THE GOP'S MEDICARE SURRENDER - The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal ^ | June 11, 2003 | Staff

[Uncle Bill]

Ted Kennedy has spent his career attempting to nationalize the American health care system. So maybe Republicans should take a hint when the Democrat from Massachusetts says he is delighted with the emerging GOP plans to "reform" Medicare.

As for taxpayers, they should be petrified. What began as a worthy attempt by President Bush to reform the broken retiree health system is fast becoming in Congress little more than a giant new entitlement. Republicans are compromising with themselves so fast that we're beginning to wonder what the point of having a GOP majority really is.

[Uncle Bill]

BTTT

[oceanview]

I don't know what is going on here, what are they doing? Will Delay be able to stop this thing in the House? Bush doesn't need this bill at all. I know Rush is talking about this, our Republicans elected officials need to hear loud and clear that this is a total mess.

[oceanview]

I don't know what is going on here, what are they doing? Will Delay be able to stop this thing in the House? Bush doesn't need this bill at all. I know Rush is talking about this, our Republicans elected officials need to hear loud and clear that this is a total mess.

[Arkie2]

This is the last straw for me. I've gritted my teeth and claimed to support Bush even after Teddy wrote the education bill and even after GW increased the farm supports to record levels but he can kiss my a$$ if he thinks he's getting my vote next election after this. He seems to be a Democrat in all but name so I say let the Dims have control. That way at least the final bankruptcy of this country will be on their shoulders. I can tell you definitely right now that I won't be voting Republican next year and the party can go to hell.

[oceanview]

the political team seems to have made a conscious decision to tell conservatives to suck it up, or see Hillary elected president. they figure that is enough to keep us in line.

[mo]

Ya don't head into an election cycle trying to fool with healthcare...cost the senate and the house for Bill and Hillary in 94. The issue affects too many people-no way to do effective damage control

[Arkie2]

Hillary's fine with me if this is what I can expect out of Republicans. At least she wouldn't be betraying a trust when she called for a welfare state.

[Miss Marple]

Please reread the article. What Congress is doing is not what President Bush proposed. They are adding things and compromising when it isn't necessary.

[ex-snook]

Democrats had 'tax and spend'. GOP has 'borrow and spend'.
It's called power not principle. Nader and Buchanan were the only two candidates running on principle - they didn't get 1% of the votes. The GOP can count votes. They reach out to the Democrats because the conservatives have no where to go. They country is undergoing slouching toward the left.

[Alberta's Child]

An analyst's report Monday estimated that General Motors alone would dump an unfunded liability of $1.4 billion onto the grandkids.

You can throw all the nonsense about "socialized medicine" out the window. This whole program is nothing more than a corporate bail-out to purge millions of retirees from the ranks of those insured by private medical plans.

The GOP calculus here seems to be to take health care off the table for 2004, and take credit for delivering seniors a popular free lunch.

The GOP calculus here seems to be the same as the Democrats' calculus -- bail General Motors out to the tune of $1.4 billion, and call it something else in an attempt to curry favor with the voters.

[oceanview]

but Bush has indicated he will sign any bill that emerges, so this thing is going to pass. the medicare payroll tax is surely headed way up, way up...

[oceanview]

I'm not buying that, corporation are cutting their health care plans year after year, passing more costs onto the employees through payroll deductions. The corporation are solving their problems, about the only employees who get blank check medical these days are government workers.

[Peach]

Let's hope that President Bush has the good sense I've always believed he has to put the brakes on this thing before it spins waaay out of control.

[abigkahuna]

But just what are americans to do?

We have a small business selling at county fairs. My wife and I can not afford the $600+ a month for health insurance, and thats only for catastrophic insurance. We don't qualify for Medicare or Medi-cal (although if we were illegal, we could qualify)

While the details need to be worked out, I believe that the government should provide a health care system for all citizens. Whether its a tiered payment system for different levels of care or coverage, or some other option, something needs to be done.

[StriperSniper]

[joesnuffy]

We already have substandard socialist health care
Its called the 'Veterans Medical Center' aka Veterans Administration
One thing this 'health care' should get a lot of people off of Social Security

[Ahban]

Are you coming to the Arkansas Constitution Party Convention in Fayetteville this Saturday (Ramada Inn)?

There is now an alternative, and we are it.

[TLBSHOW]

BUMP

[oceanview]

you should be allowed to join the system that federal employees have, at some level of cost to you in line with your income. And their will be some things you can't get, thats true of even private plans. for example, my plan will not pay for antibiotics associated with dermatology. if my face breaks out, do I go screaming to the government for a program? there has to be some limits to this, or we will all be swallowed up by the costs.