MEDICARE, Paul Ryan and us old folks...

[pangaia]

Medicare Will Be Gone By Next Thanksgiving, If Republicans Have Their Way

This Thanksgiving, while I give thanks for my Medicare, Speaker Paul Ryan and his Republican Congress are actively plotting to dismantle it.

SNIP....

But today’s Republicans are not just threatening to end Obamacare. Ironically, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is threatening to convert Medicare into Obamacare. He is plotting to end government-provided health insurance and force those with Medicare to buy insurance on the private market, with only subsidies to offset the cost of what the private sector wants to charge. If the Republicans succeed, I and my fellow Medicare policy holders will be on our own, forced to negotiate on our own with for-profit companies, rather than enjoy the protections of our government. Thanks, but no thanks.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-altman/medicare-gone-next-thanksgiving-if-republicans-have-way_b_13131096.html

[OldHippieChick]

1. This will eat up most if not all

of many people's SS checks, if the price is anything near what it would be under the ACA. Until I qualified for Medicare, I was paying top dollar for a bronze plan. This could bankrupt many folks, so I assume they'll try to phase it in. AARP better be on top of this

[pangaia]

2. I am on Medicare for 8 years.

If these fuckers do this, I am, well.. fucked... As are millions of others...

[duffyduff]

3. The GOP has a death wish

I fully expect Ryan's bullshit to be shot down.

[pangaia]

4. WHO will shoot it down?

republicans have wanted this for years.

In FACT, Bill Clinton, ......................
ooppss.. I better shut up....

[duffyduff]

5. Do you really think the Dems and many Republicans are going to allow this?

Do you understand how Congress works? Do you understand these people are up for re-election every two years in the House?

[pangaia]

15. I understand exactly how Congress works.

And yes I very well think 'they' will allow it.

There are not enough against it to stop it.

[duffyduff]

17. B.S. I guess you never heard of the Senate. I guess you don't understand these people

are up for re-election every two years.

I don't think you have a clue at all.

[pangaia]

21. Well I guess you got your little insult in, eh?

Smarty pants.. feel better now?

[2naSalit]

25. Hmmm...

The House of Representatives is up for election every two years, however, the Senate is up for election every six years. And that's how it works... in case you weren't aware.

Maybe a little more study would help you with that, either in English comprehension or Civics101.

[pangaia]

29. Thank you for that. You have more patience than I do this morning.

[scarletlib]

31. Yes and no.

The entire House stands for elections every 2 years. However, 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection every two years. For example, Senators elected in thsi cycle serve for 6 years and are up for election. Not all 100 Senators stood for electio this tme. In 2 years there is another Senatorial election with the next third and so on.

[2naSalit]

32. Though they may be

staggered in the actual elections they must run in to gain the seats, they are still in for six year terms, period. yes, there is an election every two years but that doesn't mean the entire Senate is up for election/re-election every two years was my point.

[leftofcool]

28. Nope, try again.

[Siwsan]

7. I think the GOP death wish is, they want more of us to be dead

Destroying social safety nets like Social Security, by putting it in the hands of Wall Street, and destroying Medicare/Medicaid by putting it in the hands of the greedy for-profit system will do more to 'thin the herd' than any pandemic disease.

[duffyduff]

9. If THEY want to be dead as a party, they will try to do it

However, they typically don't follow through.

It takes a Democrat to pull this shit and get away with it. Think Bill Clinton and AFDC. Think Obama and his anti-public education shit.

[Siwsan]

10. I would hope for a gigantic uproar, but I remember all to well what Bush got away with

The only thing that will ever really fix our health system, in this country, is passing laws to end the for-profit medicine machine and stop pharmaceutical companies from spending more on advertising than they don on R&D.

[duffyduff]

11. I fully expect this crap to get shot down. Ryan is an idiot for throwing up this "trial balloon."

nt

[Siwsan]

12. I hope you are right

[pangaia]

16. I do too. But I don't think so.

[wordpix]

13. There's already a waiting period for the disabled who can get early Medicare

My thought when I learned of it was, "Of course. They want you to die first before they pay one penny." And remember, it's money you earned throughout your lifetime and yes, you're "entitled" to that money.

[Siwsan]

24. And don't I hate it when they use the term 'entitlement' as a pejorative for benefits I've paid for

Yea, I'm bloody well entitled to them. It is mind blowing, isn't it.

[smirkymonkey]

33. 1000

[haele]

40. Well, a smaller government requires a smaller population.

If you want to be a tyrannical tribal leader - as most of these Dominionists and Supremacists are setting themselves up to be - you have to ensure that anyone outside the "tribe" remains isolated from the tribe; either a non-citizen allowed interaction with members through suffrage for a particular task (i.e., due to a particular skill or trade), run out as a heretic/danger to the community - or dead.

The GOP would prefer to get rid of what they consider burdens to their profit margins, or personal distractions that could create conflicts of interest in those they wish to rule over. Which means the disabled or people who need caretaking over the long term need to go.
If it becomes normalized that Grandma gets shuttled off to a "home" where she's going to end up dead in a few months due to neglect once she starts developing Alzheimer's or chronic issues due to stress, environmental factors, or just plain aging, if it's normal to institutionalize or otherwise shut up your physically disabled relatives, and imprison your mentally disabled relatives once they start acting out in public, you have the GOP's social plan. Remove the burdens and distractions. Monetize citizenship. Black and White/Good and Evil shallowness. No flexibility, no mercy, no thought required.

It becomes all so easy to rule and make a profit when you take out the humane factor.

Haele

[still_one]

6. As long as the filibuster is in place, they will have problems. Even without the filibuster it is

going to present problems for them

Both Medicare and Social Security are very popular programs. 60 million people are covered by Medicare, and more are collecting Social Security

The ACA will have an issue for these folks also. It has been in effect for about 6 years, withstood court challenges, and 20 million people are now covered under it, many who are being subsidized

Because of the ACA, Medicaid has been expanded, except in those idiotic states who really don't care for their less advantaged citizens.

Even more ridiculous, the Ryan Medicare proposal is a voucher type system. In some respects similar to the ACA subsidies which they have opposed for so long. Those who are covered by Medicare will not be pleased if they go to a voucher system, in ryan's concept of "privatization"

I also believe there are republicans in Congress who will not go along with this

[duffyduff]

8. Ryan is a fucking libertarian. He doesn't think Medicare or SS should exist at all.

He is a total dipshit. Seniors by the millions would DIE under his scheme. They can't buy insurance in the open market because insurance companies will not insure them. They can't afford private insurance even under these stupid vouchers. The reason Medicare came into existence is because seniors are uninsurable by definition in this idiotic private insurance system.

If he really wants to destroy his own political party, he will try and pull this shit, but he will NEVER get away with. NEVER.

Many in the GOP will not go for this crap if only for the simple reason they want to get re-elected.

[still_one]

14. Medicare and Social Security are extremely popular programs. I agree that not all the republicans

will walk lock step on this one. A lot of their constituents are on Social Security and Medicare

[pangaia]

19. I agree with you 100% on this part...

Ryan is a fucking libertarian. He doesn't think Medicare or SS should exist at all.

He is a total dipshit. Seniors by the millions would DIE under his scheme. They can't buy insurance in the open market because insurance companies will not insure them. They can't afford private insurance even under these stupid vouchers. The reason Medicare came into existence is because seniors are uninsurable by definition in this idiotic private insurance system.

I do not agree with this part--

If he really wants to destroy his own political party, he will try and pull this shit, but he will NEVER get away with. NEVER.

Many in the GOP will not go for this crap if only for the simple reason they want to get re-elected.

Some will not go along, but not enough.

We are NOT living in the same world as before November 8, 2016.

[duffyduff]

20. You have never heard of the filibuster. Let me guess: You supported Sanders. n.t.

[pangaia]

22. Oh, my you are on a roll..

ggrrrrrrrrrrr.......kersplurt...




more more. come on, put 'em up...

[smirkymonkey]

34. I can't even tell you how much I hate that guy.

He must be put out of office NOW.

[Bettie]

18. We're in our 50's

and the destruction of Medicare will mean working until we die, just to have health insurance.

Guess there is no retirement anymore.

[Tanuki]

23. It's time to play the "Paul Ryan pushing Granny off the cliff" video again:

[stopbush]

26. I'm 62 and working a couple of part time consultant jobs to make ends meet.

Lost my fulltime + benefits job in June due to downsizing and have been without insurance ever since.

My chances of being hired fulltime + benefits are slim. Frankly, the plan right now is to go without insurance until I hit 65 and Medicare cuts in. We really don't have the resources to pay the $1300 a month it would cost for my wife and I to buy insurance through the Obamacare exchange here in CA. We make too much to qualify for a subsidy. When your rent is $3000 a month it puts a limit on what else you can afford.

So, roll the dice and hope nothing happens.

[pangaia]

30. I also had no health ins until medicare.

it was definitely scary times.

And now it is again.
I hope you make it.

BTW.. $3000/mo rent... I'm not asking where you live necessarily but.. that's a lot...

I know an aerospace engineer. about 53 or so.. who also got laid off. Lost his ins after 25 years with Boeing(sort of).. Then he had a child.. then right after he was laid off his wife had a brain tumor( she's fine).. He had to buy ins on the ACA, I guess, Had the best docs in SF Bay area.

Then he got a job again with Boeing but was sent to alabama !! (fuck that ) Has ins again, but for how long...


on and on

[stopbush]

36. Going rate for a 3-4 bdrm house in OC. Our college-aged kids

are still living at home as they attend the local CC.

BTW - rent on a 3-4 bdrm in the SF Bay area runs close to $4500.

There are cheaper areas of CA, but my work isn't there. Relo isn't an option.

[pangaia]

39. yeah, I understand.

I'm guessing OC is Orange County.

My sister is in LGB.

[RKP5637]

27. Republicans have wanted to kill off most Americans for years. The majority of Americans are in the

way for republicans. Any normally financially situated citizens thinking the republicans care about them, their finances, future, health or anything had best get professional mental health help. Trump and his cohorts are hatchet men coming into the administration to cut America to the core to enhance their wealth and that of their elites. All one has to do is look at their track records. So many Americans are so fucken stupid it is astounding, but then of course, America is now Idiocracy in full power.

[smirkymonkey]

35. Why are so many Americans so hateful? So cruel?

I simply cannot understand it. I never will,

[RKP5637]

42. I don't get it either. So many look and act so hateful and wear ugly faces. n/t

[smirkymonkey]

43. Thanks, I have decided not to see my family for Thanksgiving.

I simply can't bear to be in a room of Trump supporters and what their vote has brought upon us. They are not happy with me but I just cant do it.

[RKP5637]

44. I can really relate to that. It's extremely difficult and logic fails with them. They believe what

they believe and that's that. They just have such total blinders on. I'm stunned by it all, it's like an illness.

[smirkymonkey]

45. I know. Thank you for your concern. I wish you and your family a very

Happy Thanksgiving!

[RKP5637]

46. Same to you!

[wordpix]

37. I'm stealing "Idiocracy," if you don't mind

Great word for Trumpsters

[RKP5637]

41. Yep! Describes them well! n/t

[malaise]

38. Throw grandma off a cliff