Medicare

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.

Rick Perry and Paul Ryan; a match made in heaven

September 17, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

They say people find each other.

Rick "Ponzi Scheme" Perry has signed on to the Paul Ryan plan to end Medicare as we know it and replace it with a voucher-type system that will cost seniors much more for health care -- if they can afford it at all.

Isn't calling that "Medicare" when it's really something quite different a bait and switch con job? It sure seems like it.

No word on whether Ryan reciprocated by endorsing Perry's call for states that don't like what Congress does to secede from the union.

More at The Paul Ryan Watch

Republican won in NY by running from, not embracing, Ryan Medicare plan

September 15, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Much is being made of the Republican victory in a special House election in New York, including the claim that Paul Ryan's Medicare plan is no longer poison for Republicans.

Actually, GOP winner Bob Turner, pictured,,  distanced himself from the Ryan budget on Medicare and from Rick Perry (or at least the Perry of Fed Up!) on Social Security.

Mediscare couldn’t work against Turner because he pledged his total support for Medicare. Indeed, he has spoken strongly against the Ryan budget. This election is less a sign of victory for the Ryan budget and more a sign that Republicans can run away from this budget (at least if they haven’t voted for it) and win.

More at The Paul Ryan Watch.

Another GOP candidate runs away from Ryan's poisonous Medicare plan

August 29, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Paul Ryan's plan to end Medicare as we know it and replace it with a voucher plan that would cost seniors much more for health care seemed like a good idea at the time, Republican candidate Mark Amoedi says.

But not any more says Amoedi, a Nevada Republican running in a special election, in a Republican district, for a House seat.

It doesn't sound like he'll be asking Paul Ryan to come in and campaign with him.

More at The Paul Ryan Watch