Bush Signs $400 Billion Prescription Drug Program Into Law: Bush Is A BIG GOVERNMENT Republican

December.8,2003

[deport]

I have no idea

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LOL.......... Understandable.

[FirstPrinciple]

Don't be fooled. Any Republican/conservative would have a similar if not more fitting policy on the war on terrorism. From a more conservative administration, we will see our borders being protected, Saudi Arabia exposed for the fruad they are, and curtailing immigration from Islamic countries. The goal is how do we get a more conservative person in the White House.

[JohnGalt]

The Greatest Looting Generation simply refuses to ask their children to cover the difference and prefer to steal from the young using the government as an agent of theft.

This bill is nothing compared to the $200 billion debt financed adventure in Iraq to build a welfare state, but it an enemy of civil society.

[FirstPrinciple]

Well, I wont. Not again. Fool me once...

[Miss Marple]

This is a compromise between means-tested and universal.

1. It is voluntary.
2. Seniors who opt for this program and who have income above a certain level will pay higher premiums.
3. You can have either Medi-gap insurance or the Medicare insurance, not both. Many people, like my mother, will remain with their private coverage.

[NittanyLion]

The real facts are that people who get prescription medicine need less surgury and hospital care.

Can you show me the facts? I'm not at all convinced that the availability of drugs does anything more than defer surgery until a later time. Of course, I've seen it referenced as "fact" so often I'm sure there must be plenty of studies out there.

Of course, that's to say nothing of the fact that drugs are readily available to seniors should they need them under the current system. This new entitlement is filling a nonexistant gap.

[Valentine_W]

I understand your concern for protecting our borders, at the same time, 99.9 % of those who cross the border are not a national security threat. At the same time, I do not believe it would hurt the Administration to step up on more border security.

As for Saudi Arabia, I would like to believe that they are still a solid ally. With the royal family being as large as it is, it seems that there are bound to be a couple duds in the bunch. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if the Royal Family is unofficially funneling money to terrorist organizations in their country in order to squelch dissent, or an all-out revolt within their kingdom.

[Valentine_W]

"3. You can have either Medi-gap insurance or the Medicare insurance, not both. Many people, like my mother, will remain with their private coverage."

How many private companies do you think will just get rid of their prescription programs because the federal government already has one available?

[NittanyLion]

How many private companies do you think will just get rid of their prescription programs because the federal government already has one available?

Private companies with better benefits than those available through this new PDP. Which will start the refrain among those who lost better coverage for more comprehensive benefits under this system. And who will oppose them?

[rintense]

I tend to agree. There are many loathsome parts to this bill, especially the money for illegals. But it is a start. If Bush and the Republicans presented anything more sweeping, it would have been kicked to the curb by Dems, period. I, too, believe this is just a 'foot-in-the-door' type of win. Round two will be a blast.

The same 'start small' approach happened with vouchers and the 'No Child Left Behind Act', if I'm not mistaken. I'd look for the same thing to happen with partial privatization of social security next.

[Miss Marple]

There are incentives in the bill to keep private companies insuring their people.

My mother is a retired teacher. Her coverage is part of the contract negotiated by the State Teachers Association. It is better coverage than the Medicare coverage, and the current teachers will not give it up in negotiations. Many people are covered through unions, pension plans, etc. I doubt those people will be switching to the government program.

[george wythe]

The Greatest Looting Generation simply refuses to ask their children to cover the difference and prefer to steal from the young using the government as an agent of theft.

I'm thinking that since we can't beat the big government, we might as well join the big ripoff.

I once worked for a company that delivery medical equipment/services to Medicare patients. The company owner told me that suckling Medicare's udder is more profitable than drug-dealing.

Now that Medicare will join the prescription drug racket, my former boss will have to refine his previous statement. Providing Medicare's drugs will be as profitable as any other drug dealing scheme.

And it's legal. The gubment will publish a list of how much the drug companies will be able to overcharge seniors,("fair" market prices), and this entitlement will become huge.

[Valentine_W]

I wasn't referring to federal/state employees.

[Valentine_W]

I do not think the No Child Left Behind Act has even passed through Congress yet.

[hosepipe]

For a couple of billion, maybe less, NAH!, we could investigate the drug industry, and spend even more money to find why Canada gets a discount but not us... with the truth being, even Canada is getting ripped off...

[rintense]

It was signed into law January 8, 2002.

[Valentine_W]

Thanks for the clarification.

[NittanyLion]

Not to get off topic, but the No Child Left Behind Act has its own problems. I know some top-notch educators, and their opinion of the bill is that it's totally infeasible and little more than a political ploy.

[Valentine_W]

On a separate subject, what do you think of Podesta's new think-tank?