"Giles" wrote in message
...
"They" may or may not have set themselves up for "that" (whoever they
may be and whatever that may be) but what has your allegedly being a
more or less lifelong Democrat (whatever that may mean) got to do with
it (whatever "it" may be)?

If you would just follow basic English, 'that' would refer to the use of
scare tactics, that the Dems could have easily avoided, with a better
explanation at the outset.....if, indeed, that was how they planned to
reduce Medicare costs. I tossed in the lifelong dem thing to make clear to
Dave(sometimes he jumps to conclusions) that I am not, by any means, a shill
for the GOP.

Excellent question. I've used it myself from time to time.

thanks. I'm sure we're all just tickled pink to know that.

Hm.....a proposed reduction in Medicare costs gave your elderly
relatives a serious case of the heebie-jeebies? Um......not to appear
insensitive or anything, but maybe it's time for them to take a nap
(metaphorically speaking) or something.

folks, at that end of the age spectrum(and also those considerably younger)
don't want to hear about 'reductions' to their healthcare plan. Hell, who
does, if the reductions aren't spelled out, and in this case they were not.
Is it so unreasonable to acknowledge that people get very uneasy about
changes to their medical care. As one gets older, and thus more likely to
need that care more often, such changes are downright frightening. Perhaps a
nap would do you good, Wolfie, as I've waded this far through your retort,
and it's been pretty weak....

Anything can be sold. Take, for example, the laughably meaningless
phrase, "manage their own costs responsibly." Reform should be easy
to......oops.....wait a minute.....what is that tapping, as of some
one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door?

perhaps to you, that phrase was meaningless. However, as one who has worked
in the field of healthcare for a few decades, one gets very aware that the
average American wants the absolute best of the best, state of the art
healthcare, and then expresses shock at costs going through the roof. We
cannot, as a society provide state of the art care to every person, and
afford it, without a massive taxation increase. We should, IMHO, be able to
provide every citizen basic routine health services and proven, effective
treatment of acute and chronic medical conditions for a reasonable cost to
the society. Is that clearer for you, Wolfie?

Hang on. I'll get back to you.

whee! I can hardly wait. No intelligent discourse could ever be expected
here without you, right?

Tom