U.S. Senate Considers Medical Care and Income Tax Reform

Fed Chairman Recommends the U.S. Senate revamp Medical Benefits

Once known as “Printer Ben” for his ultra-left wing liberal lean, Ben Bernake today made an obvious right turn during his appearance before the Senate. Then he betrayed his own.

When a senator pointed out the U.S. has the “Most inflated medical system in the world” the Fed Chairman came up with recommendations that many of the citizenry won’t like. Only a tiny 5% of patients zap up 50% of medicare dollars using an average of 16 prescription drugs.

One senator related the way that was handled in his own home. Meds of his father-in-law were collected, sorted, then prescribing physicians telephoned to ask what each drug was for and the duration of its necessity. 16 were promptly reduced by half, to 8 types of meds.

In conclusion it was agreed the assignment of “Medical Managers” would be helpful. In the past when a Manager had been imposed, hospital stays were reduced by half.

Ben Bernanke, Fed Chairman.
Ben Bernanke, Fed Chairman. Official photo.

Three other suggestions were offered by Bernake. First, that people be assigned more responsibility for their own health in the form of preventative care.

Second, a Medical Manager apply stricter controls over suppliers of medical care in an effort to help control abuses.

Lastly within a period of time, make certain people are getting what the government health care budget is buying, meaning there be ever closer watchful eyes on abuse, waste, and fraud.

Both the Senate and Fed Chairman agreed the U.S. budget is over burdened by 16% of it, 80 billion dollars already pouring into health care providers pockets, the second highest budget bite of any country followed only by the second of 11%.

Bernake’s final suggestion was “IT.” “Create a capsule-type-medical-record of each person’s health records” so a viewer any place can quickly determine what has gone before that doctor, hence better decisions on what care may be next undertaken.

None of the above was entirely the Fed Chairman’s fault, this new Senate literally trapped him into coughing up suggestions for getting more money from the citizenry, then cornered him with the same old question, “How can we raise Federal revenue?”

It would seem a question of equal importance would be how are we going to care for our wounded heroes returning from war. They skipped over that entire area.

Of little consequence today, to having to face any more reality, Ben tumbled right into the Senate trap by turning-in the middle class, first, simply because of their sheer numbers. He said tax cheaters most often are so because they think others are cheating too. He again suggested IT, saying if we follow England’s lead where employers send W-2s straight to that newly hired third-party collection system recently set up to collect from workers, taxes would be paid thus the government could avoid “Refund.”

If you’re a tax the rich proponent, under this new administration, it looks you’re in luck. If you want to tax those job-creating producers to see the low income paying more, you win. Ah, yes, this new Senate sees something in the future for everybody, more of your money for them to spend themselves.

Claudia Strasbaugh
Claudia Strasbaugh was a freelance writer who founded Scripps Ranch/Mira Mesa Writer's Guild, was head writer for the weekly TV show "Kill 'EM With Comedy," plus California Bureau Chief for National Lotto World Magazine. Claudia also ran a nonprofit called Dinner On A Dollar. Sadly, Claudia passed away in 2015, but we are pleased to display her writing works.