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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere Won't Be Money For Social Security': The Muskrat Tells Joe Rogan
Elon Musk doesn't shy away from big ideas or bold predictions, but his latest warning is a wake-up call for America.
During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Musk pulled no punches when discussing the U.S. economy. His verdict? The country is heading toward financial collapse if drastic action isn't taken.
"We're drowning in debt," Musk said, referring to the $36.14 trillion the U.S. owes, as reported by the Treasury Department. He explained that interest payments alone comprise 23% of all federal revenue. "If this keeps up, the entire government budget will go to paying interest. That means no money for Social Security, no Medicare, nothing. America would be toast."
Musk's warning hit a nerve and for good reason. Interest payments on the debt are already skyrocketing. In 2024, the government spent over $1 trillion on interest a staggering figure compared to $4.92 trillion in total revenue.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wont-money-social-security-elon-130218440.html
Because fat cats like you don't pay your fair share. We had a balanced budget 25 years ago then Bush II got massive tax cuts for billionaires while invading Iraq on a credit card. The Mango Mussolini continued this in his first term.

dalton99a
(88,785 posts)But Musk and the billionaires demand it.
kimbutgar
(25,227 posts)Sadly they know what theyre doing but we must resist, and fight them back!
Skittles
(164,658 posts)FUCK HIM
WarGamer
(17,212 posts)That's what the debt is and that is the cost of servicing the debt.
As stated above... taxing the wealthy won't hurt.
aggiesal
(10,072 posts)Social Security is self funded by us and our employer.
I know that. Some one should tell that apartheid mongrel musk that.
multigraincracker
(35,762 posts)They will eat the rich.
Be warned Eloon.
sinkingfeeling
(55,334 posts)republianmushroom
(20,138 posts)Evolve Dammit
(20,726 posts)Picaro
(2,012 posts)Because losers like you dont want to pay a reasonable tax rate.
Morbius
(512 posts)62 years old, going on 63. I've noticed something over the years: when a Democrat holds the White House, federal debt is a huge problem. When a Republican holds the White House, they don't talk about the debt.
Increasing the disparity between rich and poor won't help anyone.
sakabatou
(44,816 posts)chouchou
(1,934 posts)...just about ever. >>Why do we continue to elect very aging people to run our lives? They keep doing-it-wrong, simply because that when the proverbial shit hits the fan, they'll be either dead or in a home thinking they are living on Mars. If we elected older Democrats, I damn sure wouldn't worry about the future. But, as we know, Republicans don't give a crap, regarding what happens to the masses...in the future.
delisen
(7,015 posts)chouchou
(1,934 posts)..we could go after them like the towns-people in Frankenstein. ...or worse..
mahina
(19,783 posts)Otherwise helped by campaign finance systems...
chouchou
(1,934 posts)delisen
(7,015 posts)A lot of characters became billionaires because they lobbied against enforcement of anti-monopoly laws. Now its time to pay and they once again want to stick us with their bills.
Musk who came to US under false pretenses needs to be deported.But if he has been working against us with China, Russia, or both he needs to be brought to justice and jailed.
Response to delisen (Reply #11)
Post removed
delisen
(7,015 posts)If we do not tax them the multi billionaires leave estates creating many more billionaires. (How many heirs does Musk alone have)?
As it stands today the top 3 richest Americans have as much money as the bottom 50 percent of Americans. At the rate new legacy billionaires get created it wont take long for the billionaires to gobble up our entire society.
Kind of reminds me of Fibonacci and his rabbits. It is not sustainable or compatible with a democracy.
womanofthehills
(9,827 posts)After barely paying anything for years.
New York
CNN Business
Elon Musk has repeatedly bragged (or, perhaps, complained) that hell pay more in federal taxes for 2021 than anyone has ever paid about $11 billion. But Tesla apparently wont pay a cent.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/investing/elon-musk-tesla-zero-tax-bill/index.html
Elon Musks Tesla Pay Deal May Spark a Record $73B Tax Bill
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/economy/elon-musk-s-tesla-pay-deal-may-spark-a-record-73b-tax-bill/ar-AA1vXnTh
efhmc
(15,513 posts)that total back to me.
Red Mountain
(2,098 posts)because that would have been money for me if they hadn't been forced to give it to the government.
Baitball Blogger
(50,108 posts)Wouldn't it be great if a real reporter brought it to his attention.
GB_RN
(3,363 posts)Need to make sure the mega corporations pay their fair share, too. There are plenty of documented cases where well known, multibillion dollar per year corporations paid little or no taxes on said income - and in at least one case, got a refund, for a net negative effective tax rate.
MayReasonRule
(3,423 posts)May Darwin serve us well and quickly.
Red Mountain
(2,098 posts)fast talking as it takes.
If we let them.
whathehell
(30,163 posts)Who's going to vote for someone taking their Social Security and/ or Medicare away?
Deuxcents
(22,469 posts)Evolve Dammit
(20,726 posts)Silent Type
(9,761 posts)other than just slashing benefits.
Obama tried to address SS, but he was bashed for the so-called cat food commission that would have bolstered SS benefits for those on lower end of scale.
Blue_Tires
(57,596 posts)Donnie by himself increased it 25% in one term; his cultists didn't care...
Bill Clinton left America with a surplus but nobody cared and then Bush Jr. immediately pissed away the surplus in the form of a tax cut and rebate check...
Evolve Dammit
(20,726 posts)Silent Type
(9,761 posts)I think he probably meant that voters dont really care about deficits. Cheney is still a POS.
But, in the context of an increasing portion of tax revenues going to debt interest in a political era where its almost impossible to increase taxes and revenues it should be concerning.
Evolve Dammit
(20,726 posts)"Their own reality." They led the way to where we are today.
Blue_Tires
(57,596 posts)Have to say about the richest man in history stealing social security and medicare just so the billionaire boy's club can pay even less in taxes? And then buy even more elections with that extra money?
Hugin
(36,181 posts)That doesnt seem very efficient to me, but I am not a genius.
I suppose the most efficient thing to do is get that Musk fucker away from the cash register.
angrychair
(10,686 posts)It's literally against the law for taxes to supplement Social Security. There is no "budget" to cut there.
brush
(60,131 posts)a narrow majority, will some rethugs in blue and purple districts, vote to take away earned benefits that workers have had deducted from their paychecks their whole working lives.
Being a rich boy who inherited money, he doesn't understand that many seniors who get SS vote red.
Maybe being from apartheid S.A. clouds his mind.
Bluethroughu
(7,208 posts)He broke the immigration law.
LisaL
(47,235 posts)All righty then.
Buddyzbuddy
(959 posts)setting us up for the knockout. Touch, touch, JAB!
He can have all the ideas he wants, he's not the one that's going to take the fall. It will be elected officials. Leon is the guy poking the bear and running before anybody else knows. And they're left behind to get eaten.
milestogo
(20,731 posts)Not to mention the devastating impact it will have on the economy.
paleotn
(20,434 posts)paleotn
(20,434 posts)His native language. I think it's a dialect of Afrikaans.
I remember when W thought he had enough "political capital" to modestly fuck around with Social Security. He found out quite quickly that there's not enough political capital in the universe. Think about that the next time they trigger you with an "oh my god!" moment. Chill, people. Pay attention, but don't be in auto freak out mode. Not good for your coronaries and you're doing exactly what they want you to do.


Dan
(4,712 posts)Not to mention massive civil unrest.
SunSeeker
(55,944 posts)
jmbar2
(6,905 posts)Their budget pie charts always show "entitlements" vs some hodgepodge of other expenses to emphasize how large a proportion they are.
Those pie charts never show corporate welfare, or subsidies to industry. Why not?
Compare:
Corporate Subsidies
]
alarimer
(17,146 posts)What a colossal piece of shit Elon Musk is.
PikaBlue
(316 posts)Social Security has it's own budgetary system. It is against federal law for the program to add to the nation's debt. The elites want to eliminate the program because employers are required to pay into it. They want the money for themselves and their shareholders. The whole "Social Security adds to the national debt" mantra is untrue.
slightlv
(5,704 posts)believe what they say, tho... no matter WHAT the truth is. And the problem I see, is when those of us in this generation of Boomers dies out, there's no one left who's going to remember what and how FDR set up. All the younger generations have heard is the lie. We should be screaming bloody murder about Social Security and Medicare and yelling to keep their hands off OUR earned money from every media outlet we've got. They tripped the lockbox once... we should scream never again. You're directly stealing our earned income and passing it to your rich friends. Hands off my retirement!
slightlv
(5,704 posts)pay their fair amount of taxes like the rest of us, we wouldn't have this problem. But NOOOO... it's always everyone else who has to suffer. The rich have to keep on getting rich. Just being rich isn't enough for them! Thatcher did this with Great Britain and I do swear, it led directly to Brexit. Now, so much is dying over there they'll never again be the great country they once were.
OMGWTF
(4,748 posts)OMGWTF
(4,748 posts)There should be no such thing as a billionaire.
Jit423
(1,396 posts)Stop handing out billions to political allies across the board and do something constructive with your money.
Kingofalldems
(39,618 posts)onecaliberal
(36,594 posts)Cha
(311,522 posts)
Not gonna throw Millins out into the Streets.. GD Fish Head...

How you like Mump now you Sucker magat Shit for brains.

Jeebo
(2,432 posts)If the federal government wrote checks tomorrow to pay off all of that national debt, WHOM would those $34 trillion in checks be made out TO? That question is the elephant in the room that nobody ever says anything about when this issue is being discussed.
-- Ron
Cha
(311,522 posts)Nazi Psycho.
AncientOfDays
(234 posts)SS has it's own dedicated revenue stream. It is not part of the National Debt or even budget spending.
Johonny
(23,779 posts)I'm sure Joe Beta Rogan informed him of that. Indeed, Musk has sued the government when he thought fat daddy wasn't giving him enough cash.