New Math and the Pig in a Poke

The Wall Street Journal reports with a touch of cynicism today that "new math" boosts the Democrat health care plan. According to the Journal, "The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found the sweeping measure will cover 94% of nonelderly legal U.S. residents, up from about 83% currently. The bill will cut the deficit by $81 billion over the 10-year period, owing to trims in Medicare spending and new taxes."


To parse this, begin with "legal" U.S. residents and ask if there will  be a provision to demand proof of legal status (House Democrats have already vetoes this) and question if there will be an amnesty expanding the number of "legal" residents and thus jacking up costs significantly. Move on to "trims" in Medicare spending and insert "cuts" in programs (i.e. Medicare Advantage) that will effectively ration services to the elderly, and then don't forget to stumble to a stop on "new taxes." New taxis will affect everyone (young and old) even if masked as taxes on health insurance providers because these will be passed on to those insured (and those soon to be required by law to be insured). This burden will be far from insignificant, and those expecting to get something for nothing will be grievously disappointed. Obama promises pie in the sky...and that's where it will remain.


Remember that Medicare costs expanded 90% above original estimates...and you can see where "health reform" is heading. And don't fail to note that the Democrat "plan" is not yet a plan; it's a conceptual outline from the Senate Finance Committee to which the House and Senate will add billions more on the floor and in conference (for example, three versions of reform in the House exceed a trillion dollars in cost). What is most likely to emerge is the perennial pig in a poke. Oink! Oink!