US House of Representatives votes to abolish Medicare

[Hannah Bell]

In the most reactionary social policy proposal in recent US history, the House of Representatives voted Friday afternoon to support the abolition of the Medicare program, the government health insurance system for tens of millions of retired and disabled Americans. The 235-193 margin was a near party-line vote, with only four Republicans opposing the bill and no Democrats supporting it.

The Ryan budget resolution phases out Medicare for all Americans now aged 55 or younger. Instead of guaranteed coverage when they reach the age of 65, they would receive... vouchers, to buy private insurance... Current Medicare recipients, and those over 55 who will become eligible for Medicare during the next 10 years, would remain under the preset program. However, the funding would be sharply cut...The Republican budget also effectively eliminates Medicaid...

From a purely electoral standpoint, the Republican proposal to destroy Medicare and Medicaid might appear reckless, even suicidal. The policy they are proposing is deeply unpopular: a recent Gallup poll found just 13 percent supporting a complete overhaul of Medicare...

However, the policies of the US government are not determined by public opinion, but by the class interests of the American financial aristocracy, which controls both parties and uses their largely stage-managed conflicts to delude the population and sustain the illusion of electoral “choice.” The ruling class is determined to make working people pay the price for the Wall Street bailout as well as three wars and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/apr2011/medi-a16.shtml

[kickysnana]

1. And they abolished Benton Harbor and we have an ongoing nuclear catastrophe.

I am beginning to believe in the anti-christ, rapture, endtimes, dark ages, return of the inquisition.

:crazy:

[vi5]

2. All of this means nothing, UNLESS......

The Democrats use it and wield it like a bludgeon come election time.

Flat out. Ads that say "So and so voted to abolish medicare." No caveats, no lengthy explanations. Period. End of story.

Constantly. Say it again and again in ads. And when the delicate flowers on cable news chat fests bust out their hankies and accuse the dems of playing dirty or misquoting or misrepresenting, do not relent. Say the same thing again and again and again.

Anyone want to take the odds on that actually happening, or are you like me and are pretty sure that once again our beloved dems will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory due to their "bipartisanship" or their affection for "our friends across the aisle"?

[stillwaiting]

3. The Democrats ensure the viability of the Republican Party by their refusal to expose them.

This has happened repeatedly, and there is only one explanation (to my mind) that could possibly explain this phenomenon.

[RKP5637]

4. A = B. n/t