Socialism is already failing America
Republicans point out the long-term danger of socialism—observing that it has eventually failed wherever it has been attempted. The reason is simple and perfectly expressed by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher when she said, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”
Those on the left often see socialism as a charitable panacea for social ills and personal problems, with a powerful bureaucratic central government acting as provider. Despite the history of failure, Democrats and others who embrace government as the source of all good insist there is nothing to fear. They argue that America already benefits from socialism through programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, and even the federal highway system.
They are correct in one sense. America has been on the slippery slope toward socialism since the early 20th century. Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal expanded federal power dramatically, introducing programs that shifted responsibility from individuals and communities to Washington. For his third term, Roosevelt had chosen Henry Wallace—an avowed socialist—as his Vice President. Later, Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society” and “War on Poverty” programs in the 1960s added Medicare, Medicaid, and a host of welfare initiatives. Even Republican administrations joined in, with George W. Bush adding the prescription drug program in the early 2000s.
The public has consistently embraced these benefits. Promise voters money or “free” services, and they will elect you to office. Benjamin Franklin is often credited with warning, “When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the Republic.” Whether Franklin or Scottish historian Alexander Fraser Tytler said it, as some claim, the point remains valid. Democracies collapse when citizens exploit the system for personal gain.
Lessons from Socialist Failures Abroad
History provides sobering examples of socialism’s failures. Here are just a few.
- Venezuela: Once the wealthiest country in South America, Venezuela collapsed under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro’s socialist policies. Nationalization of industries, strict price controls, and currency manipulation led to hyperinflation exceeding 65,000% in 2018, mass starvation, and the exodus of over 7 million citizens. Once a nation with vast oil wealth, Venezuela now struggles to provide basic food and medicine.
- Cuba: Fidel Castro’s revolution promised equality but delivered poverty. Cuba’s GDP per capita stagnated for decades, and citizens endured shortages of food, medicine, and basic freedoms. Even today, Cubans face rationing of essentials, and the average monthly salary is less than $50 USD.
- Soviet Union: The USSR’s centrally planned economy produced inefficiency, corruption, and chronic shortages. By the late 1980s, the system collapsed under its own weight, leaving behind economic ruin and political repression. The Soviet Union’s attempt to control every aspect of production led to bread lines, empty shelves, and eventually the dissolution of the state itself in 1991.
- Eastern Europe: Nations like East Germany, Hungary, and Bulgaria suffered decades of stagnation under socialist regimes, only recovering economically after abandoning socialism in favor of market reforms. East Germany, for example, had a GDP per capita less than half of West Germany’s before reunification.
Across these cases, socialism promised equality but delivered misery. According to estimates, Marxist-socialist regimes were responsible for more than 100 million deaths in the 20th century through famine, purges, and repression.
America’s Warning Signs
The trend toward socialism in the past 100 years already has had severe negative impacts on the United States. Federal spending has ballooned to over $6 trillion annually, with entitlement programs consuming the largest share. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid alone account for nearly 50 percent of federal expenditures. The national debt now exceeds $36 trillion, meaning every American household carries a burden of over $250,000 in future obligations.
These numbers reveal the danger of socialism. America is already paying for benefits with “other people’s money”—in this case, future generations saddled with debt. Prior to President Johnson’s Great Society socialist programs, the annual interest on the National debt was approximately $7 billion. It now exceeds $970 billion each year – and growing. That is the impact of socialist policies. Politicians find it easy to promise benefits today, knowing that the day of reckoning will not come in their lifetime.
Consider Social Security. The program was designed in the 1930s when life expectancy was much lower. Today, Americans live longer, and the ratio of workers to retirees has shrunk dramatically—from 16 workers per retiree in 1950 to fewer than 3 workers per retireetoday. By the mid-2030s, Social Security is projected to become insolvent, meaning benefits will have to be cut or taxes raised. Medicare faces similar shortfalls, with costs expected to double over the next two decades. Those programs are running out of other peoples’ money.
The Psychological Trap of Socialism
Supporters of socialism point proudly to the “benefits” of government programs while ignoring the destructive downsides. Citizens grow dependent on government largesse, eroding self-reliance and community responsibility. The more benefits people receive, the more they demand, creating a cycle of dependency that is politically irresistible but economically unsustainable. But we also see the downside in plain sight — unsustainable debt, declining productivity, and a culture of dependency.
This dynamic is already visible in America. Annual deficits exceed $1 trillion, even in years of economic growth. Yet left-wing politicians continue expanding socialist programs, knowing voters reward them for promises rather than fiscal discipline. The public’s appetite for benefits is endless, but the resources to fund them are finite.
The Greatest Generation’s Legacy
It is worth noting that the Greatest Generation—the men and women who won World War II—also became the world’s greediest generation in terms of consumption. They enjoyed unprecedented prosperity, fueled by America’s postwar dominance, but also embraced the expansion of government benefits without fully paying for them. Social Security, Medicare, and other programs grew rapidly, financed by borrowing rather than sustainable revenue.
Future generations now bear the burden. The national debt is not just a number. It represents promises made to current citizens that must be fulfilled by their children and grandchildren. In effect, America is consuming wealth that does not yet exist, mortgaging the future for present comfort.
The Slippery Slope in Real Time
The growth of the federal government illustrates the socialist dynamic at work. In 1900, federal spending accounted for less than 3 percent of GDP. Today, it consumes nearly 25 percent of GDP. Regulations have multiplied, with federal agencies overseeing everything from healthcare to education to energy. Each expansion is justified as necessary for fairness or safety, but collectively they represent a massive transfer of power from individuals to the federal government. The growth of the federal bureaucracy is exactly what the Founders hoped to avoid with a federal system in which most powers and services were reserved for the several states.
Democratic Socialism
“Democratic socialism”, at its core, is still socialism. The term is used to soften the harmful ideology by attaching “democratic,” as if voting can erase the inherent flaws of centralized economic control. Socialism, regardless of branding, relies on an authoritarian central government controlled by an entrenched bureaucracy. Calling it “democratic socialism” is an oxymoron, a rhetorical shield used by advocates who recognize socialism’s historical failures—economic stagnation, inefficiency, and erosion of liberty. The rebranding does not change the essence. It remains socialism, with the same fatal downsides, only dressed in language meant to reassure rather than to reform.
The Endgame of Socialism
The more America embraces socialism, the sooner the inevitable collapse will arrive. We already talk openly about the unsustainability of government benefits. Economists warn that entitlement spending will crowd out all other priorities, leaving little room for defense, infrastructure, or innovation.
The annual budget deficits and enormous national debt are symptoms of a deeper problem — the belief that government can provide unlimited benefits without consequence. In reality, every dollar spent must come from somewhere—either through taxation, borrowing, or inflation. Each option carries costs. Taxation reduces incentives to work and invest. It reduces the purchasing power of the working American. Borrowing burdens future generations. Inflation erodes savings and punishes the poor.
No, America is not merely entering an era of socialism—we are already halfway down the path. The evidence is clear: socialism has failed in Venezuela, Cuba, the Soviet Union, and across Eastern Europe. It has produced poverty, repression, and collapse wherever it has been tried. America’s growing debt, expanding entitlement programs, and dependence on government benefits show the same trajectory.
Socialism will be the downfall of America as the world’s most successful Republic. The lessons of history are unmistakable. Socialism does not deliver prosperity. It delivers equality only in misery. Unless America reverses course, the collapse that befell other nations will eventually arrive here.
So, there ‘tis.
Joe, Another clueless post from an ignorant individual. You cite countries where corruption was a major factor in their downfall, and fear monger by throwing in a few communist countries. Such ignorance! Instead perhaps you should be citing countries like Canada, Denmark, Sweden that are all more socialist than the US, and have the only policies that democrats (or democratic socialists) have advocated for. Instead you would prefer that the US do away with social security, Medicare, Medicaid, government funded highways-in short you want to turn the US into a banana republic where only the rich have a chance at a decent lifestyle? What a bunch of gibberish-I think your dementia is taking over (or are you actually Larry masquerading as Joe as you have done in the past?)
Mike F as in fag you’re posting like Frank Dunger. Total nonsense. We don’t want to get rid of the benefits that you mentioned. You people are sick.
Seth, Great, glad to hear you say that you don’t want to get rid of the socialist programs that our country had adopted. However, the looney that wrote the above tome, complained about the cost of those programs, so logic tells me he is not in favor of keeping them. Best to read and understand what writers (and Republican leaders) are actually saying before you blindly support them…
You called the thunder, you love to eat dunger as you spew: “We don’t want to get rid of the benefits that you mentioned.” Guess you missed all the means testing in Social Security this year. Not only are the folks not yet in the system getting squeezed, but I lost 10% of my SS this year for the crime of making money. I am OK, but certainly not rich or uber rich who are less affected. Low tax Don is gigging us in the middle all over the place. Think we have tripled our tariffs to over 200 Billion from your and my pockets.
But the yuge one: “The Big Republican Cost-Shift: Massive Cuts To Medicaid And The ACA Will Increase Costs For Older Adults And Medicare.” *https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/big-republican-cost-shift-massive-cuts-medicaid-and-aca-increase-costs-older-adults-and*
Did you miss the part where 22 million Americans get ACA credits cut and will face radically higher prices, many in four digit increases, per month?
Can you really be this stupid, this brain dead, this willing to be led around by the nose while being kicked in the ass? This article is a dog’s breakfast and that’s the best Sethie boy can come up will. What a tool for fools,.
This economic word sandwich from Joe is unruly, jumbled, apples to oranges piece of bad journalism. Can he really be this stupid?
“Republicans point out the long-term danger of socialism—observing that it has eventually failed wherever it has been attempted” is as untrue as the day is long. Socialism is alive and well across the globe. It may not be the overarching system for many sovereign nations but is it much more prevalent there than here. It is just not the overarching mandate for sovereign nations just like America. If this cueball could even figure out how to research, he would even see sparks of capitalism in places like China and beyond.
The only “purity” in this world is in folks like Joe’s minds. Most of these tighty whities just need to go back to school. And this time, study.
“They are correct in one sense. America has been on the slippery slope toward socialism since the early 20th century” again, bespeaks the stupidity of the author who conveniently ignores the first socialist program in America, the Public Library. Started in 1790 with a donation from Ben himself, the town then allowed all citizens to partake in getting the books. Now if you cannot call Franklin the government, certainly the town fathers are.
Amazingly then he decries that Socialism always fails, but lists a lot of communist countries for his example. Guess this ex-CIA professed worldly guy can’t see a difference in communism and socialism as he lists many a communist nation as a socialism failure. FYI: Communism is socialism with a Trumper in charge, hahaha. But it’s not socialism, never will be.
Here’s a rub and the proof that he is 90% hogwash, 10% spin, and 0% truth. He leaves out Western Europe and Asia. How the fuck can you talk socialism through the ages and leave out Western Europe, the grand experiment that defines our future as well? I am betting that for over a decade Gilbert and Son were lambasting Democrats as Euro Socialist scumbags. Amazingly, after the experiment failed, he just forgets. He didn’t even mention “The Third Way,” as he probably has not a clue. FYI: While not predominate, like the US, socialism is alive and well in Western Europe. Global systems are mostly a blend of socialism and capitalism and have been for decades. Only the ratios differ. If anything, the US stands out for having a higher ratio of capitalism to socialism as in: “how odd, how backwards.” UK too, no matter what Thatcher said. And remember, while Thatcherism promoted liberal conservatism, Maggie retained the Nation Health System that makes our Medicare look like dog food, and she consolidated power at 10 Downing Street creating a stronger central government.
In Joe’s world, like John Galt, there is only the individual. No government, no taxes, just the individual. I blend in the concept of community where the many can work together to help the needy. Not with hand-outs, but with a hand-up. It’s called community and when we work together to offer social programs to benefit those without or with less — you call it socialism. Well, Galt’s Gulch failed in Chile just like total systems based on socialism have failed, and I daresay, systems totally based on capitalism have failed too, if for the reason that they do not exist. At least for long. Why can’t Joe grasp the concept of a blended system? Why is he against pooling resources? Seems pretty simple to me.
He then confuses Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, as being similar or the same. That is just not true, structurally and economically, a lie. Social Security is managed by a free-standing organization. Medicare, Medicaid, and Welfare are managed by HHS. They are very different, leading me to say: fix social security; that is a math problem and there more alternatives than Joe noted. It works. It’s your money, it’s not the dole Joe would have you believe. And as a piggy bank, it support our debt —- Joe makes not even an allusion to how he would solve that without SS. And then structure Medicare like Social Security, get it out of HHS to make it secure like Social Security and untouchable too. Let HSS continue to manage Medicaid and welfare like our other mandatory spending welfare programs.
Dunger both of you (Mike) don’t realize how much fraud is committed in the benefits. Remember Edmond musk? People getting checks while dead for several years. SS isn’t socialism. We work and pay into the system. Also for our medical system after we retire or get disability. But here’s another issue. America can’t help but have a certain amount of socialism. Example, my nephew is a downs child. He will never be self reliant. But wetbacks getting health care on my dime? I don’t think so. Go ICE!!!!!!!!! Keep doing the good work.
Willie, I think you know my name, you stupid suck-face dick-head motherfucker. Your name will be Wussy, or let’s both of us quit with the third-grade name calling and your discussing the virtues of my wife, who has never been introduced here you stupid, ignorant slut.
How much fraud is committed in benefits? Come on big guy, how hard is that to figure out? And then tell us why it isn’t mostly perpetrated by business and why most businesses are not owned by Republicans, including management of the Fortune 500. Is that crickets we hear? You ain’t got nothing.
Edmond Musk —- what delusion is that? There’s Elon, there’s Muskie, and there’s some guy in Australia who is dead, who you and what you talking about, Willis?
Not that many dead people get Social Security checks, show us your funny money Sunny. You made the mistake of believing Musk and DOGE who lied. They have been fired like eight months early for lack of results. Big balls left town after getting beat up by teenagers. Balls not so big after all. Don’t you check any of this shit? Oye.
OK, here we agree when you say: “America can’t help but have a certain amount of socialism. Example, my nephew is a downs child. He will never be self reliant. But wetbacks getting health care on my dime? I don’t think so.” Oh, so your nephew is taking advantage of us and therefore you accept some socialism: NIMBY rules. That’s been my point all along. We agree, America needs a certain amount of socialism, every sovereign nation does. The great Euro Socialism experiment was a failure, they, and we, moved to what is called: The Third Way. Think Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. From WIKI: “The Third Way is a predominantly centrist political position that attempts to reconcile centre-right and centre-left politics by synthesizing a combination of economically liberal and social democratic economic policies.” IOW a blend of socialism and capitalism; the difference being the actual programs and the ratio of socialism and capitalism. Socialist programs are mostly aimed at human suffering and benefits. And the US has a very low ratio of that as compared to other advanced sovereign nations mostly because of Republican denial of community.
You nephew needs a hand-up, not a hand out, and Medicaid can offer the help he needs. Republicans would tell you that the individual rules and your nephew should seek charity, the church, and God. I would rather give to government as my charity and let them manage the social programs. Charity has it’s place, as does the Church, but I like social programs BY LAW, secular, and bipartisan, and not by the serendipitous choices of private organizations.
Willie, wetback adults do not get health care from your dime. More Republican rubbish. The best they get is emergency service from ER. Undocumented children can get health care and I have no issue with that; they are innocent children and I don’t want to murder them for lack of treatment on your dime or mine. They also get education which I support AND one way or another, they pay property taxes so it’s not as if they don’t fund it just like you and I.
Finally, and certainly off topic: ICE can go to hell. It’s one thing to deport criminals, bravo. But the undocumented, the legal immigrants, and innocents? To third-world death camps and jails funded by your dime? Million dollar plane trips? Come on man, that’s not who we are. That’s not the rule of law. That’s one man picking who goes and stays, and allows ICE to disappear people at will and whim. That’s just bullshit and most Americans agree.
FYI: Joe has so much bullshit and fractured fairytales in his screed of a rant that I will pick a few bones apart later.
Nice to see you, a conservative, agree that socialism has a place in America, especially for social programs. Too bad it seems it takes a disabled nephew for you to come around. But right is right, and I appreciate your candor.
Dunger keep your mother off the streets
Wussie, you are being deplorable, again. Grow up.
A “your mother” taunt. What a child. Man up.
Willlie … I appreciate you perspectives, but the name-calling does not help your cause. It just give Frank Danger more to complain about.
Frank Danger…. You write to Willie: “Willie, I think you know my name, you stupid suck-face dick-head motherfucker. Your name will be Wussy, or let’s both of us quit with the third-grade name calling and your discussing the virtues of my wife, who has never been introduced here you stupid, ignorant slut.” That is a lot of personal sophomoric insults in one paragraph. You have one of the highest insults per word count than any one — you pretend to disdain it it. I refer to it as “left-wing Tourette’s Syndrome.” You complain about others changing your screen name — and yet you do it to others. That is hypocrisy and projection,. You ARE what you distain. But I understand that you cannot help yourself.
Frank Danger … Pool little Frankie. Cannot give up his obsession. I would welcome you back, but you never left. No matter how many times you claim you are done with me and PBP, you are ALWAYS back with you pathetic writings. LMAO. Obsessions tend to make people say or do stupid things — and you are a state-of-the-art example.
Gotta love a guy who blows chunks over his faithful readers. He just likes it when they stroke him but cannot stand criticism of the weak tea of a story he brews. And you never have the brains or balls to respond intelligently. You are a pugnacious prick who picks the fight and then blames the other guy. Many have reiterated that about you. Want quotes?
You post under Joe’s name and then reappear later when it serves you. That’s even scarier than fake names. Then you post hit comments, but sneak them in to avoid response like a coward operating from the shadows.
You are right: I am obsessed with facts and the truth. I have left, but will reappear when you call for it; you called the thunder, you get the rain and the mud with it.
Everything I said is correct, the truth ,and based on fact. YOU denied none of it, at least supported by any evidence over your spew of a screed. Rant on old man, I do not care.
Frank Danger … It is a holiday and I have a little time to waste, so I have decided to call you out for you nasty mendacious posts. So, here you are. You write:
“Gotta love a guy who blows chunks over his faithful readers. He just likes it when they stroke him but cannot stand criticism of the weak tea of a story he brews.”
I respond:
–Typical nasty bullshit. Venting your spleen, as usual. Nothing very intelligent.
“And you never have the brains or balls to respond intelligently.”
–More mindless insults. And …you never offer up anything intelligent to respond to. Name calling, insults, lies and disinformation. You flood the zone with some much of that crap that there is no sense in responding. You are a waste of time. I do respond to others who make intelligent comments – even critical comments. But you just rant about me and others.
“You are a pugnacious prick who picks the fight and then blames the other guy. Many have reiterated that about you. Want quotes?”
–That one is good for a hearty laugh. More of your nasty name calling – and then you often say you are above such tactics. Frank, you ARE those tactics and your protestations look a lot like projection. As far as the quotes, you take one line out of a 10,000 word biography of me that is actually very flattering and cling to it like a tree branch in a tsunami. It was one writer’s opinion. I am fine with that. Over my 60 years in the public eye, I have been the subject of thousands of newspaper, magazine, radio and television articles – and now more online. Overwhelmingly positive. (You also forget another of your favorites – that I lost a GOP primary to Spanky the Clown. Even I get a laugh out of that one.) When you live in the public eye as much as I have, you are bound to get attacked – mostly dishonestly. But for the most part, I have had very positive press – and you have researched me enough to know that. But your mission in researching me is to find minuscule data points for your constant attack file.
“You post under Joe’s name and then reappear later when it serves you. That’s even scarier than fake names. Then you post hit comments but sneak them in to avoid response like a coward operating from the shadows.”
–This is where your obsession betrays some paranoia. You say things that are untrue and have know way of knowing the truth. You make shit up. You say they “appear later when it services you interest.” What interest? More paranoia. I do not upload the commentaries – nor when they are corrected. So … I do not “sneak them to avoid response like a coward operating from the shadow.” That is just a stupid statement – with one of your iconic insults. When I post a comment, it is for all to see and is open to responses. What the hell are you talking about?. Your comment reflects the paranoia and your willingness to misrepresent the truth.
“You are right: I am obsessed with facts and the truth. I have left but will reappear when you call for it; you called the thunder, you get the rain and the mud with it.”
–Check your postings. You have never left – because you cannot. You are obsessed… period. You are still the most prolific – and least intelligent – writer on PBP. You write more than the various commentators. And are you conceding that you are throwing mud at me? LOL
“Everything I said is correct, the truth, and based on fact. YOU denied none of it, at least supported by any evidence over your spew of a screed. Rant on old man, I do not care.”
–That is just self-serving bs. A person can never be their own referee. I do not need to enter into the debate game with you since your writings are self-incriminating. And it would do no good since your mind is closed by your obsession to be the anti-Horist, the anti-PBP. And it is obvious you care VERY MUCH. And additional proof will be found in your long response to this rare response from me. I do not respond to much of what you say because it is a waste of time. Your long defensive screeds are pathetic – and they have no impact on me or much of anything else. Just the rantings of an old man with too much time on his hands in a desperate need to feel relevant. So now that you have the satisfaction of a response from me. Enjoy it because you will not see many of them in the future. I look forward to hearing from you. (Just kidding, of course). Happy Thanksgiving.
You just can’t decide who can take credit for the trash that appears in the windbag post, first it is Joe, now it is Larry. You love to make shit up about what you imagine the dems are about to do, anything to spin up the idiots that support the current regime, but actually what you are showing is that your dementia is getting much worse. You write for people that don’t understand the facts of the situation and will vote Republican because of what ignoramuses such as yourself tell them. Truly disgusting….
Mike F … You seem to be in a race with Frank Danger for the most mindless and childish insults per word count…lol You LOVE to insult devoid of truth and intelligence. Just a lot of childish stuff. I understand. You just f cannot hold your own in in intelligent adult discussion or debated. You come across as a bitter old man shaking your fist at the world. It really raises the question of your own mental acuity. Happy Thanksgiving, old man.
Larry-You are the one who can’t decide if your name is Joe or Larry, so I’d be careful who you call ‘old man’? As per usual, there is nothing of substance in your reply to me, just a bit of name calling. Your tome was obviously written by an ignoramus-the only argument against socialism was to use examples of corrupt countries and a communist country thrown in for good measure. You are a fool, but that is obvious since you support the most corrupt regime this country has seen in at least 100 years-an administration with absolutely zero qualified people in the cabinet, that as opposed to making America great has made us the laughing stock of the world, but you wouldn’t know about that since you can’t leave Boca…
So why is Trump embracing Socialism when it’s clearly not beneficial, according to what Republicans say?
Socialism? Trump had a love fest with a communist who called him a fascist and then repeated it to his face during the presser. Trump smiled. So nice. And then he’s nationalizing private companies, that’s no social program.
This guy is socialism at an autocratic level (that’s where you steal the profits like billion dollar jets from Muslims.)
Andrew Gutterman … The creeping toward socialism in America is be driven by Democrat policies for generations. BUT … I have also been critical of Republicans succumbing to the political advantage of socialism. People tend to elect those who offer the most freebies — need them or not.. Trump is generally disrupting that trend. Not sure what Trump socialism policies you refer to. You sound like you oppose opposing socialism. You do not think it is a bad thing with proven bad results?
Joe’s misconceptions abound. He consistently notes the similarities of SS, Medicare and Medicaid, when these programs are structured very differently and Medicaid is very different. My conclusion: structure Medicare like Social Security and leave Medicaid in HSS control. Fix the math with new math for SS, and be prepared for the HUGE hit that really covering Medicare will cost. Let me explain.
SS is managed outside of government and is a “sinking fund” or insurance plan that we contribute to all our working lives. It is managed by a standalone, independent, government organization where the deposits fund about 40% of the national debt. We are our own largest creditor. Yes Joe, you can thank us for floating your boat. Yes, things change, go figure, and we need to right-size SS with means-testing, age adjustments, benefit reductions, and tax increases. Everything needs to be on the table and the sooner we start, the less the pain.
Shut up and fix it Joe and quit whining. It’s a math and prioritization problem; the numbers are known. And when you whine about Social Security, first tell us how you would secure the debt IF you don’t use the Social Security trust fund to back it up? You got a 40% alternative? Of course not, you just spew without thinking.
Medicare and Medicaid are very different beasts: they are yearly non-discretionary spending programs funded by our taxes from the General Fund. They have run a yearly deficit since 2003 and it is getting worse. Joe says: “Medicare faces similar shortfalls” as Social Security. No it does not, not even close. SS is solvent, it began to run a deficit in 2010 but does not run one every year AND covers the deficit from its assets. Medicare/caid been in deficit, without assets, since 2003; I have no idea where Joe is coming from. Not reality, that’s for sure. For the Med-care/caid’s and deficit, no problem since they are non-discretionary, we just take the loan, no questions asked. Social Security pays its own way. That’s stupid and why LBJ set it up this way I can only imagine that expediency had a lot to do with it.
If I were the Felon King, I would structure Medicare like SS since, as social programs, they are both basically retirement nest eggs or retirement insurance. They provide a minimal bar for services and BOTH need subscriber support for full service. Medicare covers basically 80%; you really need a supplemental or advantage add on for full service. Likewise, SS will keep you alive, but if you want to thrive in retirement, you need either income, savings or both. To migrate Medicare’s structure to be like SS; it will hurt, the payments are bad. But it is REAL, and then SS and Mcare will stand alone, be funded by our life’s efforts for retirement to allow a base package for money and medical in our retirement. Like all insurance, live long and prosper, die young and thank you very much for your deposits.
I also have come to the conclusion that Bernie is correct, we should offer Medicare to all just like every other developed nation on the planet. Healthcare is not a natural market, a free enterprise endeavor. The system is completely broken. Can’t fix this market, it’s long gone. ObamaCare was a patch, a rig job, we need to fix it and Medicare for all is a good solution. Discussion for another day!
Medicaid is welfare so keep it as an HSS non-discretionary spending program that we manage just like welfare with benefit levels just like welfare.
Joe says: “It is worth noting that the Greatest Generation—the men and women who won World War II—also became the world’s greediest generation in terms of consumption” which the dumbest thing I ever heard. If the GG is the mass consumers, what are the boomers? It is a stupid idea meaning nothing. Especially when Joe forgets that the Greatest Generation has a gdp/debt ratio like our current one, over 100%. Unlike us who ran it up to cover our collective asses, they ran theirs up fighting WWII. They scrimped and saved, not like us, and paid down their debt, what’s in Joe’s wallet? It took 35 years until the Republican hero Reagan reversed the downward trend and we never looked back. Both parties, but Republican policies that Joe supports run up much more debt historically. And Trump is the debt poster child; he’s doing it again and Joe does not even notice. IMO, this is our most serious economic problem.
So Joe, no matter how you twist it, who you blame, it will take all of us to fix these HUGE problems and many years. I think we can beat 35 years on the debt but we must start. Biden and other Democrats have “lowered the debt increase,” during their reigns, but only Clinton made inroads. The rest, both parties, have sucked. Trump has sucked the most. He has even spoke of “writing down the debt,” the stupidest idea any sovereign nation could ever have. It would be the end of our economy and lives as we know them.
I will close with Joe’s “Citizens grow dependent on government largesse, eroding self-reliance and community responsibility” saying he’s got a point there, the B Franklin stuff too. And that’s the rub, to avoid largesse but provide a floor of social benefits for a better defense of our nation. Poor, sick, hungry, people are unruly, spread disease, and clutter our streets panhandling, robbing, or worse. You can’t shoot em all Joe, why not offer a helping hand, not a hand-out, but help to survive or get re-established in our economy? Sure, pointing out “largesse” is always good. Clinton took advantage of your thoughts to revise welfare. We thought millions would die, but they did not. You were right and we took the credit! That’s what we need more of, not this crap.