Throughout the world’s history, conservative groups have vehemently opposed any attempts to improve the well-being of society. This is typified by Charles Krauthammer’s syndicated column in the Nov. 11 Press Herald: It delights at the imminent revival of Reaganomics, which targets for “reform” – i.e., cutting – Medicare.

Two items of legislation that have most significantly enhanced the happiness and peace of mind of middle-class Americans are Social Security and Medicare.

Those who have just been elected to power, whose rhetoric promises to make this country “great,” instead, ironically, plan to compromise one of the very features that already have made this society great.

The Republicans intend to hand over seniors’ medical care destiny from the present federal one-payer system to the mercy of the private insurance industry. The seniors will then get the “freedom” to choose from numerous companies, each with multiple schemes. Each will have co-payments, deductibles, exceptions, limitations and fine print.

Unlike the present system’s automatic payments, any claims will be the subject of “negotiation” with an insurance company, whose profit is compromised by any payment made. A gigantic conflict of interest!

Private insurance payments will be unpredictable. Seniors will be living on the brink of financial catastrophe as we enter an era like the old days, when the elderly, experiencing sickness, will be afraid to seek assistance.

The voters from this election were swayed by abstract, impractical campaign rhetoric like “drain the swamp,” “take back America,” “shake up Washington,” “less government,” “make America great again,” “we need change,” “lower taxes,” “deport 3 million” and “build the wall.” We can only hope that they will, in the next election, place their faith in a group with tangible ideals, like supporting Social Security and Medicare.

Michael Bowdler

Cape Elizabeth

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