It’s a shame that the word has lost this meaning. The Bush administration is the champion of the factoid- from “Saddam caused 9/11” on down.

More over-reaction.

First, I think she will get her social security.

Second, if she doesn’t, do you really think the ONLY reason she won’t is that people like ME let the GOP steal it? Flattering, but exaggerated.

Your figures are also incorect on the percent of health care spending in the last year of life. For the over-65 population the estimates are 22% to 30% are for the last year of life. For the total population, its 7 to 10%. That’s a lot, but its not most.

You can do the math yourself. According to Health Affairs, total health spending in 2004 was $1.9 trillion. Take 50% if you want to say its most. Divide that out over about 2.5 million deaths. You get an AVERAGE cost in the last year of life of $380,000. Sorry, didn’t happen.

Using the more accurate number 7% you get $53,200.
Still a lot, but its a closer fit to the facts.

I’m not glib about the transition problem being a problem. I just think most of the Medicare Part D complaints are overblown.

Highlighting the median, though, points to the distribution. Seniors vote in larger percentages than twentysomethings. And your median voter most likely has parents, and doesn’t want to share an increasing burden of their healthcare, particularly given that the American system spends most of its money on the last years of life.

How long do you think it will take the States to get the 6 million on Medicaid figured out, 3 months, 6 months, a year? Its a transition problem not some permanent barrier to coverage.

To point to an issue raised here quite often, the French heatwave of August 2003 lasted one month and killed thousands. The Chicago heatwave lasted one week and killed over 700.

It’s pretty damn glib to dismiss as a ‘transition problem’ something that may well kill people, or at very least place a greater strain on the health system by sending them to the E.R.

Oh, and right now, the states aren’t going to be reimbursed. That’s going to be a fun knock-on.

That’s what Democrats should say every time Abramoff comes up. NOT negotiating the lowest prices for Medicare drugs and placing ‘Made in the USA’ labels for Chinese goods assembled in the Marianas Island are two examples of the Abramoff school of government. Republican voters are opposed to these provisions as well as Democrats. Get the ugliest provisions of that have been made law in the past few years into the light – the stench of the law is worse than any free golf trips.

This is her first year to get and W-2 and fiel a tax return. I showed her her state taxes: $ 22.84. Don’t worry you’ll get that back. Federal taxes: $42.50, Don’t worry you’ll get that back.

OASDI and Medicare, $ 125.31. You don’t get that back; that pays for the pensions and medicare for your grandparents.

She says “That’s crap!”

The median voter in the USA is a middle aged, suburban, married white female, with family income of about $50,000 a year.

I just don’t think trying to sell Medicare Part D as a disaster is a big winner.

1. Most people have exactly the same coverage.

FEHBP, Tricare, those with retiree employer coverage applying for the RDS, and most of those on Medicare Advantage.

2. How long do you think it will take the States to get the 6 million on Medicaid figured out, 3 months, 6 months, a year? Its a transition problem not some permanent barrier to coverage. They’ll still get cheap or free drugs. Why all the crabbing about the insurance companies in medicar Part D? Doesn’t anybody remember “managed competiton” and the Clinton plan, its the nearly the same damn thing.

But if you want conspiracy theories, have you looked at the fine print of what MMA did to Medicare part B premiums? They are means tested with higher income retirees paying a greater and greater percentage of the premium over time.

This will be the first area where the baby boom effect will hit the government budget for the following reason: Medicare Part B ( and the new Medicare Part D) is not funded by FICA payroll taxes, it is paid out of general revenue. There are no big balances in the trust fund.

So ask yourself, why did the supposedly, friendly- to-the-rich Republicans include tax increases to wealthy in the form of higher Part B premiums?

Why indeed, if not to get my daughter and my dad thinking the same way about Medicare?

The Dems need to play a part in pinning Granny Mabel’s fate to the Republicans and lobbyists. Yes, there’ll be the kneejerk ‘playing politics with people’s lives’ response, but there are obvious rejoinders.

Dem challengers in districts where the local GOP rep. supported the bill need to start their campaigns right now.