Democrats’ Medicare Attacks Show They Think Voters Are Stupid

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All brucey has is a polls. Imagine, a liberal supporting a poll !!! What a rare thing...
"Why Paul Ryan’s Medicare Is So Much Better Than Obama’s"
Posted on May 7, 2011 by Barbara
Peter Ferrara
"Obama said regarding the Ryan budget plan, “No I don’t think it is particularly courageous. Because…nothing is easier than solving a problem on the backs of people who are poor or people who are powerless or don’t have a lobbyist or don’t have clout.”
"How does obamacare cut cost, but help "people who are poor or people who are powerless or don’t have a lobbyist or don’t have clout.”
"cuts in payments to doctors and hospitals under Medicare as provided in current law due to Obamacare and President Obama’s Medicare reimbursement policies is $15 trillion!"
"These Medicare cuts were the foundation for CBO finding that Obamacare would actually reduce the deficit, despite adopting or expanding three entitlement programs.
"Medicare’s Chief Actuary reports that even before these cuts already two-thirds of hospitals were losing money on Medicare patients."
"The unworkable, draconian effect of these Medicare cuts is why the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a disclaimer..."
Unlike Ryan’s careful Medicare reforms, these draconian, unworkable, Obamacare cuts to Medicare apply to seniors already retired today. Ryan exempts from any change all seniors retired today and everyone over age 55. On these grounds alone, Ryan’s Medicare is better for today’s seniors than Medicare under Obamacare.
That will involve an additional $500 billion in Medicare cuts for today’s seniors by 2023, “and an additional one trillion dollars in the decade after that,” in Obama’s own words.
"Obama proposed to give even more power to the unelected, unaccountable, Washington bureaucrats on his Commission to cut Medicare further, by undemocratic automatic sequester that bypasses Congress entirely."
"Seniors would do far better each choosing their own health insurers themselves in a competitive marketplace, which is the system that has generated the highest standard of living in the world in America for all goods and services."
"Even President Obama was forced to admit before the Facebook audience that the Ryan Medicare plan “will control costs, except if you get sick and the policy that you bought doesn’t cover what you’ve got….If you’re somebody who’s older and has a pre-existing condition, insurance companies won’t take you.” But that’s not how the private insurance companies under Medicare Advantage work. Nor is that true of the private Medigap plans, whose sellers include AARP, central players in Obama’s own political machine."
http://blogs.forbes.com/peterferrara/2011/04/28/paul-ryan-medicare-better-than-obamas/
http://www.912superseniors.org/2011/05/why-paul-ryans-medicare-is-so-much-better-than-obamas/

Bill Hedges of MO 1:54AM May 23, 2011

It doesn't matter how the Republicans torture the facts, it remains clear that they hated Medicare from the day it passed, and they have been moving heaven and earth to abolish it ever since.
Inadequate vouchers for seniors and unlimited profiteering for the insurance industry are the goals, and all the Orwellian double-speak in the world can't hide it.
The public hates the Ryan plan by 80-20, and it's Republicans who think the public is dumb by trying to pretend otherwise. Paul Ryan and the Tea Party have just handed the Democrats a dream campaign issue, and noisy Republican squealing can't disguise it.

Panskeptic of MT 11:55PM May 22, 2011

why bii h. you sound like a republican shill, dispenseing all these g.o.p talking points. you have the problem,by and large the public is not buying it.
it,s not little ole me,it,s the polls,that say so.

bruce b of NV 11:15PM May 22, 2011

"Why Paul Ryan’s Medicare Is So Much Better Than Obama’s"
Posted on May 7, 2011 by Barbara
Peter Ferrara
"Obama said regarding the Ryan budget plan, “No I don’t think it is particularly courageous. Because…nothing is easier than solving a problem on the backs of people who are poor or people who are powerless or don’t have a lobbyist or don’t have clout.”
"How does obamacare cut cost, but help "people who are poor or people who are powerless or don’t have a lobbyist or don’t have clout.”
"cuts in payments to doctors and hospitals under Medicare as provided in current law due to Obamacare and President Obama’s Medicare reimbursement policies is $15 trillion!"
"These Medicare cuts were the foundation for CBO finding that Obamacare would actually reduce the deficit, despite adopting or expanding three entitlement programs.
"Medicare’s Chief Actuary reports that even before these cuts already two-thirds of hospitals were losing money on Medicare patients."
"The unworkable, draconian effect of these Medicare cuts is why the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a disclaimer..."
Unlike Ryan’s careful Medicare reforms, these draconian, unworkable, Obamacare cuts to Medicare apply to seniors already retired today. Ryan exempts from any change all seniors retired today and everyone over age 55. On these grounds alone, Ryan’s Medicare is better for today’s seniors than Medicare under Obamacare.
That will involve an additional $500 billion in Medicare cuts for today’s seniors by 2023, “and an additional one trillion dollars in the decade after that,” in Obama’s own words.
"Obama proposed to give even more power to the unelected, unaccountable, Washington bureaucrats on his Commission to cut Medicare further, by undemocratic automatic sequester that bypasses Congress entirely."
"Seniors would do far better each choosing their own health insurers themselves in a competitive marketplace, which is the system that has generated the highest standard of living in the world in America for all goods and services."
"Even President Obama was forced to admit before the Facebook audience that the Ryan Medicare plan “will control costs, except if you get sick and the policy that you bought doesn’t cover what you’ve got….If you’re somebody who’s older and has a pre-existing condition, insurance companies won’t take you.” But that’s not how the private insurance companies under Medicare Advantage work. Nor is that true of the private Medigap plans, whose sellers include AARP, central players in Obama’s own political machine."
http://blogs.forbes.com/peterferrara/2011/04/28/paul-ryan-medicare-better-than-obamas/
http://www.912superseniors.org/2011/05/why-paul-ryans-medicare-is-so-much-better-than-obamas/

Bill Hedges of MO 9:33PM May 22, 2011

A recent "Investor's Business Daily" article provided very interesting statistics from a survey by the United Nations International Health Organization.
Percentage of men and women who survived a cancer five years after diagnosis:
U.S. 65%
England 46%
Canada 42%
Percentage of patients diagnosed with diabetes who received treatment within six months:
U.S. 93%
England 15%
Canada 43%
Percentage of seniors needing hip replacement who received it within six months:
U.S. 90%
England 15%
Canada 43%
Percentage referred to a medical specialist who see one within one month:
U.S. 77%
England 40%
Canada 43%
Number of MRI scanners (a prime diagnostic tool) per million people:
U.S. 71
England 14
Canada 18
Percentage of seniors (65+), with low income, who say they are in "excellent health":
U.S. 12%
England 2%
Canada 6%
And on a different note, but very relevant to what is going on in Washington:
The percentage of each past president's cabinet who had worked in the private business sector prior to their appointment to the cabinet. You know what the private business sector is…a real-life business, not a government job. Here are the percentages.
T. Roosevelt..........38%
Taft......................40%
Wilson ..................52%
Harding.................49%
Coolidge............... 48%
Hoover.................42%
F. Roosevelt.........50%
Truman.................50%
Eisenhower............57%
Kennedy...............30%
Johnson...............47%
Nixon....................53%
Ford......................42%
Carter.....................32%
Reagan..................56%
GH Bush............... 51%
Clinton .................39%
GW Bush................55%
And the winner is:
Obama............... 8%
You can draw you own conclusions as to why we have the situation we have in Washington right now.

junior of DC 5:37PM May 22, 2011

Sorry the kind of logic that Americans have to accept what is not in their interest just because Special Interests own the Republican party doesn't hold water.
Americans don't have to kill Medicare - just so the Republicans can continue Oil Company Welfare, bailouts for bankrupt bankers, and tax breaks for the rich.

Sherrie of UT 2:59PM May 22, 2011

it,s one of life,s mysteries,if as ryan and his neocon lackeys that includes bill.h.,say that this "plan" does all these wonderful things for folks in their sunset years,you would think that the poll numbers would be just the opposite of what they are.depending on the poll,65/70% of the people are opposed to this "turkey"
as for draconian that the ryan plan in spades.even now a large number of the republicans are in full retreat and seeking shelter from the pasting they are getting from their constituents on this plan.but these house members,as much as they would like to cann;t hide from their vote.
why it,s almost admirable the way some of the die hard,s are standing proudly on the main deck( almost like in titantic ) and going down with the ship.

bruce b of NV 11:22AM May 22, 2011

I must object to your use of the word "stupid" in the title of this column. Use of deragotory terms to describe anyone is not productive.
I think both parties capatilize on the voters lack of knowledge and understanding of the issues and the policies that each party promotes. Each party demonises and misrepresents the positions of the other.
For example, many comments already posted on the column complain about Ryan's plan to reduce tax rates for individuals and companies. But they ignore that his plan also eliminates many deductions and tax loopholes. Ryan's plan lowers tax rates but increases the income subject to taxation. I'm not sure if the end result is higher or lower taxes. The answer probably depends on what assumptions one makes. But the real answer is not as simplistic as many voters think it is.

Bob of TX 11:11AM May 22, 2011

You can't call radical ideas like this "obvious" without a why behind it. The author legitimizes Ryan's cuts to Medicare benefits by stating that we can't pay for care any longer...it's okay to inflict harm, indirectly, because it's not possible to do. She leaves out the key part of the plan that cuts taxes for wealthy Americans and corporations. Why? Because including both would derail her argument and highlights her core values: marginal tax savings is worth more than maintaining human life.
A free market does not efficiently align incentives in health care delivery. A fact. That's why America's health care system is the most expensive in the world and has, at the same time, some of the poorest health outcomes. Waste as a result of trying to force delivery channels into an unfit economic setting.
NOTHING is obvious here. I know firsthand. I spent several years in health care consulting, and I currently conduct health policy research, focusing on ACOs. I am also in medical school and hear/see inefficiencies daily. An accident several years ago caused low level quadriplegia, and I use a wheelchair, which makes me a current Medicare beneficiary. As a patient, provider, beneficiary, and policy nut, I can assure you that the only obvious thing is huge increases in morbidity/mortality among seniors and individuals with disabilities should Ryan's plan succeed.

Todd of AZ 10:31AM May 22, 2011

"Why Paul Ryan’s Medicare Is So Much Better Than Obama’s"
Posted on May 7, 2011 by Barbara
Peter Ferrara
"Obama said regarding the Ryan budget plan, “No I don’t think it is particularly courageous. Because…nothing is easier than solving a problem on the backs of people who are poor or people who are powerless or don’t have a lobbyist or don’t have clout.”
"How does obamacare cut cost, but help "people who are poor or people who are powerless or don’t have a lobbyist or don’t have clout.”
"cuts in payments to doctors and hospitals under Medicare as provided in current law due to Obamacare and President Obama’s Medicare reimbursement policies is $15 trillion!"
"These Medicare cuts were the foundation for CBO finding that Obamacare would actually reduce the deficit, despite adopting or expanding three entitlement programs.
"Medicare’s Chief Actuary reports that even before these cuts already two-thirds of hospitals were losing money on Medicare patients."
"The unworkable, draconian effect of these Medicare cuts is why the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a disclaimer..."
Unlike Ryan’s careful Medicare reforms, these draconian, unworkable, Obamacare cuts to Medicare apply to seniors already retired today. Ryan exempts from any change all seniors retired today and everyone over age 55. On these grounds alone, Ryan’s Medicare is better for today’s seniors than Medicare under Obamacare.
That will involve an additional $500 billion in Medicare cuts for today’s seniors by 2023, “and an additional one trillion dollars in the decade after that,” in Obama’s own words.
"Obama proposed to give even more power to the unelected, unaccountable, Washington bureaucrats on his Commission to cut Medicare further, by undemocratic automatic sequester that bypasses Congress entirely."
"Seniors would do far better each choosing their own health insurers themselves in a competitive marketplace, which is the system that has generated the highest standard of living in the world in America for all goods and services."
"Even President Obama was forced to admit before the Facebook audience that the Ryan Medicare plan “will control costs, except if you get sick and the policy that you bought doesn’t cover what you’ve got….If you’re somebody who’s older and has a pre-existing condition, insurance companies won’t take you.” But that’s not how the private insurance companies under Medicare Advantage work. Nor is that true of the private Medigap plans, whose sellers include AARP, central players in Obama’s own political machine."
http://blogs.forbes.com/peterferrara/2011/04/28/paul-ryan-medicare-better-than-obamas/
http://www.912superseniors.org/2011/05/why-paul-ryans-medicare-is-so-much-better-than-obamas/