Letter: Medicare: Don’t you believe assurances by Romney and Ryan

Many years ago my father told me to pay no attention to political “fluff.” He said: “Pay attention to economic issues and disregard side issues.”

The “fluff,” or what I call the smokescreen in 2012, is the guns, God and gays. In a 12-trillion-dollar yearly economy, these topics do not add or subtract even a single dollar. 

Social Security, as it exists, keeps many millions of people from poverty. Do not forget, the Bush Administration tried to push privatization of S.S. The Democrats will never push to lower Social Security payments.

Medicare: This is the “biggie.”

Millions of us are content with Medicare as it exists. Medicare has prevented tens of millions of the elderly from entering into poverty because of illness.

Paul Ryan wants to change Medicare. We will be given vouchers to buy private insurance. 

Ninety percent of people over 65 have already met the demon that will ultimately kill them, be it heart disease, cancer, COPD, diabetes, etc. I simply don’t see private insurance companies lining up to cover the elderly at a reasonable price. 

Do you really believe those vouchers will be adequate to cover the insurance premiums?

Romney says his party will not touch S.S. or Medicare. Paul Ryan’s 2011 budget tells me differently. 

When push comes to shove and budget woes intrude, we know they will NOT ask the millionaires and billionaires to help. Nor will they cut the defense budget. That leaves Social Security and Medicare as the targets for cuts.

I trust the Democrats to leave Social Security and Medicare alone. I do NOT trust the other guys.

Tags: opinion, letters, politics