November 26, 2003
WHO LET TED DRIVE?:
Another mugging on Capitol Hill (Albert Eisele, 11/26/03, The Hill)
The Democratic Party, one of the twin pillars of the American political system and a major force in Congress for much of the 20th century, died last weekend while working on Capitol Hill. It was 175 years old. The cause of death was injuries suffered from an apparent mugging while trying to rescue the New Deal, the New Frontier and the Great Society.Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said the victim’s body was found Monday in the excavation for the Capitol Visitor Center, shortly after Congress cleared the way for overhauling Medicare, the Great Society program created in 1965 that was considered the party’s most important legacy.
The time of death was uncertain, but it probably occurred between early Saturday morning and Monday afternoon, Gainer said.
Even though the body bore signs of a violent struggle, Gainer did not rule out the possibility of suicide, citing reports that the victim had been severely depressed since November 2000. [...]
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) said he was sorry to see his party expire. But he expressed confidence that it would reconstitute itself in a few years, “as soon as Ted Kennedy and Zell Miller figure out what we stand for.”
Has our recent political history offered any more inexplicable sight than the Democrats handing credit to the GOP for a prescription drug plan that has been the centerpiece of Democratic campaigns for years now and, in the process, letting them begin the reformation of the entire Medicare program? Posted by Orrin Judd at November 26, 2003 12:08 AM
" in the process, letting them begin the reformation of the entire Medicare program?"
I have to admit you are extremely sophisticated in your analysis of this issue. For the great unwashed taxpaying conservatives it looks like a goofy adoption of big spending socialism ala Rockefeller republicans. When does the reformation start?
Posted by: h-man at November 26, 2003 5:05 AMH-Man: The first time a senior chooses a competing program.
Posted by: Chris at November 26, 2003 6:30 AMChris - agree. The argument the Bush administration is making is that the introduction of competition to Medicare will cause seniors to see how crappy a program Medicare is and shift to other programs. Whether this happens (and in significant numbers) is the big question. If it does the reform will actually shrink Medicare (and Bush is a hero), if it doesn't Medicare will grow and Bush is a loser.
Posted by: AWW at November 26, 2003 8:07 AMAWW:
If that doesn't happen it will be because of a failure of the free market.
But the real solution is to voucherize health care or use Medical Savings Accounts.
Posted by: oj at November 26, 2003 8:27 AMOJ - agree. Where MSAs part of the reform bill? I heard they got dropped and that's one reason conservatives don't think there's much reform in the bill.
Posted by: AWW at November 26, 2003 9:06 AMMSA's wouldn't get past a Democrat filibuster. Either the GOP needs to win big in '04 or there won't be real reform of much of anything. But that'll be because people don't want it.
It does though, for the first time that I'm aware of, establish means-testing in an entitlement program--a change of massive proportions if you consider that we could eventually consider people's own retirement funds to be means.
Posted by: oj at November 26, 2003 9:16 AMYou don't need to topple a huge structure all at once. Planting termites in the timbers of the foundation will do the job. Probably do it better, as the structure will decay slowly enough so that people have time to adjust and exit slowly and safely.
Chris had it pegged.
Posted by: ray at November 26, 2003 11:03 AMI can hear the retirees bitching when the plan is actually implemented. The benefits aren't that great and the rules too complex for most elderly folks. But it's a start and that's something. Where it will lead is something else.
Posted by: Genecis at November 26, 2003 11:55 AMMedical Savings Accounts were in the final bill. At least, that's what the NY Times reports.
Posted by: "Edward" at November 26, 2003 12:37 PMMy understanding is that two or three MSA pilot programs were included.
Posted by: David Cohen at November 26, 2003 12:43 PMI haven't seen any indication that the bill has "pilot programs" for MSAs, something that we've already had for 5 years now. According to the Times:
People with high-deductible health insurance policies -- $1,000 a year for individuals, $2,000 for couples -- would be allowed to shelter income from taxes. Investors would receive a tax deduction, and pay no taxes on the investment and earnings upon withdrawal, provided the money was used for health expenses. Otherwise a 10 percent penalty would apply.Posted by: "Edward" at November 26, 2003 1:17 PM