Rush Limbaugh

[dwilli]

Is anyone listening to this phony jerk? Do this idiot really believe that everyone can afford their own drugs. I pay for mine but there are lots of hard working people that can't afford the $300 a month I have to pay.

I have listened to Limbaugh since the days his first hour was local New York but the millions he has made turned him into a elitist fool.

[Miss Marple]

All I am saying is that it is impossible to discuss this if people don't understand how Medicare works or the costs involved. Saying that seniors should pay for their own drugs (without considering those seniors who are on very small incomes) or saying that seniors with large prescription bills should get a second opinion (without understanding how difficult that is for someone on Medicare) is easy enough. The fact is, that we have a lot of people in this country who are unable to work due to their age and need medicines to survive, and have no income other than pensions and social security.

My parents HAD prescription coverage (my mother had it because she was a retired teacher) but their bills were STILL upwards of $500/month.

So, if you want to make an argument about constitutionality I am willing to consider it. (Of course, I would prefer to push removing other unconstitutional programs first, like NPR.) But I am not willing to concede that this program isn't needed in some fashion or other by a great many elderly.

[Blzbba]

Well, you make the assumption that I've NEVER listened to Rush, which is patently false. My answer was based on what I presently listen to.

What aluminum foil and (sic) helmuts (it's helmEt, btw) have to do with this conversation is answered only in the darkest, most-paranoid closets of your mind. Please don't open the door to any of them.

[Mad Dawgg]

"I don't want to pay it. Can I have it back?"

Let us clear this Up! Dwilli is the one who stated that FICA is not a TAX. I am laughing at his asinine assertion!

Also to give you an answer, my family owns a small corporation and we decided to pay ourselves very small salaries to stop paying those idiot FICA taxes.

Our accountant wondered why we were paying ourselves so little and we told him. He told us we need to pay ourselves dividends because they are not subject to FICA. So we lowered our salaries even more and made up the difference with dividends and thought it wonderful!

Until of course the IRS informed us that we are now in violation because we are avoiding paying the government their money! I guess FICA is not a TAX but rather a mandatory payment of funds to the government!

[newgeezer]

It is a contribution to your own retirement.

Really? Where do they put the money for safekeeping until I retire?

[jospehm20]

If you really want to get burned up, you should see the housing the local welfare folks live in. My wife's hairdresser is on welfare and I could not believe it when I saw the place she lives in. I drove by there every day and always assumed they were yuppie pads. If you had to pay for these apartments on the open market they would probably rent for $700-$800 or so. Most have nicer cars than mine parked in their spot. I have soldiers working for me living in rat holes in bad parts of town because that is all they can afford while our taxes pay for welfare folk's luxury digs. That is the kind of stuff that steams me up, it seems backwards.

[RogerWilko]

Food Stamps are being replaced by inconspicuous debit cards

I know, I saw that and that SUCKS!! At least that was an incentive to try and get off them, if you actually had to tear them out of the booklet! Now no one will know if anyone is receiving any assistance, so why should they care! I'll bet it was the welfare department's idea to find a way to make sure they kept maximum recipients to justify their jobs!!

[Cogadh na Sith]

It is a contribution to your own retirement.

That's funny, I don't see it accounted in my 401k?

Can I invest it in a good mutual fund and make money, if it is for my own retirement?

[Cogadh na Sith]

All I am saying is that it is impossible to discuss this if people don't understand how Medicare works or the costs involved

But I don't care how it works at all!

I don't plan on it existing when I am old (I'm 35). I don't want it and I am trying desperately to save up and invest so I can care for my own self.

This certainly isn't helping me....

[Maceman]

It is a contribution to your own retirement. You can avoid FICA.

Oh. I see. It goes into a special account in my name where it sits there and no one can touch it except me, right? Isn't the money I pay in actually going to pay for someone who is already retired -- who isn't me? Somehow, in your mind, being forced to pay into an unsustainable Ponzi scheme is a contribution? I have no choice in the matter, but it's still a "contribution?" Kind of like how federal welfare spending isn't really spending -- it's actually an "investment." Puh-leeze. Is there any limit to your willingness to accept focus-group tested eupemisms in lieu of honest terminology?

Get some government jobs or enough civilian jobs to bring your income above the ceiling.

Typical social engineering arrogance and nonsense. First of all, you have no basis on which to assume anything about my income level.

Second of all, if I need any career advice from you, you may rest assured that I will most humbly ask for it.

But let me see if I get your point -- if I stop doing productive private sector work for which people are willing to pay me voluntarily in exchange for what they perceive as value, and instead go into some government work that people wouldn't pay for if left to their own devices and which creates no real value, then somehow I'm making a real contribution to the national economy?

Sounds like you could really use a good old fashioned "consciousness raising," to borrow a phrase that used to be in vogue among my left-wing baby boomer peers back in the '60s.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Does my FICA go into the lockbox?

Or does it go into the icebox? Or into the crisper drawer? Does it go into the butterdish?

[Igraine]

The do-gooders are trying to remove the "stigma" of government assistance.

You are absolutely right. I have lived in Oregon and Washington my whole life and never once saw someone using food stamps. I moved to New York a few months ago and about 25% of the time the person in line ahead of me at the grocery store is paying with one of the new "food cards." There are slick ads on the radio telling you how you might already be eligible for these cards, "Even immigrants can apply without fear!"

Meanwhile, I know several people here who work 60 or 70 hours a week at good jobs and do everything they can to cut expenses but still can barely stay ahead.

Sorry for the rant, but this really makes me mad. If you're too ashamed to be seen tearing out food stamps, you don't really need them.

[Miss Marple]

Well then, there isn't any point in discussing it, is there?

Are your parents going to pay for their medical care when they retire? No...they will be on Medicare. They have probably saved for their retirement with the assumption that they will have Medicare. Why don't you ask them what they think?

[Cogadh na Sith]

Are your parents going to pay for their medical care when they retire?

Then why all the emphasis on health and non-smoking by the Gov and the media and the baby-boomers?

Besides, I'm doing my part--I smoke cigars, drink, ride a motorcycle in addition to weightlifting and running. I think my chances of making to the golden age of grifting geezer are pretty low--with that I am happy...

Why don't you ask them what they think?

'Cuz I don't have any... My mom left when I was 13 and my dad died while I was stationed in Korea. I have no living family.

[lysie]

I don't know what other states have or don't have, but in NYS we already have a prescription plan for seniors.

EPIC

FEE SCHEDULE

SINGLE
Annual Income	Annual Fee
Up   to     $ 6,000	$   8
$ 6,001  - $ 7,000	16
$ 7,001  - $ 8,000	22
$ 8,001  - $ 9,000	28
$ 9,001  - $10,000	36
$10,001 - $11,000	40
$11,001 - $12,000	46
$12,001 - $13,000	54
$13,001 - $14,000	60
$14,001 - $15,000	80
$15,001 - $16,000	110
$16,001 - $17,000	140
$17,001 - $18,000	170
$18,001 - $19,000	200
$19,001 - $20,000	230
Over $20,000	See Deductible Plan

MARRIED
Joint Annual Income	Annual Fee (Each Person)
Up   to     $ 6,000	$   8
$ 6,001  - $ 7,000	12
$ 7,001  - $ 8,000	16
$ 8,001  - $ 9,000	20
$ 9,001  - $10,000	24
$10,001 - $11,000	28
$11,001 - $12,000	32
$12,001 - $13,000	36
$13,001 - $14,000	40
$14,001 - $15,000	40
$15,001 - $16,000	84
$16,001 - $17,000	106
$17,001 - $18,000	126
$18,001 - $19,000	150
$19,001 - $20,000	172
$20,001 - $21,000	194
$21,001 - $22,000	216
$22,001 - $23,000	238
$23,001 - $24,000	260
$24,001 - $25,000	275
$25,001 - $26,000	300
Over $26,000	See Deductible Plan

DEDUCTIBLE SCHEDULE

SINGLE

Annual Income	Deductible
Under      $20,000	Not Available
$20,001 - $21,000	$ 530
$21,001 - $22,000	550
$22,001 - $23,000	580
$23,001 - $24,000	720
$24,001 - $25,000	750
$25,001 - $26,000	780
$26,001 - $27,000	810
$27,001 - $28,000	840
$28,001 - $29,000	870
$29,001 - $30,000	900
$30,001 - $31,000	930
$31,001 - $32,000	960
$32,001 - $33,000	1,160
$33,001 - $34,000	1,190
$34,001 - $35,000	1,230
Over $35,000	Not Eligible

MARRIED

Joint Annual Income	Deductible (Each Person)
Under      $26,000	Not Available
$26,001 - $27,000	$  650
$27,001 - $28,000	675
$28,001 - $29,000	700
$29,001 - $30,000	725
$30,001 - $31,000	900
$31,001 - $32,000	930
$32,001 - $33,000	960
$33,001 - $34,000	990
$34,001 - $35,000	1,020
$35,001 - $36,000	1,050
$36,001 - $37,000	1,080
$37,001 - $38,000	1,110
$38,001 - $39,000	1,140
$39,001 - $40,000	1,170
$40,001 - $41,000	1,200
$41,001 - $42,000	1,230
$42,001 - $43,000	1,260
$43,001 - $44,000	1,290
$44,001 - $45,000	1,320
$45,001 - $46,000	1,575
$46,001 - $47,000	1,610
$47,001 - $48,000	1,645
$48,001 - $49,000	1,680
$49,001 - $50,000	1,715
Over $50,000	Not Eligible

Copayments

At the pharmacy, those enrolled in the Fee Plan and those enrolled in the Deductible Plan who have met their annual deductible show their EPIC cards, and…

For Each Prescription Costing:	Enrollees Pay:
Up to $ 15	$ 3
$ 15.01 to $ 35	$ 7
$ 35.01 to $ 55	$ 15
Over $ 55	$ 20

What drugs are covered?

Almost all prescription medicines are covered, as well as insulin, and insulin syringes and needles. Both brand name and less expensive generic drugs are included. Enrollees can buy up to 100 tablets, or a 30-day supply at a time.

[Miss Marple]

Oh, I am sorry. Well, we are just going to disagree about this, but I understand your opinion.

[Miss Marple]

How interesting. I wonder if any other states have this.

[Cogadh na Sith]

Thanks.

I just want to opt out of the whole Social Compact--It's a net loss for me....

[crazykatz]

If you are a diabetic and have heart disease, your meds could cost you MORE than $300 per month. A person that I know who pays this amount is an ever-slim, never-smoked, non-drinker.

She is a widow about 50 and has no insurance.

[ventana]

Here's the good news: upon reaching the age of 60 you are entilted to a golf cart! It rotates 360 degrees. More if you need sexual gratification. And Medicare pays! V's wife.

[ventana]

I certainly hope Justice O'Connor gets one of the neat Medicare Funded golf carts! V's wife.