John Goodman’s Commentaries
Why Are Politicians Ignoring the Elderly
According to Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell, 3.5 million workers have permanently departed from the workforce. Of that number, 2 million have retired. Can’t retirees change their mind, and at least take a part-time job? In principle, yes. But the federal government does its mighty best to discourage them from doing that. More
Health Care in the Senate Next Year
The committee chair will be Bernie Sanders and Bill Cassidy will be the ranking member. Ironically, both believe in universal coverage that could be achieved with no increase in health care spending. Sanders will need help from Cassidy if anything is to be done in a closely divided Senate. The problem: their visions for health care are so different, there is almost no overlap. More.
What Can We Learn from the Election?
Why Do Progressives Support Democrats? Part II
Why Do Progressives Support Democrats? Part I
The words “progressive” and “Democrat” have become virtually synonymous in modern parlance. But did you know that the most important progressive reform ideas of the last half-century have not come from the left? They have come from Republican politicians and right-of-center intellectuals and think tanks. More.
Hidden Traps in the IRA Bill’s Drug Provisions
In the near future, the elderly and the disabled will face a double whammy: higher premiums for Part D drug insurance and higher prices at the pharmacy. This is on top of negotiated prices (and the consequent drop in new drug production) which will kick in later in the decade.
John Goodman and Linda Gorman explain why this will happen in The Hill.
What I Bet You Don’t Know About Poverty, Inequality And The Role Of Government
Here are five surprising facts:
- The U.S. welfare state has almost eliminated poverty in this country.
- Over the last 75 years, income inequality has actually gone down, not up.
- Since the end of World War II, income has steadily risen for every income group – with the greatest increase among the bottom fifth of the income ladder.
- Over half of the population gains very little from working under the U.S. fiscal system – as taxable income replaces untaxed transfer benefits.
- The U.S. has the most progressive fiscal system among all developed countries.
Heartland Podcast: THE NEW YORK TIMES RUNS A “HIT PIECE” ON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS
Medicare has one privatized component. Many politicians and the corporate media want to destroy it.
Health Reforms for Voters
Chief among these is Obamacare reform to (1) let families have access to insurance that meets their medical and financial needs, instead of unaffordable deductibles and sky-high premiums; and (2) let families have access to the best doctors and the best hospitals, instead of narrow networks that deny them the care they need. More.
Medicare Prescription Drugs: A Case Study In Government Failure
Bernie Sanders and other socialists think health care should be provided by the state. Their latest version of that idea is “Medicare for all.” How does Medicare stand up against private, free-market provision of similar services? Since Congress just acted on Medicare prescription drugs, let’s examine drug coverage in answering that question. More.