Text 27421, 90 rader
Skriven 2007-02-23 13:26:00 av LEE LOFASO
     Kommentar till en text av TIM RICHARDSON
Ärende: Medicare
================
Hello Tim,

>VH>I keep asking my liberal friends to name a poverty program that is
>VH>actually designed to reduce poverty, :-)

>LL>Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was a terrific
>LL>program, until President Bill Clinton ended it in 1996 under the
>LL>auspices of welfare reform.

>LL>But that's okay.  The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is still here,
>LL>which has benefitted (and continues to benefit) many working Americans.
>LL>And the Food Stamp program is still here, as well, thus ensuring that
>LL>many Americans who live in poverty will not starve to death.

>LL>With cuts in Medicaid, it is getting harder and harder for poor folks
>LL>to receive quality medical care.

TR>(clip!)

TR>Are you age 65 yet?

Age is irrelevant.

TR>I just turned age 65 a few months ago, and I got a real deep `education'
TR>on the *Medicare* system for people 65 and older.

Eligibility for social security/medicare is not limited to people age
65 and older.  For example, some disabled are also eligible.  And not
all who are age 65 and over are eligible.  For those (poor folks) who
never earned enough credits to qualify for social security/medicare,
there is the SSI/medicaid program.

TR>Let me give *you* the benefit of my experience (up till now) with the vaunte
TR>*medicare* system. Wait!.........I can sum it all up in a few short words
TR>(save us both a lot of time and me a lot of typing). Ready? Pay attention no

TR>IT SUCKS!

For most people, the alternative is worse.

TR>What *exactly* does it do for someone who worked for a living since they wer
TR>just over 14 years old, and have had their social security card since 1954,
TR>and been paying into the system ever since?

Those who are working now are paying for those who are retired today.

TR>VERY LITTLE!

For most people, the alternative is worse.

TR>Not only do I have to have a private medical insurance plan aside from Socia
TR>Security's *medicare* system.......I also have to belong to the VA medical
TR>coverage system for war veterans in order to supliment even that!

Those who can afford to have a private medical insurance plan have a
private medical insurance plan.  But most people who are retired have
no choice but to depend on the social security system, which includes
medicare.

TR>But.......some illegal alien can come in the country, drop a baby in a pastu
TR>just over the border, and get medical treatment *I* do not even qualify for!

I doubt very seriously that you would ever qualify to have a baby.
Guys just are not built to make babies.  Blame it on nature, or on
God.  But some things just are not meant to be.

TR>Get prescription medication medicare doesn't even cover for *me* (a veteran
TR>who fought in a war for this goddamn country!), and get a monthly check
TR>suplimented by the same social security fund *I* have been paying into since
TR>was 14 years old, and *they* (the illegal alien) haven't paid a fuckin' dime
TR>into in their entire life!

Access to quality medical care is the most basic of all human rights,
given that denial of such access is denial to life itself.  Even
prisoners held on life row are granted that basic human right.  By
access, the meaning is affordable.  If something is not affordable,
it is not accessable.

TR>When you turn 65 years old, and all this becomes a bit clearer to you,
TR>you'll see the light, too.

I'm all for improving the social security system, including medicare.
But doing away with it is not the answer.

--Lee


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