Seniors, be wary

On my way to the forum (Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick’s town hall) on Aug. 24, I encountered protesters. One woman held up a sign that read, “keep government out of my health care.” I asked her if she wanted to abolish Medicare, and she muttered something I didn’t hear. A man standing beside her informed me the minute I signed up for Medicare I would be killed.

I dismissed these two as silly. Then I read a Michael Steele statement: “Policy makers must realize that Medicare is bankrupt and an example of what not to do with health care. … Government cannot run a health care system, they’ve already shown that. Trust the private markets to do it the right way.” Steele is head of the Republican National Committee.

Republicans fought the formation of Medicare in the 1960s. They shut down the federal government in an attempt to reduce Medicare, and in 2008 the Republican presidential ticket ran on a platform of cutting Medicare.

Seniors, take notice. While Republicans try to scare you with death panels, they are planning to abolish Medicare altogether. When they say no public choice they also mean no Medicare. Imagine buying private insurance for your 91-year-old granny.

Janet Callen

Coeur d’Alene