from SLATE's news review:> USA Today leads with two surveys showing that the Medicare pill coverage appears to increase drug costs for about 20 percent of recipients, mainly people on low-income budgets who've been forced to switch from Medicaid, where drugs were often practically free.<
> At the ominous word ``liberality'', Scrooge frowned, and shook his head, and > handed the credentials back. ``At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge,'' said the gentleman, taking up a pen, ``it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.'' ``Are there no prisons?'' asked Scrooge. ``Plenty of prisons,'' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. ``And the Union workhouses?'' demanded Scrooge. ``Are they still in operation?'' ``They are. Still,'' returned the gentleman, `` I wish I could say they were not.'' ``The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?'' said Scrooge. ``Both very busy, sir.'' ``Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,'' said Scrooge. ``I'm very glad to hear it.'' < -- Jim Devine / "There can be no real individual freedom in the presence of economic insecurity." -- Chester Bowles
