@meatwnyc --

Goes to show me that context is everything. I REALLY did read your comment as Pro-Ryan....Sorry.

Jack

@Jack Jackson

I think you misread my comment. I wasn't suggesting anything is wrong with Medicare in my first statement; I was really commenting on the unfairness of creating a 2 tier system, and commenting how since he doesn't want to change the system for those over 55 he is implicitly saying the current plan works well for them. Why not for the rest of us is my question.

I agree with your whole statement after that and am one of those people who would've liked to see "Medicare for all".

@meatwnyc -

Your initial premise is mistaken. MediCare works very well and is nearly universally well-regarded. For a middle class earner, the cost of MediCare is 4.9% of earnings THROUGHOUT your lifetime. (Some entitlement, there.) Over a third of us would rather have seen 'MediCare For All' as the Obama healthcare plan. Then we could be certain that our money was going to pay costs and administration and not toward bonuses for insurance executives.

The attempt to create a two-tier system is wholly owned by Ryan. No rational person wants to see healthcare provided through vouchers. Well, I take that back. Maybe shareholders in insurance companies do.

If you have a plan to lower the healthcare cost curve here in the U.S. (17% of GDP rather than 11-14% in other developed nations) than please share it.

Social security and medicare are entitlements and there's nothing wrong with that. The problem is that the GOP wants the term "entitlements" to be defined as "programs to help poor (aka 'lazy') people".

Joe from nearby,
The money we pay into social socurity and medicare is not where near what we receive in return. In fact, these program are heavily subsided, Brian is correct to call them "entitlements."

What is being missed in this discussion is that throwing open choice to all under 55 will drain medicare resources by allowing the comparatively healthy to exit Medicare membership.

Rep. Ryan assumes that since Medicare changes won't affect current seniors the debate about his proposed changes will go away. What about those of us who are not yet seniors? I am not wealthy by any means. I want Medicare to be there for when my husband and me need it.

Besides rank political expediency and desire for the elderly vote, how is it better that Medicare would go to a voucher system - with a "public option" choice - under Ryan's Budget in 10 years rather than immediately?

Joe Corrao: "the narrative is set the scripts have been passed out."

Obviously you ignored the date of that video-- Sept. 7, 2011.....WAY before Ryan got picked by Mitt.

Joe Corrao = fail

If his Medicare plan isn't good enough for today's seniors why is it going to be better for those of us under 55 when we get there?

Anytime someone tries to create a 2 tier system I think it's a sign the plan sucks to begin with. If you can't sell it to today's users you shouldn't be dumping it on tomorrows.

Chris Chrisite is a pandering politician who is not unwilling to bully and put down a voter for effect. Or rob from the Treasury to give to the Rich. Just like Dubya and Mitt (if he were to be elected). Fortunately, that possibility is growing more remote every day.

My read of 'smaller government'-types usually means "make it easier to twist, subvert or steal" from the people. I'm for "just big enough" government.

What's your plan to vote on November 6?

I thought Tony Soprano was off the air?? Hey paulie there a mully in the White House!!

@Joe from nearby; the narrative is set the scripts have been passed out.

Brian-
Please explain why you've been buying into the GOP lie that claims Medicare & social security are "entitlements." An "entitlement" is something you get for free (like medicaid). Medicare & social security are not free- we PAY into them all our working lives. They are NOT "entitlements."

Some people find the GOP lie extremely upsetting: "Dramatic video: 71-year-old taken to the ground for questioning Paul Ryan" youtubeDOTcom/watch?v=GBhdXfCdaA8