The coming social disaster as best I can figure

[Lamplighter]

Source: ModernHealthCare.com
Public doubtful on prospects for cutting deficit, Kaiser poll finds
By Jessica Zigmond
Posted: September 23, 2011 - 1:00 pm ET

The American public has considerable doubts that the
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction will be able to draft a proposal
to cut $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit that Congress would pass,
according to a Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll.

“When asked about specific areas where the supercommittee might recommend cuts,
more than half the public says they would not support any reductions to spending
on Social Security (58%) or Medicare (51%),” the report noted.
“Almost half (46%) say the same about Medicaid,
while 38% would support minor reductions and just 16% want major reductions in Medicaid spending.”

When GW Bush created the Medicare Part D Drugs program,
it was "not funded" and so is now a significant part of the US deficit.
Republicans are adamant they will not raise taxes.
Democrats are adamant they will not cut Medicare.

I have a proposal that just might pass muster in this present day Congress,
because it would not raise taxes, and would lower Medicare costs for years into the future.
I'm convinced this one "little" change could drop Medicare drug costs significantly:

Change that part of the Medicare Part D Drug program law that forbids
Medicare from negotiating prices with the drug manufacturers.


My wife and I use a non-profit Medicare provider (Kaiser Permanente)
We have seen the non-Part D drugs get lower in price,
but Part D drugs are being gouged.

For example...and these are Kaiser prices
' a vaccine that was 11 cents/dose is now $172
' an asthma inhaler that was $19 is now $132
' an hormone replacement that was $65 is now $215.90