General Discussion

ProSense

(116,464 posts)

103. What a

Sat Dec 8, 2012, 10:02 PM

Dec 2012

It's no wonder the public can't have an honest debate about this. They don't have enough basic knowledge to participate other than to cry "don't touch my Medicare".

...bullshit straw man argument. That's right "don't touch my Medicare."

"Anyone who studies the deficit knows Medicare won't be left untouched."

Anyone who studied RW talking points knows what that means. The people who are really trying to fix Medicare know that the problem is health care costs.

"Democrats are the ones in danger from the backlash because they made promises they can't keep. "

"don't touch my Medicare."

Promise kept!

Also see: Fuck Republicans and their attempts to conflate Medicare benefit cuts with deficit reduction.

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Medicare is directly connected to the deficit. 40% of its funding is the general fund. [View all] dkf Dec 2012 OP

Point? mmonk Dec 2012 #1

This is why Medicare is going to have more attention during the deficit talks. dkf Dec 2012 #2

We shouldn't be having deficit talks. The economy is not strong enough. mmonk Dec 2012 #7

Fixing our projected fiscal problems can also be a stimulus. dkf Dec 2012 #13

Medicare has low overhead and does not slow or harm the economy. mmonk Dec 2012 #19

They want to gut social security and medicare. lalalu Dec 2012 #34

Force the elderly to sell off assets to pay for health care. Ikonoklast Dec 2012 #72

Those in power (the rich) want to cut Medicare because they know that iemitsu Dec 2012 #87

Look at the UK nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #20

It worked for Germany earlier. dkf Dec 2012 #76

Only if you can't do math. (nt) jeff47 Dec 2012 #94

Military. WinkyDink Dec 2012 #22

+1 nt Zorra Dec 2012 #37

CBO is projecting a decrease in military spending from 4.3% to 3.0% of GDP over next 10 years. dkf Dec 2012 #49

We spend nearly 20% of the GNP on health care iemitsu Dec 2012 #88

Yes we don't get as much for our healthcare dollar. dkf Dec 2012 #110

Well, we get a class of rich MD's iemitsu Dec 2012 #111

Corporate Tax loop holes. Phlem Dec 2012 #51

Increase revenue by ending Bush tax cuts and taxing the wealthy. nt Zorra Dec 2012 #61

yep Phlem Dec 2012 #85

*Medicare isn't the problem. Rising health care costs are the problem. BlueCaliDem Dec 2012 #63

+1 Go Vols Dec 2012 #97

Just increase the premiums for those making in excess of 250K. For social security raise the CAP. still_one Dec 2012 #70

Fair enough, but the focus needs to be on reducing costs Telly Savalas Dec 2012 #107

That's accurate and good to keep in mind. randome Dec 2012 #3

For now maybe... dkf Dec 2012 #4

I'm all for taking care of problems BEFORE they become too much to handle. randome Dec 2012 #10

Interesting charts - the Trustees' report doesn't seem to be quite that gloomy. enlightenment Dec 2012 #14

100% of the deficit would disappear instantly if only-- eridani Dec 2012 #106

Oh Look! A Mediscare thread! leftstreet Dec 2012 #5

+1000 abelenkpe Dec 2012 #9

LOL lalalu Dec 2012 #32

Thanks for clearing that up. bemildred Dec 2012 #6

Or maybe they think the $ grows on trees. dkf Dec 2012 #16

No, it's all little magnetic dots nowadays, except for the paper and coins in your pocket. nt bemildred Dec 2012 #17

as "money" is an accounting abstraction represented by paper tokens at the retail level Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #28

No, they think the tax payers will pay their gambling debts, as we have so far. sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #102

Here we go! 99Forever Dec 2012 #8

So---let's make it 50 percent...hell 60. trumad Dec 2012 #11

Does NOT explain why revenue is seemingly off the table.... Wounded Bear Dec 2012 #12

I am all for a complete overhaul of the healthcare system. dkf Dec 2012 #15

No one else is. randome Dec 2012 #25

Hm. That's funny. randome Dec 2012 #29

Canada. dkf Dec 2012 #50

That's the name of a country. Not an explanation of how to overhaul our health system. randome Dec 2012 #52

Seriously? What more do you need? dkf Dec 2012 #56

Medicare works as is. randome Dec 2012 #59

The Canadian system is much more efficient. dkf Dec 2012 #64

All those changes can be implemented. randome Dec 2012 #66

It's worse than that... dkf Dec 2012 #67

That looks like good old-fashioned FRAUD. Ikonoklast Dec 2012 #71

Or doctors will just get a full range of the most expensive services ordered for each patient. dkf Dec 2012 #73

'Medicare Bills' = billing practices. randome Dec 2012 #79

I'm for a complete overhaul as well... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #69

There was a report about this very thing - "they" have built a Medicare Hestia Dec 2012 #90

It's not just the fraud that is a problem. Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #93

100% of military spending comes from taxes. DavidDvorkin Dec 2012 #18

And Social Security has 0% impact on the deficit MiniMe Dec 2012 #21

Military spending is 100% connected to the general fund. Ikonoklast Dec 2012 #23

Funny how the repub lites around here liberalhistorian Dec 2012 #31

and it is 50% money down the toilet, no benefit except big booms. Coyotl Dec 2012 #95

Ya but...but MEDICARE!!! Rex Dec 2012 #104

Medicare has two easily soluble problems: Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #24

absolutely and your part 1. would reduce unemployment OKNancy Dec 2012 #36

Has anyone seen my unrec button? Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #26

+1 proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #27

the rec list of this thread is "interesting". Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #46

Makes you wonder BlueCaliDem Dec 2012 #54

How can you discuss the program and its funding without knowing how it works? dkf Dec 2012 #53

We don't NEED to discuss its funding. randome Dec 2012 #55

How can you discuss raising revenue if you don't understand how the revenue is currently generated? dkf Dec 2012 #58

My statement stands. randome Dec 2012 #60

Well you can always cut education, R&D and infrastructure before Medicare I guess dkf Dec 2012 #75

You're being disingenuous. randome Dec 2012 #82

If you want less military adventures you really need to oppose Susan Rice as S of S. dkf Dec 2012 #86

You're assuming that the forum members aren't aware of funding, revenue, etc. already. Hestia Dec 2012 #91

Can't say I've seen it. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #81

I swiped it. I was feeling a strong urge to unrec some threads more than once. n/t gkhouston Dec 2012 #98

I can't believe you are still posting your dribble. lalalu Dec 2012 #30

He/she still hasn't explained what is meant by 'a complete overhaul'. randome Dec 2012 #33

Sounds like GOP-speak for vouchers Major Nikon Dec 2012 #39

You just have to quietly stand up to them and then they go away. randome Dec 2012 #42

Not entirely fair. Repubs lite do not generally advocate for single payer eridani Dec 2012 #109

100% of military spending comes out of the general fund Major Nikon Dec 2012 #35

too much big money sucking on that teat eShirl Dec 2012 #108

So what? Some things are worth having Curmudgeoness Dec 2012 #38

Quite a bit of that 40% is due to the higher costs incurred by using private insurers Major Nikon Dec 2012 #40

You don't have to convince me that "for profit" insurers are a problem. Curmudgeoness Dec 2012 #48

Exactly. Medicare's worth every penny. n/t backscatter712 Dec 2012 #83

Part D is the only part that should be on the table. Luckily, the fix is simple. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #41

The government receives money; the government spend money - the rest is accounting BS FarCenter Dec 2012 #43

Let people be able to buy in at 50. Or single payer. JaneyVee Dec 2012 #44

$454,393,280,417.03 interest paid on national debt could easily erase that deficit. nt jody Dec 2012 #45

If the deficit currently caused any real-world problem this would be more interesting cthulu2016 Dec 2012 #47

Thanks for shedding some light. elleng Dec 2012 #57

Medicare did not cause the deficit. So what's your point? sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #62

+1 forestpath Dec 2012 #65

Bingo. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of military programs.... OldDem2012 Dec 2012 #74

One solution is a new payroll tax for part B and D that increases as costs go up. dkf Dec 2012 #78

That idea ProSense Dec 2012 #99

Not everyone is here 24/7 you know. Frankly I never see this point made in the public discussion. dkf Dec 2012 #101

What a ProSense Dec 2012 #103

Military spending is approx $700B but the deficit is $1.2T taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #89

Yes, but the largest cause is the poor economy jeff47 Dec 2012 #100

Aww come on...not falling for the FUD!?! Rex Dec 2012 #105

It is virtually impossible Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #68

Medicare's financial problems disappear if you go to a single-payer system for everyone. Jackpine Radical Dec 2012 #77

I can think of a few ways to address the deficit without cutting Medicare benefits. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #80

Death panels will solve this problem Capt. Obvious Dec 2012 #84

Oooh, oooh ProSense Dec 2012 #92

Let's move the age to 76 then....let the fucking bodies pile up in the streets !!!! RagAss Dec 2012 #96