The health care debate, actually it's more like each side trying to hammer home talking points rather than an exchange of ideas, has made it clear that those we once trusted to represent us are not interested in what seniors have to say about the issues. This confirmed, to many of us, that those in power follow their own agendas while believing the people they serve will accept whatever is decided by them and not be held accountable for the results.
How oblivious can the politicians be? Pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945) stand to lose ground with both the House and Senate health care reform proposals. These people attended town hall meetings, made phone calls and sent letters to their elected representatives. Such efforts were needed since the government has proposed reducing Medicare benefits by more the $500 billion, along with other cuts and restrictions.
And what about the trustees of the leading medical association who backed the plan without the sanction of the group's delegates much less the general membership. Or a senior advocacy organization seemingly turning its back on the people they are supposed to be lobbying for by endorsing the government plan. It's disturbing because they could generate a huge amount of money through premiums from the supplemental insurance plans offered under the organization's name. Will these windfall profits be realized at the expense of the members it represents?
Yes, the citizens are concerned about health care. They want improvements and more people to have coverage, but seniors can't be overlooked just because they've reached the age were extra treatments and more frequent care is needed. For years or more pre-boomers paid their health insurance premiums, which increased with age. Many never saw the inside of a hospital except to visit someone. Now, we're being told we'll get less because other people, some of whom are not citizens, don't have coverage.
There's something wrong with a nation that does not take care of its old, those who contributed so much over the years. And there's something really wrong with a government that is willing to remove the seniors' safety net just when they need it most.
We didn't ask for Medicare. It was the politicians' idea. We didn't produce an unrealistic budget in order to get that bill passed. Congress compiled the numbers. We didn't spend time trying to ram through a health care bill while the lagging economy requires immediate attention. Thank our current stock of elected representatives for that. What we did do was voice our concerns about health care. But no one listened. Not the administration. Not Congress. And, with few exceptions, not the news media.
This is not the time to give up. The Senate is next to take up the health care issue. Then, if a bill comes out of the Senate, it must be merged with the one narrowly passed by the House before the President signs it into law. So pre-boomers can still make an impact if only someone will listen.
Don Potter, a Philadelphia native, was born in 1936 and is a 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement, frequently writes on marketing issues, and has a blog dedicated to pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945).
Read more articles for and about pre-boomers with thoughts, comments and opinions designed to spark thinking, foster discussion, and stimulate debate by logging on to http://www.pre-boomermusings.com
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