General Discussion

kpete

(71,996 posts) Sun Jan 6, 2013, 10:30 PM Jan 2013

Robert Reich: Medicare isn't the problem. It may be the solution. [View all]

The Hoax of Entitlement Reform

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Medicare isn't the problem. It may be the solution.

"Entitlement reform" sounds like a noble endeavor. But it has little or nothing to do with reducing future budget deficits.

Taming future deficits requires three steps having nothing to do with entitlements: Limiting the growth of overall healthcare costs, cutting our bloated military, and ending corporate welfare (tax breaks and subsidies targeted to particular firms and industries).

Obsessing about "entitlement reform" only serves to distract us from these more important endeavors.

much more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/entitlement-reform_b_2421991.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

37 replies

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Highlight:

Robert Reich: Medicare isn't the problem. It may be the solution. [View all] kpete Jan 2013 OP

For Medicare and health care in general: truebluegreen Jan 2013 #1

This is the part that shows our compassion-vs-profits dotymed Jan 2013 #26

I suppose I should have said, truebluegreen Jan 2013 #27

That is why it is so hard to find a Dr. willing to dotymed Jan 2013 #31

Um, I'm confused. truebluegreen Jan 2013 #32

IDK what is so confusing... dotymed Jan 2013 #37

Medicare-for-All is the BEST and ONLY AFFORDABLE solution! Faryn Balyncd Jan 2013 #2

We're on that path, and probably will get there in the next 15 years. Kennah Jan 2013 #4

We've gone from considering a MC buy-in option to debating whether to raise the MC age to 67... Faryn Balyncd Jan 2013 #6

You are of course correct Kennah Jan 2013 #8

I can see John2 Jan 2013 #22

Citizen's United + mandatory private insurance = plenty of your own money says you're wrong. nt Romulox Jan 2013 #12

Obamacare = Corporate Welfare Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #14

+100 truebluegreen Jan 2013 #28

It really is jsr Jan 2013 #23

K&R abelenkpe Jan 2013 #3

That would be great! JDPriestly Jan 2013 #5

But then you would be taxed on income you did not get Yo_Mama Jan 2013 #7

By the same reasoning, your paycheck rises not because you do more work JDPriestly Jan 2013 #10

Income taxes are inflation-indexed Yo_Mama Jan 2013 #36

No. Capital gains should be taxed as regular income. Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #15

Amen. daleanime Jan 2013 #19

The first $250K of home sale capital gains is tax exempt, $500K is you're married filing jointly n/t TexasBushwhacker Jan 2013 #34

How about paying capital income only on sale of SECOND homes? Auntie Bush Jan 2013 #20

Might work. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #29

K&R. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #9

I can't agree with this more! I wonder WHY it's not more obvious to others. nt patrice Jan 2013 #11

WHY in two easy steps. hay rick Jan 2013 #13

I'd say people are being PAID to keep feeding corporations socialindependocrat Jan 2013 #25

+1 MissMarple Jan 2013 #16

tag leftyohiolib Jan 2013 #17

That's one of the reasons I like Robert Reich... kentuck Jan 2013 #18

What's sad is that his position is considered "out of the box". gkhouston Jan 2013 #21

Exactly! Skidmore Jan 2013 #24

I read a piece months ago about how much Medicare and Medicaid have contributed to the recovery underpants Jan 2013 #30

just had surgery. the anesthesiologist alone was $2,000. spanone Jan 2013 #33

Great article! Quantess Jan 2013 #35