There are two types of citizens that have been ruining life in America. The first are those that blindly vote for their party no matter how damaging they are and the second are those that don't vote for anybody ever because they are too lazy and/or apathetic. We have an overabundance of both categories I fear. So don't be surprised if the Republicans divide and conquer strategy of bashing gays and liberals can win them a few more rounds of elections.
Posted by Rob at April 21, 2006 10:13 AMOne aspect of Medicare part D that is coming home to roost is many people have been moved out of their PPO into HMO just by signing up. I guess this is a twofer since that'll help solve the perceived social security problem as well.
Posted by Shirt at April 21, 2006 11:49 AMSteve, Good points and so long as Middle Class America does as Rob, the first poster suggests, taint much is gonna happen. I'm of the mind the Polly's in Washington are all of the same stripe. Neither Party represent Middle Class America or the issues important to Us. Unlike Corporations who can toss millions at the Polly's, Middle Class America is to busy making ends meet to buy any representation in Washington.
Posted by Jimi at April 21, 2006 12:12 PMSteve: in one of Pessimist's posts this week he made the statement, "The dollar is but a promissory note. What if our promises aren't believed anymore?
In light of the 60 Minutes story/interview this coming Sunday with the Ex CIA officer where he'll tell the world that the CIA told Bush & Co. that there were no WMD's and Bush replied, that's ok, we're more interested in Regime change ... I would think Bush's credibility will be gone.
When that credibility disappears, the dollar will devalue. So my question is not really to you, but to the Dem leadership, hey, this isn't a political power struggle anymore, it's about leadership. The lack thereof puts another nail in the coffin. When if not now?
"One aspect of Medicare part D that is coming home to roost is many people have been moved out of their PPO into HMO just by signing up. I guess this is a twofer since that'll help solve the perceived social security problem as well."
Good comment, as several hundred members of the Medicare Advantage PPO I belong to suffered just that fate when they joined a drug prescription program offered by one of about 43 other plans outside this particular PPO in WA. The current Medicare Part D is so flawed, if not fatally, especially by the lack of ANY cost controls, and Big Pharma has been pushing up radically prices of drugs on various plan formularies. Monthly premiums to participate in Part D could conceivably double or triple in the next few years, and large deductibles could be imposed as well, negating much of the gains in savings touted by the government. The Prescription Drug Act is awaiting a sane Congress to revisit its ludicrous open-ended cost structures, and anyone at the moment who isn't spending at least $700/year on medications simply doesn't need this program as it exists today.