The expansion of Medicare to include coverage for prescription drugs was a political masterstroke. In a single move, the GOP won the hearts and votes of seniors. The result was significant – larger Republican majorities in Congress, and re-election for George Bush. (I know, there were a few other issues and a poor candidate at the top of the ticket for the Dems)
That was less than a decade ago.
Now, the GOP has decided on a policy of self-immolation. Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan likely cost the GOP a previously safe seat in upstate New York, has led several Republican Senators to vote against the plan, and resulted in erstwhile Presidential contender Newt Gingrich alternately slamming and praising Ryan and his plan.
While GOP loyalists will argue that Ryan’s plan is meant to save Medicare, that assertion is false on its face. In reality, it transfers the risk to seniors, a risk that Medicare assumed when it become law in 1964. One can argue as to whether or how much risk seniors should assume; one cannot argue that the Ryan plan will save Medicare.
But that’s beside the point.
What Ryan et al forgot was that seniors guard Medicare like momma bears guard their cubs. I find it bizarre that the same party that single-handedly passed Medicare Part D in an effort to win this crucial voting block has pulled a 180.
Part D worked to keep the GOP in power. Ryan’s plan may well have the opposite effect.
In fact, this may be worse. Tea partiers – well, at least some folks who seem to share the same agenda – are mad that the GOP passed Part D, seeing it as an unaffordable expansion of Federal entitlement programs (I agree). So, there’s a ‘base alienation’ issue here as well as a senior vote alienation problem.
Ouch.
For more on this, see Bob Laszewski’s excellent piece.
May
26
“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things……their number is negligible and they are stupid.” Dwight David Eisenhower in a letter to his brother, November 8, 1954. (Note: this was, of course, pre-Medicare)
Joe, no problem, but I believe that Medicare was passed in ’65 & began in ’66. First Medicare card was given to Fmr. President Truman at the signing in Independence, Mo. Truman Library.