You can count on health care reform being mismanaged

You can count on health care reform being mismanaged

EDITOR:

Many people do not seem to understand that there is no such thing as free. Everything is paid for somewhere along the line.

Only two segments of our society pay the cost of most everything. One segment is the taxpayer and the other is the consumer. The only exception I can think of is in the area of philanthropy.

Dr. Phil has often said on his evening TV program that the best predictor of future action is past action. I believe everyone should keep that idea in mind when considering the proposed reform in our national health care system, it being such a complicated issue.

Consider the hundreds of billions of dollars in bailout money rushed through Congress to jump start our economy, without members of Congress reading the details of the bill. Look at the haphazard way it has been used.

The AIG insurance company received hundreds of billions of dollars. AIG used hundreds of millions for executive bonuses, and billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to shore up their overseas operations.

Then there was the Cash for Clunkers program to kick start the auto industry. Foreign-owned companies got as much or more of that money than the U.S. auto industry.

Another government program to consider is that of Social Security. Thanks mainly to our Congress, Social Security is headed for financial ruin. Congress has been using the excess funds going into that program for general fund expenses by replacing the money with IOUs. Guess who is going to pick up those IOUs? You’re right if you said the taxpayer and consumer — for decades to come. Social Security recipients will not receive any increases for the next two years. I do wonder if Congress will forego their automatic raises for those same two years.

This president and his Democratic supporters in Congress say that the excess and fraud in the current Medicare program will pay for most of their reform package. My immediate thought about that statement is if you can correct those abuses, why have you not done that already? You don’t have to redo the whole thing to get that done.

Several items can be counted on in new government programs, according to the past actions. They will have a low-ball estimate as to start-up costs; it can and will be mismanaged to some degree; there will be a certain amount of fraud involved, and the cost will grow ever larger and larger.

DONALD G. BAKER

Liberty

It was a good weekend for enjoying a bit of nostalgia

EDITOR:

I recently have been nostalgic for entertainment from the ’50s and ’60s — my golden era. The current array of movies, TV shows and musical talent hasn’t been able to fill that void.

However, last weekend, two local venues gave me a dose of just what I have been yearning for. Friday, the Youngstown Playhouse opened its 85th season with “All Shook Up.” Although I’m not a huge Elvis fan, the music he made famous was pure delight from a cast of local thespians who gave it their all. Unfortunately, only one more weekend remains for those who still would like to shake, rattle and roll at Glenwood Avenue’s historic arena.

Secondly, The Monday Musical Club successfully began its 113th season with Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits at Stambaugh Auditorium. I mostly remember the group from recordings and occasional spots on Ed Sullivan’s program. Spending an evening with Noone was a treat. True showmanship with great tunes and lyrics that can be understood.

Nice attendance at both events. A great weekend of nostalgia that it appears not only I have been craving.

DAVID POWERS

Youngstown