I can't believe it I agree with McCain.

[ccharles000]

I heard him on CNN and said the government should not pay for bill gates medications. Obama may have the same view I don't know. I am still voting for Obama. I guess someone can agree with john once.

PS.He was talking about Medicare and rich people not having their medicine paid for. I may be wrong if I am I beg you to change my mind.

[Skittles]

1. it chaps my hide I'm paying for all of MCCAIN'S medical woes

yes INDEED

[OwnedByFerrets]

20. He also gets almost $100,000 in military disability

payments a year, but is unwilling to support the new GI bill. What a fucking hypocrite.

[newfie11]

27. and that is tax free

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Where does it stop then? Where would he draw the line?

Let me guess, at people making over 200,000 a year.

[ccharles000]

7. I think if you make more than 200 million dollars...

you should get less/no Medicare.

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. After you retire & make nothing?

Because sure as shit it's got to be based on something like that. Anyway, Gates is too young to be getting Medicare anyway.

[ccharles000]

12. OK...

If they are worth more than 200 million.

[Median Democrat]

18. How Does Bill Gates Qualify For Medicare?

He is only 53? Is there a new Medicare program that I might be eligible for?

[ccharles000]

19. When he is old enough.

[Median Democrat]

30. Isn't that misleading then for McCain to say?

"government should not pay for bill gates medications" If Bill Gates is only 53, and he does not qualify under the current plan until he is 65. then that is 12 years from now. With all the changes proposed to health care, what is the likelihood that Medicare will be the same then as it is now?

Also, you got my hopes up that there was Medicare program for folks in their 50's. So, what point was John McCain trying to make about some alternate universe 12 years from now where Bill Gates is applying for Medicare?

[aquart]

3. So you believe that healthcare should have a means test.

And the government should only cover the poor. At what point are they properly poor? When it's medicine or food? If they can still afford food, the government should stay out of it?

How about, instead, we have proportionate taxation that will still leave Mr. Gates very very very rich, but also pay for not only his healthcare, but that of all the rest of us.

The health of a nation's population is both an economic and national security issue. That goes for all of us. Not some of us.

[dkf]

4. Believe me, Bill Gates pays for a whole lot.

And I highly doubt the government pays for any of his medications.

[Median Democrat]

15. Bill Gates Is Only 53, He Doesn't Qualify For Medicare!

Talk about misinformation on the part of John McCain. Bill Gates it too young to qualify for Medicare. For McCain to suggest otherwise is dishonest.

[MercutioATC]

5. Medicare isn't means-tested.

Like Social Security, it's a government benefit that's not need-based.


Perhaps it should be. There's a school of thought that has some merit that states that SS was a good idea, but the addition of things like Medicare (en expensive program that's not means-tested) is killing government coffers.

[madeline_con]

9. Yes, a retired millionaire or billionaire hardly needs it. n/t

[madeline_con]

6. I agree with that, but everyone can find one thing they

agree on with other people. I probably partied to some of the same tunes DUH-bya used.


Excuse me... :puke:

[Yael]

8. Please review HR676

You can find a comprehensive outline on John Conyer's website.

[tkmorris]

11. I think the govt should pay for Bill Gates' meds.

I think the govt should pay for EVERYONE's meds. However, I also think everyone should be taxed to cover the expense, and given Gates' income he should get the S*** taxed out of him.

See? Looked at that way Gates isn't getting anything handed to him by any stretch. Problem solved.

[Median Democrat]

13. McCain Is Totally Wrong

Bill Gates is 53 years old. You have to be 65 to qualify for Medicare. There is no way that Bill Gates could qualify for Medicare.

[FrenchieCat]

14. It's about reducing drug cost period.....not reducing it just for some.

That's what the Drug Companies would prefer; McCain's proposal that only those who pass a criteria as low income to purchase their drugs thru the Medicaire prescription program....while those who don't meet the threshold are on their own.

Obama wants to reduce the price of drugs, period. The Drug companies don't like that, cause it affects their bottomline.

Drugs are overpriced and need to come down.

So my question is, do you know what you are in agreement about? Most times, the Republicans just right out lie.......and if you believe what they say, you are gonna find yourself in the same place that too many Americans found themselves when they bought into the soundbyte that Bush peddled in being him being a "Compassionate Conservative".

[Lint Head]

16. No human being should be without medical care.

Rich or poor. Basic medical treatment should be provided to all Americans. Cosmetic surgery and checking into a hospital because you are tired should not be covered. I know and have know several extremely wealthy folks during my life time. Some of them will pay a doctor to put them into a hospital just because they feel tired and want to have tests run for the hell of it. That option should be open to anyone with the money to pay for it. :dem:

[Historic NY]

17. Who do you think is paying for McSames meds?.........

the American taxpayer, thats who.....he even draws a disibility pension on top of that.

[Hamlette]

21. means testing is a horrible idea

my parents are middle class, they were frugal, invested reasonably well and ended up with maybe $500K in assets counting their home.

If SS had been means tested, they would not have taken it. To them it would seem like taking a hand out, making someone pay their bills.

My dad had a long, lingering illness. It would have taken everything they had in a nanosecond. It would have taken everything all us kids have too.

My mom would be without a home if SS and medicare was means tested.

The better answer is to tax Gates enough while he's rich and can afford it so in the end he pays his own way and a little of my dad's.

[nvme]

22. Universal means just that.

Financial status rich/poor should not be a reason one recieves or does not recieve medical care. Bill gates should be offered the coverage. heres an analogy that may answer your statement. All students are offered public education regardless of their income; although this is true they are not forced to do so. Some may choose at home schooling. others may seek private schools. then, most will attend public school.

[notfullofit]

23. Nobody is wrong 100% of the time. nt

[bluestateguy]

24. I just believe that the cap on FICA taxes should be lifted

Bill Gates should pay the same percentage of his income in FICA taxes as a dishwasher at Waffle House.

[LeftishBrit]

25. The point he's neglecting...

is that under a national health care system Bill Gates would be paying far more, in taxes, for EVERYONE ELSE'S medication than poorer people. So even if the rich benefit from the system (and rich people often 'go private' even when state health care is available), they also support it.

[ConsAreLiars]

26. Gates should contibute in proportion to his ability and receive, without charge, according to

his need. Free and universal (paid through proportional taxation - the more you have above survival level the greater share you contribute) is the only possible solution. By that standard Gates would contribute far, far more than he could ever require. Other options get dragged intro the sort of petty parsing of "fair" that you use here. The "means-testing" bullshit is just another way to divide and destroy.

(edit typo)

[Median Democrat]

31. A lot of talk about Gates 12 Years From Now . . .

Since Gates does not qualify for Medicare until he is 65, and he is only 53. Why the facination with Bill Gates' health, and how is it relevant to the presidential election, particularly since it will be 2020 before Gates can start claiming Medicare benefits assuming its even called Medicare then. Perhaps if McCain is elected, it will be called McHealth.

[stray cat]

28. I think we shouldn't pay for pensions and health care for senators and congressman.

including McCain's medical bills.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. The problem with the GOP is...

...they only ever say what people want to hear; they never do what they say, however.

[RedCappedBandit]

32. Coming from McCain thats a fucking LAUGH. nt

[cbc5g]

33. The taxes he'll have to pay will make up for it n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

34. Nope, everyone should have a stake in Medicare

If it becomes a program only for those who need it, people who don't get it won't want to support it and start to chip away at it. That's the reason social security is still in place after 70 years whereas welfare has been greatly reduced.

[Juche]

35. I don't agree

Gates pays alot in taxes, and he should get some compensation for it. I'm all in favor of progressive taxes and want to see the top income tax bracket go back up to 40-50%. But to have someone pay medicare taxes their whole life and not get to enjoy them in retirement isn't fair.

FTR, Obama voted against that kind of idea.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00093

[DesertRat]

36. Should the government pay for his wife, Cindy's meds.?

Oh wait. She just steals them when needed.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/18/drugs/

[SemiCharmedQuark]

37. Like all Republicans, McCain is going with the "it *sounds* good at first" idea.

Bill Gates should pay his *higher* taxes and that would pay the cost of any medicare benefits he receives.

[alarimer]

38. No, the only way that universal health care works is if everyone has to use it.

Including Bill Gates. Otherwise you have a two-tiered system in which the rich get whatever health care they want (and pay for it) while the rest of us gets what is left over. How many doctors in that case would not even treat the poor because the government reimbursement rate wouldn't be anywhere near what they could charge Bill Gates.