Thread: Ben Stein: Entitlements ‘Bankrupt’ U.S. Today

Ben Stein: Entitlements ‘Bankrupt’ U.S. Today
Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007 9:40 a.m. EST

Ben Stein, the economist, commentator, and one-time Nixon speechwriter, also well known for film and TV roles, says the cost of Medicare is already completely out of hand.
In fact, the future cost is beyond our ability to pay — period.

"Medicare is such a crisis you can hardly imagine,â€

I agree Medicare is a boondoggle.

First and foremost, get the fraud out of Medicare. There needs to be audits on the doctors and put them in the pokey for stealing the people's money.

It's a fact. I doubt Medicare even checks the charges - but it would save the people a lot of money.

First and Formost take all benefits away from illegal citizens and their children. That would end our crisis.

And use the funds accumulated in the ESF (Earnings Suspense File -
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2 ... stash.html )
to help cover the Medical/Disability claims of American in need at the present - 519 Billion USD.

Many other [advanced, 'western/industrialized'] countries have health care systems that are effective and financially maintainable. There is no [good] reason that we should spend so much and get so little in return.
Most of the EU countries don't do that, the Japanese don't do it, the Australians and Kiwis don't do it,.... why should we???

The life expectancy in the US has slipped down to about #45 overall in the world (we used to be up in the top 10). Think about it...