Again, ‘Nuff said, America--KAS
Dear Kevin,
The Republicans want to break the Medicare covenant we’ve had in place since 1965.
The covenant is simple and fair. Americans work all their lives, pay their taxes, provide for their families, and then get to retire with dignity. Medicare provides us with medical care in our later years, after we’ve paid for it all our lives through taxes.
Now Republicans want to take away Medicare’s guarantee of care from anyone who turns 65 more than ten years from now. And they aren’t even doing it to pay down the deficit (it wouldn’t help much anyway). Because, according to the Congressional Budget Office, their big plan wouldn’t cut the deficit or debt over the next ten years.1
No, they’re doing it to cut taxes dramatically for the richest Americans, which are already near historic lows. And they’re doing it by replacing Medicare’s guarantee of care with vouchers that will only guarantee big profits for their friends in Big Insurance. It’s both immoral and fiscally irresponsible.
The Republicans have clearly overplayed their hand, but we can only make them pay for their mistake—and protect Medicare—if we can raise the funds to fight their plan.
There’s only one way to understand the Republicans’ budget plan—voted for by all but four House Republicans. It’s a naked, unapologetic attack on American working families for the sake of Big Insurance and the richest of the rich:
It abolishes Medicare’s guarantee of medical care for Americans over 65, throwing them at the feet of Big Insurance.2
It uses that money to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans below their already historic lows—down to 25%.3
It leads to bigger debts and deficits over the next decade, according to the independent, nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.4
After we fought long and hard to get health insurance for millions more working Americans, Republicans want to take it away at the end of our working lives. It’s pulling the rug out from under all the hard work we achieved on health care reform.
But many of us, making even a small contribution, can help fund a real campaign to save Medicare.
Thanks for all that you do.
–Daniel, Joan, Eli, Tate, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. “Ludicrous and Cruel,” The New York Times, April 7, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=208124&id=27129-4797084-DNFk3.x&t=3
2. Ibid.
3. “FACTBOX-Comparing Obama, Ryan Budget Plans,” Rueters, April 14, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=208125&id=27129-4797084-DNFk3.x&t=5
4. “Ludicrous and Cruel,” The New York Times, April 7, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=208124&id=27129-4797084-DNFk3.x&t=6
