Today's GOP

[icenine]

Originally Posted by whell

IMHO, a post like this demonstrates what's wrong with the political dialogue in this country. We tend to reflect the talking points of the end of the political spectrum we gravitate to and close our minds to ideas or opportunities that might exist outside of that limited perspective.

For example, you may or may not realize that the "Ryan Plan" for Medicare already exists. Its typically referred to Medicare Part C or Medicare Advantage. It was enabled as part of legislation passed in 1997 under the Clinton administration. It was later expanded under Medicare Part D in 2003.

The practice of Medicare giving grants to private insurers to offset the cost of coverage has been in practice, and has been pretty successful in the market for years. Under the program, Medicare - eligible subscribers can choose from difference packages of plans offered by private insurers that are partially subsidized by Medicare funds, and allow the insured to purchase enhancements to the basic, subsidized coverage that meets their needs.

An expansion of that program is what Ryan is calling for. Contrary to current political advertising, the plan is relatively popular, albeit a bit confusing to some when it was rolled out. It has also not resulted in seniors eating dog food to be able to afford their medicines, and there are no know occurrences of Paul Ryan or any other politician pushing grandma off a cliff, as we've seen in some political commercials.

Political debate and dialog has devolved into repeating talking points or rehashing the extreme themes and messages that politicians or their surrogates foist onto the American people. The biggest failing of the GOP, IMHO, is that after many years of this kind of negative campaigning, they've yet to find away to effectively respond to it.

The response of Romney's camp to the Dem's drumbeat about tax returns - as if one's personal wealth is a qualification for the office - is a great example. Its a great trickbag for the Dems to try to place Romney in. If he doesn't turn over his tax returns, then the Dems can continue to try to exploit that as a campaign issue. If he does, you can bet that a team of tax attorneys will be at the ready to generate demagogic press releases and campaign commercials about those tax returns. Of course, this also allows the Dems to continue to avoid talking about the last 4 years, and keep the Romney camp on defense.

The other issue the GOP has is that they were entirely complicit in the expansion of government that occurred from 2001 - 2008. Now that the Tea Party has taken aim at the GOP as the party most likely to respond to reform and most likely to lead any charge for regaining control over the growth of government spending, it creates an opportunity for the Dems, with no plan of their own to restrain spending or deal with the growing public debt, to paint the GOP as hypocritical.

They Dems have also been successful, at least with the mainstream press, or painting the Tea Party as angry radicals. Meanwhile, the average Tea Party demonstration looked like a church picnic compared to the OWS activities. Yet, media coverage of OWS was far more favorable than that received by the Tea Party. Meanwhile, the GOP, resistant to giving up too much of the status quo, has failed to fully embrace the Tea Party movement.

Now, you might be critical of the Tea Party crowd because their beliefs don't comport with your own. To that, I simply ask this: Where is the Dem plan to regain control over the ever - expanding and crushing Federal Debt? Where is the Dem plan to wrest control of the Federal budget and restrain the growth of each year's budget which is increasingly financed by debt each year?

We may have differences in political views, but if we can't agree that government spending is not sustainable at current levels, and that we must start actually paying down principal on the Federal debt and not just make token interest payment, we're all toast.

EDIT - if you respond to the questions above by suggesting that the Dems have hitched their wagon to Simpson - Bowles, be very careful. First, where is there any Dem sponsored legislation requiring implementation of the commissions findings? Then, of course, you also have this:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/e...003642883.html

The current Medicare plan is so popular among seniors that Ryan and the GOP are excepting them from his plan because of insurmountable opposition.
He wants you and me (under 55) to take a plan that is not nearly as good and ends Medicare as we know it. If his plan was so good why is he not making it for everyone? I say this with all due respect Whell. You are being sold a bill of goods and you are going vote against your own self- interest.
You go ahead and make your eligibility date 67, and plan on your spouse having to pay more in premiums for her health care after you are gone (most likley she will outlive you, I hope u both live a long time). If you are under 55 why would you short change yourself?