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We all know there is a problem with SS and Medicare. Other than "play the fiddle while Rome burns" what do you all recommend we do about it?
Stop them from stealing from it. I don't know how other than vote every one out. Start funding it fully again with the old payroll tax deduction. Stop SSDI fraud.
We can move to Afhanistan. After all, we're going to give them tons of money for the next 10 years. After that, we can move to the next country that hates our guts and that we'll feel compelled to give money to after they kill thousands of our young. I think that's how the system works now.
Re: Medicare. Stop paying for heart transplants in 70+ year old wealthy men?
Not a bad idea. You know that I ask this question rather facetiously.
We have all debated the problems with Medicare and Social Security more than one time. My solutions are:
1. Raise the age for benefit eligibility;
2. Medicare should only pay for those treatments that really help. For example, cancer medications that cost $100,000 and only add six weeks to longevity should not be paid for. All treatments should be ranked for their cost and efficacy and if they don't meet a certain standard they shouldn't be reimbursed;
3. As the recession ends, raise payroll taxes gradually.
4. This is a last resort measure. However, if worst comes to worst than "means-test" some or all of the benefits.
I'm sure fault will be found with every suggestion here. That's fine. I just wish those who chose to "find fault" had a solution of their own. I don't include as solutions:
1. Ending Social Security and Medicare;
2. Allowing this generation to exhaust all the money in the trust fund;
Stop raiding the SS fund, stop spending an insane amount on "defense", and we'll be fine. Are those things likely to happen? Probably not.
Only if we replace the bandits in Washington. We have more voting power than any other demographic group. We must use it.
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