GOP plan would cut Medicare benefits

Tony Moschetti (letter, May 14) argues that Republican Medicare spending proposals represent increases, not cuts. However, he overlooks the tremendous increase in the number of people who soon will become eligible for Medicare.

With this factored in, along with continued inflation of medical costs, the result of the Republican proposals will be senior citizens receiving fewer dollars per capita from Medicare than they do today - that is, there will be per capita cuts, not increases, in Medicare spending.

The analogy Moschetti uses to educate us regarding the benevolence of the Republican proposals is a good one, but, again, he didn't factor in all of the necessary details. To be analogous to the Medicare situation, his scenario would need to include the family in question having had a child, or maybe twins, in the past year, during which time inflation was 3 percent to 5 percent. In such a situation, a 5 percent salary increase would be more than offset by inflation and the additional mouth(s) to feed, clothe and pay medical bills for; thus, the family's discretionary income would decline. This is exactly what will happen to many senior citizens under the Republican proposal - their Medicare benefits, discretionary income and standards of living will decline.

Medicare needs reform. What will best achieve that is to turn down the rhetoric, stop the name-calling and listen with an honest respect to the opinions of those who disagree with us.

Tony, you also will find that to be good for the soul.

Joe Fulfs
Greensboro

News & Record
May 21, 1995

Smaller annual increases aren't the same as cuts

It is little wonder that you in the mainstream media have little or no credibility with anyone having an IQ in the double digits. I can't figure out whether you are merely ignorant, or blatantly dishonest. You editorialize as to severe ''cuts'' in Medicare spending. Annual increases in Medicare spending are not cuts. There are no proposed ''cuts'' in spending, merely smaller annual increases. Are you not able to grasp that simple concept? Only inside the Beltway and on the editorial pages of the dishonest media are increases in spending labeled as cuts. But then trying to explain even simple concepts to liberals is akin to attempting to teach calculus to kindergartners.

Let me try once more, in a way that perhaps even your simple minds can understand. You go to your boss and ask for a 10 percent raise. He says that since you have such a difficult time understanding simple concepts, he is only going to give you a 5 percent raise. OK, now for the hard part. You now have to go home and tell your spouse. Do you tell her that you got a 5 percent raise or a 5 percent cut? No, this is not a trick question.

If the truth is on your side, why lie? Why do you continue to shill for the abject liars who make up the liberal wing of the Democratic Party? Just tell the truth once in a while. It may not support your agenda, but it is good for the soul.

Tony Moschetti
High Point

News & Record
May 14, 1995