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Maybe the government feels these people had 65 years to prepare for this rainy day.

Jason,I sympathize your plight, but this is part and parcell of how the government works:make as many people as possible dependant on government programs,then give him just enough to scrape by on. The government has been in the business of funding retirement for older americans for more than 65years,now. and it is a beaurcratic nightmare. If you think this is bad wait until you see the mess "socialized medacine" would create.

Right, Yard Dog.

If we want people to be financially secure in their old age (or at any time, for that matter), then we've got to get rid of The Mob, who steal from our paychecks every week, and allow people to decide for themselves how best to save for their retirement.

Jason, why are you whining about prescription drugs for seniors when just that law passed a few years ago & takes place next year? This is the law that will allow us taxpayers to pay for Grandpa's Viagra.

"I think it's coldhearted and callous to make an elderly person choose between food and medicine"

Straight out of the liberal playbook, been used for years. Mean ol' conservatives are going to kick Grandma out on the curb and let her eat cat food. Please at least try a more innovative line.

I hope I find a good dumpster when I'm old.
I will definately want my drugs.
If I can't find a good dumpster, I'll fight with my cat over his food I guess.

Lilly do you depend on the government foe EVERYTHING in your life?

Yard Dog, no. Why would you ask such an idiotic question? I work, I pay taxes, I'm a productive member of society in a very interesting profession.
One day I will be on social security, it won't be enough. This is a fact. So what's up with the veiled hate question?

Lilly,
SS is not supposed to be "enough". It was a program that was designed to force idiots to put "something" away for old age. Not to mention a way for government to gain control over a pile of money.

Our President is trying to make SS a little bit better by providing a way for people paying into it to earn more. And actually keep it.

The liberals are fighting the reform , hammer and tongs, the liberal factions in government cannot afford to have that death grip on the neck of old people. It is the main way that they control that voting block.

I am soon to be 61, if given a chance today to put some of the money that the government is stealing from me into a private account that I can control and leave to my children, should I wish, I would do it right now.

No offense meant,Lilly, but when yoy said you had better find a good dumpster, I assumed you meant after you had gone on to ss you would not have enough $ to buy food. FDR started this mess when he said"We(the democrats) are going to tax,tax,tax,spend,spend,spend,and elect,elect,elect" Unquote.

Please explain to me the beauty of the new Medicare Modernization Act:

As I understand it:

At the beginning of the year, you choose the plan you want - looking at what drugs you need opposite the coverages and the advertised costs. Once you choose - you are stuck for the year -- HOWEVER - the Drug companies get to adjust as they see fit:" "Drug pricing data is updated on a weekly basis". So the good deal you pick in January is subject to the whim of the Drug Company. No freaking way will they loose money - screw you.

No, "Mean ol' conservatives are [not] going to kick Grandma out on the curb and let her eat cat food.", but the R's and D's that are our "leadership" are making sure the campaign money provided by the the Pharm' Lobby gets a good ROI (return on investment).

Note I have not even mentioned the fact that Providers are not required to competative bid -- sounds like the "conservatives" are acting like "liberals" on this one - give it all away.

The notion that there is a rampant problem of seniors choosing between food and medicine is a liberal mythology. For most senior citizens, this is a golden time. The facts are that the overwhelming majority of senior own their own home, do have prescription coverage and sources of income other than social security. Are there seniors in dire straits. YES, absolutely. Is the president's prescription plan perfect. NO, but it is a start. But if you want to make sure that the next generation of drugs that benefit senior citizens are not developed, implement socialized health care.

When First Lady Hillary Clinton was trying to sell her health care package to Congress and the American people, a doctor from Durham wrote a great op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal. He told of a patient who suffered a heart attack and whose life was saved by emergancy care and surgery. The medical bills were about $150,000 but the man had medicare and supplemental insurance so his out of pocket expenses were negligable. When the doctor told his patient that he must get his dentures refitted to help him eat better, the man refused. Why, because the new dentures he would have to pay for.

The moral of this op-ed is when we create a free entilement, there is endless demand. We have the finest health care system in the world, but nationalizing would insure it's destruction.

One thing Congress could do to bring down the cost of health care is medical malpractice reform. Doctor's are being sued out of existence by bogus lawsuit. Billions of dollars are spent every on unnessesary tests. But the long term answer is smart compassionate govt. programs coupled with personal responsibility.

I agree we are an overly tort society (Tom Delay is certainly an authority, if you know the story ... ), and there are certainly legitimate health medical malpractice reform issues.

AND - I agree the long-term answer is smart compassionate govt. programs coupled with personal responsibility.

Show me the facts: " ... the overwhelming majority of senior own their own home, do have prescription coverage and sources of income other than social security."

I'm not yet doubting, but link me to "the facts"

It's hard to put "away" some for old age when people live paycheck to paycheck.
There are lots of people who are retired and have only SS income, and do have to decide between food or their drugs.
Thats all I was saying, sorta kinda. LOL!

Don't worry, Lilly - Andy is gonna show us the situation you describe is Liberal Hogwash.

Right Andy?

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