Why Raising the Eligibility Age is the 'Single Worst Idea' for Medicare Reform

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/171527/why-raising-eligibility-age-single-worst-idea-medicare-reform


Most of what’s happening now in the fiscal cliff saga is just posturing—each side is trying to appear open to compromise while at the same time assuring its base that sacred principles will be respected.

But this morning, Politico reported what could be the early contours of an actual deal that’s taking shape behind the scenes. There’s a huge caveat to this story, written by Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei, because it couldn’t be any more vaguely sourced. Allen and VandeHei refer only to “top officials,” “veterans of this budget fight,” and so on, so it’s impossible to discern who is feeding them this information and why.

But assuming for a moment it’s true, there are some details sure to give progressives indigestion. In exchange for Republicans agreeing to tax increases—including rate hikes—on the top two percent of earners, this is what is allegedly being talked about for entitlement reform:

There is only one way to make the medicine of tax hikes go down easier for Republicans: specific cuts to entitlement spending. Democrats involved in the process said the chest-pounding by liberals is just that — they know they will ultimately cave and trim entitlements to get a deal done. […]

[Protalker]

1. Henny Penny

The cliff while effecting all markets skewers the money men most. The most ineffectve congress in history wants eveyone else to get serious? Get real.

[LWolf]

2. I'm tired now,

and I'm only 52. I don't know how I will keep up with the abuse and the 10-12 hour days in another decade. I expect I won't live long enough to be eligible.

[xchrom]

3. its a point that's often missed -- not every one has the stamina to work to 70 and beyond.

people really do just get tired.

[LWolf]

5. How long

can a person keep up with large numbers of middle schoolers, all day, every day, plus deal with the other stressors involved in public school teaching in today's world?

[PETRUS]

4. K&R