AARP Quesionnaire

William A. Ferguson, Jr.
Democratic Party Candidate for 9th Congressional District Nomination
Democratic Party Primary

SOCIAL SECURITY

The two real problems of Social Security are: not enough young workers entering the workforce; and workers having too low a living standard -- both of which problems were generated by the post-industrial-society policy.

I support Lyndon LaRouche's economic-policy changes, which would reverse the course of the past 35 years: junk the post-industrial-society policies, put the world financial system through bankruptcy reorganization, and generate real economic growth. That would create the economic growth and the demographic shift that would make the Social Security system permanently solvent. For more on LaRouche's recovery plans, see: http://www.larouchein2004.com . Privatizing social security is stealing.

MEDICARE

Our problem is THE ECONOMY, not Medicare. We have had a shrinking tax base, with fewer people making a living wage.

Needed medication is not negotiable, and should be covered -- with low co-pays as determined. We must also lower the outrageous costs of pharmaceuticals themselves, reining in astronomical company profits; introducing certain regulation and increasing government research. The death rate of people age 55-65 without insurance BEFORE they have access to Medicare coverage slows after 65, when access is available. An increase of one or more years in this age group, will result in significant, unnecessary, premature deaths.

LONG TERM CARE

The Hill Burton Act of 1946 set a requirement of hospital beds per capita and per unit area. Long term facilities should be similarly arranged, with similar government/private/charitable funding. We must revive the productive economy, to raise people's standard of living in general. Health care workers should be better trained and paid, to reduce the high turnover and increase quality of care. We must repeal the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which devastated medical care budgets. Cuts in Medicare and Medicaid must be restored. Home health care and respite care should thus be made readily available.

MANAGED CARE

Managed care should be abolished. The Managed Care/HMO system was set up to reap profits by denying medical treatment, and looting and destroying the medical system as a whole. By the Nuremburg Standard, they are a "crime against humanity". We should return to the Hill-Burton, pre-HMO, Standard, where the intent was to cure disease and save lives, not depopulate. This is the only policy coherent with the Constitutional Principle of the "General Welfare". Sueing an HMO after the patient is dead is little comfort. See http://www.theamericanalmanac.com/dcgeneral.htm

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