Americans Away From Home

Here's an astonishing little story in today's NY Times.  It seems we have lost social security, due for a slow death in 2041.  That has nothing on Medicare, though, due to run out in 2019.  Does no harm to point out that 2019 seemed a lot further away a few years ago.

In a report issued by the Bush Administration, we learn that 76 million Baby Boomers start collecting social security retirement benefits this year.

Medicare for doctors and outpatient care is in a separate trust fund that trustees say won't run out, since the fund has access to general revenue under Federal law.  "In addition, beneficiaries’ premiums can be adjusted each year to cover about 25 percent of the expected costs of this part of Medicare, known as Part B," the trustees said.

Please note that the standard premium for Medicare Part B has increased 64 percent in the last five years, and is now $96.40 a month.

The report, prepared by government actuaries and economists, said these projections were unrealistic.

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, blamed George Bush.  She said he started with a surplus, and squandered it on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, instead of using it to back up social security and medicare.  Pelosi blamed the bad news on policy decisions made early in the Bush administration.

4,000 deaths reached this week in Iraq.  What will all the thousands of wounded Iraq War vets do?

If Republicans stand for conservative fiscal management, how to explain the harm Bush has done? 

Rummy - OUT.  Rove - OUT.  Cheney?  He'd probably say, "So?"  (NY Times story here).

Carole