In the US there is still the image of an irate senior citizen of the so
called "Greatest Generation" draped across the hood of then Congressman Dan
Rostenkowski's vehicle, deep within his own district. Although Rostenkowski
later fell on hard times, he was one of the most powerful men in Congress
at the time.

He was being protested and then assaulted by senior citizens concerned
about means testing or making seniors pay more of Medicare costs. The data
was clear then and clear now that without this effort, the Medicare program
would continue to absorb far too much of the nation's expenditures.

Within a year this means testing concept was dead. The photo and the image
had much to do with it. Some 17 years later the spectre of this violent
terroristic event continues to influence health care in the United States.
Few would dare to cross the strong, persistent, and increasingly selfish
senior citizen voting bloc as noted in recent deliberations.

How do they think that they will survive without a strong youth to care for
them and support them when they are less able?

Senior costs of care constitute the majority of Medicaid and have reduced
primary care and younger Medicaid patient costs to 25% or less.
Cuts in Medicaid are made in this small category, not in the majority of
funding going to seniors.
Medicare benefits have expanded again.
Medicaid costs have now replaced elementary and secondary education as the
number 1 state expenditure.

I have great respect for seniors and what they can do individually, as
should be their role to mentor and bring the next generation to a better
place.

However as we are seeing, any generation that allows itself to be called
"the Greatest Generation" may well find itself one of the last generations
in a society.

Robert C. Bowman, M.D.
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