Tag: Albany

A Modest Proposal on Vouchers

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I have a “modest proposal.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal.  Rather than creating a voucher system in education, as some have suggested, why not convert Medicare — which is a voucher system — into something that works like the public schools?

Under the Medicare program, the federal government pays for health care, but the elderly are allowed to choose any health care provider they please.  If the nearest public clinic isn’t good enough, they are allowed to use other non-profit, for-profit, and public health facilities elsewhere, and still have Medicare pay.  Moreover, the level of Medicare reimbursement is the about same (with an adjustment for the cost of living) whether the patients were dishwashers or doctors in their working lives, and whether they live in Scarsdale or the South Bronx. 

A Modest Proposal on Vouchers

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I have a “modest proposal.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal.  Rather than creating a voucher system in education, as some have suggested, why not convert Medicare — which is a voucher system — into something that works like the public schools?

Under the Medicare program, the federal government pays for health care, but the elderly are allowed to choose any health care provider they please.  If the nearest public clinic isn’t good enough, they are allowed to use other non-profit, for-profit, and public health facilities elsewhere, and still have Medicare pay.  Moreover, the level of Medicare reimbursement is the about same (with an adjustment for the cost of living) whether the patients were dishwashers or doctors in their working lives, and whether they live in Scarsdale or the South Bronx. 

A Modest Proposal on Vouchers

|

I have a “modest proposal.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal.  Rather than creating a voucher system in education, as some have suggested, why not convert Medicare — which is a voucher system — into something that works like the public schools?

Under the Medicare program, the federal government pays for health care, but the elderly are allowed to choose any health care provider they please.  If the nearest public clinic isn’t good enough, they are allowed to use other non-profit, for-profit, and public health facilities elsewhere, and still have Medicare pay.  Moreover, the level of Medicare reimbursement is the about same (with an adjustment for the cost of living) whether the patients were dishwashers or doctors in their working lives, and whether they live in Scarsdale or the South Bronx. 

A Modest Proposal on Vouchers

|

I have a “modest proposal.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal.  Rather than creating a voucher system in education, as some have suggested, why not convert Medicare — which is a voucher system — into something that works like the public schools?

Under the Medicare program, the federal government pays for health care, but the elderly are allowed to choose any health care provider they please.  If the nearest public clinic isn’t good enough, they are allowed to use other non-profit, for-profit, and public health facilities elsewhere, and still have Medicare pay.  Moreover, the level of Medicare reimbursement is the about same (with an adjustment for the cost of living) whether the patients were dishwashers or doctors in their working lives, and whether they live in Scarsdale or the South Bronx. 

It Takes A Thief…

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In the past, I have generally found NY Times editorials hard to read, as their tendency had been to come up with lame excuses to back the incumbent, when they weren’t just endorsing the Democrat for President.  But things have been getting better.  With the exception of the final decision, I found myself agreeing with much of what was said about Spitzer and Suozzi as candidates for Governor today.  The Times acknowledges Spitzer’s substantial accomplishments, but points out that Suozzi’s accomplishments are in some ways greater, because they were more difficult and involved greater personal risk.  The Times all but says that although Spitzer’s record is excellent, Suozzi may be the better candidate. 

It Takes A Thief…

|

In the past, I have generally found NY Times editorials hard to read, as their tendency had been to come up with lame excuses to back the incumbent, when they weren’t just endorsing the Democrat for President.  But things have been getting better.  With the exception of the final decision, I found myself agreeing with much of what was said about Spitzer and Suozzi as candidates for Governor today.  The Times acknowledges Spitzer’s substantial accomplishments, but points out that Suozzi’s accomplishments are in some ways greater, because they were more difficult and involved greater personal risk.  The Times all but says that although Spitzer’s record is excellent, Suozzi may be the better candidate. 

It Takes A Thief…

|

In the past, I have generally found NY Times editorials hard to read, as their tendency had been to come up with lame excuses to back the incumbent, when they weren’t just endorsing the Democrat for President.  But things have been getting better.  With the exception of the final decision, I found myself agreeing with much of what was said about Spitzer and Suozzi as candidates for Governor today.  The Times acknowledges Spitzer’s substantial accomplishments, but points out that Suozzi’s accomplishments are in some ways greater, because they were more difficult and involved greater personal risk.  The Times all but says that although Spitzer’s record is excellent, Suozzi may be the better candidate. 

It Takes A Thief…

|

In the past, I have generally found NY Times editorials hard to read, as their tendency had been to come up with lame excuses to back the incumbent, when they weren’t just endorsing the Democrat for President.  But things have been getting better.  With the exception of the final decision, I found myself agreeing with much of what was said about Spitzer and Suozzi as candidates for Governor today.  The Times acknowledges Spitzer’s substantial accomplishments, but points out that Suozzi’s accomplishments are in some ways greater, because they were more difficult and involved greater personal risk.  The Times all but says that although Spitzer’s record is excellent, Suozzi may be the better candidate. 

The Candidates On Pensions: Suozzi Had the Best Answer

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Last week was Medicaid week, based on data I have collected and want to let people see. That was planned.  This week is turning out to be public employee pension week.  That was not planned, but is in response to an excellent series the Times has produced on the subject.  Better than anything the Times has done on any subject where I have specific knowledge in years.  Today, the Times smoked out the three remaining major party candidates for Governor on the state legislature’s practice of granting New York City public employee pension sweeteners over the objection of New York City.  For the most part, all three candidates answered the same, but even so, Suozzi had the best answer.

The Candidates On Pensions: Suozzi Had the Best Answer

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Last week was Medicaid week, based on data I have collected and want to let people see. That was planned.  This week is turning out to be public employee pension week.  That was not planned, but is in response to an excellent series the Times has produced on the subject.  Better than anything the Times has done on any subject where I have specific knowledge in years.  Today, the Times smoked out the three remaining major party candidates for Governor on the state legislature’s practice of granting New York City public employee pension sweeteners over the objection of New York City.  For the most part, all three candidates answered the same, but even so, Suozzi had the best answer.