Even Double-Talk Won't Save The Ryan Plan

Paul Ryan has gotten his feelings hurt. He came up with a budget plan, which Wall Street and the giant corporations loved, but nearly everyone else hated (about 14% of the general population likes it). Why did they hate it? Because the plan would abolish one of the most popular and effective of all federal programs -- Medicare.

But like most Republicans, Ryan is incapable of admitting he made a massive blunder. Instead, he is putting the blame for his plan's unpopularity on Democrats, saying they have "mis-characterized" it and his plan will really save Medicare instead of abolishing it. In other words, he's trying to save his plan (and his wounded pride) with double-talk -- something the Republicans are very good at.

But the double-talk is not going to work this time. The American voter can be fooled at times, but he/she is not going to accept the destruction of Medicare (or Social Security). And Ryan can whine all he wants, but his plan is not going to be saved by it. Here are the facts:

1. Regardless of what he say's, Ryan's plan would abolish Medicare as it now exists for everyone currently under the age of 55. When they turn 65, there will not be a Medicare program that guarantees them medical coverage.

2. Ryan's plan would replace Medicare with a voucher program that would give the elderly about $8,000 and send them out to buy a private insurance policy.

3. The private insurance companies are not about to sell the elderly a health insurance policy for the amount of the voucher. That's because the elderly are the demographic most likely to get sick and have large medical bills. These insurance companies are in business to make a profit -- not pay medical bills, and you can bet they will make insurance policies for the elderly a lot more expensive than for other Americans.

4. All of the poor and working class elderly Americans would be unable to purchase private health insurance, because they simply don't have the extra money in their budget that will be needed. This means they will not have any health insurance under Ryan's plan (even though the current system covers all elderly people).

5. The rise in the voucher amount is tied to the rate of inflation, instead of the rise in private company premiums (which is much larger). This means that the already inadequate voucher will become even more inadequate will each passing year. Eventually, even many in the middle class will be unable to afford the private insurance.

6. The current Medicare system can be saved without abolishing it. Medical costs can be curbed (by doing things like negotiating drug prices with Big Pharma -- like the VA does). It can also be funded better (by doing things like raising the amount that the rich pay into the system).

These are not "mis-characterizations". Those are facts -- and the American people know it. All the double-talk in the world won't change that.