Krugman: Real Entitlement Reform

[ProSense]

Real Entitlement Reform

Remember all the pundits who stroked their chins, pretended to deliberate, then — completely predictably — came out against health care reform because, they said, it wouldn’t control health care costs? Remember all the demands that Obama do something real, like raising the Medicare age (which turns out not to make any significant difference to the deficit)?

Now, from the CEA, we have this:

The CEA is careful not to claim too much — there’s pretty good evidence that the ACA has played an important role in the cost slowdown, but they don’t assign any particular number. Still, it looks as if the biggest complaint against Obamacare was completely wrong: cost control is one of the things that is really, really working, with huge positive fiscal implications.

If they get the enrollment process working — it’s getting better, but we still don’t know if it’s moving fast enough — this is still going to go down in the long run as a policy triumph.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/21/real-entitlement-reform/

[IrishAyes]

1. While it's crucial to keep offering the truth,

we can't hold our collective breath waiting for the GOP to accept it. In all my life I never expected to see such a bald-faced bunch of liars, murderers and thieves. They don't even try to hide behind a mask of decency anymore - why bother, when they (falsely) think they've already triumphed? I work and pray and work some more every day toward the goal of seeing these unspeakable trogs spinning down the drain.

[pampango]

2. "Remember all the pundits ... against HCR ... saying it wouldn't control health care costs?"

...there’s pretty good evidence that the ACA has played an important role in the cost slowdown...

[ProSense]

3. They even ignored

the projections.

Bush's Medicare Part D was far more expensive than the Affordable Care Act and.... never budgeted
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024064958

[zipplewrath]

6. I keep seeing this claim

But I never see an explanation of WHAT is controlling the costs. And often, the way it is worded, the primary costs being controlled are medicare/caid costs.

[Laelth]

4. k&r for the truth. n/t

-Laelth

[ProSense]

5. Kick! n/t

[sheshe2]

7. Good!

K&R!