Mediscare?

This is the term given by Republicans to Democratic techniques to portray Paul-Ryan-no-care as what it really is, tax breaks for rich people at the cost of health benefits for elders.

Nevertheless I find myself arriving at the same conclusion at which I always arrive: Republicans have a point, we must cut spending (and raise revenue) in order to get our finances in order.

In times like these, I like to turn to David Brooks - one of the NYTimes resident Republicans.  Brooks is the sane type of Republican and I like getting his take on things.  Just a few days ago, he put together a "Mediscare Survival Guide." This is Brooks's plan for how Republicans can make themselves politically viable while still taking steps to reduce the deficit.  For starters he claims, Republicans must make it clear that Medicare as it currently exists is not solvent.  This isn't exactly news, everyone knows that Medicare isn't solvent, but the Republican plan for fixing Medicare involves getting rid of Medicare.  Summed up briefly it looks like this: if it no longer exists, it doesn't need fixing.  This is where "mediscare" comes from, Republicans are worried that Democrats are telling Americans that Republicans want to dismantle Medicare.  Perhaps that qualifies as "mediscare," but it is also the truth.

But Brooks does hit on some important points, notably what Republicans must do to make a compromise, for example, raising taxes and investing in infrastructure. In short Brooks argues that in order to be successful, Republicans must do exactly what Democrats have been advocating...interesting.

Of course, Democrats need to make concessions too.  Federal spending can and should be cut, but the problem is Republicans don't have a plan for how to do that efficiently without undermining Americans who rely on government programs. This is why mediscare - in addition to being true - is an effective political tool for Democrats.  Is Medicare solvent?  No.  Do we need to fix it?  Yes.  What is the Republican plan for doing that?  Let me get back to you on that, unless of course you think dismantling Medicare is the solution.  If Republicans had ideas there wouldn't be anything for them to be mediscared of; they could combat Democratic accusations with ideas and facts.  Alas that is not the case.

And it is too bad, because America needs the ideas of both parties.  We need fiscal leadership that Democrats are unwilling or unable to provide.  But that leadership has to acknowledge that "shrinking the government" with cuts, cuts, cuts doesn't improve our economy in the short term, nor does it address long term issues like the insolvency of Medicare.  If a loved one is sick you don't fix the problem by getting rid of the loved one, but this is the Republican plan.  It's a shame that is the case, but until I hear real ideas, I'm going to mediscare away.