The sell-out and the speech

[Gunny]

Bearing in mind this is an opinion piece: The big, red flag here is MAGA Republicans (I assume that is the current label for the Trump-supporting/supported troublemakers in the GOP) want to cut social security/medicare payments? Talk about guaranteeing the GOP a quick 2 year turnaround in controlling the House :rolleyes:

These people are just stupid. They threaten, but cannot legally default on the debt. I take issue with that self-serving clause in the Constitution; especially, the way the government is slinging red ink all over the place. At some point, that debt is going to come due and we are the slaves to paying off this government's uncontrolled spending.

At the same time, I want to see how many Republicans buy off on this particular MAGA moron threat.

Such a shame that between the left and some right-wing extremist morons that "Make America Great Again", a noble and worthy idea, has become a dirty word.

https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/3813320-the-sell-out-and-the-speech/

[Gunny]

I really dislike Juan Williams. His abuse of the English language defending the left annoys me greatly. I begrudgingly have to agree with his assessment.

https://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/3814365-juan-williams-will-house-republicans-push-granny-off-a-cliff-or-cut-pentagon-waste/

[Gunny]

I half-heard some blurb about McCarthy being part of going after Social Security. To clarify: if the Republican't's as a party go after social security, that's a deal-breaker with me; since, social security is/was the original, compulsory deal. I want what I paid for. People who haven't earned even their pay wanting to disenfranchise those of us that have:rolleyes:

Any and all of the so-called reasoning given doesn't cut it with me. How about a pay cut for Congress? I'm all about THAT.

If the party goes for this as a party, they can count me out.

[fj1200]

^That sound you hear is socialism winning. SS and Medicare will bankrupt the country without changes.

[Gunny]

^That sound you hear is socialism winning. SS and Medicare will bankrupt the country without changes.I did not comment on changes to the programs. I commented on cutting recipients entitlements. Entitlements being a misnomer.

The program might be socialist, but getting a return on an investment is hardly. They've been helping themselves to my pay since 1976. I bet I could have found a place to invest that same amount that paid off a lot better than investing in anything the US government had any control over.

If they come up with a fix that doesn't cost me, fine. It isn't like they don't waste enough money, to include their own, aforementioned pay they don't earn.

Whether or not it affects just me, this fucks over anyone that's been forced to pay SSI their entire working lives. Perhaps you should look at what SS pays. Rent OR groceries. Not both.

[fj1200]

I did not comment on changes to the programs. I commented on cutting recipients entitlements. Entitlements being a misnomer.

The program might be socialist, but getting a return on an investment is hardly. They've been helping themselves to my pay since 1976. I bet I could have found a place to invest that same amount that paid off a lot better than investing in anything the US government had any control over.

If they come up with a fix that doesn't cost me, fine. It isn't like they don't waste enough money, to include their own, aforementioned pay they don't earn.

Whether or not it affects just me, this fucks over anyone that's been forced to pay SSI their entire working lives. Perhaps you should look at what SS pays. Rent OR groceries. Not both.

I know the max and I know the average but minimum depends on somebody's particulars. The fact is that without changes benefits will be cut automatically when the trust fund runs out and it will. There's things labeled entitlements in the budget and there's the attitude that people are entitled to said benefits. If everyone has the same entitled attitude well then our country is F'ed. All that being said, there are ways to fix it. The left just says raise taxes on everyone and the right would privatize (but I think the privatize boat has sailed). I think the middle way is best; benefits for those that need it and less for those that don't.

[Kathianne]

Way back in 1982 I was talking with a friend on this topic, I was still in my 20s. My idea, slowly reduce our, (baby boom), withholdings, paying full amnt promised to those 50 or older then, the rest sliding scale down on over 65, with a cut off date. B8g caveat though, everyone should get all monies back, the youngest with no interest, but declining withholdings, allowing for more to invest elsewhere.

We'd be done with this bs by now.

[SassyLady]

All that money sent to foreign countries. Perhaps that should end before SS.

All that money granted to study stupid shit like lesbian rats in Timbuktu? End before defunding SS.

All that money spent on illegal alien benefits should end before SS.

So many places to cut funding before ending SS. The list is thousands of items long.

I agree that change needs to happen. But to do it right and progressively so people are not let holding the bag and on the street.

P.S. ... I live on my retirement, my investments and my social security. My investments are tanking. If I lose my SS I might as well put a bullet to my head because I won't be able to meet the basics of living.

[Kathianne]

All that money sent to foreign countries. Perhaps that should end before SS.

All that money granted to study stupid shit like lesbian rats in Timbuktu? End before defunding SS.

All that money spent on illegal alien benefits should end before SS.

So many places to cut funding before ending SS. The list is thousands of items long.

I agree that change needs to happen. But to do it right and progressively so people are not let holding the bag and on the street.

P.S. ... I live on my retirement, my investments and my social security. My investments are tanking. If I lose my SS I might as well put a bullet to my head because I won't be able to meet the basics of living.
I don't think,, never have that people within 15 years of retirement should have the game changed on them. It's going to happen to some group, at some point, it's unsustainable. That which cannot be sustained, won't be.

The demise can be planned or 'suddenly unexpectedly. "

[Gunny]

Way back in 1982 I was talking with a friend on this topic, I was still in my 20s. My idea, slowly reduce our, (baby boom), withholdings, paying full amnt promised to those 50 or older then, the rest sliding scale down on over 65, with a cut off date. B8g caveat though, everyone should get all monies back, the youngest with no interest, but declining withholdings, allowing for more to invest elsewhere.

We'd be done with this bs by now.

Any idea you or I, or anyone else may have that requires government to give up control and money isn't going anywhere. We are forced to pay into a government retirement fund the government maintains like it does any/every other dime it gets its hands on. How many times have we heard about them "borrowing" from SS? So much so back when that they can't even "borrow" from it now and are in fact having to prop it up. Not sure what anyone else calls it, but I call it gross financial mismanagement.

The entire program should be overhauled. Then again, the entire Federal government needs an overhaul. It's not going to give up its "dependents", whether or not the latter are willingly so.