Paul Krugman--D for Debacle--NYTimes

[Demeter]

Discussing the Medicare Part D drug plan and how any rational person would have implemented it:

"After all, prescription drug coverage didn't have to be bafflingly complex. Drug coverage could simply have been added to traditional Medicate. If the government had done that, everyone currently covered by Medicare would automatically have been enrolled in the drug benefit.

Adding drug coverage as part of ordinary Medicare would also have saved a lot of money, both by eliminating the cost of employing private insurance companies as middlemen and by allowing the government to negotiate lower drug prices.this would have made it possible to offer a better benefit at much less cost to taxpayers."

"So what we got was a drug program set up to serve the administration's friends and its political agenda, not the alleged beneficiaries."

A SUCCINCT SUMMARY OF ONE OF THE BUSH SCANDALS--GOOD REFERENCE AND SUMMARY. UNFORTUNATELY, SELECT ARTICLE.


http://select.nytimes.com/gst/tsc.html?URI=http://select.nytimes.com/2006/05/15/opinion/15krugman.html&OQ=_rQ3D1Q26nQ3DTopQ252fOpinionQ252fEditorialsQ2520andQ2520OpQ252dEdQ252fOpQ252dEdQ252fColumnistsQ252fPaulQ2520Krugman&OP=6315b7cbQ2FPYUDPnC8rrnPmQ3DQ3DgPQ3D4PQ3A4PrN(5(r5PQ3A478j)JR5s_nJZ

[acmejack]

1. Why bother telling us "UNFORTUNATELY, SELECT ARTICLE."?

Teaser then that, why? All that does is aggravate people before breakfast! We all know we can't read it unless we cough up $50 to the NYT which it will be a cold day in hell. So why bother telling us what we're missing? I could link you to all the good subscription content in Salon too...

[Demeter]

3. I'm trying to hit the high points

Monday and Tuesday are the only good days for NYTimes, Monday is full of news and two great columnists, Tuesday has the Science section which is more hit-or-miss.

I don't buy the NYTimes either (I get it free through work). I thought DUers would like to know, in case they come across a copy lying around...forgive my temerity.

[IADEMO2004]

5. Well I'm glad you posted! Thank You.

[greenman3610]

2. at some point this will show up on line

please someone let us know

[acmejack]

4. I want to read them in their entirety

It really pisses me off to start reading something good and just when you are captivated, you find you are locked out. Nothing personal Demeter, I have been so mad at the Times about this Select Horse Crap, I guess you were todays target of convenience, sorry.

Krugman and Herbert are both favorites of mine, too, so it is doubly maddening...

[Cassandra]

6. Here

http://64.226.238.78/PA/index.shtml


Shhhh!

[Demeter]

7. THANKS!

[Broadslidin]

8. Double Thanks...!!

[Hand]

9. Link to full article at truthout.org...

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051506M.shtml