BIXBY, BUTLER, and SAWHILL: Entitlement reform options

"And in more than 40 cities, people get it. They understand the need and want serious action now. But just as Americans are recognizing the need to recast Medicare, along comes a seductive idea..." I wish that were true --- that people get it. This last election certainly didn't reflect that. Obama promised the sun, moon, and stars, and McCain eventually broke from his constraints of smaller government and played a game of keep up in trying to promise government largesse as well, albeit at a much smaller level. We'd better do something now about this. If Obama really wants to leave a lasting legacy, it would be better for him to get the budget and entitlements under control. That legacy would prove more enduring in a 4-year administration than one that lasted 8 years in which this nation only continues to strangle in the strings of purse.

I've seen part of this presentation. It is a wake-up call, I believe. Why are our government know-nothing illuminati so short-sighted on this? Isn't there some way to roll out this information more effectively to the masses?

Putting competitive bidding for durable medical equipment as your first recommendation is just preposterous. Where did that come from?! DME represents less than 2 percent of Medicare spending. DME is the smallest, the slowest-growing (in terms of taxpayer expenses), and the most cost-effective sector of Medicare. Greater use of DME and full recognition that it requires services (it's not just equipment) should be a top priority for healthcare policymakers. You "think tankers" need to go back to your tanks and do some more thinking.