On Medicare, Taxes, and Patriotism

The Washington Post is running a story about health insurance reform, "Obama's plans on health care a tough sell among seniors". The writer is Ceci Connolly.

Apparently polls are showing only one-third of seniors in support of healthcare reform. No one can be faulted for wanting the best care available as health problems emerge with age. Yet this country has demonstrated that higher expenditures have not equated with better care. Declaring Medicare off limits for reform doesn't improve care or efficiency, nor does it postpone the day of reckoning. It will, however, make it all the more jarring for future seniors including some young Boomers who will get to the party late and be told they have to clean up. Reform will only get harder as more and more people settle in to the Medicare program. Now is the time for reform! Yet the writer of the Washington Post article says about seniors, "[the polls show] they only want to hear one thing: that their Medicare benefits won't be affected."

In the midst of this important historical opportunity, the supposed party of fiscal restraint is scaring the elderly with lies about government-instituted euthanasia and other ridiculous myths. I contacted my Republican Congressman to encourage him to speak out against these blatant distortions. I'd be surprised if he gets the message. At the same time GOP'ers moan and groan about taxes. The longer they stall health insurance reform, the higher taxes will HAVE to go to cover the gaping holes in the national balance sheet. I fear a right-wing meltdown when our national government levels with us about the simple fact that we all must do more, including pay higher taxes (if we're in the middle or upper class), to secure our country's future. If and when that time comes you can guess where the "Country First" crowd will be. Throwing tantrums about the sheer audacity of a government that taxes its citizens for the services it provides. They will then claim to be patriots by refusing to do their part. *sigh* Hannity, Beck, Palin, Limbaugh, the Republican leadership, and all of their followers have turned me into such a cynic.