I figured there might be more of this, but here are a couple of very irreverent reactions to Kevorkian’s death.
Andy Borowitz writes that Paul Ryan Vows to Continue Kevorkian’s Work:
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – In a somber Congressional ceremony, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) eulogized the late Dr. Jack Kevorkian today, vowing to “honor his legacy by continuing his good work.”
“Dr. Kevorkian tried to ease the transition of seniors into the great beyond,” an emotional Rep. Ryan told his colleagues in the House of Representatives. “Here in Congress, we have the opportunity – one might even say the obligation – to continue Kevorkian’s work on a grander scale.”
As a first step to memorialize the work of Dr. Kevorkian, Rep. Ryan said that his new budget plan would replace Medicare with a system of so-called “Kevouchers” that could be redeemed for cyanide pills, nooses and bullets. (h/t to Marilyn Golden and Sheila Boyd)
And from The Onion:
Man Dies All By Himself. (h/t) to April Shiebler
There’s another one I found over the weekend, but it brings up some issues that merit a separate post, which will come later today. –Stephen Drake
To the contrary, the Ryan plan would PREVENT rationing/passive euthanasia so in actuality Ryan’s plan is the antithesis of Kevorkian’s murderous objectives and for that reason should be supported as we continue praying that someone will discover enough spinal column to take the two recently rendered judicial decisions declaring Obamacare unconstitutional to the Supremes for overturning there.
Victoria,
First, this *is* a satire piece.
Second, though, Ryan’s plan wouldn’t prevent rationing at all. The rationing would just be based on how much insurance someone could afford. I know a number of policy-wonky people familiar with healthcare and longterm care issues. The Ryan plan guarantees the development of a tiered insurance system for the elderly. Affluent seniors with few health issues yet will have great coverage at a reasonable cost. Seniors with ongoing chronic illnesses and who are on modest fixed incomes will only be able to get a very basic healthcare package – and may still not be able to afford to get what they need with the out-of-pocket expenses. Remember – just a few weeks ago Eric Cantor admitted that the and other conservatives weren’t opposed to market-based rationing. Just government rationing.
The Republican party has a pro-life plank in the party platform and so those who represent us from that party should be striving to prevent government subsidies for both abortion and euthanasia. Rationing constitutes the withholding of medical services necessary for healing and survival, leading to in effect passive euthanasia. While there are only a limited number of things we can do about preventing market=based rationing, there is no excuse whatsoever for members of the party of life to permit rationing by a government death panel, yet that is precisely what we of the disabled as well as seniors will be faced with should our elected officials fail to now take recent decisions rendered declaring Obamacare unconstitutional to the Supreme court for overturning there. Once that bill is overturned, Medicare will not be as badly depleted and then the Ryan plan comes in to help in preventing rationing. The benefits of the Ryan plan were described fairly well recently on Fox News.
Victoria,
I don’t count on either party to look out for our interests. And I trust Fox News even less than I trust MSNBC.
The Ryan plan doesn’t add up. There is no way the kind of coverage available to seniors under Medicare now will be available under a voucher plan. How is a for-profit insurance company going to provide affordable coverage to people who are likely to cost them a boatload of money within a very few years? Short answer – they won’t.