Medicare Privatization

Krugman:

More when we have some details. But two key points:
1. Privatizing and voucherizing Medicare does nothing whatsoever to control costs. We’ve seen that from the sorry history of Medicare Advantage. I’m sure that the Republicans will claim savings — but those savings will come entirely from limiting the vouchers to below the rate of rise in health care costs; in effect, they will come from denying medical care to those who can’t afford to top up their premiums.
Oh, and for all those older Americans who voted GOP last year because those nasty Democrats were going to cut Medicare, I have just one word: suckers!
2. E.J. Dionne is right: This will be Obama’s defining moment. Will he stand up for the principle that society takes care of those in need? Or will he cave in? I wish I had confidence in the answer.

I love how Paul Ryan is probably going to introduce a plan that doesn't go into effect for 10 years.  What a way to put off the backlash.  But seriously, this is a terrible idea.  It has all the worst parts of Obamacare, with the explicit addition of putting private insurance companies in the position of deciding grandma doesn't need that treatment because it costs too much.  So everything the Republicans campaigned against, they will probably be proposing, but only for people who are 55 or younger.  Don't worry Republican base, you're still covered.  Stupid.