Ten Ways to Save Medicare, Social Security and the USA

          Republicans are cast in concrete when it comes to taxes.  Democrats are equally adamant about messing with entitlements.  The immovable force meets the irresistible object.  Bang!  Nobody wins.  Nothing gets done.  The Nation continues its downward plunge.

          So who is responsible for fixing it?  It is the  535 members of Congress who set the budget, raise the money through taxes, and enforce the laws.  It is the members of Congress who are in a position to take  positive steps to save us from a pending disaster.

Here are 10 recommendations designed to change our approach to our problems.  None of these are original with me.  I have simply collected them from ideas gathered through newspaper and magazine articles.  I truly believe that Congress – our Senators and Representatives --   can “turn our country around” if they implement some or all of the following: 

1.     Raise the retirement age.  Increase the retirement age six months at a time – for 10 years – so that by 2017  Social Security starts at age 70.  People are living longer today.

2.     Base Social Security on Income.  Those with higher incomes pay more in to Social Security.   At the very least, eliminate the cap so all income is taxed.

3.     Eliminate tax loopholes.  Since we are attempting to wean our nation away from fossil fuels, why do we give huge tax breaks to big oil to help defray the cost of drilling?  Make them use their own billion dollar profits.

4.     Increase prosecution of Social Security and Medicare fraud.  Make violators ineligible for future benefits.  Force them to repay what they stole.  Give them jail time.

5.     Do a major overhaul of Medicare.  Increase monthly Medicare premiums by a modest amount.  Institute bidding for products and services.  Permit purchase as an alternative to mandatory rental of patient medical equipment.

6.     Revamp pension plans for Congress.   Require service of 10 years or more to be eligible for a pension.  Keep congressional pensions in line with what the common folk receive.  Institute some form of term limits..

7.     Cancel all congressional raises.  Do this until the government – and our nation – are no longer in danger.  Do this especially when the government overruns its budget.

8.     Eliminate lucrative congressional perks. On the cutting block should be free health club services,  free health insurance premiums and in the case of some of our reps, lucrative farm subsidies.

9.     Decrease the national defense budget.  Revamp the nation’s foreign policy. We are involved in too many police/military actions around the world.

10.  Bring our troops home now.    Afghanistan, Iraq and any other country where we are serving in police actions will just have to get along without us.

Remember, it is Congress who has the power to bring our Nation out of debt and establish future balanced budgets designed to meet our needs.  So, if you feel the need to complain, direct your anger at U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill.