clunkers program done already?

[beachmouse]

Heard somewhere that the next program after cash for clunkers will be "Cash for the Elderly". Give um $4500 bucks and cut their healthcare. It may be called something else like Soylent Green or Assisted Suicide.

As someone who has worked in aging, the way the right has tried to spin that part of health care reform actively angers me. EVERYONE over the age of 55 needs to sit down with their doctor and talk about what their wishes are for a plan for care and who should hold power of attorney for them if they are suddenly in a health crisis and unable to make those kinds of decisions on their own. Because if you don't and have sudden health issues, it gets insanely messy to sort everything out after the fact and you may end up in a situation where your real wishes are not known or respected.

And if you're under that age, you should still discuss with a loved on what your care plan should be if you survive getting hit by a bus.

 

[30ashopper]

The Bush tax credit program for business owners that purchase large SUVS:

Fed Tax Break Encourages SUV Purchases - ABC News

A lot of small business owners apparently took advantage of that one and cheerfully used those vehicles for non-business purposes.

The history of this is interesting. Typical of government incentives - you start with something small to help farmers buy tractors and fifteen years later dentists are using it to buy SUVs and hybrids.

I guess this serves as another example of how government, even when it tries to do something good, always ends up screwing up.

 

[hnooe]

As someone who has worked in aging, the way the right has tried to spin that part of health care reform actively angers me. EVERYONE over the age of 55 needs to sit down with their doctor and talk about what their wishes are for a plan for care and who should hold power of attorney for them if they are suddenly in a health crisis and unable to make those kinds of decisions on their own. Because if you don't and have sudden health issues, it gets insanely messy to sort everything out after the fact and you may end up in a situation where your real wishes are not known or respected.

And if you're under that age, you should still discuss with a loved on what your care plan should be if you survive getting hit by a bus.

Good point... and you could end up being the shoes of Terri Schiavo, with a barage of costly state and private legal teams battling it out while you are, unbeknownst to you of course, costing society tens of thousands to just keep you alive, in your otherwise dead state.

 

[drivingtheview]

As someone who has worked in aging, the way the right has tried to spin that part of health care reform actively angers me. EVERYONE over the age of 55 needs to sit down with their doctor and talk about what their wishes are for a plan for care and who should hold power of attorney for them if they are suddenly in a health crisis and unable to make those kinds of decisions on their own. Because if you don't and have sudden health issues, it gets insanely messy to sort everything out after the fact and you may end up in a situation where your real wishes are not known or respected.

And if you're under that age, you should still discuss with a loved on what your care plan should be if you survive getting hit by a bus.

Impossible to disagree with any of your points in regards to long term care/planning. But I will respectfully say this; We should not smoke, take illegal drugs, consume alcohol, overeat, avoid exercise, etc. as all is scientifically proven to be bad for your health. Our public school systems, provided by tax-payer $ for all, continue to teach these truths to children year after year. Yet millions of Americans are choosing to do all of the above at this very moment. I do not need to be counseled about any of this because my life and the choices I make/fail to make are my personal responsibility.

 

[steyou]

As someone who has worked in aging, the way the right has tried to spin that part of health care reform actively angers me. EVERYONE over the age of 55 needs to sit down with their doctor and talk about what their wishes are for a plan for care and who should hold power of attorney for them if they are suddenly in a health crisis and unable to make those kinds of decisions on their own. Because if you don't and have sudden health issues, it gets insanely messy to sort everything out after the fact and you may end up in a situation where your real wishes are not known or respected.

And if you're under that age, you should still discuss with a loved on what your care plan should be if you survive getting hit by a bus.

I agree 100% with that. I recently lost my Momma and Daddy and the plans were discussed before and everything went smooth. I am glad they did that because there are 6 of us kids and it would have been messy.
Not so sure that the right is spinning anything. I don't thonk that our politcians know, for sure. Funny how politics does not equal common sense.

 

[steyou]

Impossible to disagree with any of your points in regards to long term care/planning. But I will respectfully say this; We should not smoke, take illegal drugs, consume alcohol, overeat, avoid exercise, etc. as all is scientifically proven to be bad for your health. Our public school systems, provided by tax-payer $ for all, continues to teach these truths to children year after year. Yet millions of Americans are choosing to do all of the above at this very moment. I do not need to be counseled about any of this because my life and the choices I make are my personal responsibility.

Well there goes everybody in SoWal. Well maybe 99%.

 

[Winnie]

As someone who has worked in aging, the way the right has tried to spin that part of health care reform actively angers me. EVERYONE over the age of 55 needs to sit down with their doctor and talk about what their wishes are for a plan for care and who should hold power of attorney for them if they are suddenly in a health crisis and unable to make those kinds of decisions on their own. Because if you don't and have sudden health issues, it gets insanely messy to sort everything out after the fact and you may end up in a situation where your real wishes are not known or respected.

And if you're under that age, you should still discuss with a loved on what your care plan should be if you survive getting hit by a bus.

I agree with planning ahead. I did this as soon as I left my parents home at age 19. Why age 55? Does risk go up substantially at that age? Just wondering.

 

[hnooe]

Frankly the govt. should also now do this with flat screen TV's--I have too many of the old type that I would like a trade in for--this could be the start of something really good, ya'll!

 

[beachmouse]

I picked 55 because it's ten years before most people would even think of those issues.

 

[30ashopper]

I heard on CNN tonight that a majority of the cars purchased were foreign.


We really need to turn healthcare over to these folks, they obviously have their (you know what) together.