More virtuosic politics from the Democratic Party

As I assume you have noticed, a major bloc of opposition to the recent health care reform legislation consists of Medicare beneficiaries who have been convinced by Faux News and Rush Limbaugh that it will cut their benefits and shove them out to die on an ice floe. Of course, as always when referring to Faux News and the Vulgar Pigboy, the opposite is true.

Right now, Medicare beneficiaries get a single "welcome" checkup when they first sign up. After that, Medicare pays for "treatment of disease" plus limited, specific preventive services such as mammograms. But under the reform legislation, they'll now get an annual visit, absolutely free, including 100% of the screening tests, vaccinations and every other service recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. They'll also get a personal prevention plan, and a personal health risk assessment. Once the seniors realize the legislation didn't cut their benefits, but actually increased them, and in a really great way, they'll come back to the Democratic Party in droves and the threat of losing control of the House in November will be over.

Oh wait. The new benefits take effect on January 1, 2011. #%$!#%%^ brilliant, Harry.