Redeeming the Elderly

Now that I’ve thoroughly insulted and offended the elderly, I think it’s about time that I propose an alternative solution.  It’s only fair and honest, since to merely complain about something is flat out unproductive.
So, instead of merely complaining and attempting to shame the elderly into abandoning their welfare, I have some solutions that I believe will work for everyone when it comes to Medicare and Social Security, especially now that they are insolvent and probably will bring our country to our knees if we don’t fix it:

• For starters, all current recipients will be allowed to continue the program, if they want.  They will be able to opt out of all or part of the programs, though, if they so wish to do so.  I don’t expect too many to do so, but I think they are currently limited in options.
• The scope of Medicare coverage should be drastically reduced to life-threatening treatments and coverage only.  Basically, unless their condition will result in someone’s death, they won’t be able get medical care.
• Start a whistle-blowing rewards program to catch Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
• Allow people who are not yet on these programs to opt-out of them for life.  This means that all the money the would normally contribute to Social Security and Medicare would instead go into their own pockets.  However, they will be ineligible to receive any of these benefits when they reach the designated retirement age.
• For people 50 years or younger, raise the age to collect these benefits to 80.  Still allow people to collect their retirement savings at 61 though.
• Remove the income caps for the Roth IRA and other post-tax contributions to allow everyone to save their money and grow it tax free.
• Remove the corporate tax break on group medical insurance and remove the Antitrust laws in the medical insurance industry.  This will allow medical insurance to become more competitive, cheaper, and open up the opportunity for better individual plans, which can stick with people wherever they go in their career.  This will also give them more choices when they retire.

The fact is that government stifles choice in the market.  This is a fundamental principle of economics that cannot be avoided.  I firmly believe that choice is a good thing when it comes to buying and selling goods and services.  My solutions are based on that principle where our income and opportunities for retirement and medical care are greatly increased.
I don’t expect anything to happen anytime soon, even if the Republicans have a 2/3 majority in both houses by this time next year.  This is because the elderly fear anything that might rock their own benefits from this Ponzi scheme.  In fact, if any of these proposals made it to the floors of Congress, they would be distorted by the media and the likes of the AARP in order to prevent the status quo from being destroyed.
Still, if the elderly did push for some of these solutions, they would be redeemed in my eyes.  If the Baby Boomers really want to leave a better legacy than one of immorality, excess, and theft, then they best dismantle the behemoth that is the Federal government we’ve all inherited.