The question nobody on the news asks regarding entitlements (SS/Medicare)

[Cleita]

"If the so-called entitlements of Social Security and Medicare are done away with, does that mean FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) won't be deducted from our paychecks anymore?"

Betcha there isn't a single Tea Party Congress member who can answer that truthfully and factually or even more mainstream Congress members. How do they lie their way out of this? Maybe that's why no one in Washington, either in the media or the government, is asking that question.

[DCKit]

1. Sure they would. They've got to pay the existing and upcoming recipients...

until they've wound the programs down.

But you can bet they'd have a hell of a time explaining to U.S. workers why we were paying for programs we'll never benefit from.

[Cleita]

2. They know it too.

In order to be fair, FICA deductions need to be removed and those who have paid into it need to be reimbursed from what is left in the fund and the general fund. It doesn't look like a big savings to me. Some people with accounting know how needs to get on the air to point out all the foibles in these political talking points.

[Terry in Austin]

3. Just don't say "entitlements"

Thank you.

Aside from that, your point is well-taken!

:hi:

[Cleita]

4. I only used it because it's what they are calling it as

contrary to insurance, which is what it really is. But if you play their game, call it what they call it and then ask the questions that follow from that premise. Therein lies the fallacies of those lies.

[dtexdem]

5. Bullshit! They are ENTITLEMENTS. We are ENTITLED to them.

We've paid or are still paying our dues, and we are entitled to the benefits of membership.

[Cleita]

6. Sorry, the way the right wing use the word "entitlements"

is a euphemism for welfare in the minds of their sycophants. We have to shut that meme down by showing them that if the "welfare" payments stop, then so should the taxes that pay for it. They still want the money coming in so they can't explain why. It's insurance no different than life insurance or health insurance.

[Terry in Austin]

7. Yes, we are, absolutely

But the "E-word" is now a battleground, thanks to right-wing language warfare.

They want it to sound like cashing in on our own dues is somehow like a lazy adolescent with an attitude of "the world owes me a living." All that welfare-queen, nanny-state, creeping-socialism booyah...