Just as important, a larger economy would provide additional resources and flexibility essential to the reform of entitlement programs, including Social Security and Medicare.

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Further, much of what Medicare Advantage programs offer are non-essential services and benefits designed more to lure customers than provide valuable medical benefits (with some exceptions such as programs that include eye care and, occasionally, dental.) Medicare was never designed for these programs.

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United Nations assistance programs in Gaza have run out of flour and several essential pharmaceuticals, the U.N.

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The essential cuts are a higher age of eligibility for government health and retirement programs and increased consumer skin-in-the-game in government health care systems.

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Total federal spending should then be frozen until the budget is balanced, with essential spending increases for programs like Social Security offset with the termination of outdated or inappropriate programs that no longer serve a desirable function.

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The number of Pell grants low income students can receive has been reduced from two to one, and essential AmeriCorps programs like Teach For America, the National Writing Project, and City Year have been defunded.

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With a national movement in the U.S. to shrink the role of government, non-profits may be expected to expand their programs as they step in to fill essential needs.

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In fact, administrative overhead is essential if we are to develop programs that go beyond Band-Aid responses and build the kind of infrastructure and collaborations that address the root causes of social ills.

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