Currently in the United States we have a massive problem that has been building up for some time. That problem, a problem that threatens the security and way of life of Americans and the United States is the US debt. Right now the US fast approaching the US debt ceiling of $14.3 trillion and in 2010 Americans sent a new class of congressmen and women to deal with this problem, which the Democrats and the Obama Administration only exacerbated. However in a desperate bid to gain back the huge losses that the party suffered in the midterm elections, Democrats have now launched an offensive of Mediscare tactics that have been focused on the proposed changes to the system by Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI).
To first understand this problem of pure politics, it is imperative to know what Paul Ryan’s budget entails when it comes to Medicare reform. Ryan, who sees that over the next ten years the Medicare spending will double while in five years the reserves and money for the program will dry up leaving it in the red and unable to pay doctors or for seniors on Medicare. This is serious since if nothing is done to reform Medicare it will go bankrupt and will only cause more frustration and problems for senior citizens. Another problem is what the Obama Administration is proposing. Right now the proposed idea that the Obama administration has put forth is a 15-member panel of unelected bureaucrats that dictate what can and can’t be part of Medicare plans, step between the doctor and you, and limit the amount of money that go to doctors. Does that sound like “reform” to you or does that sound like a nightmare? Lets look at Ryan’s plan. For those 55 years of age and older Medicare stays the same, nothing changes. However those younger than 55 will not be part of the same Medicare of the past. Instead it creates a system that puts patients in control of their plans, that they pay into and that is subsidized by the government. If you are wealthy the government will not pay for you. If you are poor, the government will help you but will also have you pay some for your plan so no one free rides off the system. By putting more free market principles by having Americans “purchase” their plans, it creates competition where costs are lowered while the quality is raised, something that is the complete opposite that is happening know with government doing everything. This reform will help keep Medicare functioning for many years while staying in the black, and help control costs and the US debt.
Democrats refuse to sign on to this reform by playing politics in a last ditch attempt to salvage the floundering Obama presidency and the Democrats who are on the verge of losing their seats. First is the lie that “Ryan’s reform hurts senior citizens”. Congresswoman and now DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) continues to rail against Republicans by claiming that the Republicans are throwing grandma under the bus and killing seniors. How? Now liberals quickly believe this, since they believe Medicare reform means ending Medicare and everyone has to be at the mercy of the greedy pharmaceutical companies. This however is wrong. Ryan’s proposal DOES NOT end Medicare for Americans 55 or older. Medicare DOES NOT change at all for Americans 55 or older. Where is Congressman Joe Wilson when you need him to shut Wasserman Schultz up?
The next belief is that Medicare is ending and that everything is now a voucher system. This is somewhat true, however the Democrats distort this terribly. They believe the poor have to pay for their plans in total, and won’t be able to afford their plans only creating more sick and killing the nation’s poor. That is the story from the loony left. Here is the truth: the poor pay SOME of their plan. Some does not mean all, and it does not mean most. It means that depending on their income and situation they will pay some of their plans while the government supports the rest of the costs. And the government doesn’t subsidize the rich. They PAY for their plans. Don’t we hear Democrats wanting the rich to pay their fair share? Here is their fair share, because right now almost 1/5th of our GDP goes towards medical spending and over a half trillion dollars goes towards Medicare every year.
Here is a final myth: This is extreme right wing engineering! Wait what? If this is radical right wing ideology being imposed then Obama’s unelected bureaucratic panel is communist. How is something that is very moderate, very sensible, very clear be so radical? The answer is it isn’t. Democrats and Republicans believe in reform, and they have agreed on many of these proposals and there is compromise in it. Would an extreme right wing reform of Medicare keep any part of Medicare? No not at all. A moderate approach that has compromise in keeping Medicare but trimming it down by making the wealthy pay their share and other pay some of their plans is what Ryan’s plan is.
Petty politics by the Democrats is making this country less stable by the day. Every day they continue to drag their feet, and claim they are the friend of the “poor and the senior citizen” not only endangers our country but is a flat out lie. If they really, and I mean truly believe in looking out for the poor and senior citizens they would vote for reform to save Medicare and create a sustainable program to help seniors and poor for many years to come. This is my message to Democrats who just voted against this reform in the Senate, and also the 5 Republicans: Reverse your decision and vote to help the senior citizens of this nation, or get out of the way. We will not see this country be destroyed by our debt due to inefficient programs that suck money down the drain. I believe and so do millions of other Republicans in a strong and prosperous America that looks after our elders. Democrats on the other hand only care about their plush seats in their Congressional offices, only care about winning elections rather than helping the people they claim to look after.
