Good point, Judy—now people who bought into the social contract (we had no choice) and paid into SS and Medicare all their lives—in my case 42 yrs—are being scourged for finally getting their benefits.  

When you buy a Medicare supplemental plan, somewhere along the line, these sets of options were standardized…Plans A, through, I think, L, or

something like that. Each company’s plan A is like every other one’s Plan A, except in price. I would like to see the system reformed or repaired, not replaced—this is too huge an interlocking system jury-rigged thru too many decades, to be scrapped and some govt brainstorm built into place—largely without public input past this initial period (how many Federal Registers do you read, how many times have you commented on a proposed regulation?). So, if I might need maternity, I would get an option with maternity. If I needed a lot of dental, maybe there could be an option with dental. The basics would be in all (like basic cable). The prices would vary depending on the insurance company’s skills at managing (this is where competition would enter). The supplementals vary widely in price, but contain the same options. I guess to be true insurance, everyone should have it—but I don’t like the management of this coming through the IRS or some card where they could check your bank acct to see if you truly need subsidizing on the premium. I also think we need to reset prices—bec providers get cut back to a percentage of their bill as resimbursement, they have kept raising the total demanded. This is waaaay out of whack now. I don’t know how this could be done—but if the govt is suddenly bossing everyone and setting pay, maybe they would put these new "powers" to good use here. I hate to encourage this, though. I could go on…but let’s see what others say.

To me, Wintour is kinda yesterday. What is up with this Rachel Zoe person? Her voice scratches on me, but I am becoming quite the Brad fan. Her assistant’s assistant Brad, not THE Brad.

Palin is probably out hauling in a net or taking care of her five children and her grandchild, or finding a way to annoy power (which is initself power), or reading the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, and local Alaska media (as she said after recovering from the condescension of being asked something so trivial), or trying to work with her PAC or her supporters on Team Sarah, or maybe all at once—while we are sitting here, some of us, saying "Sarah needs to educate herself about the world." Oh, please.

I watching Fox where you developed the concept that Republicans are just like the Taliban? Or might that have been a certain other channel?

I already read four of those books—which I guess makes me some sort of doubledog genius, too.

Yeah, I thought that was kind of silly, too.

I thought Palin was an interesting choice—and am of the school that she did more to help than harm—but the election was a media wire job from the jump. So…here we are… I think Sen McCain’s mealy mouthing on his former running mate now does not speak well of him—like a dopey ex-husband who can’t say anything civil. Maybe she will run or do more, maybe not, but stand up, Senator, and say, "She put up with a lot and fought the good fight." I may not even vote for McCain for senator again because (1) he has sorta kinda supported some of the lamer admin initiatives, and (2) he is a wuss about Palin.

I saw the words "tiny bit of scrutiny" and wondered what newspapers and magazines SHE reads…heh.

My sister believes the covers of those mags—"Oh, no, Kirstie is fat again" or "Brad is getting a divorce!" I know this has no relation—and I should not even think this—but I think, "And you voted for…"

I still want to know who this man is and how he got that 2004 speech and who is bankrolling this—they must be worried—and how the heck we go in this pickle!

LOL—why did the Red and Blue pill and the cut-off feet jump into my mind?

You are lecturing us all the time—do you have a degree in political science? Is it even fair for me to ask? I happen to—and 16 years on the Hill—but I would expect people to judge my statements against the facts, not against my so-called credentials.

Hello, Hillary! Wait—she sold out.

I thought I could get through a day without being accused of wetting myself…but no….