The so-called Paul Ryan Budget Plan, passed  last week by the House Republicans, calls for a $4.0 trillion reduction in the  U.S. National Debt over the next ten years, which is similar to the debt reductions called for in the Obama Administration’s  plan.    The biggest difference in the two plans is the handling of the highly popular Medicare program.  Ironically,  both sides agree that Medicare costs are projected to rise precipitously in the future , leaving the program on a path toward bankruptcy if changes are not made.   …

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Most Democrats realize all-too-well how much “political capital” was expended by the Obama Administration in getting health care reforms through Congress.   During the year or so that was dedicated  almost exclusively to fighting with Republicans (and each other) over the each and every provision, the Administration had little time or energy to tackle other items on the national agenda.  The final bill that squeaked through Congress by a razor-thin margin was neither understood by the majority of Americans, nor supported whole-heartedly by either political party.  …

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AskCherlock recently received from a reader a copy of a letter sent to President Obama, concerning the “health care crisis” in America.  The letter was sent by an emergency room physician, who talked about a Medicaid (i.e. welfare) patient he had recently treated.  He described the patient as being covered in elaborate tattoos, wearing expensive designer clothes, sporting a new cellular phone, and bearing a shiny golden tooth cap.  The patient informed her doctor that she smoked over a pack of cigarettes per day,  ate …