Be wary of Republican program plans

I am deeply concerned that the talk by Idaho's U.S. senators, congressional representatives, and others of their party in Congress will come to pass regarding proposed changes to Social Security, Medicare and, probably, future unmentioned changes to all of the programs on behalf of the people of the United States - that is, the 99 percent - instituted over the last 77 years by Democrats, mainly.

Certainly they are claiming (wrongfully) that the President's Affordable Health Act took some $700 billion away from Medicare - when the truth is that the Act would eliminate the pricey Medicare Advantage program, and the $700 billion in savings would be used to extend Medicare by a few more years. Medicare is NOT reduced - although the Ryan/Romney proposals will take an equal sum AWAY from Medicare to use elsewhere, perhaps in further tax reductions to millionaires, billionaires, oil multinationals, etc., GE - ah, no! GE pays NO taxes at all - ad nauseam?

Then it is falsely claimed that "15 bureaucrats appointed by the President" (a Republican talking point) would make the decisions whether to allow or deny medical procedures to the patient. Actually, that is exactly what the hundreds of unelected health insurance companies' employees have been doing to their insured continuously. Indeed, it appears to me that those health insurance companies seem even to consider women to be a "pre-existing condition!" From my own personal experience, I can state unequivocally that Medicare does not limit medical treatment.

Paul Ryan's voucher plan for Medicare is totally cruel and heartless. His ballpark figure of $7,000 (or, another figure bandied about of a mere $5,000) wouldn't even cover three days in the hospital. On March 1 of this year while getting the mail, my husband slipped and fell on the ice-covered road in front of our house, topped with three inches of new-fallen snow, breaking his pelvis in two places. This, of course, necessitated an ambulance to transport him to the hospital ($700+). He spent three days in the hospital, where they took X-Rays and administered pain medication. Period - as far as we know. Bill? Just under $9,000. Then he had to spend the next six weeks in a nursing home to allow the broken-in-two-places pelvis to set on its own (not even a cast). Bill: Over $44,000.

Indeed, being totally cruel and heartless, this Republican plan for Medicare will totally beggar America's senior citizens, leaving them helpless prey to the avaricious health insurance companies whose CEO's are all positive they deserve annual salaries in the tens of millions, paid for from the insurance premiums charged, of course.

Finally, another Republican intention: "Privatizing" Social Security! I have a question: Does Ebenezer Scrooge's reply to the request for a charitable donation - "Are there no work houses? Are there no prisons?" strike a familiar chord? ALAS! I FEAR NO SPIRITS OF CHRISTMAS PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE WILL COME TO THE AID OF AMERICA'S ORDINARY CITIZEN (again: the 99 percent) should Republicans succeed in privatizing Social Security.

Annette R. Bignall is a Coeur d'Alene resident.