What the Blazes is This?

Over the last year, I've been mildly concerned with the amount of spending and entitlement programs emanating from Washington. Next, I'm flabbergasted at the coming of a new view on immigration. Then I'm treated to a really bizzare Kennedy moment when Bush announces we're putting man on the moon. . .again. I am willing to allow such programs come to pass. There are commendable things in these things. I thought that the strange had come and it had passed. Not so--Medicare payments are going to be increased:

President Bush will increase Medicare payments to health maintenance organizations and other private health plans by a record 10.6 percent in an effort to persuade them to enter the Medicare market and increase benefits for the elderly, administration officials say.

Past increases in medicare payments have been about 2% per year. I am of the thought that giving people more free benefits will be disasterous to medical care in the long run. If there is no sharing of fiscal responsibility between insurance and patients, an entitlement attitude will prevail and trivial visits will increase. There HAS to be some sort of accountability on not only the health organizations (by legislation) but also on the part of the patient.

I appreciate the administration's stance on security and the ways his faith has changed his life. But WHEN WILL THE SPENDING MADNESS STOP? I want fiscal responsibility! If this keeps going, there will be a real opportunity for another candidate to come in from the right.