Why Does Medicare Need a Blimp?
(Why Does Medicare Need to Advertise at All?)
Citizens Against
Government Waste (CAGW) has come out against the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services for spending $600,000 on a blimp to
fly at sporting events. The blimp is part of a $30 million ad
campaign to make Medicare 'better-known' to seniors. It will tour
the country in the coming weeks, appearing at football games and
other events. The blimp reads "1-800-Medicare," a hotline the
public can call with questions about benefits.
"The notion of advertising an entitlement program is strange to
begin with," CAGW President Tom Schatz said. "It is like
advertising the air that we breathe. That $600,000 would be better
spent hunting down the $13 billion of waste, fraud, and abuse that
plagues the current Medicare system."
Medicare Administrator Calls Clients, 'Clueless'
The CAGW organization explains that Medicare
administrator Tom Scully says the blimp is needed because "the
average senior has no clue what the benefits are."
"A blimp and a hotline will do nothing to solve the maze of
confusion surrounding the Medicare program," Schatz continued.
Perhaps unaware of how lift is generated in such a contraption, or
more-likely denegrating bureaucrats who live on the stuff, he
continued, "Medicare is in trouble and the last thing taxpayers
need is more hot air."
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that spending on
Medicare will double over the next three decades, jumping from
2.3%, to 5.4% of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).
Spending for Medicare and Social Security will account for 12
percent of GDP in 2030 and will consume more than half of all
federal spending. Experts predict that younger workers today will
pay thousands more in Medicare and Social Security taxes than they
will ever receive in benefits.
"Ironically, the
Medicare blimp appears at football stadiums [no kidding -- we
didn't make up that logo, above --ed.] packed with thousands of
college students," Schatz concluded. "Instead of a targeted
campaign to educate seniors about benefits, the blimp is
broadcasting to younger generations what a failure the program has
become. A majority of younger Americans think Medicare will fail to
provide them health insurance throughout their retirement. No
amount of propaganda will convince today’s youth that
Medicare is a great program."
...and banner-towing pilots are kicked out of the airspace,
as the government propaganda machine wastes hundreds of thousands
of dollars, trying to give away yet more of the productive sector's
money.