Post-Christmas

 It's Friday. Christmas is over, celebrated in shifts to conform to work schedules and other family obligations. That's the way life is today, at least in this family. And it's not a bad thing; it stretches the good feelings and lets us all enjoy them just a bit longer. I felt a sense of accomplishment, producing a pretty darn good twice-smoked ham via my little LP gas smoker on the deck. Got some great gifts, but truly enjoyed the time with our kids and their families. Our 7-month-old granddaughter truly got into ripping the paper from packages and enjoying her toys and books - I was impressed.

If you're happening to stop by here, avoiding the crowds (?) at the malls, here's an idea to consider. Leave a comment. I'm thinking that there isn't much of a downside to it, other than the cost to the government.  But, we're throwing money at everything else...

Establish Medicare Part "E" for All Americans Under the Age of 65: Keep It Simple President-Elect Obama

In Canada, the universal health care system is simply called medicare -- and that's what it should be in the U.S.  And instead of the 1342-page proposal Hillary Clinton put together that was a politically jerry-rigged, confusing plan -- or the Obama proposal that would leave insurance companies pretty much intact (whose goal is to make money by reducing care as much as possible) -- it would be the simplest and boldest political move to simply propose to Congress this sentence to become law: "All Americans under the age of 65 will be covered by Medicare Part 'E.'"Simplicity is often the most audacious and [...]

 

Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/dougkrile

McCain and Medicare

I just have to think that even some of the solid, older, McCain fans won't be happy when they figure this out. I'm guessing that the Obama camp will hit this even harder than they have in the past.  The whispers about it have come out frequently, but the McCain camp has denied it. Until now.  The discussion has moved to front and center, even in the mainstream media.

McCain Reveals His Health Plan Will Force Benefit Eligibility Cuts In Medicare And Medicaid

Karen Davenport and Ellen-Marie Whelan contributed to this post. The Wonk Room has long argued that to finance his health plan, Sen. McCain would have a tax increase of $1,100 on the average family—and that absent the tax increase there would be a $1.3 trillion budget shortfall. Now, McCain has dramatically changed his proposal. As [...]