How hypocritical.
Our country spends more than any other developed nation on health care and Medicare is expected to go bankrupt in 20 years or so, yet some politicians turn their backs on us the people and approve and pass legislation that serves only the health care insurance industry.
Medicare Modernization Act has been the biggest corporate welfare legislation passed in years. Among its provisions, is one that pays more to Medicare advantage programs (12-19% more) than it does to doctors for traditional Medicare service. As a result what has happened is that in practice, their is waste of the limited health care monies available. On th one hand we are running out of money and many cannot afford medical coverage, while on the other hand government is spending more of our money and giving it essentially to health care corporations who manage these advantage programs. As a result, all around all major cities you will find HMO's who operate "social clubs" for their members. Clubs which feed, entertain and offer beauty shop, manicure and day long recreational activities for Medicare members. In essence we pay for social services with health care funds. I say we because we have to understand and remember that it is us, you, me and anyone who gets a paycheck, that contributes to and pays for these current services. We pay it with the social security taxes that are withheld from our paychecks. A greater percentage of this amount is ending up paying for current services, so it is us, that are paying for these non medical social services.
This occurs again because of legislation. Politicians have catered more for the interests of lobbyists and special interest groups than for the people themselves. It was ex speaker of the house Ken DeLay that stated he loved lobbyists and frequently allowed lobbyists to write legislation. MMA passed by a difference of 1 vote in the Senate and did so only after the cost of the program was stated as being $400 billion. In reality, after its approval and passage, was the true cost of $512 billion given.