HEALTH CARE HYPOCRITES

It amazes me the number of people against health care reform who currently benefit from Medicare. Retired people no less, or folks on disability. They get all fired up about the evils of “socialism”, and yet when I remind them that Medicare is a government run program, they cling to federal assistance like it was their job. [wink]

There’s a huge disconnect here that anti reformists are unable or unwilling to see. So instead, I suggest we harness some of their populist rage and put it to better use... by shaming this double standard.

Consider the lopsided way federal assistance programs are funded in this country. Money paid into the system goes toward those people who are currently using the system. Our tax dollars are not held in some account with our names on it, waiting for us to come of age. It’s spent as soon as it's collected from us.

Which means the tax dollars used to support CURRENT Medicare recipients are taken from MY wages. That’s where the money comes from. And hey, I believe such a system should be in place, and that people who’ve paid their share into the system should be afforded some measure of security. But I have a problem with people arguing against my getting some form of assistance or reform or cost management, ESPECIALLY those who’ve stopped paying into the system (which is true for many recipients of Medicare). They should be BEGGING for wage earners like me to get some form of assistance, to help manage our finances, keep our heads above water and continue to pay into the system. The system that supports THEM.

It’s real simple: people who have federal tax dollars supporting THEIR health care needs should not argue against federal tax dollars used to support MY health care needs. Why should they get both?