Comments about ‘Medicaid, Medicare in the middle as Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, Rep. Jason Chaffetz back Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal’

before they cut the poor and old out cut your life long insurance and retierment then see if you like having no future like the rest of the working class. they do this so they can get more tax cuts for the to 1%. that is who they work for we all know it.

'A public opinion poll by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation found that while Washington debates balancing its budget in part by making major spending reductions in the Medicaid program...' - Article

Um, they're gonna 'kill grandma'...?

Oh, wait that was a Republican talking point about healthcare reform. Sorry, wrong conversation.

*'Kill Grandma? Debunking A Health Bill Scare Tactic' - By Julie Rovner - 08/13/09 - Published on Kaiser Health News

'But no, the health care overhaul bill now working its way through Congress would not require seniors to learn how to die prematurely.'

But, lets continue to cut Medicare.

Sarcasim off.

The Republicans have declared war on working people. They have declared war on women. Now they're declaring war on senior citizens and people who are sick. What a sad comment to make about the Republicans -- they should be ashamed of themselves.

they want to cut out goverment waste maybe the politicians should take a cut in their pay to eh ?

Not all poor people qualify for medicaid. And not all medicaid plans are alike.

Follow the money--why do you think they want to cut Medicare and end Social Security as we know it? That's so the private BIG CORPORATIONS can get their "lucre"-tive hands on all that money.

Bush wanted to privatize Social Security--at least he was open to what it was all about. But he got booed and he dropped back from that proposal. Today's GOP hide their real intent by saying "we are just going broke so we'll take your money and put it in Wall Street and Massive Health Care Systems because we know that we can do better with your money. Ha Ha all the way to our bank."

Well, then keep in mind all the lost value in 401Ks and stocks that hit people hard in recent years. Would you want your elderly grandpa trying manage his "Social Security" in the daily chaos of the ever changing Wall Street and related companies?

Soooo, just follow the money and you'll see why all these congressmen are helping their campaign contributors (BIG BUSINESS!)to get their hands on your money.

Obamacare as it stands was a massive overture to the insurance companies who typically add 20-30% administrative costs to medical bills. Eliminate the insurance companies with single payer (Government) health care and raise taxes on Wall Street/Stock market gambling (greed) and the top 5% of the our population, along with raising the cap on social security withholdings and we would actually be saving money. Instead of subsidizing the Nuclear Industry subsidize clean energy initiatives and invest in our infrastructure. Cut the bloated military budget and end the wars with no end.

Why is it that politicians always go right for cutting things that help regular people while keeping the monstrous bureaucracies intact? Here are some ideas, GET OUT OF THE U.N., BRING OUR TROOPS HOME FROM DOZENS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES, END FOREIGN "AID", ABOLISH useless stuff like DHS, TSA, EPA, FCC, FDA, FAA, DOE, NEA, etc, etc, put the entire government on the same health and retirement plans they stick us with. Just for starters! See how easy that was, I've already saved us trillions. . .!

Democrats want to increase taxes. But then they just increase spending right along with the tax increase! American's have learned that you cannot trust politicians with your money. Pagan & his minions should stop the bumper sticker slogans (Kill Grandma) and stop pointing fingers at Bush ("He increased the debt $4 Trillion) and start thinking about the reality of what we are facing.

The reality is that when a nation's debt reaches 80% of its GDP, the nation collapses. The US debt is currently at 68% of its GDP, with tremendous entitlement spending mandates approaching quickly. Obama's own debt commission warned of the consequences of doing nothing.

We need courageous leaders who will stop pointing fingers ("Bush spent money") and get real. How do you solve the problem of too much government spending? You reduce government spending. Now that was simple!

When you get into the details it will be painful, but think about the alternatives.

Everyone who thinks we are in this mess becasue of the salaries for politicians or even government workers raise your hands.

Now everyone with your hands raised move to the back of the line.

Everyone seems to whine that politicians want our money. Then they whine that politicians want to cut benifits the government provides. Is there a disconnect someplace? Yeah, as wide as the Grand Canyon. How do you think those benifits are paid for? Well right now by borrowing. Sound long-term like a good idea?

They might say, yeah well if we cut this, and cut that, then we will have enough. No! within 20 years Medicaide, care, SS and interest payments will be over 75% of taxes. yeah, cut FAA (plane crashes) TSA, (plane crashes with terrorist ties), DEA (rampant drug Lords like mexico), foreign aide (great idea, cede everything to the Chinese with them throwing money around).

OK we want to pay for more than Medcaide/care SS and debt? Then cut spending and increase taxes. With no changes it will still eat us up since we were at a deficit with SS for the first time last year and with a huge bulge coming.

So with this bulge how are we going to make it?

We can't have everything. Sounds easy, right? Well tell that to the person getting their autistic child's busing subsidy cut, the older person's Medicaid re-organized, the tax break for interest paid cut, the shortened hours at a national park when you go on vacation. We're just like a middle aged family who have lived on credit cards for too long. It was nice while it lasted.

People will whine and moan, but if the politicians don't have the gumption to make the right cuts so we don't start to whine and moan then ultimately we will do a whole lot more whining and moaning.

Medicaid and Care, SS and debt servicing is the largest 3 groups of budget items. If they are not touched, then this country will fail and fall.

I will not stand idly by and allow that to happen without a fight. What can I do, one lone person? Well, my pay got cut. It looks like its going to be reduced by another 16%. We all need to tighten our belts, support the cuts AND tax increases!

'Democrats want to increase taxes. But then they just increase spending right along with the tax increase! American's have learned that you cannot trust politicians with your money. Pagan & his minions should stop the bumper sticker slogans (Kill Grandma) and stop pointing fingers at Bush ("He increased the debt $4 Trillion) and start thinking about the reality of what we are facing.' - David | 7:18 p.m.

But....

I didn't mention Bush.

And...Sarah Palin started the 'Death Panels' phrase.

And taxes have been the lowest since after Regan.....

but thanks!

One simple question, Rep Ryan wants to issue "block grants" for people under 55 who will need Medicaid when they retire. Now what insurance company would ever want to issue a health insurance policy for an elderly person who has increased medical care costs relative to a younger person? No company would assume that liability, if that model would work you will see private insurance companies offering complete health care policies for the elderly rather than supplemental coverage for Medicare. His idea simply wont work in the private market.

"The reality is that when a nation's debt reaches 80% of its GDP, the nation collapses."

The reality is that our debt to GDP ration blew past 100% after WW2 and our country survived. I don't recommend having debt that high. But if you want to argue, at least use real facts.

I could also respond that Republicans just want to lower their own taxes and borrow to support their spending. I have yet to see a fact based argument that clearly demonstrates lowering taxes will actually create jobs and increase revenue.

In fact, as a businessman, I build tax rates into my pricing model to ensure that I make a profit. Therefore, I am not actually paying taxes. The people who by my products cover that. Lowering taxes will increase my margin. Sure, I could lower my prices, but why? If you are willing to pay $4 for a Big Mac, why would I start selling it for $3.80? Selling for $3.80 won't increase demand. If there is not increased demand, I have no reason to hire new employees. I don't think my situation is that unique.

Nate Daniels: You need to learn about the Laffer Curve. After doing so, you will understand how tax cuts increase both job growth and tax revenue.

Senator Hatch and his fellow conservative colleagues in the Utah Delegation understand that competition is the key to true health care reform. When the cost of medical care is hidden from the patient (which is the case under the current system), they have no incentive to be prudent in their decisions regarding care. Therefore, spending on Medicare, Medicaid, etc. will only go up over time. We can see this clearly with Medicare in the United States: In 1965, medicare was expected to cost $9 billion in 1990. It ended up costing $67 billion. Under the current system, spending for Medicare by 2050 will be 9 % of GDP, which equals out to $4 trillion. (Note: GDP for the U.S. in 2050 is projected to be $40 trillion).

@ReaganFan..should that not be the laughter curve, seeing how tax cuts for the top 2% have Never created any jobs?
Let's remember that these are our mothers and fathers and bothers and sisters we have made a compact with. This is not a gift as the republics would like us to believe, it has and is being taken out of our pay checks every week.
The "free market" has failed the American people when it comes to Health Care and those who do not recognize this do not understand the cutting of regulations on the huge pharmaceutical and insurance companies.
Competition is the "key" Excuse me, but there has been "competition" since insurance companies began providing "coverage" and we can see what that has accomplished: 78% of all bankruptcies are filed due to health care expenses.