Earth to G.O.P. regarding Medicare's "failure".

[Tom Rinaldo]

This isn't the first time I've seen them try to slam Medicare as a failed program because it's "going bankrupt". From "The Hill", October 20th:

"Republicans mocked the idea of re-branding a plan they still consider a government takeover of healthcare.

It didn’t matter what they called Crystal Pepsi; no one wanted to drink it,” said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “No matter how the Democrats ‘re-brand’ their government takeover of healthcare, the American people oppose it.”

Republicans also note that Medicare is already $37 trillion in the hole and is projected to go bankrupt by 2018. “Has anyone noticed that Medicare is completely broke?” said Andrew Biggs, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute who worked in the White House on President George W. Bush’s plan to overhaul Social Security."
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/64029-medicare-for-ev...

Without even bothering to challenge their numbers, I wonder if Republicans can grasp this simple truth: If the income stream that supports Medicare was allowed to rise annually at the same rate that private insurance premiums have been rising in America for a decade, Medicare would be awash in cash. Medicare's funding has not been allowed to rise the way private insurance premiums have because Seniors and others who depend on Medicare simply can't afford it, and unlike those who don't qualify for Medicare, they are not held hostage to the greed and inefficiency of this nation's private insurance industry for whom demanding a 30% annual hike in premium costs in order to remain insured remains business as usual.

[DeSwiss]

1. This is the same chump who said:

"The AMA does not have the credibility on this healthcare issue, as they would like to project." http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/61653-steele-takes-shot-at-ama">link

Right Mikey.



- Boy will I be glad when the GOP finally craters so I won't have to listen to this guy anymore.....

K&R

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. Thanks for making that connection

It slipped right past me.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. I would love it if someone with greater skills than I

crunched the actual numbers to create a snap shot of the fiscal condition that Medicare would be in today if, over the last 15 years, it's revenue base had grown at the same rate as the industry wide average of private insurer annual premium rate hikes.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. but they want to get rid of Medicare

[Arkana]

5. Except they don't oppose it, Mr. Steele.

And you'd know that if you stopped polling just your living room.

[LynnTheDem]

6. ",the American people oppose it.” There he goes again! That alternative reality!

Most support public option for health insurance, poll finds
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR2009101902451.html

77 Percent Support "Choice" Of Public Option
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=5ba17aa2-f1b9-4445-a6b8-62b9d1ba8693

Majority of Americans Support a "Public Option" in Health Reform
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2009/09/majority-of-americans-support-a-public-option-in-health-reform.html#

Quinnipiac: Most Americans Support Public Option
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/10/08/quinnipiac-most-americans-support-public-option/

Poll: Overwhelming Majority Of Americans Support Public Insurance
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/health/policy/21poll.html?_r=2

Who ya trying to DUPE, Steel? Yourself, or just the dumbest of the rightwingnuttery?

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. He must be using a different definition of "the American People" .

His must presume that you can't be a real American and support a public option. I believe he is showing advanced signs of tea poisoning.

I suppose in his alternative universe Americans are screaming to be liberated from government controlled Medicare also.

[tabbycat31]

9. his definiton is the Republican base

[sofa king]

8. Every time a teabagger gets a finger bitten off, they fall back on Medicare.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. And if they are age 65 or older...

...they are usually damn glad they have it!