haha: Paul Ryan: the Dr. Kevorkian of Medicare

[cali]

By Paul Begala, CNN Contributor

Washington (CNN) -- Republicans have always hated Medicare, but most Americans have always loved it. Now, led by Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republicans are trying to kill it once and for all.

When JFK and LBJ proposed and passed it, Ronald Reagan called Medicare socialism and warned that it would lead to the end of freedom. If Medicare passed, the Gipper said, "... one of these days, you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it once was like in America when men were free."

A half-century after Reagan's dire warning, I suspect most Americans see Medicare -- the single-payer health system that covers seniors -- as an essential element of our freedom. But not Congressman Ryan, nor many other Republicans. Ryan would end Medicare as we know it, replacing it with a voucher that seniors would take to insurance companies, upon whose tender mercies their lives and health would then depend.

Establishment big shots hail Ryan's "courage," but ordinary Americans may not see his plan as courageous. More like mean-spirited.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/04/06/begala.ryan.medicare/index.html?hpt=T2

One doesn't need to be a Begala fan to see that this is a beautiful frame.

[jpgray]

1. I'm partial to "repealing the 20th century," but the more the merrier

:D

I can't imagine this is going to go over well, given the assault on Medicare and Heritage's abysmal dissembling act in puffing up his plan's likely results.

[cali]

3. you would go for "repealing the 20th century"

you dang egghead.

:hi:

[jpgray]

4. Nice to see you around these parts again

:hi:

[ejpoeta]

2. that is a good frame.... everyone knows who kavorkian is and this is the kind of

thing that could resonate.

[Mnemosyne]

5. This is one of the best headlines since, "Reagan Went to Bed Unaware"

:rofl:

Thanks cali! :rofl:

If only it weren't so sad and true...

[Mnemosyne]

6. This is one of the best headlines since, "Reagan Went to Bed Unaware"

:rofl:

Thanks cali! :rofl:

If only it weren't so sad and true...