44 years of Medicare success

[Spytheweb]

On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Social Security Act, part of which included Medicare, a measure to provide low-cost health insurance for elderly Americans. At the time, Johnson called the bill "the most revolutionary and most beneficial measure for older Americans since we passed Social Security itself back in 1935." "They will no longer have to suffer from misery and neglect and depend upon their relatives because they themselves cannot afford the cost of modern treatment," Johnson said. He inaugurated the "Great Society" program at the White House signing ceremony by enrolling former President Harry Truman as the first beneficiary and presenting him with the first Medicare card. "I predict that 30 years from today, this bill will be a welcome and permanent part of our nation's heritage that no representative would ever dare repeal," Johnson said. "Why? Because it represents the moral principle that we just must not neglect in their age those who have given a lifetime of service to their country." Johnson was right. Forty-four years later, Medicare has dramatically improved access to quality health care for the nation's seniors, allowed them to live longer and healthier lives, and has become one of the country's most popular government programs.


http://pr.thinkprogress.org/2009/07/pr20090730/index.html

 

[Trench]

I doubt Weasel will be twittering his agreement with you on this one. Between his Sarah Palin tweets, he's usually twittering his fellow birthers about the "deathers" -- all those proponents of Healthcare Reform who's "real agenda" is to kill off all the old geezers and of course, the unborn too.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

I see --you complain about Ins Co plans having 10% increases and turning small profit-

--but medicare people have seen their cost for medicare increase 77% in six years--in the biggest deficit program ever devised--

--and you think it's best thing since sliced bread?

FWIW--I am for shoring up any program that tax payors have paid into.

--and cutting to the bone--entitlement programs for the free loaders-illegals--etc.

Unfortunately Gumby is doing just the opposite.
He's discussing cuts in ssn/medicare while just giving 1/3 of "STIMULUS" funds for increase in medicade-foods stamps etc
--as they fight over new ways to tax the productive. :nooo: