Republican plan to eliminate Medicare

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Riot

Naw, we're talking the 1960's - Lyndon Johnson. The last politician - in every sense of the word - powerful enough to have gotten this done. At that point, even Republicans were in favor of social programs and helping the indigent, poor, elderly. Yes, I understand the AMA actions, etc. I think if Johnson hadn't also had to address civil rights and racism, he'd have gotten it done.

My hope is that, with so many states now looking to take advantage and implement advanced single payer systems under the PPACA (rather than taking the less-inclusive fed program) - people will see how well this works, and it will spread.

Again, Riot, I have to disagree with you. Johnson didn't have the power to get an already dead idea through Congress- universal health care failed under Truman's administration. I'm not disputing Johnson was a remarkably effective bully, but the passage of the Civil Rights Act also benefited, frankly, from Kennedy's assassination. As did, unfortunately, the escalation in Vietnam. No one wanted to go against the wishes of the dead martyr. And, as Johnson said when he signed the Civil Rights Act, it cost the Democrats the South.

Johnson's big focus was on poverty, and health care, at the time, was more likely to impoverish the elderly than it was the younger population. Now, of course, it's likely to bankrupt people at all income levels other than the super-rich.

Johnson's a tough President for America to come to terms with. The last liberal President, one who really sought to alleviate the suffering of the poorest of the poor, but also the one who escalated Vietnam and sent thousands of boys to die, even after he knew the war couldn't be won.

Mind you, I still agree with you that universal health care would be cheaper and better for us. Vermont is apparently taking steps towards it.