Tea Party Representative Allen West (Future POTUS-FL) has been in the news a lot lately, and that's a good thing.
West -- in my humble opinion -- may just one day be President of this country. Trust me, the guy has a bright future and the sky's the limit. Also, if patriots like Allen West were in the mix in the GOP 2012 hopeful field, there would be a lot more excitement than there is at this time -- and he's the real deal and not a publicity-whoring charlatan with anything but a conservative or libertarian track record.
Anyway, the congressman doesn't mince words (which is just what we need today), talking candidly about the program that has the highest unfunded liability going forward and is the ultimate third rail in American politics: Medicare.
Florida's WPTV reports:
Here's video:BOCA RATON, Fla. - If those opposed to U.S. Rep. Allen West have their way, the 2012 election will be fought on his recent vote to privatize Medicare starting in 2023.
They got loud during a town hall meeting the congressman held Wednesday night in Boca Raton.
The man designated to read questions from audience members read one word a lot: "Medicare."
And if you know Congressman Allen West and what he thinks of Medicare, the program that delivers health care to 38 million seniors and that national polls say is largely supported, his response was what you'd expect.
"I gotta tell you something: if you support Medicare the way it is now, you can kiss the United States of America goodbye," said West.
Look for the Democrats to demagogue the heck out of West's honest statement (check Soros-funded Think Progress for this) but West is correct: Medicare alone spells the end for the United States as we have all known, loved and cherished it (as in a prosperous and free nation, wherein one retains the majority of one's earnings and is left alone and able to pursue happiness).
Michael Tanner at Cato tells us why we are facing impending doom and her name is Medicare:
Sobering, especially when you consider that the Tea Party and limited government movement achieved such a huge victory in November yet the fools that got us into this mess are still in GOP leadership positions and ready, able, and willing to sell their souls for a few pieces of silver.Social Security faces unfunded liabilities of more than $15.8 trillion. And while that sounds like a lot of money, it is dwarfed by Medicare's looming budget shortfall of between $50 and $100 trillion, depending on which accounting measure is used. Because of its funding mechanisms, Medicaid does face the same type of accounting shortfalls, but it will soon add hundreds of billions of dollars to federal, not to mention state, spending.
As the full force of entitlement programs kicks in, the federal government will consume more than 40 percent of GDP by the middle of the century. Half of that will be taken up by just those three entitlement programs. From there, it only gets worse.
We need more straight talk like that of Allen West, aka Mr. "you're not going to intimidate me...."
Updated: I'm not the only one thinking of Allen West in the White House, stop by this Draft Allen West for President in 2012 Facebook page. There's also a great site set up exclusively for the effort to draft Allen West for President, 2012: draftallenwest2012.com.
Via Memeorandum. Cross posted to LCR contributor sites.
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I think it's apparent that the congressman is insane.
ReplyDeleteAmerican Medicare
Nice drive by libel, Maddy!
ReplyDeleteWhen liberal politicians tell you that conservatives want to "end Medicare as we know it", the operative words are "as we know it". As we know it today, Medicare is going bankrupt. If it crashes and burns under its own weight, that too will "end Medicare as we know it".
It's the unsustainability that needs to be changed, not demagogued.