Are you a parasite? Here is YOUR OFFICIAL List of Government Benefits

[songfourone]

Yep, if you didn't catch a break and inherit a company or had rich parents so you could go to the best schools, F You. Who cares If you paid into social security and medicare, F You. if you worked for 20 years and can't work anymore because of a disabling condition, F You. If you're a child born to a poor parent and need to go to the hospital, F You. Did I hit everybody Conti?

Damn Gina, you always nail it.

[Contumacious]

Idiotic topic

yep, I had nor right to expose the subject. Parasitism is socially acceptable nowadays - you guys just elected the 44th President of the United States.

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[AttackPlanR]

Well today I'm going to be extra parasitic and head up the interstate to see some family and eat some turkey that was government subsidized

[Contumacious]

Well today I'm going to be extra parasitic and head up the interstate to see some family and eat some turkey that was government subsidized

Go for it.

Don't forget to wear your badge of honor.

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[georjec2]

GOVERNMENT BENEFITS

Depending on your immigration status, length of time in the United States, and income, you may be eligible for some federal benefit programs. Government assistance programs can be critically important to the well-being of some immigrants and their families. Frequently, however, there is a lack of information about how to access such benefits. Benefit programs can be complicated and you may be given misleading information about how they operate.

The links below will lead you to official government websites describing a range of assistance programs.

Official website with information on all available federal benefit programs. (English version - Spanish version)
Official website for Medicare, the health insurance program for people 65 years of age or older or who have specific disabilities.
Official website for Medicaid, the joint federal/state medical care program for low-income people.
Official website for the Social Security Administration. (English version - Spanish version)
Social Security information available in foreign languages.
Information on Supplemental Security Income benefits for aliens.
Information on the Food Stamp Program for low-income families.
A website containing links to available federal information in other languages.
Information on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program.



Do not feel guilty about sticking it to taxpayers, neighbors or producers . Just vote for your friendly welfare/warfare state politician , early and often.

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How much do republicans and republican run states that want to secede from the United States, how much of the above listed 'stuff' do they have, use and get ?

That's what I wonder.

[dsummoner]

Well today I'm going to be extra parasitic and head up the interstate to see some family and eat some turkey that was government subsidized

Walking over to the next mobile estate in the FEMA formaldehyde Loveland Mobile Estate 'subdivision' to gluttonously engorge upon the food provided to ye by the 'generosity' of the 'evil rich?'

Happy Thanksgiving, APR.

[SomeIdiot]

I think the truly rich are doing just fine and I shed no tears for those whose income tends to be taxed at lower rates than actual productive work or have the ability to exploit the tax code as they do.

I definitely do feel for those in the middle class getting hit by things like the AMT though, or the people who have been paying into a system all of their lives to support others but from which they won't benefit themselves. I guess tax cuts for those with the most and imperial military expeditions are a greater necessity.

[dsummoner]

What would one consider 'actual productive work?'

The wealth of those 'with the most' will be untouched by tax rates on income. It will be those trying to move into wealth by generating income (those in the upper middle class) that will be hit the hardest.

[SomeIdiot]

What would one consider 'actual productive work?'

The wealth of those 'with the most' will be untouched by tax rates on income. It will be those trying to move into wealth by generating income (those in the upper middle class) that will be hit the hardest.

Oh I agree which is why my preferred policy is a complete overhaul of the tax system. No more deductions of any kind for anyone, all income taxed equally regardless of the source (I'm fine with a progressive graduated scale if that needs to be part of the compromise though if that's what we're doing there should be far more brackets). Of course taxing income in the first place is a bit of an anachronism so the long term goal should be moving towards taxing consumption, but no one seems to want to talk about that yet.

All that being said I have a hard time getting worked up about the tiny percentage of the federal budget going to food stamps or the government supporting injured pensioners while the biggest corporations are able to get by sometimes literally without paying anything or even getting a tax return and folks living off capital gains are only getting hit at 15%.

[dsummoner]

Oh I agree which is why my preferred policy is a complete overhaul of the tax system. No more deductions of any kind for anyone, all income taxed equally regardless of the source (I'm fine with a progressive graduated scale if that needs to be part of the compromise though if that's what we're doing there should be far more brackets). Of course taxing income in the first place is a bit of an anachronism so the long term goal should be moving towards taxing consumption, but no one seems to want to talk about that yet.

All that being said I have a hard time getting worked up about the tiny percentage of the federal budget going to food stamps or the government supporting injured pensioners while the biggest corporations are able to get by sometimes literally without paying anything or even getting a tax return and folks living off capital gains are only getting hit at 15%.

Or, the private Federal Reserve can just digitally 'print' all of the funds needed for funding government.

The 'prygryssyve' aspect most certainly needs to be removed (for both income and for consumption). The tax on earned income should, as a first, step, be cut to 15% across the board. Consumption taxes should be considered only after the Constitution is amended with a strict and inviolable declaration that a national consumption tax replaces all national taxes on income and no national tax on income could ever be considered.

[SomeIdiot]

Or, the private Federal Reserve can just digitally 'print' all of the funds needed for funding government.

The 'prygryssyve' aspect most certainly needs to be removed (for both income and for consumption). The tax on earned income should, as a first, step, be cut to 15% across the board. Consumption taxes should be considered only after the Constitution is amended with a strict and inviolable declaration that a national consumption tax replaces all national taxes on income and no national tax on income could ever be considered.

I think that you might be making the perfect, or at least what some would consider perfect, the enemy of the good here. I'm with you on preferring a return to real federalism, and a taking back of a lot of the powers given to Washington. However, I've also long ago made peace with the fact that there are certain things a modern government is just going to be expected to do, and I'd rather push for it to take a rational and sustainable approach to those things than hope for a new constitutional convention. Call it SomeIdiot's form of reconstructed classical liberalism.

But on that note I need to go get geared up to watch the Redskins (hopefully) slaughter Dallas. Have a happy Thanksgiving, dsum!

[bmore_ken]

All that being said I have a hard time getting worked up about the tiny percentage of the federal budget going to food stamps or the government supporting injured pensioners while the biggest corporations are able to get by sometimes literally without paying anything or even getting a tax return and folks living off capital gains are only getting hit at 15%.

Bingo!!!!!!!!

[dsummoner]

I think that you might be making the perfect, or at least what some would consider perfect, the enemy of the good here. I'm with you on preferring a return to real federalism, and a taking back of a lot of the powers given to Washington. However, I've also long ago made peace with the fact that there are certain things a modern government is just going to be expected to do, and I'd rather push for it to take a rational and sustainable approach to those things than hope for a new constitutional convention. Call it SomeIdiot's form of reconstructed classical liberalism.

But on that note I need to go get geared up to watch the Redskins (hopefully) slaughter Dallas. Have a happy Thanksgiving, dsum!

I suspect that we both know that 'change' means more of the same. Between those seeking preferential treatment and those peddling it, substantial change is one that is most appropriate for a discussion of theory rather than one of implementation.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friend.

[Contumacious]

How much do republicans and republican run states that want to secede from the United States, how much of the above listed 'stuff' do they have, use and get ?

That's what I wonder.

Americans have been forced , under penalty of law, since the mid 1930's to contribute to the Ponzi scheme , known as social security .Shouldn't they get their money back?!?!?

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[georjec2]

Americans have been forced , under penalty of law, since the mid 1930's to contribute to the Ponzi scheme , known as social security .Shouldn't they get their money back?!?!?

.

Rachel Maddow says "it's not a ponzi scheme"...and I believe her.

It seems to me personally, that it's only a ponzi scheme until you receive your first check in the mail.

But what about food stamps, medicare, section 8 housing, senior citizen and disability and govt. phones, do any republicans get those things ?

[songfourone]

Rachel Maddow says "it's not a ponzi scheme"...and I believe her.

It seems to me personally, that it's only a ponzi scheme until you receive your first check in the mail.

But what about food stamps, medicare, section 8 housing, senior citizen and disability and govt. phones, do any republicans get those things ?

Remember all those business owners they paraded around, 'I did build this', only to come to find out they all had some assistance.

Yeah, like that.

[bmore_ken]

Rachel Maddow says "it's not a ponzi scheme"...and I believe her.

It seems to me personally, that it's only a ponzi scheme until you receive your first check in the mail.

But what about food stamps, medicare, section 8 housing, senior citizen and disability and govt. phones, do any republicans get those things ?

It's not a ponzi scheme at all, that's a right wing talking point. If you retire at 65 and start drawing ss retirement benefits, you'll receive more in benefits than you paid in if you live 10-15 years beyond that.

[BlandFood]

It's not a ponzi scheme at all, that's a right wing talking point. If you retire at 65 and start drawing ss retirement benefits, you'll receive more in benefits than you paid in if you live 10-15 years beyond that.

Even more if one pulls the plug at 62. One would have to live almost forever to make those 3 years up.

[Retired Ramp Guy]

It's not a ponzi scheme at all, that's a right wing talking point. If you retire at 65 and start drawing ss retirement benefits, you'll receive more in benefits than you paid in if you live 10-15 years beyond that.

May not be a ponzi scheme, but it isn't a very good savings plan in my opinion.

Who here would sign up with an independent plan and have them take your money for 40+ years and if you die before the age of 62 not allow YOU to specify who should receive you benefits?

[Rael]

May not be a ponzi scheme, but it isn't a very good savings plan in my opinion.

Who here would sign up with an independent plan and have them take your money for 40+ years and if you die before the age of 62 not allow YOU to specify who should receive you benefits?

Philosophically I agree with this as a stand on personal savings and investments. I would prefer to be able to invest some of what goes to SS on my own. That being said, what those who are intent on privatizing SS seem to willfully miss is that SS also provides for minor children of deceased parents who could not have paid in enough to a private plan to provide for their children before they died. SS does much more than just being a (poor) replacement for a retirement plan. Personally I can't think that the average American is going to want to say to those children "Sorry, sucks to be you".