EmilyKasky

Hey, awesome! I just posted the same thing on the CR blog!

I'd like to get a nice long argument in favor of this going on our blog, perhaps in a detailed post explaining to these liberal schmucks why they won't have any money when they grow up.

In all honesty Mike, I saw that you put up that up, so I went in and "borrowed" it. I thought we ought to get the word out, like Karissa did for the tsunami relief post. I probably should have mentioned that it only took me about a minute and half to sign the petition...

Hmm...nice long argument, huh? I'll have to think a little on how to tork people off on that one... (Hee-hee)

Um... Right. I'm just a dirty democratic communist who doesn't give a flying rip about people.

Perhaps I don't want to reform social security in *that* way. If the "right" really cared about social security, they would "put their money where their mouth is." Cutting "unnecessary programs" and rewarding countries that have helped the US in Iraq is not my idea of strengthening social security.

I am proud to be an American who: sees value in relatively fresh ideas (like socialism) and doesn't base my opinions on cultural myths (such as "the American Dream"). And I am just as "American" as anyone else despite my disagreements with this myth. Birth makes you American, not ideals.

"...who: sees value in relatively fresh ideas (like socialism)"

Wow, for a second I thought this country has spent the last 80-100 years fighting to stop the spread of that.

Point of order, Evan: America was founded on principles such as personal responsibility. My beef is that we should not depend on the government to care for our futures (which is a rather lazy perspective). I'm saying that we should determine our own futures and start planning for retirement now, because we don't know what state the government will be in when we are old. Bush's plan to allow us the opportunity to put a small amount of money aside for what WE want to invest in is at least A STEP towards going back to the concept of personal responsibility. I'm ripping on the European nations who have socialist programs such as Social Security and healthcare (which, as you know, are much more extensive than here in the U.S.), because in essence, that's what socialism does: It increases one's dependence on the state (the example I like to use is that of a child being led around by a parent), and weakens individualism. We are adults: We able to think and provide for ourselves.

Speaking of socialism, though - I think we've spent 100 + years fighting it (not simply the Soviet Union, but ideas such as progressivism, Marxism, etc.). We're still fighting the dream and ideas (embodied in social programs, other ideologies, etc.), even though many (*cough* IGNORANT *cough*) people believe that the international "headquarters" of socialism/communism (i.e. Soviet Union) is "dead." (To these same people: Go read the news about Russia.)

Americans' Future In One Plan
I know that most of you are busy to read my book. As I explained previously that Taman Health Plan (www.trafford.com) takes care of all the health care, Medicare, Medicaid and social security. It will threw away all bureaucracies out of window. Let me explain shortly how it works:
1- there will be no more health care insurance companies, no Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. My plan will take care of all.
2- Basically will be only one Big Health care organization (Taman Health Plan or THP).
3- The center of the plan will be in Washington while the health departments in every state will be the branches.
4- One organized body will be taking care of the Health Care and long term care of all Americans replacing 1500 insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
5- This will allow us to provide a uniform service to all Americans every where in both inpatients, outpatients and long term care.
6- When you go to any Duncan Donuts branch your expectation is to have a fresh coffee and a donut with no long wait. We will try to provide a similar predictable service everywhere as Duncan Donuts. With having only one body will be able to do that.
7- The Capital of the plan will be the funds of Medicare and Social Security (before the bankruptcy of both systems). The maintenance will be a yearly tax from each of us (will replace our yearly social security and Medicare holding taxes). A percent of each of us go to his account cards and a percent go to THP itself. The money of the plan will be invested by the investing sector of the plan very likely in Wall Street.
8- We will have 5 ATM cards with a corresponding accounts. Card A (children), Card B (working group 18-65years old), Card C (Medicare card >65 years old), Card D (Medicaid card), Card E ( expensive medicines or investigations).We will have the health cards devoted to health care and long term care. Thus we will have: health cards, banks with accounts to each card and credit card machines in outpatients care and hotelling part of hospitals and nursing homes.
9- Cards will pay for the outpatient medical care including doctors, emergency room visits, investigations, medical supplies, pharmacies and the hotelling part of hospitals and nursing homes. While the medical part of hospitals and nursing homes will be budget by the plan itself.
10- In the first year of issuing cards: Card B and C (most of people) will have a bonus it could be a percent of their Medicare and social security withholding (70 % or so). We will try to be fair to every one but every one has to now that most of us already lost a lot of money with the HMO's. For next year new comers to card B at age of 18 when first issued will have a bonus of 50,000 dollars. It will change every year by a percent a according to inflation.
11- every one of us will get a statement every one or two months of his card account. Card B account will phase in card C at the age of 65. If card C account is vanished Card D will be issued (hoteling part will be less luxurious). Only few of Card B will have card D if there account vanish most likely those with severe medical problems.
12- So basically most of us will have our own account Card B then card C. Say you are 45 and you have now in your account $ 200,000 you can take one or more years out of work, you Can retire early if you like and with your card you will control all the medical services and its prices.
13- With this card system we will end all bureaucracies of health care, Medicare and Medicaid. No one will stand between you and any medical or long term service (only your card). Shop around with you card, have early health care security and responsibility and invest in your health.
14- We will not need Social Security since after age of 65 we will be able to use our cards to stay in any nursing home each according to his account in card C or card D. So when you invest well in your health you will be able to enjoy a nicer nursing home when you get old (actually it will be also a kind of tourism).
15- The money in cards do not get inherited when we pass away but recycle in the plan to support the next generations.
16- The plan will have very positive effects not only in simplifying our care, save a lot of waste in health care, give early health care security and responsibility to Americans it will also have a positive effect on the economy, saving billions of dollars to Americans, creating jobs in health care and cutting outsourcing.
Very likely, you figure it by now I could have sold the plan to one of the presidential candidate before the 2004 election for millions of dollars (they already spent 2 billion dollars). It is my gift to the American people (it will help the healing process of the two worlds America and the Muslim/Arabs).

Maged Taman.
2/20/05

So... let's all get paranoid and have another red scare! Capital idea! Even if we were to give "personal responsibility" to everyone, then how would you account for people who cannot afford to take their own "personal responsibility" (which includes over 400 dollars per month for just one month's supply of pills). I would sooner trust the government (who the people still elects, right? not "appointed by God?") than the hands of crooked businessmen who only care about making a buck.

Evan - First off, the private accounts thing - IT'S OPTIONAL. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. However, if you want to make sure the government would be able to completely screw you over when you're old and senile, you go right ahead...

On another note - You do know that Congressmen have their OWN Social Security plan, right? That isn't out of the civilian 'pot' of Social Security? Yeah. What makes you so certain that they're so trustworthy? The fact that Social Security doesn't directly affect them so you think it's high on their list of priorities (unless the people make a big stink that they can't avoid it any longer)? Believe me - They don't want to touch it, it's such a mess. They'll procrastinate as long as they can.

P.S. Politicians have reps for being crooked too, you know. Surely you've heard the numerous jokes about politicians and lawyers and their "honesty"...