If you don't like the opportunity to put part of your medicare in the private sector, opt out. It's not mandatory.

However, vastly increased premiums if one opts to stay in "Traditional Medicare" ARE mandatory, and that IS a Big FeckingDeal, Strick old son.

Another BFD is the hundreds of thousands (possibly millions)of people in private drug plans who will lose that coverage.

Another BFD is that257,000 New Yorkers enrolled in the state's EPIC prescription drug program would have to pay more for drugs than they do now. In all, some 650,000 New Yorkers would wind up paying more for prescription drugs under the congressional plan. The same is doubtless true in other states.

Another BFD is that the legislation would, in effect, prohibit importation of drugs from Canada, thereby eliminating powerful leverage to keep costs down.

Another BFD is that Medicare would no longer be able negothate with drug companies and use its purchasing power to drive hard bargains with drug manufacturers. This measure alon would pump billions into the hands of drug companies.

This is a real turkey of a bill just in time for Thanksgiving, and the Generation of Morons in the U.S. think its just great; of course, they have no idea what the bill really does, and apparently care less.

God Help America.

Best, Greg