So, ever since Mitt Romney finally listened to the telepathic messages I’ve been sending him for at least a year and named Paul Ryan as his running mate, I’ve been bombarded on Facebook by my liberal friends posting links and missives decrying Ryan’s “plan to end Medicare.” Instead of going about destroying their DNC supported mistruths and flat out lies individually (and probably pissing off some people in the process), I’m just going to address it here.

First things first, Ryan’s plan will not end your Nana’s current Medicare coverage. It provides that anyone who will qualify for Medicare over the next ten years won’t have to worry about anything changing. That means that anyone 55 or older is fine. Add to that the fact that even if the Republicans pull off a complete sweep they would still need the house to pass these bills, then allow time for them to actually take effect (kind of like how Obamacare doesn’t take effect until like 2013). So, you can tack on another 2 years to that. So now, anyone 53 or older has nothing to fret about.

Secondly, the plan only allows for those entering Medicare to opt for either a voucher system and pay for their own healthcare with the assistance of vouchers or go the old fashioned way. Now, where have I heard this “vouchers will increase the costs and decrease quality” argument before..? Oh yeah, when the voucher system was implemented in DC area schools. Seems that a lot of people actually liked those things until someone canceled them. Oh well, got to keep the teachers unions happy. But I digress…

Finally, voting for the Democrats out of fear that Ryan “will change Medicare as we know it” is just plain illogical. Medicare doesn’t work. It is going to go bankrupt. It needs to be changed. Sticking our heads in the sand on this issue won’t work. There will be a day soon when there won’t be anywhere else to take money from to pay the few doctors how haven’t stopped practicing medicine by then. Then what will we do? Who is going to save Medicare from Medicare?

So, the next time someone tells you that we have to keep “Ryan from changing Medicare as we know it,” ask them why they’re so desperate to save something so fundamentally flawed that it can’t even save itself? Medicare is like Myspace. It worked for a while, but fundamental flaws led to its decline. It’s time to let it go riding off into that sunset so something better can take its place.