George W. Bush's Plan To Strengthen Socialism in America:
The President's Framework to Strengthen Medicare
"Medicare’s current benefits were modeled on a good private insurance plan – from 36 years ago, in 1965."
George W. Bush - Source
Posted on 05/18/2002 7:17:29 PM PDT by Uncle Bill
Edited on 04/22/2004 12:33:32 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
WASHINGTON
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Keep your comments on your fridge. If you are fairly young, you'll see it before your very eyes.
Wait until a hardcore Marxist commie gets these in his hands. The main thing is, we need more laws. As you can see, we just don't have enough. You could hold on to the Constitution, if it still existed. It's all over. Not even a shot fired. I had always hoped and dreamed, even as a small boy, that there would always be a large supply of patriots in the country to run off the confiscators of tyranny. My father told me there would be. He was wrong. I was wrong. Just hands reaching for more.
All the news networks played it as the biggest goof Congress had made in a generation, sure to be repealed the next year -- and it was.
Not much chance that they'll fashion the new plan on the old one, though. (Although I wouldn't be surprised if the AARP also had a hand in the cookie jar stew this time around.)
George W. Bush's Plan To Strengthen Socialism in America:
The President's Framework to Strengthen Medicare
"Medicare’s current benefits were modeled on a good private insurance plan – from 36 years ago, in 1965."
George W. Bush - Source
"MORE TAXES WON'T SAVE MEDICARE" - Statement of U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm
"I WANT TO THANK THE PRESIDENT FOR ANNOUNCING HIS APPOINTEES WHO WILL JOIN US ON THE NEW MEDICARE COMMISSION. NOW THAT THE COMMISSION'S MEMBERSHIP IS COMPLETE, I HOPE WE CAN CONCLUDE QUICKLY THAT RAISING TAXES TO RESCUE MEDICARE JUST WON'T WORK. THE 25 MEDICARE TAX INCREASES THAT RAISED THE YEARLY MAXIMUM LEVY FROM $46 IN 1966 TO $3,900 IN 1994 TO AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT TODAY DEMONSTRATE THAT RAISING TAXES ONLY POSTPONES THE DAY OF RECKONING.
"THE SENATE'S HEALTH CARE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS HELD A SERIES OF HEARINGS ON THE FUTURE OF MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY THIS YEAR, AND HERE'S WHAT WE'VE FOUND:
"SINCE MEDICARE WAS CREATED IN 1965 AS A MEANS TO GUARANTEE HEALTH CARE FOR RETIREES, IT HAS DRAWN FUNDING FROM THE PAYROLL TAX AND ALSO FROM GENERAL TAX REVENUES OF THE GOVERNMENT. BUT WHEN BABY BOOMERS BEGIN PILING ONTO THE SYSTEM AS THE NUMBER OF WORKERS SUPPORTING IT DECLINES, MEDICARE WILL COLLAPSE FROM AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF FUNDS. BANKRUPTCY IS PREDICTED IN JUST 10 YEARS.
"MEDICARE WAS ALREADY $5.3 BILLION IN THE HOLE LAST YEAR, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT GROWTH IN THE PROGRAM'S COSTS IS SIMPLY OUTPACING THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE MORE MONEY BY CONTINUING TO RAISE TAXES. MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO ULTIMATELY REQUIRES DOUBLING THE PAYROLL TAX. THAT WILL LEAVE A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY PAYING MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT THEY EARN IN AN ASSORTMENT OF TAXES, AND THIS CALCULATION DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE MASSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX HIKES THAT INEVITABLY WILL BE PROPOSED. THERE IS BROAD AGREEMENT THAT A TAX BURDEN OF THAT MAGNITUDE WOULD CRUSH JOB CREATION AND END ECONOMIC EXPANSION IN AMERICA.
"IT SEEMS TO ME THAT DRAMATIC REFORM OF THE FINANCING MECHANISM IS THE ONLY REAL HOPE WE HAVE OF PREVENTING A TAX EXPLOSION, AN ECONOMIC IMPLOSION, OR A WHOLESALE DEFAULT ON MEDICARE BENEFITS.
Beware of Medicare Commission
"Patriotism may or may not be the last refuge of a scoundrel, but the last refuge of a politician is almost certainly a commission. President Clinton, Bob Dole and almost everyone else in Washington seem to have agreed to place the future of Medicare reform in the hands of a bipartisan commission. As a general rule, anytime politicians reach this sort of consensus, we should reach for our wallets. The Medicare reform commission is no exception."
Financial crash forecast for D.C.
"The D.C. Federal City Council issued a report yesterday warning that Mayor Anthony A. Williams' government is well on its way to a major financial crisis just six months after the dissolution of the D.C. financial control board. The study, released by the private group of influential Washington civic and business leaders headed by former Sen. Bob Dole, predicts a $500 million budget deficit for the city by fiscal year 2005 if spending isn't brought under control."
Yeah, it's an idea whose time has come.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.