Shutdown Is Over - Now To Make Sure The Democrats Don't Cave On Social Security

[matthewf]

[sabrina 1]

1. There is certainly no reason for that anymore. They have learned how to stand up to bullies finally

with NO COMPROMISE so continuing to teach the bullies a lesson would serve to further make the point, 'you get NOTHING, and we are now not even going to compromise on those items we originally agreed to compromise, namely, SS, Chained CPI etc. THIS is what happens when you play these games, no more compromising.

[JDPriestly]

2. Obama's speech this morning really worried me as a senior.

What he said and, as always, what he did not say, suggests to me that the grand bargain has already been made. Here is my GUESS.

Obama talked about all the excuses for cutting Social Security and Medicare -- saving the systems for future generations (what a joke, saving something by ruining it) and making sure our children and grandchildren have opportunities (what has that got to do with monthly payments that barely keep only about one half seniors above the poverty level and let close to one half of them subsist below that leve?l). Obama is pushing for acceptance of a very, very, very bad deal for Democrats and seniors. And I suspect that he has already acquiesced. That is why Cruz claimed a victory.

Note this is my guess. But I do have graduate degree in literature and law and an undergrad degree in music, so I have a lot of training in listening and in reading between the lines.

I think Obama bought his way through this crisis by selling out seniors. That's my GUESS.

We shall see. Remember. You read it here first.

[bahrbearian]

5. Yep, didn't even wait a couple days.

[wandy]

8. Social Security and Medicare will have problems down the road..........

It is possible that President Obama sees this and is trying to work towards a proactive fix. Their are ways to save the system by means other than destroying it.
I do not have a degree in literature and law, heck without a spell checker I'd be lost.
I am a technical person by education, experience and nature. That nature demands that if something makes an odd noise or requires adjustment you give it the required attention now, before it makes a mess out of itself.

Adjustments can be made on the "supply side" without affecting "monthly payments ".

As you say, we shall see.

[JDPriestly]

9. It is time to raise the cap. But that is not what this tiny Republican minority or many Democrats

are willing to do.

We hear so much about what a burden the baby boomers will be. Hey! The baby boomers worked hard, as hard as any generation before them but were much, much more productive because of the technology they worked with and the extent of their education which surpassed previous generations. Baby boomers paid high interest rates on their loans and credit cards. Now that it is time for the baby boomers to earn interest instead of pay it, interest rates have declined on all but credit cards precipitously.

It was baby boomers who made the internet a useful tool for business and homes. It was baby boomers who built the airlines industry, who excelled in science in terms of numbers of scientists and depth and organization of their work like no prior generation.

If we credit the so-called "greatest generation" for saving our country from the Nazis, then lets credit the baby boomers for expanding our cosmic horizons, putting space vehicles on Mars, helping us understand cancer and diet and just how important clean air really is.

But now, the media is condescending to this outstanding, resourceful generation. Shamefully so.

And now it is time for baby boomers to retire. With the Mainstream Media beating the drums, our government is preparing to default on its obligations to this creative, productive generation. Meanwhile we sign trade agreements that make it harder for Americans of all ages to get jobs that pay enough to live on, thus undercutting not just the incomes of younger Americans but the incomes from which the payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare are derived.

Sorry. But this is injustice at its worst. Does it sound like a conspiracy theory? Just watch. If we don't organize to prevent it, this attack on our children's wages and our own Social Security and Medicare will happen.

[wandy]

11. You are right, it is time to raise the cap..........

This would be what I meant by proactive. Make adjustments before things go all to hell.
The republican idea doesn't even qualify as reactive. As always its just plain mean spirited. Chained CPI will only hurt the individual.
It will do almost nothing for the overall situation.
Raising the retirement age will only block younger people from the job market. Counter productive at best.

Could it be that we have become so taken by the republican hypocrisy oath, "do only harm" that we have forgotten that other paths are available?

Organize? So where do I sign on.

[JDPriestly]

13. When was the cap last raised?

[wandy]

14. You know, you had me on this one. I had to go look it up...............

When you have wages or self-employment income covered by Social Security, you pay Social Security taxes each year up to a maximum amount set by law. For 2013, you will pay Social Security taxes on income below $113,700. You must pay Medicare taxes on all income.

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/240
It has in fact increased.
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html

Even at that 113.7 is too low.
What guarantees that at 114 you will have made wise investments and wouldn't need SS?

Ok, I know, I'm going to sound like some kind of socialist here but why should their be any cap.
If you're retirement payment is determined by what you have paid in, could you not think of it as some form of disaster savings account. Sure, if you did well enough you may not need SS, but just in case.

Many times I was reminded that other companys might have paid better but they didn't have pensions.
I didn't complain about it then and I sure and hell am not going to complain about it now. In that I consider myself lucky.

[florida08]

3. They better not

Even with tax increases. SS is only part of the debt because they have stolen it. But even with that it's showing a large and growing surplus. Raise the damn cap. Any one who pays into is not going to refuse it no matter how much they make. But at least raise it
200K

[bvar22]

4. No CPI...Raise the CAP

Promises from Candidate Obama:

[silvershadow]

6. Yup. nt

[RC]

7. I'm afraid Obama does not see the Chained CPI as a benefit decrease.

Just locking in an already well below the inflation rate COLA.

[Enthusiast]

12. Enough of us have told him it is a cut.

I guess if you only listen to the right wing narrative (Pete Peterson) you could be misinformed even if you are the President.

[tokenlib]

10. The Dems cannot be trusted...not with the "turd way" folks around...

,,and not with the remnants of the Democrats for the Leisure Class around...

We have to make our presence felt.....