Medicare

Ryan repackages his plan to end Medicare; tries to resuscitate his dying idea

September 28, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

David Dayen at Firedog Lake:

 Paul Ryan is desperately trying to resuscitate his failed plan to end Medicare by offering it as the replacement element in the long-sought “repeal and replace” strategy for the Affordable Care Act. [The one the GOP calls Obamacare - Xoff.]

“Giving patients and consumers control over healthcare resources would make all Americans less dependent on big business and big government for our health security; give us more control over the care we get; and force health care providers to compete for our business,” Ryan said.

Ryan argued that a tax credit in lieu of Medicare, Medicaid and government-credited employer-sponsored healthcare would commoditize healthcare costs, enabling individuals to choose their coverage and allowing the free market to drive down prices and make care more affordable — and generous — for all.

NM-1 Congressional Candidate Eric Griego Ranked #2 on AlterNet's 5 Progressive Candidates to Watch

September 26, 2011 by Democracy for N...

On Friday, AlterNet published a story about "5 Progressive Candidates to Watch as the 2012 Campaign Heats Up." At Number 2, the article listed Eric Griego, a Democratic candidate for Congress in New Mexico's First District, and had this to say about the race:

2. Eric Griego—New Mexico House District 1

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) made its first endorsement for a 2012 Congressional race, and it's Eric Griego, currently a state senator and running for New Mexico's 1st district House seat, as Democrat Rep. Martin Heinrich is vacating the seat to run for Senate.

A modest proposal: Ask the people to vote on Medicare, Social Security

September 26, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

An excellent idea from Matt Pommer, a longtime Capital Times staffer who now freelances a column that runs in the Daily Reporter, among other places:

Why not ask the voters what they think about Medicare and Social Security?

 Says Pommer:

Let’s have some advisory votes on the future of Social Security and Medicare.

Wisconsin and other populist states have a history of deciding spending issues by the way of referenda in which all citizens can vote. We decide school spending plans and overrides of spending limits by counting ballots. It seems at the heart of a democracy...

The folks in Washington seem hopelessly deadlocked. Perhaps referenda in Wisconsin — state or local votes — could provide impetus to find a solution. A good time for such advisory votes would be next year’s presidential primary. At a minimum, candidates would have to discuss the questions.

Why not put that issue front and center? And what a great opportunity for progressives to organize and educate the public.

National Catholic Reporter disses Paul Ryan, one of the church's own

September 23, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Michael Sean Winter, blogging at the National Catholic Reporter, scoffs at Rep. Paul Ryan's idea that asking rich people to pay their fair share of federal taxes amounts to "class warfare":