Thursday, April 7, 2011
Health Care The Republican Medicare swindle
Posted by Max Brantley on Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 6:18 AM
John Brummett isn't buying the Paul Ryan plan to destroy Medicare by diverting federal money to enrich insurance companies. He hails a debate on the starkly different approaches of the two parties — one to protect insurance companies, the other to protect the sick and elderly. Already, my congressman, Rep. Tim Griffin is on the Ryan train, though he describes it in somewhat misleading terms:
"For the first time we have made a serious proposal that addresses our national debt so we can avoid economic disaster and continue to innovate and create jobs. It keeps our promises to seniors on Medicare-not changing anything for those 55 and over-and gives younger Americans more freedom like Congress has, without privatization or vouchers. It repairs Medicaid by giving the program more flexibility by allowing each state to tailor it to meet the needs of their residents while maintaining sustainable growth."
No vouchers, indeed. But lots more profits for insurance companies that will eventually squeeze millions into uncovered territory.
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Comments (8)
Showing 1-8 of 8
If Griffin really cared about Medicare, he would insist that any insurance company that wishes to participate must use 97% of the money collected for patient services like Medicare does. Otherwise, he is cutting the money available by the 30% profit and overhead costs that the insurance companies use on the same or less federal dollars.
In other words, Ryan's plan cuts Medicare whether he says it publically or not. Maybe, only mutual companies should be allowed to participate and not those with any shareholders besides the patients themselves.
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Interesting factoid about Paul Ryan from an article in New York Magazine:
Representative Paul Ryan, also of Wisconsin, requires staffers to read Atlas Shrugged, describes Obama’s economic policies as “something right out of an Ayn Rand novel,” and calls Rand “the reason I got involved in public service.”
I have never understood the allegiance to Ayn Rand beyond the age of 19 or 20. Maybe it is some masturbatory fantasy they had while reading the sex scenes which were incredibly sterile to my way of thinking. For raunchy sex, Harold Robbins was a much better read.
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2009/03/ephem…
"This system that Ryan proposes for old folks alone is pretty much the same thing the Democrats’ health care reform sets up for everybody else. The difference, apparently, is that Republicans will put up with universal health care for old people, but not younger people." From Brummett's column
But of course, John. Where do you think almost all the health care dollars are being spent, and by and on whom? On seniors! Wasn't it Willy Sutton who when asked why he robbed banks replied: "Because that's where the money is." Senior health care is where almost all the money is. Mega insurance conglomerates don't make money off youngsters. That's no growth industry. But oldsters? There is enough money in that revenue stream to make a billion dollar a year hedge fund manager salivate.
Line up two by two, people. The yoke around your necks won't hurt. Trust us, this is good for you.
****He hails a debate on the starkly different approaches of the two parties ****
Considering everything D's have and have not done on this very issue, calling these two money party's approach "starkly different" is simply delusional. When the D party has passed more money, mandates, new customers, subsidies (basically the same as vouchers) for private insurance companies... while both party's give pharma a big pass.
Considering the O admin has now given more than one thousand two hundred companies a pass on the latest law forcing the rest of us into this remarkably similar ponzi scheme as Republicans proposed under Bob Dole, Mitt Romney... there is no reason to think D's won't be heading exactly where GOPers are suggesting now.
Still the most expensive in the world for the least percentage of people receiving care.
Delusional I say, delusional. Wake up Brummett.
>>Representative Paul Ryan, also of Wisconsin, requires staffers to read Atlas Shrugged,...
Outlier, you may know another of national prominence who was a fan and direct associate of Ayn Rand. None other than Alan Greenspan, the godfather of financial catastrophes. The few hard right investors I know cannot tolerate Greenspan. They have been downgrading him for 10 years and a few, accurately, predicted his monetary policies were ruinous.
Check out Greenspan's wiki page:
"During the 1950s, Greenspan was one of the members of Ayn Rand's inner circle, the Ayn Rand Collective, who read Atlas Shrugged while it was being written. Rand nicknamed Greenspan "the undertaker" because of his penchant for dark clothing and reserved demeanor.
...
Greenspan and Rand maintained a close relationship until her death in 1982."
Btw, Rand did apply for Social Security and Medicare in the 1970s. Nothing like a safety net to save the wretched.
Also, eLwood, Paul Ryan drew social security survivor's benefits after his father died when Ryan was 15.
>>Delusional I say, delusional. Wake up Brummett.<<
Yes, do wake up. "Delusional" is why Republicans made Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care their very FIRST ACT in the new Repub House. It provides so much money to the private sector?
It limits insurance companies to 15% gross profit. That will change over time.
Every Republican in both Houses of Congress voted AGAINST Affordable Health Care.
At least they're not very delusional about what it means to them and their insurance company backers and medical big pocket donors.
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