Medicare emerging as prime target in U.S. "fiscal cliff" talks

[No Elephants]

Medicare emerging as prime target in U.S. "fiscal cliff" talks



By David Morgan

WASHINGTON | Wed Dec 5, 2012 5:52pm EST

(Reuters) - <snip>

The proposals most often discussed that would directly affect Medicare's 52 million beneficiaries are more means-testing, meaning higher costs for wealthier retirees, and raising the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67.

Other proposals on the table would reduce payments for hospitals, nursing homes, drug makers, insurers and physicians.

Medicare, a $590 billion-a-year program long seen as an untouchable third rail in U.S. politics, has been augmented but rarely trimmed. A change in eligibility would not alter traditional benefits. But Medicare would not be available to all senior citizens aged 65 and older for the first time since the program's creation in 1965.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/us-usa-fiscal-healthcare-idUSBRE8B41HT20121205

And, by "emerging," the author actually means that Medicare, Medicaid and Old Age, Survivors and Disablity Insurance have been the primary targets for years.

And, by "more means testing," the author actually means introducing means testing for the very first time since the program was established.

Means testing will turn Medicare into a welfare program and we all know how "invincible" welfare programs are.

BTW, I wonder, where are all the stories about which specific cuts to defense and other federal budget items will be made?

[Enthusiast]

1. I have a better idea.

CUT the fucking military until they are crying actual tears.

Those tears would be an accurate gauge of the level of cuts I would recommend. There is simply no justification for the size and mission of the U.S. military.

Practically any public works project would be a better stimulus return on the dollar than military spending.

The real threat to the security of the American people comes from inside the country in the form of politicians that want to cut "entitlements". Social security and medicare are real security, not faked up Dubya Bush Iraq War style security.

If we really don't want terrorism how about we get the fuck out of "their" countries. But actually we do want terrorism. Otherwise their is no justification for the ridiculous level of military spending.

[No Elephants]

2. Then again, weapons are about our only domestic manufacturing segment.

STOP PICKING ON THE JOB CREATORS!

[Enthusiast]

3. But, as you know, our infrastructure needs

would dwarf the military needs. The true needs, that is.

In addition to roads, bridges, water conduits and power grids, our infrastructure deficit would include education and research and development. We could create far more jobs in domestic infrastructure than in weapons manufacturing.

We cannot do these things because the nation is following a completely insane right wing agenda.