GOP Seniors Health Care Bill of Rights.

The GOP has announced the following promise to the nation's senior citizens though the announcement of a "Health Care Bill of Rights."

Six bullet points in easy to understand English: (Text is below)

-PROTECT MEDICARE AND NOT CUT IT IN THE NAME OF HEALTH CARE REFORM

-PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM GETTING BETWEEN SENIORS AND THEIR DOCTORS

-PROHIBIT EFFORTS TO RATION HEALTH CARE BASED ON AGE

-PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE DISCUSSIONS

-ENSURE SENIORS CAN KEEP THEIR CURRENT COVERAGE

-PROTECT VETERANS BY PRESERVING TRICARE AND OTHER BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES


This senior's health care bill of rights document is a complete game-changer for the current debate. Here is why: It's simple, easy to understand, and acknowledges the fears seniors have about health care. In addition, since it is simple to understand it also creates accountability for both the GOP and the Obama Administration to live up to the principles stated above.

From the political standpoint it is key to note that Seniors are a very important and powerful group of voters. In addition, they have until recently been very solidly democratic voters as a legacy from the days of FDR when he created the "old age insurance" (Social Security) and from democrats who ushered in Medicare. Every video I see of town hall attendees asking questions contain a large number of seniors asking to not have their health care coverage changed or taken away and now they have a party who has made a claim to make those concerns a key part of the opposition agenda.

While the GOP's politics don't always reflect my libertarian views I do recognize that effective opposition to Government involvement in health care will at least preserve some of the freedoms we have left as it relates to our medical care. This new seniors Health Bill of Rights is not the complete package but it is a savvy and effective way to bring the debate and the health care agenda back in line with the concerns of our seniors.