Bush to tax Social Security benefits to pay for tax cuts!

[expatriot]

Why is this not a bigger story?

"To pay for that and the more generous savings accounts, the "least radical" proposal would eliminate the itemized deduction for state and local income taxes, and impose a tax on Social Security benefits and employer-provided health-care benefits."

This is so scary.

[disillusioned1]

1. I work just to pay the taxes now.

Will it take 3 jobs to support 2 people with his plan?

[proud_Kucitizen]

2. probably because

the media whores are hoping nobody notices. I do hope when it happens it may wake up a few of the sheepies but not holding my breath.

[expatriot]

3. an evil, evil agenda

[Erika]

4. Certainly not a Christian agenda

How sad.

[Wiley50]

5. Reagan already did it

He taxed SS benefits except for SSI. SSI doesn't pay enough to live anyway.

[wishlist]

6. Greenspan mentioned reducing cost of living raises for retirees too

Even though the measly 2.7% raise SS and federal retirees are getting next month will be mostly nonexistent after it gets taken up by higher Medicare and health insurance premiums, Greenspan talked earlier this year about the possibility of having to reduce the cost of living raises for those already drawing pensions.

Many retirees are opposed to Bushco's SS schemes out of fear that their pensions will be eroded by inflation, especially the high cost of health care. If I remember correctly, during Reagans term, the cost of living calculation was reformulated (downward) in order to reduce the raises in government pensions. I am expecting some kind of attempt to do this again.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Let me get this straight. I work. A SS stipend is removed from my

paycheck so I can't spend it. I don't get a vote about it.

Then all this SS money is put away where I can't get at it.

I may never see ANY of this money when I am old or disabled.

But before I never get to see this money, * wants to tax me on the money I'll never get. Or if I'm lucky, a fraction thereof.

He IS the friggin' Antichrist.

[LynnTheDem]

8. The poor & middle class will pay for the rich to have tax cuts.

Standard republican party platform; make the poor & middle class insignificant little people pay for making the rich richer.

That IS the entire republican party platform & always has been.

[FormerDittoHead]

9. Q: Why is this not a bigger story? A: The "Liberal Media"!

I get depressed more and more because we (as a country) can't discuss these things (in the media) because they're "too complicated" for what seems to be a Jerry Springer intelligence level.

But let's not forget the other little "time bomb". In his plan to destroy, mean, SAVE Social Security, watch out for this one:

You may re-direct contributions to the stock market (given nice commissions to large Republican contributor brokerage houses), but when you retire, you will have to exhaust ALL of your "wealth" before getting DIME ONE from the SS fund.

AND because those savings will not have been taxed before contributing nor while growing, like IRA's, expect those withdrawals to be taxed as ordinary income....

[Telly Savalas]

10. It's just a trial balloon...

they floated a few weeks ago. If someone drafts a bill with provisions for pulling this bullshit, it'll get more play in the press.