Washington Post “Factchecker” Glenn Kessler (9/6/12) doesn’t like the way Democrats talk about Republican Medicare plans:
Glenn Kessler
The claim that Republicans will “end the Medicare guarantee” has been a frequent refrain at the convention, perhaps in response to factchecker complaints about the incorrect charge last year that Republicans would “end Medicare.” But this phrase is a bit odd since there is no actual “guarantee” for any program that can be changed by some future Congress.
The striking feature of Ryan’s original Medicare plan was that when it’s fully phased in, most seniors would not be able to afford healthcare. Ryan’s updated plan is slightly different, but it retains the essential problem: The costs of healthcare would rise faster than the support seniors get to pay for healthcare, thereby making healthcare increasingly unaffordable.
Kessler should tell Democrats what the right way to talk about this is, because it’s an important thing for voters to know.
I could not survive without Medicare. It is one of the most important programs for Seniors and needs to be made for all Americans so that the costs can be lowered. Private Insurance Firms now spend at between 15% and 20% to administer the Health Plans because of the “Affordasble Care Act” law. Look at the money saved if the health care system was administered By Medicare because they spend less than 3% in administration costs. There would be no need to raise taxes to cover the cost.
Bullshit.Ryans plan will change nothing for seniors.It simply opens up options if they want it.It is sad to try to lie to seniors in this way.But I don’t blame you.What else do you have?
You calling Mr. Albano a liar, dude? Everyhing he said is true, and you’re just lying, as usual. I defy you to refute what he said (especially the part about the cost of administration). You and that lying little asshole Ryan aren’t just lying to seniors. You’re lying to everyone.
This quibbling over details is what keeps the corporations (medical, Insurance, and media) chuckling. The longer they manage to keep people spending energy arguing, the more mega bucks they continue to steal. The big financial corps are also in on this game. They all win while we squable.
The so called “wealthiest” country in the world has been hostage to the games of these bandits while other western democracies have demonstrated unequivecally that universal single payer health care is best for the total population.
Generally, I find the differing opinions in the responses interesting, because they present different points of view. I am offended when you reduce your arguments to swearing. Shall I quit reading these? Or will you people quit acting like you’re behind the barn and ladies can’t hear you? I don’t like your language so if you don’t change it, I guess I’ll have to quit reading the responses.
“Different points of view?” So lying is merely a “point of view?” Jesus Christ, what next? Paul Ryan simply engaged in “rhetorical excess” when he lied? I swear and otherwise remove myself from gentlemanly comportment when the written event here calls for it–if you can’t tell the difference between a point of view and a bald-faced lie, or think any “view” has as much merit as any other view, then by all means move on–you’ve come to the wrong place, as it turns out.
michael e, as usual, chooses to deny basic mathematical facts. According to Ryan’s plan, his vouchers are set to increase at the same rate as the CPI (consumer price index). However, healthcare premiums will increase at a higher rate. Therefore, seniors would be forced to pay the difference out of their own pockets.
How hard is that to understand, michael e?
@ Karen Packard: Your comment above is concise, focused, polite, and accurate, and yet it was met with precisely the behavior you hoped to discourage. You did not discuss lying, which evidently reduced TimN to repulsive language; you merely referred, gently, to different points of view.
My criticism here has been similarly received. Next, someone may accuse you of misanthropy, which is just about the opposite of taking time to make such a comment as yours, or someone may accuse you, also falsely, of making ad hominem comments.
I have abandoned a futile campaign to improve the quality of the language and discussion at this site. From the left and from the right, cute inanities, junior high-school naughty words, ungrammatical recastings of media hate-mongering, off-subject rambling, and, yes, blatantly ad hominem attacks on others are the price you pay, but in my opinion, many of the adult comments here are worth it.
Ok we will clean up the language for the lassies on board…..The point is ,we can argue all day about Ryan’s plan.Kind of like arguing about Joe Bidens plans and ideas, that he presented before Obama won the nomination, and was elected president.Lets wait to see what plan Mitt will be going with.You know the guy who will be president.We know for a fact he will dump the worst parts of the Obama healthcare tax.And yes keep a few of the good ideas.Ryan’s plan by his own account will be open to discussion ,and to open hearings(Kinda what Obama should of had).Nothing is in stone even if Mitt were to go with the basic premise.So arguing it like it is the de facto policy is pointless at this juncture.
Ryan will be asked about it in the debates with our esteemed VP I am sure.Biden will be armed with the best” right hooks”that the best minds in the Democrat party can come up with,after months of brainstorming concerning his proposals.Far tougher questions than what TD asks above( and that Ryan has answered many times).Im looking forward to his responses.They will not be the slippery lies of Obama.It will be straight talk ,with facts in his hip pocket- ready to go.Bottom line is what we have now is costing 2.7 trillion before it has even begun.It was promised on a stack of bibles at no more than 700 billion.That means you lied as we knew you did.Cant run away from that fact.It is a near total disaster.As far as the gent above who said single payer is the way to go….just look at Europe????Your kidding right?Europe is running as fast as it can from that disaster.No one wants to be the next Greece.My guess is Spain is next.Then Italy.Gotta be able to pay your bill there children.