The 'Don't Steal From Medicare For Socialized Medicine' Phenomenon

[marmar]

from CommonDreams:



The 'Don't Steal From Medicare For Socialized Medicine' Phenomenon
by Abby Zimet





Underscoring the challenges of changing social policy, a study by a Cornell professor shows that half of Americans who get any kind of help from the federal government - including 40 percent of those on Medicare - believe they "have not used a government social program." Sigh.

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." - H. L. Mencken

http://www.commondreams.org/further/2011/07/08-1

[amyrose2712]

1. Oye Vey. eom

[WingDinger]

2. One mans welfare queen, is also a righteously indignant soapbox hater.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Are tax deductions really the same as "social programs"?

Letting your keep your own money for some reason counts as "help from the federal government"?

[EC]

4. If it's from a program designed to relieve pain and

expense, yes. If you are thinking of the earned income credit, it's a definate yes. It's an added deduction for those working, but not making much. Walker here in WI got rid of that one in state real quick.

[CTyankee]

5. taxation is always being used for "social programming" if you think about it.

Why should some people (homeowners) get a federal tax write off on their mortgage interest and renters not a write off for paying rent?

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Letting you deduct mortgage interest is not 'keeping your own

money' it is being paid back for money you spent, by choice, on mortgage interest. It is pure gravy for social engineering reasons.

[MisterP]

6. we need not only a party that 1) educates these voters, but 2) supports those programs

"educating" them that they should vote for a Dem if that Dem's going to cut or end those programs is absolutely useless

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Actually, it does not show that half who get any benefit

believe they have not, it shows that the benefits most taken by higher earners are not admitted by half of those who get them, however only 25% of Food Stamp beneficiaries make that error. Big difference.