You Cannot Lead Without A Posse
Stanley Feld M.D.,FACP,MACE
Paul Ryan has been one of a few Republicans that has demonstrated the belief in what is right rather than what is politically expedient. I thought the Republican caucus understood his budget plan and were behind it.
Republicans cannot talk about being fiscally responsible and act frightened. They are acting frightened by Democratic Party *“Demagoguery
It looks as if Paul Ryan has been left without a posse. The Republicans should be explaining what would happen if the status quo on the Medicare entitlement spending remained. They should be explaining how the Ryan plan will save entitlement from default.
The Democrats are not explaining how Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan will destroy Medicare.
Two important events occurred this week to further scare the Republican caucus from acting responsibly.
The first was the election of a Democrat in a traditional Republican stronghold in upper New York State. The Democratic candidate used scare tactics saying the Ryan plan and hence the Republicans are going to destroy Medicare. She never offered an explanation of how it would destroy Medicare. The Ryan plan is designed to save Medicare.
Neither the Republican candidate nor the Republican caucus stepped up to say why this is false. The Republican candidate deserved to lose. The Democrat won by default.
The second event this week was the Ryan Plan, which passed in the House, was defeated in the Senate. Worse is that six Republican Senators voted against the proposal without public explanation.
“Republicans voting against proceeding to the GOP proposal had raised concerns about the Medicare reform or other provisions – Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said the proposal did not make steep enough cuts.”
Horrifying to me was the smirk on Harry Reid’s face as he pretended to be the savior of middle class seniors. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The truth is Medicare is unsustainable in its present state. There hasn’t been an economist or government agency that has disagreed. President Obama has ignored these predications in forcing the passage of his Healthcare Reform Act. Medicare will collapse and disappear. There will be restricted access to care and rationed care.
Seniors must be empowered to be responsible for their own healthcare either independently or by the government. Consumers must drive a market driven healthcare system.
Seniors can control the onset of the complications of their chronic disease. They can do it with early behavioral changes such as stopping smoking, stopping alcoholic intake, losing weight, exercising regularly and adhering to medical treatment regimes. The government cannot legislate changes in behavior. It can motivate and incentivize behavioral change.
"Their Republican, radical proposal would end Medicare as we know it," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the party's campaign committee. "We're not going to stop talking about this in states across the country."
It is not funny. There is agreement that Medicare is not fiscally sound. Senator Patty Murray is saying Democrats do not want a fiscally unsound Medicare program to be changed.
Senator Patty Murray is saying in effect, Democrats, are going to beat the Republicans in 2012 because we are going to support this ongoing unsound Medicare program until it will bankrupt America.
Isn’t this an insult to the intelligence of the American people. Democrats must really think Americans are stupid.
President Obama wants to win reelection. Obamacare is unpopular. He could lose on this issue alone. He is cleverly trying to distract Americans from his unpopular program and make Paul Ryan’s plan unpopular. He has no facts about any defects in Ryan’s plan. He is using scare tactics.
Paul Ryan has a different view. He thinks Americans are smart. Americans want an opportunity to be responsible for themselves. They do not trust government to make their healthcare decisions.
I believe Americans can understand complicated facts. The government has an obligation to today’s seniors and future seniors to put Medicare on a sound financial footing.
Paul Ryan’s You Tube of May 25th says it all. I know the American people can understand it. I hope the traditional media gives him and other Republican an opportunity to explain his plan.
I hope Republican politicians are not frightened away by the spin misters and their influence on polls.
Paul Ryan needs a posse!!
The opinions expressed in the blog “Repairing The Healthcare System” are, mine and mine alone.