Democrats must draw the line on Medicare

[CHIMO]

These are depressing times for liberals on both sides of the Atlantic, with the size and scope of the state under assault. But the debate in the US is at least in one way bracing: it has lately become crystal clear that between now and November 2012 we will be having a big ideological argument about what kind of country this is and what sort of future we want – an argument that we've largely avoided for two generations.

When I say "we" have largely avoided them, what I actually mean is that one side has avoided it. Conservatives since Ronald Reagan have argued relentlessly that liberal philosophy is destroying the country. Liberals have not, as a rule, taken on conservative philosophy. They have tended meekly to venture things like: gee, those guys are going a little overboard, don't you think? Bill Clinton, who did more defending of progressive governance than most people give him credit for, was nevertheless the Democratic president who said the "era of big government is over", which meant that the Democrats would launch their insurrections on the terrain of particular policy criticisms, not broad world-view. It was easier that way because the Democrats could speak up for certain specific functions of government without having to explain how they saw the world.

Now, though, the issue is forced. The deficit-reduction plan on offer from Republican congressman Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House budget committee, means that the fight can be put off no longer. The Ryan plan is such a direct assault on the liberal state constructed over the last 70 years – with the support of both parties – that the Democrats have to draw a Maginot line in the forest, as it were, and arm themselves to defend that state and way of life.

The central issue here is Medicare – a sort of American NHS for old people. Medicare was passed in 1965, under a Democratic president (Lyndon Johnson), with the support of strong Democratic majorities in Congress – and, incidentally, just shy of half of all Republicans, back when the GOP had a strong moderate faction.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2011/apr/20/democrats-defending-medicare-republicans

[Very_Boring_Name]

1. What's so frustrating is how wildly popular single payer would be, if only Americans would give it a

chance

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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