Comments on: Slouching Toward Medicare

By: Frank Paynter

Frank Paynter — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:44:36 +0000

It’s nice to know that a successful doc like you can be thinking about fuel requirements for your boat’s twin 855 cubic inch Cummins diesels, while we the people are wrapping our feet in newspapers and huddling in our threadbare coats by the light and heat (and yes, liquid refreshment) of the sterno stove this winter. But when you’re sitting back in your rose pink Cadillac, you might want to consider what happened to your colleague, the good Doctor Zhivago.

Regarding our age difference, I simply hope that you never catch up!

By: Don Harvey

Don Harvey — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:36:22 +0000

Hi Frank. I had forgotten your parents held you back in kindygarden which is why you are now still so much older than me. And this is also most likely why you’ve studied up so much on medicare while I’m still not paying much attention to how it works (except of course for the reimbursement angle so I can buy my yacht). For future reference you should know that no self respecting cardiologist would be caught dead in a sailboat less than sixty feet. Otherwise, good post.

By: Frank Paynter

Frank Paynter — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:17:55 +0000

Hope you have a happy birthday Doug! I’m more than a little jealous of people who live in places that have not abandoned good government for some delusion that free enterprise can fairly deliver public services, be they the fire department, the fresh water supply, or health care.

By: Frank Paynter

Frank Paynter — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:12:47 +0000

“Single payer…” we seem to be stuck on some yet to be defined “public option” that I’m guessing will be a long way from single payer. Cynthia, thanks for stopping by and pointing out the doughnut hole. I hope that whatever we end up with is simpler than the hodge-podge Medicare A, B, C, D, and sometimes Y.

By: Cynthia Friedlob, The Thoughtful Consumer

Cynthia Friedlob, The Thoughtful Consumer — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:03:23 +0000

Well done post. Reform is absolutely necessary, but perilous. For example, the addition of Part D to Medicare is a boon, but there must have been some pretty powerful lobbying going on to allow that “doughnut hole” provision to slip through. We must be vigilent to prevent the lobbyists and fearmongers from blocking meaningful reform of the entire system.

By: Telling Girl

Telling Girl — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:05:36 +0000

Didn’t you mean “Schlepping” toward Medicare?

I agree with Darlene and Dennis Kucinich.. Single Payer System..

By: Doug Alder

Doug Alder — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:38:14 +0000

The more I read and hear about health care in the US the more grateful I am for what we have here in Canada Frank – btw I’ll be 60 in 3 weeks so there ain’t much of a gap between us

By: Darlene Costner

Darlene Costner — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:02:36 +0000

the Single payer system looks better and better.

By: Frank Paynter

Frank Paynter — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:37:21 +0000

“Euthanasia?” Now I get it! I thought it was some mean-spirited “Youth in Asia” that wanted to pull the plug on granny.

By: Cowtown Pattie

Cowtown Pattie — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:08:55 +0000

Hmmm, euthanasia sounds better and better for my old age. $500 bucks a month is a freakin’ LOT!

Crap – looks like we’ll never be able to quit our day jobs until they load us on a black blanketed gurney to the glue factory.