A
senior’s group asked me to serve on an Ad Hoc panel to discuss the issue of
social security’s pending insolvency predicted by its administrators, unless
Congress acts to amend some of its provisions. We hoped to formulate a solution
we would then forward to our local congressman for his consideration.
The
moderator began the program by asking the panelists: How would you react should
Congress immediately reduce your Medicare benefits significantly?
A
lively discussion ensued. No one wanted any changes made that impacted us
negatively. The meeting concluded without our panel being able to formulate any
new funding recommendation.
On
the way home from the meeting, I spotted a sign advertising an Indian-operated
casino. A thought occurred to me: Let’s use our senior’s insatiable need to
gamble to help fund Medicare. They can gamble our way to prosperity.
Here’s
my proposal: Have the Administration establish a monthly lottery limited to
current recipients of Social Security. Using a check-off box on their Federal
tax return, or some other similar mechanism, participants could choose to have one
dollar withheld from their monthly check and entered into a pool. A computer
would randomly select a winning Social Securing number, that person to receive
half the lottery amount, the other half used to fund Medicare.
Of
course, this is just a rough outline. Over time, I’d expand the amount players
could contribute. Wealthy people who do not need their monthly benefits to
subsist (Bill Gates comes to mind) could wager their entire monthly amount.
The
I.R.S. would operate the lottery since they have such a fine reputation for
security and integrity, key ingredients in any gambling endeavor.
Best
of all, a board comprised of living Presidents would oversee the whole shebang
as they need something better to do than making speeches or writing their
memoirs.
I
can hear me now, shouting: C’mon 123-456-7890! I need to pay for some new body
parts!
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LUCK BE A LADY TONIGHT
Medicare is headed toward insolvency, according to a report submitted to Congress by its administrators. Despite this warning, Congress has not passed new legislation to deal with the problem. This issue is a politician’s worst nightmare because any change made to the benefits now enjoyed by those enrolled could upset this significant sector of the electorate. This is a hot topic among older Americans.
I volunteered to serve on an Ad Hoc panel while attending a senior citizen conference that met to discuss the looming Medicare financial crisis. We sought to offer a solution to our local congressman. The moderator began the program by asking the panel: "How would you respond if Congress changed Medicare, restricting its benefits only to those over age 75 , eliminating all others from the program, and what steps would you take to overcome your loss of this medical insurance coverage?”
A lively discussion ensued. While a few people refused to accept the premise that Medicare needed fixing, most agreed it did. As one might expect, the topic raised fears among the audience. What would actually happen to the senior population if Congress drastically altered Medicare, reducing coverage or increasing costs? How would the Health Care industry react to such tidal changes? How would physicians react? Would they go out of business? Would secondary insurance programs fill the void? What would they charge? How would poor people fare? How much more of a fiscal strain can seniors impose upon the younger generation to foot the bills for our ailments?
The meeting concluded without our formulating any new funding recommendation to send to our local congressman. I went home disappointed. On the way, I passed an Indian Gaming Casino. A light went on in my brain. We do not need to rely upon our young people to pay for our Medicare insurance program. We seniors can pay for it. Here is my idea. Let us gamble our way to prosperity and a fiscally sound Medicare system.
I would establish a lottery limited to Social Security recipients who like to gamble. Participants would authorize the government to withhold their wager, initially one buck, from their monthly payment by checking off a box on their income tax form. A computer would randomly select a winning Social Security number, that person to receive half the pot, the balance applied toward Medicare, after deducting for lottery expenses.
I would modify this plan over time to increase the amount gambled and to increase the number of drawings. Rich people who have no need for Social Security would be permitted to bet their entire allocation. I envision that folks such as Donald Trump and Bill Gates would consider this option as viable.
The IRS would oversee the lottery since they have such a fine reputation for security and integrity, key ingredients in all gambling enterprises. The whole shebang would be under the watchful eyes of a board comprised of former presidents and perhaps vice presidents who need to have something meaningful to do besides publish memoirs.
I can hear me now: C’mon 123-456-7890! Baby needs a new body part.
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