The Washington Post (5/13/12) ran a piece by Ed O’Keefe under this headline:
Ryan Budget Still an Issue in Congressional Races
Still? You mean candidates keep talking about Rep. Paul Ryan’s proposal to replace Medicare with an entirely inadequate privatized health insurance program–even though the upcoming elections are the first chance voters will have to say what they think of the idea?
Yep: “More than a year after the proposal’s initial release, Republican candidates continue to find themselves on the defensive about what the plan will actually do, and Democrats continue to make claims about the dire consequences if it were to become law.” Surely in a just world, politicians would have lost interest in the topic long before the public had a chance to weigh in on it. You know, the way journalists have.
Proponents “make a compelling case”.
Opponents “make claims”.
Like issues of gender equity in general, in such instances “He said, she said” rarely accords a fair hearing to the latter.
Maybe, when the people have had their say, the issue will be “put to rest (for awhile).” The subject will never be terminated until a large enough percentage of people experience Medi-care. Medi-care has already (and always) been privatized to a certain extent (20%) since its inception so supplemental plans are necessary unless one is too poor and has to depend on help from his/her home state or does without or can afford the other 20% which usually amounts to more like 50%. Just stating facts, which I was well aware of prior to reaching Medi-care age; not complaining, because I was able to get my hyperthyroidism treated after 50+ years of non-treatment due to a variety of reasons. I think Medi-care is wonderful and would hate to see it destroyed by complete privatization, because it will probably cost twice as much as it does now, and the quality of care will surely deteriorate. When the politicians finally see the ‘light,’ and realize that the health of nation depends on the health of its people, perhaps, then, there will be universal health care for all.