Health care
The debate as to whether the United States should change to universal healthcare or socialized medicine based on the Canadian or United Kingdom models would be greatly clarified if the candidates for the presidential nomination or Congress who advocate such a change would provide a simple yes or no to the following question: “Would you also subject yourself, Congress, and all federal civil servants to the same system that would be mandatory for all other Americans?” Any response other than an unqualified “yes” would be the basis for not taking that candidate seriously when advocating such a change.
The American people need to be reminded that members of Congress and all those who are federal civil servants are exempt from paying into the social security program. Instead, only they are privileged to participate in another program that provides for private accounts, choice in investment vehicles for their defined contributions and the ability to pass along to their beneficiaries the balances in their accounts when they die. In addition, all Americans should know that this group is also the beneficiary of a healthcare system that provides the highest benefit levels and choice in their coverage and providers. Will this group also lose those benefits and choice in the event socialized medicine is forced upon all other Americans? With the possibility now gone of reforming a Depression-era retirement program that the ruling elite are not subjected to, ordinary Americans are not able to take advantage of the much better program available to the elites of providing for their retirement years. However, ordinary Americans can insist that the same loss of choice and ready access to providers and the gradual deterioration of the quality of healthcare that they will suffer as the dead hand of government creates a vast bureaucracy to necessarily ration ever lower quality of care over time will also be inflicted on their betters. By insisting upon this condition, America should be able to avoid the fate of others who have lost their freedom of choice in healthcare matters.
This letter has not been edited.
Civil Service employees and Military members are NOT EXEMPT from Social Security. I am retired military and I can attest that I paid into Social Secruity every payday and as a Civil Service employee I pay Social Security every payday. You need to check your facts!
Posted by Frank on July 20, 2007 02:18 PMI would say the same as Frank. Additionally, many who are retirees from both military and civil service who have paid into Social Security do not get to collect any Social Security benefits.
Robert can also take his snide term "elite" and stick it where the sun will never shine.
I totally reject the notion that working for the military and civil service puts me into an elite class. But then, Robert was using that as a pejorative which makes it even more disgusting. How about just saying, “Thank you for your service,” and be on your way.
Frank, Mountain cat:
The writer never mentioned the military, did you actually read the letter? And, he is absolutly right about members of congress. One other thing may shock you. An elected congreesman or woman recieves an amount yearly that equals the wage they recieve when they retire even if they serve only one day in office and are charged with malfeasance or even a crime that forces them to retire. In addition, they recieve the same health care out of office as they enjoyed in office. Do you really think they deserve that? NO? Well it doesn't matter what you think. They can vote themselves any perk they want without being required to notify the public or justify it in any way. If that isn't a definition of elite, I don't know what is.
Posted by Allen Campbell on July 21, 2007 07:23 AMThe author is - as others have pointed out - absolutely wrong when he says that " all federal civil servants" are exempt. At one point in time, all of federal civil service did pay into something other than social security; however, the last 10 years of my mother's 30+ year career in civil service (she retired as a GS6 in the mid 70s), she had to pay in to social security, and was given the option to continue paying into the other retirement fund.
HOWEVER, Congress has voted themselves both a retirement package and medical benefits that most of us would envy. Who else among us gets 100% of CURRENT pay 20 years after they retire? And they have the 'gold standard' of health care, compared to what most of us get - and it is fully subsidized byt the tazpayers.
It is my belief if members of Congress had to deal with the same retirement & health care packages the average taxpayer does - instead of having given themselves benefits that even some CEOs would evy - both healthcare & Social Security would be fixed.
Posted by Mary on July 21, 2007 09:26 AMThe important question is passed over far to easily. If we are paying for it, why can't we take part in it? Or, to the contrary, remove that privilage from the so called lawmakers who's primary purpose is to provide for themselves while falsely presenting themselves as the representatives of the people's best interests.
Posted by Allen Campbell on July 21, 2007 10:47 AMAnd let the very same folks who run the post office run my health care? You gotta' be kiddin'.
Wherever we kick the government out and put folks in charge of their own affairs while spending their own money on their own choices, then prices go down and the quality of the service goes up. This has also generally been the case with deregulation throughout the economy. In sharp contrast, increasing the role of government increases inefficiency and increases costs and reduces the level of service.
Competition, free markest, individual responsibility and choice always work wonders. Healthcare is no exception.
Posted by hank on July 21, 2007 12:13 PMHank - let the same people who run our national defense, who provide health care for our brave wounded soldiers, and to the President, US Supreme Court, and Memebers of Congress run my health care? Anytime baby. Bring it on. Please.
Posted by Liam on July 21, 2007 02:04 PMhank: "Wherever we kick the government out and put folks in charge of their own affairs while spending their own money on their own choices, then prices go down and the quality of the service goes up.
I wonder if hank can say "Halliburton" and "contractors in Iraq" without blushing?
Posted by Truth on July 21, 2007 03:15 PMWell, its obvious. For some folks it will always take more than a village, it will take an entire nation.
Bring it on? Certainly you don't want anything to do with the bloated biil and bad service. After all, its the other guy's job to pay, not your's.
Where's mine...you owe me! I'm not responsible or accountable--that's his job!
.
Posted by hank on July 21, 2007 05:14 PMhank, does that most recent post of your come in an English language version?
Posted by Truth on July 21, 2007 06:19 PM