Federal splurge causes worry(U.S. spending is out of control)

http://www.sacbee.com/ ^ | Thursday, November 27, 2003 | David Westphal

[MrFreedom]

Federal splurge causes worry Critics see the Medicare bill as the latest sign that U.S. spending is out of control. By David Westphal -- Bee Washington Bureau Chief Published 2:15 a.m. PST Thursday, November 27, 2003 WASHINGTON -- Almost lost in the harsh partisan rhetoric of the Medicare prescription drug legislation now headed for President Bush's signature was a pointed question raised repeatedly by a handful of economic conservatives in Congress. How, they asked, does the federal government expect to pay for all this? More than a few experts contend that the $395 billion, 10-year cost estimate is a false indication of the legislation's true impact -- especially when the baby-boom generation's retirement gets in full swing beyond the next decade.

[Glenn]

Big deal. My great-great grandchildren can pay it off.

[Captain Kirk]

Dubya is LBJ reborn, sending us all to the poorhouse by more spending on both guns and butter.

[FITZ]

especially when the baby-boom generation's retirement gets in full swing beyond the next decade.

I think many can forget retirement --- it's not going to be an option --- someone's got to support the huge and growing welfare classes --- and their numbers are growing fast with the indigents with no education or job skills moving in.

[hosepipe]

[ Federal splurge causes worry(U.S. spending is out of control) ]

Faulty title....
The Republican controled congress and Senate, rubber stamped by the republican Presidents spending is out of control...

plus.... Newt Gingrich has dropped off the face of the earth without a squeak...

Maybe the Contract for America was indeed the Contract ON America... ya think!..

Boy---, those 900+ FBI files the Clintoons STOLE ( on mostly republicans) must have some really nasty blackmailing stuff in them.... -OR- something.. because somethings afoot here and it ain't Rhino-stoned cowboys dumping tea into Boston harbor either...

[MrFreedom]

One two-paragraph provision tucked deep in the 678-page bill would provide higher Medicare payments to physicians in Alaska, the home state of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. It would cost the government $100 million between 2004 and 2008, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Aides to Stevens defended the higher payments as necessary because Alaska has a high cost of living, a dire shortage of physicians and the smallest percentage of seniors in the country, at 5.7 percent of its population. As a result, seniors have trouble finding doctors who accept Medicare, which in Alaska typically covers less than 40 percent of the cost of treatment.

[AAABEST]

The thing is that nobody really wanted this giant wealth sucking mess, it's just being shoved up our asses anyway.

Well we "took the issue away" from the Dems, so I guess we should just shut up and pay for more exploitation from the richest segment of society.

[dg62]

Just my opinion, but I think this is a disgrace. Today's retirees are, in general, the richest people in the world. And, all of the ones I've talked to about this don't need it or want it.

I think the real goal of this legislation is to pave the way for the Baby Boom retirement.

[Major_Risktaker]

Your great-great grandchildren are SLAVES to the Federal Reserve Corporation.

[FITZ]

Medicare isn't just for retirees anymore. There are 30 year olds receiving Medicare, AIDS patients receive Medicare and immigrants receive Medicare. $1 billion already was provided by the Medicare bill for free health care for people coming in from other countries --- many just to have babies here so they can collect welfare.

[OK]

Bush will go down in history as a bigger spender than LBJ or Jimmy Carter. Just the facts, it is done.

[dg62]

That's even scarier.

[FITZ]

I think people would be shocked if they knew how many people are no longer working at age 30, have claimed a disability of some kind and are planning to collect SSDI, Medicare and Medicaid for the rest of their lives. Medicare isn't even close to being limited to people over 65 years of age --- people in their 20's are getting in on it. It's become another very huge and growing welfare program --- and the $1 billion in this bill set aside for free health care for illegals is even more evidence of what this is all about.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Boy---, those 900+ FBI files the Clintoons STOLE ( on mostly republicans) must have some really nasty blackmailing stuff in them....

I don't think that's the problem. There are two major concerns:

1. Too many "Republican" legislators are just as enamored of Big Government solutions as Democrats are and reject fiscal conservatism as "green eyeshade thinking", arguing that we can simply grow our way out of any deficit.

2. Bush and Rove see what they believe to be an historic opportunity to destroy the Old Left Democrats by stealing their agenda and offering it to the public in a more moderate form. They are placating fiscal conservatives by offering vague promises that some day, once the Democrats are defeated, we can return to an era of fiscal responsibility, but right now it's more important to keep the public on our side and continue to land heavy political blows on the ancient concept that only the Democrats care about the "working man".

Will it work? Maybe. But it is a high-risk strategy.

[Bob Eimiller]

The toothpaste was out of the tube... A prescription drug subsidy for seniors was a snowball rolling down hill. The Boomers are going to swell the ranks of seniors. A drug program was inevitable.

I'm a boomer who is vehemently against geezers demanding everyone continue to pay for them, their generation created the welfare mess in the 40's and then again in the 60's, but they are gaining massive political power because of their burgeoning numbers.

Bush had to do something to slow them down..

this was the best he could do...and...he laughingly stole a "RAT" strategy right out from under their rat noses at the same time.

The old "swimmer" Teddy busted a gasket when he saw what was happening..LOL His senior vote pool has been corrupted and busted by that Bush guy that they all considered stupid...lol

[Paul C. Jesup]

Your great-great grandchildren are SLAVES to the Federal Reserve Corporation.

Doubt that, something is going to break and we have a revolt in a few years.

[jeremiah]

I have no idea why we even pay taxes, why doesn't the govt just borrow the entire budget? We could keep all of our money, and they can spend at will. It doesn't seem to make any difference that we spend money we don't have.(leastways that is what most people tell us)

[org.whodat]

Bush will go down in history as a bigger spender than LBJ or Jimmy Carter. Just the facts, it is done.

I'm beginning to think that Mr Bush is headed for the old one term farm.

[FITZ]

... A prescription drug subsidy for seniors was a snowball rolling down hill.

I don't think all this is being done for seniors. For one ---- all Medicare recipients --- the very young, the AIDS patients, included will get the free drugs. And the free illegal care has nothing to do with senior illegals --- it's for all ages.

[Bob Eimiller]

Sure..I agree... but the seniors were driving it... the AARP is a very powerful lobby.