- Jun 19, 2000
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"We can never insure one-hundred percent of the population against one-hundred percent of the hazards and vicissitudes of life. But we have tried to frame a law which will give some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against the loss of a job and against poverty-ridden old age. This law, too, represents a cornerstone in a structure which is being built, but is by no means complete.... It is...a law that will take care of human needs and at the same time provide for the United States an economic structure of vastly greater soundness."
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt, August 14, 1935
As of June, 2009 - Social Security has an unfunded liability of $28 trillion dollars.
"During your working years, the people of America--you--will contribute through the social security program a small amount each payday for hospital insurance protection. For example, the average worker in 1966 will contribute about $1.50 per month. The employer will contribute a similar amount. And this will provide the funds to pay up to 90 days of hospital care for each illness, plus diagnostic care, and up to 100 home health visits after you are 65. And beginning in 1967, you will also be covered for up to 100 days of care in a skilled nursing home after a period of hospital care.
And under a separate plan, when you are 65--that the Congress originated itself, in its own good judgment--you may be covered for medical and surgical fees whether you are in or out of the hospital. You will pay $3 per month after you are 65 and your Government will contribute an equal amount.
The benefits under the law are as varied and broad as the marvelous modern medicine itself. If it has a few defects--such as the method of payment of certain specialists-then I am confident those can be quickly remedied and I hope they will be.
No longer will older Americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine. No longer will illness crush and destroy the savings that they have so carefully put away over a lifetime so that they might enjoy dignity in their later years. No longer will young families see their own incomes, and their own hopes, eaten away simply because they are carrying out their deep moral obligations to their parents, and to their uncles, and their aunts."
-- Lyndon B. Johnson, July 30, 1965
As of June 2009 - Medicare/Medicaid has an unfunded liability of $89 trillion dollars.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. These programs, that we rely on so heavily today, were started with the best of intentions. They have been expanded beyond their original intent, they have been mismanaged, they have been politicized. These two programs alone have put a burden close to $1 million dollars on every household in this country.
The same mindset that cheered the institution of Social Security, the same mindset that cheered the institution of Medicaid will cheer for this health care bill before this day is done.
But, I know, this health care plan will be different.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt, August 14, 1935
As of June, 2009 - Social Security has an unfunded liability of $28 trillion dollars.
"During your working years, the people of America--you--will contribute through the social security program a small amount each payday for hospital insurance protection. For example, the average worker in 1966 will contribute about $1.50 per month. The employer will contribute a similar amount. And this will provide the funds to pay up to 90 days of hospital care for each illness, plus diagnostic care, and up to 100 home health visits after you are 65. And beginning in 1967, you will also be covered for up to 100 days of care in a skilled nursing home after a period of hospital care.
And under a separate plan, when you are 65--that the Congress originated itself, in its own good judgment--you may be covered for medical and surgical fees whether you are in or out of the hospital. You will pay $3 per month after you are 65 and your Government will contribute an equal amount.
The benefits under the law are as varied and broad as the marvelous modern medicine itself. If it has a few defects--such as the method of payment of certain specialists-then I am confident those can be quickly remedied and I hope they will be.
No longer will older Americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine. No longer will illness crush and destroy the savings that they have so carefully put away over a lifetime so that they might enjoy dignity in their later years. No longer will young families see their own incomes, and their own hopes, eaten away simply because they are carrying out their deep moral obligations to their parents, and to their uncles, and their aunts."
-- Lyndon B. Johnson, July 30, 1965
As of June 2009 - Medicare/Medicaid has an unfunded liability of $89 trillion dollars.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. These programs, that we rely on so heavily today, were started with the best of intentions. They have been expanded beyond their original intent, they have been mismanaged, they have been politicized. These two programs alone have put a burden close to $1 million dollars on every household in this country.
The same mindset that cheered the institution of Social Security, the same mindset that cheered the institution of Medicaid will cheer for this health care bill before this day is done.
But, I know, this health care plan will be different.
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