AmeriKan political leaders once thought, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, were sacrosanct pillars of AmeriKan society. They’ve been known so since the 1980s seen as the “third rail” of politics — touch them and you’re dead. AmeriKa has changed. Steer clear or risk your political life, or so it was thought before T**** and his clan in Congress came to power. Now, despite past promises from T****, all bets are off.
cleaning the swamp and draining AmeriKa of its impoverished and disabled
T**** said time and again on the campaign trail to trust him, entitlements were safe. After he was elected, he promised to “love and cherish” Medicaid. As recently as February 18, he reiterated that pledge to Sean Hannity on Fox “News.” “It’s going to be strengthened but won’t be touched. Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched.”
A day later, on social media, T**** reversed himself, endorsing the Republican House budget plan that included a directive for the Energy and Commerce Committee to find $880 million in cuts. Most or all of those cuts are likely to come from Medicaid. “The House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda,” T**** wrote on Truth Social.
He’s a lying psycho
T**** can’t have it both ways. Enabled by his MAGA brethren in Congress, the new administration is looking for $1.5 trillion in savings over the next decade. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this cannot be accomplished unless cuts are made to entitlement programs, specifically Medicaid, at least to start.
How important is Medicaid?
Medicaid is designed specifically to help Americans most in need — who also have the least political clout. The program provides health insurance to more than 72 million poor and disabled Americans. Eighty percent of poor children (and 39% of all American children) get insurance through Medicaid. It also provides coverage for 63% of nursing home residents and 41% of adults with disabilities and pays for 41% of all births.
The federal government and state governments share the cost of Medicaid coverage currently, though the federal government shoulders considerably more of the costs than the states. Any federal cuts will mean states will either have to reduce coverage or raise taxes to make up the budget shortfall.
A brief aside: The most economically disadvantaged Americans live disproportionately in red (Republican dominated) states. Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas have the highest poverty rates in the country. So any cuts to Medicaid will affect these deep red states the most.
[Some material from Dan Rather, retired news broadcaster]
