From the Department of Civics Lessons

COMMENTS

• Perhaps some history (IMO)! During the post WWII period rising medical bills for their parents were starting to destroy the standard of living of the "Middle-Class." Their parents now often received Social Security even with limited earnings contributions. It is NOT an insurance program despite what some believe. So in 1966 when physicans and hospitals (both of which had fought the socialization of medical care by what became Medicare it was merely one more effort to save a middle class America that is now disappearing for other reasons. Medical care of course is still the leading cause of bankruptcy (a federal Constitutional right)! The founding Fathers did NOT want debtors prisons.
  So Medicare is still a basic protection against insolvency for most of those over 65 who qualify. No wonder their are protests against its potential loss. Since 1966 it has been one of the most successful political solutions ever even though large-scale fraud has continuously prevaded the program. In fact that fraud led to another federal government reform as the first statutory IG was in then HEW (now HHS)!

  William R. Cumming Posted Wednesday, July 29, 2009 6:26 AM

• This is truly an amazing comment!

  US Posted Wednesday, July 29, 2009 10:49 AM

• There needs to be more transparency about the health care system that is now being proposed. The average person does not have any idea about what it does or does not do. Perhaps a fact sheet explaining some common questions would be a good idea.

  Lorraine Posted Thursday, August 6, 2009 9:11 PM

Post a Comment

By using this Service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although GovExec does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.