'We Are All Socialists Now'

I WISH!

But for what it's worth, yes, we are all Socialists. And we all like it: from the Jim DeMints of Congress on the government's payroll to the Bernie Sanders of Vermont; from progressive so-called 'elite' to the most avid Tea Party members. Seriously! Try suggesting to the latter that we cut Medicare and Social Security. And, in ten years, when the Healthcare Reform measures will have fully been enacted for a few years, try suggesting you do away with that, too!

Maybe I shouldn't be so pessimistic, after all. Maybe we are moving toward Socialism... albeit at a snail's pace....

What Bunning's Butting In Causes

Doctors cannot get reimbursed for Medicare, thanks to a recalcitrant senator from Kentucky. Not to mention the millions who rely on unemployment benefits across the nation who are now left high and dry.

Two Op-Eds

Two op-eds in The New York Times discuss the issue of healthcare with two different goals in mind.

The first op-ed analyzes the reaction that the elderly across the country have shown in response to the fear-mongering about cuts in Medicare that have been propagated by Republican leaders and representatives, as well as the right-wing media. The op-ed also addresses the hypocrisy in the politics that Republicans are following, choosing to incite the elderly to defend something that they, the Republicans, would normally oppose and advocate against.

The second op-ed is written by Paul Krugman and describes the proposed American healthcare plan with other healthcare systems around the world in perspective. He concludes that it is more similar to the existing Swiss system, but that there are better plans out there, such as the French and the Canadian ones.

Looming Troubles

Although Social Security is on the back burner while we are discussing healthcare, it is a deep trouble looming on the nation's horizon. Along with Medicare and defense, it is contributing to the national debt which is ever on the rise.

If you ask me, this should be the biggest worry of the elderly, not the public insurance health plan. And let them remember, too, that the latter Bush wanted to privatize it. Where would Social Security money be now had he done that before the volatile days of the stock market?

Right-Wing Propaganda

These rumors are tamer than the ones claiming that the elderly will be 'put to death' early, but they are still part of the fear-mongering propaganda that generates in the right wing. We all know why they single out the elderly in particular: they are more likely to vote than any other age group and these are the right wing's cheap and feeble attempts to secure votes in the 2010 elections.