Krugman: Part D, revisited

[ProSense]

December 29, 2009

Part D, revisited

Associated Press did a good report on the trouble Republicans have been having as they try to explain why, if they consider the fully-funded, deficit-reducing Democratic health care reform unaffordable, they voted for the completely unfunded Medicare drug benefit 6 years ago. None of their explanations make a bit of sense.

But the AP dropped the ball, I think, by not pointing out just how irresponsible the bill really was. According to the Medicare trustees, Part D created a $9.4 trillion unfunded liability over the next 75 years. That’s a big number, even for an economy as big as ours.

What were they thinking? Mostly, they probably weren’t thinking at all. To the extent that there was a theory of the case, however, it went something like this: pass whatever legislation was needed to win the next election, then, once total conservative political dominance has been achieved, dismantle the whole welfare state.

The best laid plans …

[inna]

1. Wow, thanks for this.

What unbelievable hypocrites. The mind boggles. Wow.

So, in 2003 Republicans put "extraordinary pressure" (according to the AP article) on Democrats and rammed through a $9.4 TRILLION bill that was pure deficit spending. :crazy: Hmm, wonder how Blue Doggies voted on that one.


"dismantle the whole welfare state" - well, it's pretty clear that was exactly their goal.

Basically, create an intentionally unsustainable program and then declare the whole Medicare system a failure and dismantle it.

Pure sabotage, as far as I can tell.

[amborin]

3. sigh too bad Dems couldn't display the same extraordinary pressure for single payer or PO!

[inna]

4. +1

EXACTLY!

[Jakes Progress]

5. You mean republicans got a bill that everyone knew was bad passed

while the democrats with a majority can barely pass piss poor, barely breathing bills that do one part for people while doing 10 parts for the same people that Part D rewarded.

How very different. It seems most republicans are nasty but capable, while most Democrats are decent but inept.

[inna]

6. You know, I'm starting to seriously wonder if all this is just for a show.

Good cop, bad cop routine. :shrug:


Money needs to be taken out of politics, period, otherwise we'll never get any meaningful health (or financial) reform.

Corporations own the Congress and the White House and dictate their policies, this is the root of the problem IMO.

[mzmolly]

2. K and R

:kick: