Repeat after me: Vouchercare

by David Safier

I don't know if Paul Krugman came up with the term, but today he has a column about Paul Ryan's end-Medicare-as-we-know-it plan. Krugman calls it Vouchercare.

Perfect. Clear, simple, accurate and damning. And Republicans will deny it, because they know the word "vouchers" doesn't test well. People don't like vouchers. But each denial is a chance for Democrats to repeat, Yes, the Ryan plan ends Medicare as we know it, and Yes, the Ryan plan is Vouchercare.

Under Ryan's plan, the government sends a check to an insurance company for each senior, and the insured has to cough up the rest. That's a voucher, pure and simple. Worse, the voucher isn't nearly enough, so under Ryan's Vouchercare scheme, seniors will pay more for health care, and many people won't be able to afford it.

To sum up: Calling "The Ryan plan" isn't strong enough. Saying "Ends Medicare as we know it" is better. Best is some variation of "Paul Ryan's Vouchercare scheme ends Medicare as we know it." Say it 10 times today, and it will become part of your permanent vocabulary.