It's especially galling because history shows it's easy to reverse defense cuts and tax increases, while restoring Social Security and Medicare benefits would be much harder

It's amazing that some liberals are appeased when some conservative tells them they are. This morning I read that Kerry was appointed because of "some powerful speeches" he made. [snort] Obama made pretty speeches too.

@foosion, It is easier to reverse defense spending, but that might come too late for some poor defense contractor who might have to sell his second or third home!

Medicare costs are expected to double in one decade. Most of this is because of the increasing cost per item of care, less because of the increasing number of seniors. But this is counter-intuitive. Most people don't grasp that medical cost inflation could be so bad, thanks to market power and new technology, that it could outweigh the cost of increasing patient numbers.

This makes it easy for the media (pro-Big Medicine) to push their cause. They only have to say nothing about medical overpricing, to protect their protegees. Say nothing, and the seniors will blame themselves, for being "too many."

And so naifs like Senator K think they are doing the right thing, the only possible thing, by taking from the poor.

I'm assuming he is naive. But Massachusetts suffers especially (like Northern California) from the market power of big medical groups. Is is possible that K. doesn't know that? Or can't afford to admit it?

Kerry was appointed to insure that no senior would be the last person to die for a mistake.

Stupid liberals.

"ThrowbackFeedback" was better, but this one's pretty good.

Quaere: what type of comment doesn't rate a "Stupid liberals"?

He sure wasn't talking cutting SS or medicare in 2004. The handwriting was on the wall regarding our debt then. Those tax cuts he no doubt enjoyed were well in place. Time for John Kerry and his wife to say they'll go back to the Clinton tax rates along with everybody else. He needs to look at lifting the cap on social security, as I think he thought was a good idea when he ran in 2004. Mostly, I can't understand why he's on this committee, when he's the shadow SOS.

Why all the nonsense about healthcare costs. The costs are rising because the incidents of disease that are costly are rising and we are keeping people alive longer with these diseases. 1/3 of us are obese and another 1/3 are over weight, how many more smoke and drink too much.... Diabetes care is a growth business.... So until you force people to take care of themselves, costs will only continue to rise, unless you have a better answer

Dean Dean Baker,

You write: "Senator Kerry has repeatedly expressed his willingness to cut Social Security and Medicare"

I'm looking for citations that substantiate this claim. I want to bring them to the attention of AARP of MA , and Sen Kerry's office. Many thanks.

Well, "It is difficult to see why liberals would be appeased this selection, especially since the Republicans selected are likely to be adamantly opposed to any tax increases", may be well and good but, and this is a big but, the best way to make big business and everyone else pay their fair share is to change the tax code. There are so many crazy deductions and those who don't own any business end up paying the price.