Exploiting Your Mother

Exploiting your mother?  No, not you.  But Republican legislators and candidates, who are trotting out their moms in campaign ads, to support their sons in claiming that they would never, never, never do anything to hurt Social Security or Medicare.  At least, not for their mothers.  And other seniors.  And maybe other people over 55.  If their mothers trust their sons, then the voters sure can.  So now Paul Ryan is taking his mother with him on his tour around Florida today.   I guess that is insurance against anyone hurling brickbats at him, as they have been doing.  Presumably attendees will be too respectful of his mother to dissent.  But I truly feel sorry for her if they do.

Note 1:  Of course if Social Security and Medicare are for current seniors was short-changed, these wealthy Republican legislators’ mothers would be taken care of.  Imagine the pensions that some of them probably already receive in addition to their entitlements.  I am not even in their class.

Note 2:  Of course, in fact, Conservative plans would affect SS and Medicare of current seniors.

·         They are trying to change the COLA structure so that annual increases would be less.  That would take effect sooner rather than later.

·         If they repeal ACA, seniors would lose some benefits they have started receiving under ACA the last few years, such as free preventative health care, annual screenings, no annual or lifetime caps, no pre-existing conditions (in the case of their private supplemental plans), savings on donut hole of Medicare Part D, and others.

 Note 3:  I do not understand how they can talk of raising the eligible age to receive Social Security and Medicare.  In this time when unemployment rate is high, and particularly devastating to older citizens who will either never find work again, or find work only at much lower wages than they received before.  Many are already filing for Social Security early, and consequently reducing their lifetime payments.  But still are not eligible for Medicare, cannot afford private insurance, and may not qualify for Medicaid.  They ought to, rather, LOWER the age to apply for Social Security and Medicare benefits, without a reduction in payments.  To age 62 or even 60, in order to free up the job market for younger people.  It probably won’t cost that much more than for someone to be on unemployment insurance, food stamps, and Medicaid.

What do you think?

[Note:  I may be mistaken on some of these details, but I have tried to keep up with the politics and economics of Social Security and Medicare.  Please feel free to question, correct or modify this item.]

Gramma Windy