We do need to do something with Medicare and Social Security eventually because the cost are only getting higher. That being said the GOP screwed up by keeping the tax breaks for the rich and asking everyone else but the rich to sacrifice.
This is why nothing will ever been done with our budget until it is too late. The system is no longer designed to make tough decisions. The lobbyists and the voter expect government to spend money on them and the elected official has no other choice to contribute to our deficit addiction.
why can't we have an income contingency level?
I know everyone pays in, but at some point everyone must realize that there is a cost to live in this society.. we're the best for a reason and those reasons come at a price.. so, why can't we say anyone with assets and income X amount, cannot receive SS or medicare? We all pay for Food stamps whether we use them or not and they have an income restriction.. so what's the problem with SS/Medicare for the upper income levels?
we also need to stop doctor-fraud-waste.. here's a story..
my g/ma had a stroke 2 days before Easter and she fell and destroyed her wrist.. She went to ER a few hours after the paramedics refused to take her because in their opinion, she was fine..
anyway, after about a week of being on the neuro-ward.. her gastro doc stopped in.. no reason, just dropped by.. ya know, to check on her..she thought it was nice of him.. well sure it was, just as it's nice of her to carry such great insurance that he can make a buck when he files a consulting doctor claim on her..
There is simply no reason for this kind of 'abuse'... sure, it's not a lot for this single consult, but when you multiply that by millions of consults just like it every year, well then you're getting into a hell of a lot of money..
of course if we just went to a modified type of single-payer system we wouldn't have to worry about any of that, but we're not there....
yet..