "IT FUCKING SUCKS!"

[unionthug]

3. 55 and over, OK. 55 and under not so much

I watched the tube for an hour or so this evening and heard John Sununu (NH - GWBush fame) claim that the Ryan Medicare plan was all OK for everyone over 55... no problem. When asked about 55 and under people... crickets.

[customerserviceguy]

4. The last couple of times that Congress passed a doc-fix

We saw additional premiums on Federally insured mortgages hit an already struggling housing market, and we saw bad-debt reimbursements get cut, and that was only to extend it to the end of this year.

What will the President have to sign to get a doc-fix for his second term in office, providing he can get one?