Obama will have to reduce social security and I don't blame him

[TwixVoy]

Obama will have to reduce social security and I don't blame him for it. Trial balloons for this are already being floated in the MSM. The fact is this country is completely and totally broke after 8 years of bush. The states are broke, the municipalities are broke, the fed government is broke, and the PEOPLE are broke.

Social security is something a 1st world nation can afford. We are lagging behind nearly every other western nation. The sad truth is we have allowed our people to be raped by the corporations for DECADES now. We as a people allowed it to happen, and one of the results of this is the fact we won't be able to afford these things anymore.

This is why I have been posting for nearly 2 years now that we are becoming a poor country. It amazes me how many people don't see it. I have always thought it will be a slow gradual process that will phase in over a period of years.

We are in the hole TRILLIONS of dollars. Our grandkids will be lucky to pay all this money back that has been GIVEN to the banks and top 1% so the ponzi scheme can keep rolling on for another few years before we have to wake up and face reality. What does wake up and face reality mean? It means being poor and cutting spending to the bone because we are BROKE after handing our money over to the rich.

I don't blame Obama for this. We allowed the framework for disaster to be built up under several republican presidents. Now we are having to pay the Piper. Americans should have revolted after bush stole the 2000 election. (you know, back when we were still running a budget surplus) We didn't. Most of America sat on their fat asses watching American Idol and stuffing down a big mac while sitting in the McDonalds drive through in their Hummer.

We are only getting what we allowed to happen.

[FreakinDJ]

1. I do

[SammyWinstonJack]

Yeah so do I. Steal more from those who earned it to pay back those who didn't. Nice, eh?

x(

[FreakinDJ]

20. Too many options to FIX Social Security

Raise the SSI Top Tax Rate to $250K

Put in place a Securities Transaction Fee of $.25 per share on Stock Transactions to STOP speculation and market manipulation

Raise the Top Teir 1% Tax Rate back to 50% and maybe then corporations will focus on "Building a Better Mouse Trap" rather then ROI

Remove Tax Incentives for MultiNational Corporations to Export Jobs and the American Middle Class will be able to pay more into the Fund

FAIR TRADE over Free Trade and issue Equal Tarrifs for Trading Partner countries. We have got to stem the flow of Wealth out of America

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. Oh but that won't happen and we all know it. The Greedy among us won't allow it.

Better we should suffer than they lose ANYTHING!

[FreakinDJ]

31. Middle Class and AARP won't let him touch SSI

Just as Bush tried - it is political suicide for any legislator to side with this issue.

So the REAL QUESTION is "How do we Fix it"

The Middle Class has felt the brunt of Tax Increases, Inflation, Downward Presure on Wages, and Lost Jobs to Foriegn Compitition for Decades. Time the "Upper Class, Wealthy Elite share the Pain"

BTW: The Wealthy Elite recieved the Bulk of Bush's Tax Cuts

[tsuki]

43. He will legislate using the Executive Order. nt

[FreakinDJ]

51. Can't be done legally

Even the RATpubliCONs would lead the charge to the Supreme Court to over turn the order in order to gain votes

[SammyWinstonJack]

52. About those bu$h tax cuts, Candidate Obama said he would rescind them to pay for his

economic recovery policies, did he not?

What happened to that? :eyes:

What are the odds he'll support making them permanent? :evilgrin:

[FreakinDJ]

62. Some has already been recinded

I know the Corporate Tax Loop that fueled Outsoucing Jobs has been suspended until 2016 but every time they talk about raising the Top Tier Tax Rate everyone starts calling him a "Socialist"

Put it in the context of "Tax the Top Tier or Loose your Social Security" and it will have overwhelming support some where in the +80% category

[tonysam]

68. Social Security and Medicare don't NEED to be "fixed."

This is NEOLIBERALISM run amok. The neoliberals are peddling LIES.

If Obama does this, he will be unmasked as NOT a Democrat. There is a line in the sand. He's already crossed it with public education.

[peace frog]

12. Yep.

In the end, they'll steal it all. Silly us, thinking it was our money in the first place.

[tsuki]

40. Me too.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Well..at least this way when the old folks starve to death, or die due to lack of meds, you young

folks can use what is left of them for food....So at least you won't starve.

[blurp]

44. Now we have DEMOCRATS wanting to starve the old.

Incredible. Never thought I'd see it here.

[galileoreloaded]

64. EWW. ... Hey, but I might get a job finally!!! n/t

[gratuitous]

3. You're right; it's the only possible solution

After all, we need a new fleet of F-35 fighter jets (currently retailing at $239 million a pop) to win the battle of the skies in case the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany ever come back.

[TwixVoy]

6. Actually we may end up needing that more than food

Americans will not be able to handle losing their middle class lifestyle. War may actually be the only option left for the top 1% to prevent a full on revolt. Don't at all be surprised if they start a major one.

[TexasObserver]

29. More Alex Jones nonsense.

You have a recurring theme that we are going to have a huge revolt in the country where the fabric of society breaks down entirely. There is absolutely no basis for this, and the only people who believe it are fringe rightwingers. So why do you continue dragging them in here?

[TwixVoy]

42. Is your 401K doing well?

[TexasObserver]

54. Yes. Sold equities in January, 2008. Bought equities in March, 2009.

Others have not chosen so wisely.

As I have noted in another post responding to your accusations, my posts the past two years here have been entirely consistent. Go back and see my posts in the summer of 2008, when I repeatedly urged DUers to get out of risky bonds and the stock market then.

[TwixVoy]

56. Thought you would say that :-)

See, the problem is you are one of the people who has a JOB and retirement assets. You fail to understand there are millions out there who don't, but of course things look great from your view.

[TexasObserver]

57. No, the problem is you repeat right wing memes that are nonsense.

And being a well informed Democrat and dedicated liberal of many decades, I call you on it.

You repeat right wing memes every time you start a thread about economics. From your "buy gold and run to the hills" to your "Social Security must end as we know it," you repeat things never said anywhere but right wing sources.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7530851&mesg_id=7531341

[hlthe2b]

61. ding, ding, ding...

We have a winner.

[BeFree]

4. Obama

Some kids during the campaign told me that6 they heard Obama say he was going to get rid of SS. Looks like they were right?

[Bitwit1234]

5. One more thing to blame the republicans for after all Reagan

was the one who raided the social security fund to balance HIS budget. And the trend kept on. Now it is depleted and the people think it is social security's fault. NO it is the republicans fault as per usual.

[wryter2000]

7. Hell no.

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, l952-----

[newspeak]

23. Isn't it totally sad what this nation has become?

A republican (notice I didn't call him a repuke) who had foresight and concerns for this nation and the people. "A few texas oil billionaires who finally found a way to peddle their shite". Are we sure it's not the oil billionaires who didn't bring down Nixon? Cause he sure talked about the "boys from Texas." Are we sure they didn't have anything to do with a certain president being shot? Remember the confessions of Hunt?

He warned us about the MIC--he warned us.

[wryter2000]

33. I'd love to have Ike back

I'd take him over numerous Democrats these days.

[G_j]

8. fuck that!

[TwixVoy]

9. Read my post above

I fully believe that once the middle class has been all but eliminated the top 1% of this country will take us to war. War that will make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a cake walk.

[still_one]

10. No problem with military spending though, huh? Forget about Obama losing the

so-called base of the Democrats, whatever that means, he will lose support of everyone if he does this

[TwixVoy]

11. The top 1% will take us to war

I am 100% sure of that fact.

[golddigger]

13. If he touches SS he will be a one

term wonder!

[peace frog]

21. True, and Obama said as much

during his first year in office. Said he was willing to be a one term president as long as he could fulfill that which he was elected to accomplish. Of course, he didn't specify what that fulfillment was exactly, so we all filled in the blanks with the "change we can believe in" that we wanted to see. Oopsie, fooled again.

[SammyWinstonJack]

27. Fooled again. Yes Indeed!

x(

[phantom power]

14. Deficit-hawkism is Very Bad Juju in a deep recession.

[Jamastiene]

15. Oh hell fuck no.

:thumbsdown:

[endless october]

16. so stop spending money on war.

prioritize.

[area51]

58. +1 (n/t)

[highplainsdem]

17. I do. We need to raise tax rates on the rich. That's more important than ever now,

with the richest Americans controlling so much of the nation's wealth.

But Obama has already made it clear he'd rather tax good health plans, hurting middle class Americans including the union workers who helped get him elected, than tax the rich.

And now he's thinking of cutting entitlements needed desperately by most of the elderly.

Shame on him. I don't want to hear him or anyone else at the White House try to draw any more comparisons to FDR and the New Deal until they finally start acting as if they understand just WHY Democrats appreciate what FDR did.

[newspeak]

39. so taxes on the wealthy have gone down since FDR

I mean a republican like Eisenhower, the wealthy were still paying more (82%)--and after Reagan, the wealthy pay what now? Half of what they paid with a republican president? Greed has become such an obscene thing--since the wealthy, especially corporations, do actually benefit the most from our infrastructure. They get the most bang for the buck, and I'm not talking about bailouts, now. I'm talking about the wars we go to so that they can make a buck on our money and lives, just ask United Fruit what they got for putting down a democratically elected leader who, for once, thought about his people over a corporation.

I have paid into social security since I was thirteen years old. They've been tapping the till-if we did that-went and robbed a store,we'd be in prison--but they give our money to war profiteers who give shoddy services and no accounting, they give our money to banks that in turn do not help main street but give huge bonuses. But, we're broke, except when it comes to paying for an ever burgeoning MIC with very greedy corporate greedheads.

I know that everyone that puts into SSA doesn't live to see it and some have no beneficiaries. After year's of working all they get is the lump sum death payment. I know that illegals have been paying into the system by using someone's number--this has been going on for years--they pay in, but get nothing in return. This is the additional money that is in the SSA system--and SSA would be solvent if these politicians would keep their greedy hands off of it.

[TexasObserver]

18. More bad economics ideas from you.

You really should stop giving economic advice and instead, start learning about economics.

Your notions that we need to pay off the national debt, avoid deficit spending, hoard gold, and cut back Social Security are straight outta Prison Planet and the loons of the right. Anyone can hear what you say any day on Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh or Alex Jones. The sky is not falling. Social Security is not failing. If you'd read something occasionally besides fringe commentators you'd know this.

[TwixVoy]

28. I suggest you open your eyes

Our asses are owned by the corporations. You won't hear that on Beck. If you can't see the direction they are taking us you are a fool.

[TexasObserver]

35. Your chronic OPs about the sky falling in America are nonsense.

A person who isn't influenced by right wing news sources doesn't advocate (1) buying gold and hoarding it at one's home, (2) planning on a complete meltdown of society, (3) selling off all US holdings, (4) buying investments in other countries, and (5) restructuring Social Security along lines pleasing to the GOP.

I speak in opposition to your OPs which do that because it is important that the silly ideas you embrace be labeled as the absurdities they represent.

[TwixVoy]

38. Back in 2007 you told me the markets were just fine as was the economy

We all know how that turned out don't we?

[TexasObserver]

53. No, I didn't, and your memory or your ability to be truthful is impaired.

I joined DU in 2008 and wasn't here in 2007.

That's what we call "irrefutable evidence."

My posts began in January of 2008, and my business discussions can be summarized thusly:

I started telling people to GET OUT of the stock market, to nail down their profits, and to sell off their risky bonds in January of 2008, and kept telling people to do that until the DOW dipped below 7000 in March of 2009, at which point I urged people to get back in.

I challenge you to find any post of mine where there is any economic recommendation of mine at variance with those consistent advisories by me.

I told anyone who would listen to get out the stock market starting exactly two years ago, and told people to get back in when the DOW dipped below 7000. I even posted then that the DOW was at least 10% undervalued because of overreaction to the new presidency in 2009.

In summary, you're not accurate about your characterization of my position on anything economic. One thing you can always be sure of is that anyone who gets their economic advice from right wing talk radio nuts will catch an earful from me.

[democracy1st]

19. If he does that its over for this admin!

[dgibby]

22. Considering that the Supreme Court just gave the country to

Coorporations, Wall Street, and the Banksters, I'd say social security, medicare, SCHIP, etc,etc, are pretty much dead in the water at this point.

Prescott Bush and his evil spawn must be so happy. Nothing like the smell of a coup in the morning, I always say.

[ensho]

25. the US isn't THAT broke if they give tons to the military and tons

to Haiti and the rest of the world. we are not that broke if we are bldg. a number of new, big embassies, etc., etc.

Obama and team may mess with the parts of S.S. that doesn't involve the elderly but if they mess with the seniors on S.S. more then they have already (no increase this yr.)they are asking for TROUBLE.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

26. We don't need no stink'in socialist programs...

isn't that what they say? Take away their medicare and SS and watch them scream bloody murder.

[frazzled]

30. Oh bull; he's not going to reduce it, and we don't need to

He ran on raising the cap on the SS tax (for high-income earners) to fix it, and that's all that needs to be done to keep it solvent.

No politician in his or her right mind is going to "reduce social security"--that's a Republican meme, so stop saying it. (Unless you're a Republican).

[TwixVoy]

32. Read a damn newspaper

It is already in the works. You just want to pretend it isn't happening. Until it is too late and you and the other 95% of America that would rather pretend everything is great start to say "I am outraged! Why didn't anyone do anything?" Just like what happens every other time we as a nation get screwed.

[Winterblues]

34. We are in the hole TRILLIONS of dollars.

How much have we spent on "The War on Terror"? Obama just submitted the Largest Defense Budget in History and you want him to cut what little bit our Seniors get....Sickening..:puke:

[TwixVoy]

36. Where did I say I WANT him to cut it?

Put up or shut up. Show me.

I pay attention to what is going on and call it like I see it. Not how I WANT to see it. Did you just notice the Supreme Court sold our asses to the corporations today? Go crack a newspaper and shut off the TV.

The fact is this is coming, and too many people such as your self refuse to do anything about it while pretending everything is going along just fine. Bookmark this post.

[Winterblues]

55. Acceptance is almost the same thing IMO

You say he will do this and you don't blame him for it. I was just giving an example of why I do blame him for it and any that are accepting of it..

[CoffeeCat]

37. Social Security should NOT be cut!

I agree that we are a poor nation, suffocating under a mound of debt. We are in deep trouble.

I also agree with you that the trajectory for this country is a long, downward spiral.

However, Social Security is the LAST thing that should be on the chopping block.

As you said, the corporations stole from us. So, let's go get it back. Raise corporate
taxes. Cut out the loopholes that keep billions in big corporation's pockets. Raise taxes on the wealthy.

Stop the unnecessary wars that are nothing but a neocon war playground--their "grand experiment". That alone
would save trillions.

It's preposterous to suggest that our government should allow our senior citizens to starve and be broke--when
they paid into the system for decades---while the fat cats get fatter.

You can cut corporate welfare, wars and raise taxes to FAIR levels--and this issue would be solved.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. Only AFTER the Pentagon feels its share of the pain

$250 million a day in Iraq alone. That's $2800 a SECOND.

[doc03]

45. I don't know where you get this crap but it won't happen. They

may raise the retirement age of increase the contributions but nobody getting SS will have it cut. The Repukes have people think Obama already cut it because they didn't get a COLA increase and yet make some smart ass remark about the $250 special payment being Obama Money.

[BurtWorm]

46. If we're so poor, let's drop the wars and cut way back on military spending.

That'll save some bucks.

:think:

PS: And tax the wealthy what they owe for the privileges they've been mooching off of us for the last 30 years.

[bigtree]

47. but more money for wars?

reduce the militarism and imperialism abroad to pay for our needs here at home. Leave our vulnerable seniors alone.

[Gold Metal Flake]

48. Close some military bases.

End a war or two. Lift the cap for SS taxes. There are many solutions.

[hlthe2b]

49. BULL SHIT.... Unbelievable BULL Shit

Maybe you think we should continue to devastate our elderly and working poor by financing endless wars around the world, but I don't. Social security, health care, medicare, and other social safety nets can readily be paid for if we stop spending billions upon billions in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. This is RW propaganda at its worst, who have wanted to destroy FDR's new deal since its inception. SHAME On the OP for propagating this BS. Shame on you.

[ParkieDem]

50. We don't need a reduction, we need a shift

I would not have a problem shifting SS funding to Medicare. As we all know, both SS and Medicare are going broke, but the Medicare system is in a much, much more precarious situation than Social Security. Right now, SS and Medicare payroll taxes are, in the aggregate, 7.65%, with 6.2% going to SS and 1.45% to Medicare. Why don't we shift those percentages slightly, to say, 4.65% to SS and 3% to Medicare? Seems like that would help balance things out.

[Alias Dictus Tyrant]

65. The aggregate tax is closer to 15%

Reagan almost doubled the tax level to "rescue" it the first time around. They like to distribute parts of the tax under various headings to make it seem small. 15% is not a trivial tax.

There is no easy way to fix it, the relative numbers are large enough that any action toward fixing it will just shift damage elsewhere. We might have a long-shot with aggressive fiscal discipline, but I haven't seen much of that going on in Washington DC.

[SheilaT]

59. As several others have

pointed out, there's more than enough money out there if we just shift a small percentage from our military spending.

[Bluenorthwest]

60. Well good for you. You will be the only American who does

not blame any President who does such a needless and foolish thing. You can count on that.

[dajoki]

63. Any Dem that would do such a thing is NO Dem n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

66. +1

:applause:

[kenny blankenship]

69. Any Dem that would do such a thing is NO Dem. He's a New Dem®

[tonysam]

67. If he cuts MY social security, he's done for.

This is bullshit, neoliberal BULLSHIT.

The OP is full of propaganda by the Cato Institute.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

70. The country, states, and government are broke. But, the Pentagon isn't.

And, the banks aren't.

[earth mom]

71. Social Security is NOT broken. Quit pushing that meme.

Obama wants to trash Social Security for the same reasons * did-so he & his buddies can use the peoples money to pour into the stock market and spend however they choose.

Yes, the people have been stolen from to the nth degree.

Yes, trashing Social Security is the final nail in the coffin.

The powers that be want to make sure they win the class war and annihilate the middle class/working class once and for all.