Medicare insolvent by 2019

www.reuters.com...;jsessionid=UCCOIRF2FV042CRBAEKSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=4640668

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The fund that pays hospital benefits to the U.S. elderly is expected to become insolvent in 2019, seven years earlier than predicted, a report on the Medicare system said on Tuesday.

The report from the Medicare and Social Security programs' trustees -- an assessment that may move Medicare closer to the front-burner in an accelerating presidential election campaign -- said Medicare's prognosis dimmed sharply over the last year and that spending will exceed income by about $7.5 billion in 2004. "


I find this disturbing and VERY sad. We just spent HOW MUCH to "liberate" another country? This could not have been a surprise to our lawmakers...how did this happen?? Why was it allowed to happen? Where are the priorities?

Peace,
BG