1978: "TIMES, THEY AIN'T A-CHANGING;" THEY JUST GET WORSE!

YOU THINK MEDICARE COSTS WERE OUT OF CONTROL BACK BACK IN 1978, ASK ME OR ANY OF MY CONTEMPORARIES ABOUT THEM IN THIS YEAR OF 2007 GOING ON 2008. WE GET A PUNY 3% INCREASE IN OUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT, AND ALONG COMES AARP RAISING OUR MONTHLY MEDICARE COSTS MORE THAN THE PIDDLING INCREASE WE RECEIVED AS A "COLA" (COST OF LIVING) INCREASE. BY THE WAY: THE OLD CODGER IN THE CARTOON IS IN NO WAY A TYPICAL CROSS SECTION OF TODAY'S VIABLE SENIORS. I, AND WE DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE OF AL CAPP'S "L'IL ABNER" HILLBILLIES, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MANY OR MOST OF US DO NOT NEED A CANE TO MANEUVER ABOUT. EGAD, HOW I DETEST STEREOTYPES!