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"This things going to cost Trillions..."

Why do you feel the need to exaggerate?

This bill costs $39.5 Billion per year for the next ten years (at which time Medicare is substantially privatized). That's $10 (yes, ten Dollars) per month per American.

In exchange for that $10, we get preventative medicine (Medicare currently pays only for reactive care such as surgery rather than pro-active care such as doctor checkups and medicine) and a path to Privatize the beast of Medicare.

Tossing around wildly exaggerated terms such as "Trillions" prevents honest debate of what we're paying for what we're getting, however, and can run the risk of making people focus on their emotions rather than upon cold facts.

Why would you want to do that?

This bill costs $39.5 Billion per year for the next ten years

Government estimates are notorious for never being accurate. As Rep. Ron Paul points out...

The financial impact of this legislation on taxpayers cannot be overstated. Government projections that the drug program will cost $400 billion over the next decade cannot be trusted, as existing Medicare programs cost 4 times more than estimated when they were created. The likely cost is at least $1 trillion over 10 years, and much more in following decades as the American population grows older.

It has become obvious to me that very few people discussing this bill understand what is in it, its cost, nor the longterm benefits.

Is it expensive? Yes. However, the question that should be asked is "How expensive will it be for the nation if we do nothing?"

Medicare is NOT going to be abolished. We lost that debate back in the Johnson Administration. What we are shooting for is privatization and competition, so that it is run as effectively and cheaply as possible. That is the goal of this bill.

Rush does not understand longterm goals, in my opinion. He has repeatedly demonstrated that he lacks the patience for incremental improvement, and often recommends actions which would polarize the electorate and ultimately be a disaster.

And if he is rudely sighing over the president's speech (I listened to the speech on Fox and not Rush) then he is being a big jerk.

" In exchange for that $10, we get preventative medicine (Medicare currently pays only for reactive care such as surgery rather than pro-active care such as doctor checkups and medicine) and a path to Privatize the beast of Medicare."

Rush wants everyone to think that Medicare is " free." Rush conveniently ignores the fact that seniors( excluding the indigent) pay a premium every month for Medicare,Part B and many pay extra for supplemental insurance.These same seniors have paid FICA taxes throughout their working years,which pays for Medicare,Part A.I heard President Bush's speech to the medical community this afternoon and was very impressed with the reforms he talked about. If Rush is so concerned with Medicare-why doesn't he tell every listener to collect all their elderly relatives and have every listener tell Grandma and Uncle Harry that they are going to be part of Rush's Get Out of Medicare movement.If millions and millions of families follow this path and opt out of Medicare and take care of their own,Medicare will shrivel,due to lack of demand.But,there will be a trade off. Families will now underwrite the health care of the seniors.If Uncle Harry needs heart surgery and it will cost 50,000 and Uncle Harry only has 10,000 left in his savings and he doesn't have any health insurance,well-the younger family members will kick in the extra 40,000. Even if it means that Jennifer's braces will have to wait a year and the old car will have to hold up another couple of years,the family will pay the medical bills.Those most eager to trash the President probably have relatives using Medicare for their health insurance. I think those squawking the loudest now,have no idea how Medicare actually functions and Limbaugh,makes no attempt to discuss the ins and outs of a very complicated system.Do they understand that seniors pay insurance premiums every month, to the govt ? That hospitals and physicians treat Medicare patients at a discount? No other industry is mandated by law, to do this.We are told over and over that the top 5% pay the bulk of the taxes-so,they must be carrying the Medicare weight for the rest of the country.That's the dirty little Medicare secret-most families would be swamped financially,if they had to pay Granny's medical bills themselves.Maybe a thank you to the top 5%,the hospitals,the physicians and the seniors themselves,might be in order. This bill is a bold step towards getting the government out of the health insurance business. And the sheer joy in watching the anguish and hysteria of the Democrats and the media, is priceless.

Just returned, maybe you'll get this.
I wonder if you know your history? Any idea of the estimates on the price of the original Great Society? (which this is simply an extension of, another entitlement)
The American public is aging, more "boomers" will be becoming eligible as the years go on and with the advent of the new and improved drugs people will presumably live longer. Live longer to consume more free drugs provided by force of government by fewer and fewer working young people.
Exaggeration? Not my numbers, those are estimates exactly 3 years beyond the original ten year program= 1.3 trill-2 trillion.
Can you quote me one Government program that has stayed within the original confines of it's budget estimates.
I'll wait patiently. If you're pleased with the ever expanding scope of the Federal Gov't so be it, I'm not.