Click here for the new Anchor Rising & Ocean State Current page
August 14, 2012
Ryan on Medicare
As the Wall Street Journal writes:
There's no excuse in particular for letting the White House claim that Mr. Ryan would "end Medicare as we know it" because that is demonstrably false.James Pethokoukis, working from a suggestion by the American Enterprise Institute's Andrew Biggs, lists the 3 things that need to be stated over and over about the Ryan Medicare Reform plan:Late last year, Mr. Ryan joined Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden in introducing a version of his reform that explicitly retains Medicare as we know it as a continuing option. The reform difference is that seniors would for the first time also have a choice of government-funded private insurance options. The Wyden-Ryan belief is that the choices resulting from private competition will be both cheaper and better.
This "premium-support" model has a long bipartisan pedigree and was endorsed by Democratic Senators John Breaux and Bob Kerrey as part of Bill Clinton's Medicare commission in 1999. Wyden-Ryan is roughly the version of reform that Mr. Romney endorsed earlier this year.
1. No one over the age of 55 would be affected in any way.Back in 2010 President Obama called the Ryan-Wyden plan a "serious" and "legitimate" proposal (though, as Ted Nesi points out, Wyden does not agree with the latest iteration of Ryan's plan). The President also pointed out the "political vulnerability" that all such proposals have, even decrying the tendency in Washington, D.C. for one party to scare seniors, etc. instead of dealing with the proposals put forth by the other. Honest, here's the video (at around the 4 minute mark).2. Traditional Medicare fee-for-service would remain available for all. “Premium support”—that is, government funding of private insurance plans chosen by individuals—is an option for those who choose it. No senior would be forced out of the traditional Medicare program against his will.
3. Overall funding for Medicare under the Ryan-Wyden plan is scheduled to grow at the same rate as under President Obama’s proposals. Is this “gutting Medicare” and “ending Medicare as we know it”? In reality, it’s the market giving seniors cheaper, higher quality choices they can take if they wish, with the traditional program remaining an option.
At around 5 minutes in the above video, the President asks: "At what point can we have a serious conversation about Medicare and it's long term liability? Or a serious conversation about Social Security or a serious conversation about budget and debt in which we're not trying to position ourselves politically?"
Oh, I don't know, how about now?
About Community Crier
About Engaged Citizen
Administrator
Americans are children.
Posted by: Tommy Cranston at August 14, 2012 4:56 PMOne party is telling them they must cut back on candy or they will get sick.
The other party is telling them they aren't eating emough candy.
Any doubt about who will win?
The should have titled that "The Video Democrats Don't Want You To See." I'll bet you won't see that on RIF.
Posted by: Max D at August 14, 2012 7:15 PMSince this is a "Budget Issue", it has led my thinking astray. Could anyone tell me why it was necessary for Homeland Security to purchase 450 million rounds of .40 caliber ammunition? Hollow point, no less.
Does anyone suspect "bullet walking"?
Search UPI for the full story.
Posted by: Warrington Faust at August 14, 2012 8:58 PM"Does anyone suspect "bullet walking"?"
Warrington there is a lot of buzz on the internet. The rumor is "crowd control" as in riot. Why the riots? Ahhhh...that's the 64,000 bullet question.
Todays news: 8/14/12
"Why would the National Weather Service need to purchase large quantities of powerful ammo? That’s the question many are asking after the federal agency followed in the footsteps of the Department of Homeland Security in putting out a solicitation for 46,000 rounds of hollow point bullets.
Posted by: ANTHONY at August 14, 2012 9:28 PMA solicitation which appears on the FedBizOpps website asks for 16,000 rounds of .40 S&W jacketed hollow point (JHP) bullets, noted for their strength, to be delivered to locations in Ellsworth, Maine, and New Bedford, Mass.
A further 6,000 rounds of S&W JHP will be sent to Wall, New Jersey, with another 24,000 rounds of the same bullets heading to the weather station in St. Petersburg, Florida."
In the post 911 environment, Federal Air Marshalls and Federal Flight Deck Officers (armed pilots) are training throughout the country on a daily basis. They alone are chambering tens of thousands of rounds a day.
Posted by: Jim Haldeman at August 15, 2012 9:30 AMPosted by Jim Haldeman
"In the post 911 environment, Federal Air Marshalls and Federal Flight Deck Officers (armed pilots) are training throughout the country on a daily basis. They alone are chambering tens of thousands of rounds a day."
Well, I suppose that explains the hollow points. But letting go with a .40 caliber inside an airplane, I wonder.
Posted by: Warrington Faust at August 15, 2012 11:25 AMDrudge Report now reports that Social Security has ordered 174,000 rounds of .357 hollow points.
ANthony suggests "crowd control". If hollow points are illegal in warfare, can we use them on crowds. Sounds like the "Bonus Army March" all over again.
Posted by: Warrington Faust at August 15, 2012 3:51 PM