Elderly people are concerned that "The government will take over medicare"

A HuffPo columnist notes that most of the people disrupting town hall meetings are over 65. They are also very very confused about the current state of healthcare and what is being proposed. One demand that seniors repeatedly make is that the government shouldn't "take over" Medicare. You'd think seniors would be aware that Medicare is already a government run program, but I guess not. Bob Cesca, the HuffPo columnist notes that one person shouted "Keep your government hands off my Medicare!" at Rep. Robert Ingles. The LA Times reports that someone contacted Rep Jim Tanner saying, "I'm happy with Medicare, don't let the government take it over."

So where is this wacky talking point coming from? Republican activists with the assistance of the major news networks Arthur Laffer, economics advisor to Ronald Regan and a leading figure in libertarian economic thought, went on CNN and said "If you like the post office and the Department of Motor Vehicles and you think they're run well, just wait till you see Medicare, Medicaid and health care done by the government." No one on CNN challenged him.