Will the debate over Medicare sway your vote in the 2012 election?

Medicare and SS are not the same things -- two different funds entirely.

Sharonmill1946--Sunnyshine is entitled to her opinion and true to Democratic fantasy, you protest too much at what she has to say, simply because there is nothing she did say that is not factual. When you defend obama, you are defending the indefensible. Yes, obama has no feeling and care for the U.S. None of his acute failures over the last years are accidental, but part of his larger plan to bring us down. If you had paid attention in 2008 and not turned a blind eye (and ear) you might have opened your mind to seeing this wolf in sheep's clothing. To think that 4 yrs. later obama supporters still have learned nothing is maddening, foolish, unconscionable and a threat to all of us who have done our due diligence. Yes, give me a President who is American (really), loves America and wants to see us prosper, no matter what the party affiliation may be. The election of obama was a terrible, damaging mistake. Our ability to un-do these policy decisions must begin immediately in 2013, and God help us and hopefully our new President to begin the healing.

No One has much to say how all this affect's the real workers of America just more talk about the poor ole rich that put us here to begin with .You Sunshine cannot deny that Clinton balanced the budget and economy was better than it had been in years .Bush did sink us in and left us sinking causing people that finally could finally own their home as the result from Bill Clinton cleaning up the GOP to loose it because he would not stop the rich from controling it and running them into the ground more and more that has gone on into the Obama stay and has hold because of the GOP in control and holding back to allow recovery unless it benefits the rich this is still going on with out any regard to our country's health in all way medical and job's forcing the working class to have to live off the USA whether it is welfare or dib in's they are running us in the ground as long as they can for their personal gain .The truth is when every one has to work to gain on a more equal basis we all benefit because we all have to put out resources what ever they may be to have a gain .I agree Obama could have done better but he was blinded and on the wrong trail and he openly restarted .Now Mitt Romney is trying to duplicate what others have already tried to do that did not work .He has in fact made most of his money by buying out and sucking them dry and leaving them to be shut down .I do not trust his track record as he will be for the rich to gain only I might be wrong but his track say's no and he will run us in the ground also Obama did not cut out welfare by letting people live on it free he raise the bottom to increase the out put meaning more will have to go to work or loose it's benefit's and why doesn't Ryan support his mother we support ours and we are far from being rich
Johnny T.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, I think the best way to form that opinion is getting information from a source that is independent or has nothing to gain one way or another by giving you information. The source's goal should be to give you the facts & details...the truth, NOT to cherry-pick the info based on what they think you want to hear or what will stir you up or what makes their candidate look good or what the ratings or "audience research" shows the viewer's liked or want to hear. I get my information from a variety of sources...some right leaning...some left leaning...some independent. Then I compare specific points and answers to come to conclusions. It is obvious by some of the comments on here that the authors of the posts have become non-thinking, lacking the use of common sense and logic, brainwashed robots. Someone earlier said it quite well..."...make people vote against themselves. Cloud the real issues affecting voters with "hot button" non-priority issues (and mold the "enemy's" message in a manner which is a turnoff to your party's loyalists) and you can lead voters like sheep, right off the cliff." One particular cable network, Fox (whose owner and operators' integrities, or lack of, have been ridiculed due to their activities overseas) bases their programming on the fear factor and demonizing anyone and anything from other sides. If you watch them regularly and consume everything they say as being truth I am sorry to say you have been used and abused as a pawn. Reminds me of Joe McCarthy's tactics, though I think he believed his hateful accusations were true. This particular network, I think shapes the info with the philosophy..."tell them something enough times (especially opinion and unfactual claims) and keep drilling it into them, and they'll believe it." (Their "fair and balanced" slogan is a good example. Because they say it, doesn't make it true!) Based on comments included in some posts here, some are entrenched in their thinking and there is no way they would even think about changing their opinion or their stance. Their opinion on any issue has already been decided not based on facts but what they're told to believe or what they should believe as being a "good Repub". They will not actually vote for what's best for them but what they've been influenced to think and do...so in essense they could be "voting against themselves". Some things have been written here about Pres. Obama (whom I didn't vote for), the Affordable Care Act and his approach to Medicare that just are not true. I encourage everyone to not rely on one media source. Seek out a variety of information from a variety of sources to find the truth. Ask questions. Seek out the answers to your questions from a variety of sources and compare the info. Remember just because XYZ says it, doesn't mean it's true. Since Medicare affects us now or will in the future, a good voter should take the extra time and effort to become an informed voter and help make decisions that would be best for most of us.

My mother and father taught me not to stand silent while others are treated unfairly. Thus I'm goiing to take on the rants about abortion and gays. If someone is gay and not bothering you, what is your problem about letting them live their lives in peace in a committed relationship? There are plenty of married men (some R's in Congress) who have been "caught" in same sex incidents. This is because they have repressed their true nature to try to conform to other people's standards. There are male and female child molestors who molest children of the opposite sex, but they can adopt children but gays can not. Look at the individual and not stereotype them as you would not want them to stereotype you. Now re abortion: I'm sure there are very few women who intentionally get pregnant so they can have an abortion. Leaving that small percentage behind, there are women in abusive relationships or in situations where it would be unsafe to bring a child into the world. And many of those opposed to abortions are also against providing brith control, either via health insurance benefits or to the poor in planned parenthood clinics. They don't want govt programs to help poor families. They want all immigrant children kicked to the border. I really don't know how these people can rationalize their beliefs. If you have lived a long life, you should have learned nothing is black and white. And you should look to a common ground. If you don't like abortion, then support free birth control and instead of having your own children, adopt unwanted ones, black, white and illegal. When I see postings like some of the ones I saw here and motivates me to do whatever I can to get some sanity back into our political process.

Yes. Technically, that is not the governments money, it's ours because we made the contributions. Congress has already robbed the trust fund of millions of dollars in the past 10 years in order to balance the budget. That's not why we contributed. As for having an option, that may be nice for those who are savvy with investing, but we all know of horror stories that robbed people of their investments. Medicare is the only sure thing there is (except taxes and death), so let's keep it that way. The government could do a lot to save the fund by aggressively seeking out fraud and we can check our bills to find out, and report, if anyone has billed Medicare for something they didn't receive, or overcharged for it.

I was surprised to even see this question on the forum. Looks like it was posted by someone who works st aging care. I wonder what their feelings on this subject are. I also had a post removed from this question.
I think this is not a place to discuss politics if posts are removed to support others views. Let's get back to caregiving where we are all on the same side.

Since the civilized World has existed, one rule and one rule only has been successful in bringing down a Country. "Divide and Conquer". I have never seen such total division before in this Country, in all my 78 years. Look around you, America is about to be Conquered and Democracy will cease. Our Freedoms are at stake, especially our Religious Freedom and our gun-bearing Freedom.

WOW Sunnyshine
How do know all your information to be correct.I do think we need to reseach both sides plans. After all Romney put the health care plan Massachusetts has in effect.
There will always be problems with anything new.

There is no way I would vote for a democrat, (Obama). Romney and Ryan are not going to take any medicare from anyone already 55 and over. We must get rid of Obama care.

Fact check --- EVERYONE --- please. This is not useful information-- the way it currently is posted. Because this list serve does not allow you to make any retractions or corrections, you could be passing along nonsense paid for by people profiteering from your gullibility.

golf I agree with you. This is too much of a hot topic to be on the caregiver forum. People are more divided than ever, and a more divisive administration has never been seen in the history of this country. Quite the irony, considering this was the guy who was going to bring everyone together. Hope? Not any on the horizon if we elect to keep this man in office. Change? Only if we clean sweep and allow someone with some actual leadership take over the reins.

And mylady, how classy you speak.

golfbhard LOL I agree. You have to take some mindless rantings like that with a grain of salt.

If we learn to keep it simple we might have a better idea of who is really complicating it when I was growing up my father lost both his legs and then had to work every day to feed us and give us the meds we needed while growing up no one new about medicare in the fifty's and sixty's and then in the seventy's he finally got some help to get legs as before he sweated out and paid for them how ever we did manage to get what was called comodity's food it was at least healthy .I am glad we have a system to argue about but to many get to much free we did not .I went to school with bad teeth and in need of other health needs .in 1972 I volunteered for the draft by joining the Air Force my brother had went in the Navy a few years earlier .Thing were alright in that era you just got up and went to work and paid your bills then Dr's would work with you to get paid now every thing is high and insurance is a necessary part of life .So why do they the rich keep attacking it.I wish that we had it even though we did live through it with out it. Life would have been better for people like us and I think that my father deserved help that he didn't get .He did complain about the money and health care that was needed for the working class and why the Republican's kept it blocked and complained about getting it started even then .So this is my mark until they the Republican's actually do some thing that work's for all like insurance or health care that work's for all not just them .Johnny T.

I am a retired healthcare benefits attorney, and currently my mother's caregiver. She is 90 and in an advanced dementia world. Due to other health issues, she is under the care of hospice, a Medicare benefit for which I and my entire family consider to be a gift from God. For this reason, we are voting for President Obama because of his commitment to improved healthcare for all citizens. Specifically, Obamacare's greatest gift is the financial strengthening of Medicare by taking away the suctioning of Medicare dollars previously going to private insurers providing Medicare Advantage. Flaws are there, but it will keep Medicare funded for 8 more years thatn all others have oly talked around. I see a lot of anger and emotion in the posts, along with misinformation. Understandable, as it is a very complex issue.

I know that the only person who has my families back is Obama and his “Obamacare”. I see how the Republican Party cannot connect with the average man or women. They just don’t get it. They would rather invest in weapons and military than their own people. That is why I stand with President Obama and the Democrats.
I also see these negative ads with all the misleading information and lies. It is another reason why I can’t even begin to relate to the negativity and lies of their ads.
I hear comments from Senator Tom Atkins…now this is the new Tea Party Republicans. Is this who you want to run our Country? I don’t think so!
I stand with President Obama. He cares about us.

This is definately not the site or venue to post this question. It feels like a political ploy. The caregivers that post on this site are looking for comfort and venting rites... not the political views and the anxiety writings of this election posting. We don't need more anxiety on our plate. Keep politics and religion out of the spotlight where the caregivers need to find respite not combat.

I don't agree with the posters who say this is not the place for a discussion of politics and public policy in relation to how it will affect caregivers and those for whom they care. If these discussion upset you, then you don't have to look at that particular question or discussion. If you want to live hiding your head in the sand and sticking to your beliefs, then these discussions will have no affect on you. But don't try to halt the open discussion of others and those who want this discussed. It is b/c caregivers are not vocal enough that our needs are being overlooked, including by our own families and friends. To me, being able to secure decent housing and care as we and our family members grow old is a very important issue. More important to me, than whether my neighbors who might be gay, can quietly marry and commit to care for each other for life, something many of the postershere don't experience with their own families are they struggle alone to care for someone. And more important than whether a young woman, who made a mistake or for whom birth control didn't work, who makes her own personal choice to have an abortion. I live in a community where children are being killed by abusive boyfriends or in house fires or are found roaming the street (toddlers) while their mothers go off to work. We have cases where foster families or adoptive families neglected and even tortored or killed the innocent children under their care. I did not see the right to lifers at these trials, demanding a safe place for these unwanted children. So, while a world without abortion might be ideal, in reality, it is a lesser evil than what some children go through each day silently, with no one to help or save them, in this great country. Imagine if there was no birth control or abortion what it would be like? I live in a state where the R governor has spent millions of dollars to defend lawsuits against the state where he has attempted to impose laws that violate citizens rights . Meanwhile, the lists of elderly living alone and afraid, needing meals and care in this state is growing. So, as a caregiver, you should start asking yourself exactly what issues are really important and which candidates are going to try to achieve them.

The medicare debate will not sway my vote. Posting this sort of political question here on agingcare is just another way to divide us...it also creates prejudice. Prejudice because people assume that the poor vote for dems and the rich vote for reps....OR, that the stupid people vote for dems and the smart ones vote for reps. It is hard to change anyone's political preference by ranting sh!* about the opposite side. It doesn't change their mind, it just pisses them off. I am going to go on over to Pinterest where everything is colorful and pretty....or what some people call "putting my head in the sand". I will, however, vote and that is all I can do. I would love to go through and point out what I think are dumb comments but it truly doesn't matter what I think or say. I cannot resist this one point though; - do you think that Obama has no military? Do you think Obama has no budget for ammunition for our soldiers? Will you be so prejudice to think that Republicans agree with what Sen. Tom Atkins said? Really?

Republican voters might not agree with what Senator Akin said about woman but this sure does question their ability to judge candidates and their elected officials or that they blindly follow them due to their one or two issue agenda. How did this man remain in office for 6 terms, putting through his twisted agendas. The exposure of the true feelings of Rep Akin during an interview is exactly why we need discussion and analyis of these politicians, including how much they pay in taxes and whether they place their millions in off shore accounts. These people are making decisions about our lives, after all.

I am not defending Akin but he based what he said on a scientific theory that has been around since the 13th century...if you research the theory, you could conceivably understand where he was coming from...but the media likes to take off on these sorts of things.

Bravo to 2much2cover for pointing out that even though care giving is consuming, we ignore public policy at our own peril. I think we are isolated by our circumstances, and public discourse on this site about the laws that profoundly affect all of us is crucial. Indeed, the exchange of ideas will save all of us from feeling alone in an uncaring world. It has very much encouraged me even when I disagree with the post.

Yes, let's go back to the 13th century, wasn't that around medieval times, with the aristocracy and the peasants and the surfs? Yes, I think that's where we might be headed. It's easy to inflict your beliefs on others but put yourself in a situation where you have been raped and become pregnant. Which candidate are you going to vote for?

Well, not I am seeing where the creator of this website has their loyalty and that it is a left leaning site. You are all falling for the left's endeavor to remove your attention from the economy, jobs and the fact that millions are on the street, losing their homes. You won't have to worry about healthcare, you'll have to worry about your net worth spiraling downward if we stay on the same course. In fact the term "MEDISCARE" is exactly right and exactly what the left wants you to believe in our difficult times. Even the bible tells you that the poor will always be with us--there are always going to be the haves and the have-nots, but the poster who said that this society is split into believing libs love the poor and republicans only love the rich is correct. It's pathetic to think that the only job, family and life that obama cares about is his own.

Good Morning Everyone: Someone I thought had asked if anyone heard about about Alzheimer's and healthcare something to the sort. I am not sure if the person was talking about this in particular but I did run across this site that was very interesting, 'The National Alzheimer’s Plan." Those who are interested can read more about the plan AND can give them your feedback about the plans n express your concerns at this website.
I am going back to this site to read-up on it myself. I hope everyone has a good day today.

"LikeaMother", when you say the "top 1% is paying 80%", what do you mean? Not the top 1% in terms of wealth, right? Because Medicare is funded by a 1.45% tax of wages and for the "top 1%" the majority of their income is unearned and therefore not subject to the Medicare tax.
There is a new Medicare tax planned for unearned income that is supposed to start in 2013 (there are also many loopholes provided for the wealthy to slip through).
This is the stuff that is so misunderstood by so many voters, but which has a direct and important impact on their lives. Yet, all the smoke and mirrors of campaigning are directed at social hot-button issues to get us all riled up and make sure we "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" (to use a Wizard of Oz reference).

In answer to Mommaq, of course Obama has a budget for ammunition and for our solders. Example: Our President Obama made a promise and he kept it. He ended the war in Iraq.
Our President Obama introduced and passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009, and the March 30, 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. This is Obama Care. This is one of the many reasons why I support President Obama.

2much2cover. I said the research has been around since the 13th century. That does not mean that new research isn't being done in our time. If you read about the research and theory, you might know what it is all about.

2much2cover...if I get pregnant by a rapist, I would have the baby.