Phil Klein points us to a Huffington Post report that among the various “public option compromises” under consideration in the Senate is a proposal to “lower the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 55, though an age limit of 60 has also been suggested.” What a ludicrous idea. The coming entitlements crises mean that America ought to raise the age requirements for eligibility in welfare programs, not lower them. Moreover, the entire point of health care reform, the president says, is to reform — i.e., lower the future cost of — entitlements. Making it easier to go on Medicare would do precisely the opposite. Here’s (Phil) Klein:
Another proposal is to allow individuals under 65-years-old to “buy-in” to Medicare. The flurry of proposals and counter-proposals suggest confusion and disarray over the public option. And while health care reform probably stands a better chance of passing without the option, it’s a testament to liberal power that Reid must make a public demonstration of his desire to keep a public-option-like alternative in a final bill. It must also be incredibly frustrating for the future former Senate majority leader, which is perhaps why he’s making ridiculous outbursts.
