Posted on 10/23/2015 2:14:22 PM PDT by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
Republicans are consistently attacked whenever they mention reforms to entrenched entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. But presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson is going boldly where no Republican has gone before: declaring he would abolish Medicare completely. As Politico reports, “Carson … would eliminate the program that provides health care to 49 million senior citizens, as well as Medicaid, and replace it with a system of cradle-to-grave savings accounts which would be funded with $2,000 a year in government contributions.
When pressed on his position in May by CNBC’s John Harwood, Carson said Americans would support the elimination of Medicare when presented with the facts of his plan. “When people are able to see how much more freedom they will have, and how much more flexibility they will have, and how much more choice they would have, I think it’s going to be a no-brainer,” he said. Not surprisingly, Politico says “GOP strategists and conservative health care wonks scratching their heads. “This isn’t a borderline issue. The politics of this are horrific,” said Doug Holtz-Eakin, head of the American Action Forum and health care adviser to Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.”
Do we really care what an advisor on McCain’s failed 2008 campaign says? Maybe the fact that Ben Carson is actually a medical professional means he might have an understanding about how the industry works? And haven’t these establishment types noticed Ben Carson doesn’t really care about politics? Which is why perhaps he’s leading the GOP field in Iowa according to the latest Quinnipiac poll?
(Excerpt) Read more at allenbwest.com ...
LOL good analogy!
But what the hell? Let's just keep on keepin' on, until the whole damned thing comes down around our ears.
People don’t look at Medicare and Social Security as welfare because they have paid into it their whole lives (and these payments were extorted from them on penalty of jail, so it’s not like they had a choice). Not quite the same as going on food stamps or the dole.
It’s not welfare when you paid for it. If they are going to cut SS and Medicare, they should default on all the government debt. Again, why should foreign investors who voluntarily loaned money to the government get priority over citizens who had premiums involuntarily deducted from their pay all their working lives?
I believe we owe Trump a debt of gratitude for paving the way for others to speak the unspeakable or so deemed so by the orthodox apparatchiks...
BLOAT/Prep
EOM
Yep... unless they want to start giving us our money back lump sum, tax free, in inflation adjusted dollars.
So answer my question. Why should foreign investors who voluntarily loaned money to the government get priority over citizens who had premiums involuntarily deducted from their pay all their working lives?
I know what you mean. I didn’t have dental insurance for a long time, and when I asked what the different charges were, the difference was like 50%. I got out for somewhere around $88 when an insured exam would have been $175.
Imagine this dynamic on a national economic scale. Healthcare prices would be a significantly small fraction of what they are now - for EVERYONE.
Worth repeating....
I like Trump, Carson, and Cruz. Waiting to see how this all plays out as we approach the first primary.
Dr. Ben Carson continues to get my attention with his common sense analyses, and detailed pronouncements. He is looking more and more like a winner!
Yes!!!
Even my sister who is 3 decades long democrat voter and I have agreed to vote for Trump this time! He transcends into so many voting blocks. From the evangelicals down to union workers.
Yep...
This is like Paul Ryan saying he is going to throw Grandma and Grandpa off the Cliff...
If this doesn’t sink him, it should!!!
This isn’t HIS money we are talking about, we have paid into that all our working lives...if he wants to live off the bundle he’s made by selling baby parts that’s fine, but he can keep his mitts off of mine!!! When I need it!!!
That’s right.
“Hmmmm. Will what Ben Carson just said about Medicare SINK his campaign?”
Like it or not Ben, in the real world, Medicare is a VERY POPULAR program, right up there with Social Security...and not just for seniors, but also for people who are starting to think about those years, and people with elderly parents.
Saying that you’ll simply give every senior a voucher for $2,000 to run out and buy insurance simply won’t do very well with that crowd...and, in my opinion, pretty much makes him look like an idealist kook...in the eyes of most people - at least that’s how I see it.
But you do know that they are not paid the “billed amount” by the third party just like you did not pay the “billed amount”.
I agree.
You ask difficult questions! The easy answer is obviously, the gubbermint knows they will need to borrow more in future from foreigners. You and me? They can tax us whatever their heart desires and we must pay or go to jail..
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