Poor, Elderly, and Students

I'm losing hope. The Republicans cut $40 Billion over five years in entitlement programs: pennies in DC terms. Conservatives are furious that the cuts are so small. How does the WaPo play it?

With its presidential signature all but assured, the bill represents the first effort in nearly a decade to try to slow the growth of entitlement programs, one that will be felt by millions of Americans. Women on welfare are likely to face longer hours of work, education or community service to qualify for their checks. Recipients of Medicaid can expect to face higher co-payments and deductibles, especially on expensive prescription drugs and emergency room visits for non-emergency care. More affluent seniors will find it far more difficult to qualify for Medicaid-covered nursing care.

College students could face higher interest rates when their banks get squeezed by the federal government. And some cotton farmers will find support payments nicked. State-led efforts to force deadbeat parents to pay their child support may also have to be curtailed.

I just hope we can clone Dickens to write about the new workhouses that will spring up.

The Democrats cheered their defeat of Social Security reform. That they kicked the can down the road was held worthy of a standing ovation. Now a miniscule cut grabs the subhead "Poor, Elderly and Students to Feel Pinch" I just cannot see how this nation will avoid becoming France, with a new entitlement class that has the political power to keep the money flowing until the country cannot sustain it.

Media and Blogging Posted by jk at February 2, 2006 10:42 AM