New Obama offer targets middle class, SS; progressives in arms

[flyboy56]

Just like all other types of insurance

I need to find the guy who is paying my premium so I can thank him. Right now, I do not have to work another day in my life and I will get SS. But if I stop paying my premium for life insurance, I will not see one dime. No one else is paying my life insurance premium.

[Sprightly]

Raise the penalties to include the cost of the investigation. Make fraud so ridiculously painful that the temptation is removed.

For $60 million in fraud the company has to repay $150 million. I spill no tears.

[SemiAuto]

Master of the understatement, are we?

The problem with restoring fiscal sanity is that everyone's ox gets gored. So various groups align to see to it that their oxen are spared. The result is that the status quo is maintained but that result is unsustainable.

[CajunRaven]

I don't think we need to change Social Security. Just quit stealing from it and underfunding it.

Medicare needs reform. Means testing may be more politically realistic there...

Well, I totally agree they need to get their grubby fingers off it. As far as underfunding, that comes from the Payroll tax. So either raise taxes, raise the retirement age, means test it, or some fashion of all of the above.

The big problem is still Medicare/Medicaid. They're going to have to raise the retirement age and means test Medicare. And there needs to be changes in Medicaid. Not sure who to address that one.

Too bad ACA didn't do a damn thing to actually address the real problem with health care, the rapidly rising costs.

[CajunRaven]

I think we have to be careful with Means Testing.

Social Security and Medicare aren't viewed by the public as Welfare but with Means Testing, we run the risk of those programs being viewed as Welfare in the future.

Maybe instead of Means Testing, they should raise the cap on Payroll taxes?

We need to stop pretending Social Security is something it isn't. It's not a retirement account. It's not like the money I have paid into it the past 40 years has been invested for me personally. It should have been something akin to that, but the reality is the politicians treat it as just another source of revenue while lying their arse off about a lockbox.

[flyboy56]

We need to stop pretending Social Security is something it isn't. It's not a retirement account. It's not like the money I have paid into it the past 40 years has been invested for me personally. It should have been something akin to that, but the reality is the politicians treat it as just another source of revenue while lying their arse off about a lockbox.

The government is lying about a lock box. Since Johnson moved SS to the Treasury's general pool of monies, they've been dipping into since.

[reg_indy]

The problem with restoring fiscal sanity is that everyone's ox gets gored. So various groups align to see to it that their oxen are spared. The result is that the status quo is maintained but that result is unsustainable.

True.. the issues are fairly easily fixed, but no one's got the balls to do it.....

Hence the stalemate....

[can you hear me now!]

I think we do need to change social security. It is not the big problem but it is a problem. Welfare for the rich is nonsense and should stop.

Remove the payroll tax cap.
Evaluate the retirement age via realistic actuarial tables.
Prohibit its funds from being looted by other government agencies (without this I won't support removing the tax cap).
Means test it.

stop using common sense....

[flyboy56]

True.. the issues are fairly easily fixed, but no one's got the balls to do it.....

Hence the stalemate....

With redistricting the voters now have complete control of who in their party will stay and who gets booted. Yes, we have a debt issue, but don't cut our benefits. And of course we need more revenue, but don't vote to raise taxes or we will get rid of you. This is the real stalemate. Voters have the power and their representatives are afraid of going against their wishes for fear of losing their jobs. Hence the saying: "A good leader takes the people where they want to go. A great leader takes the people where they need go." And you say, but our leaders are suppose to do the peoples bidding. And they are doing exactly as you command. Hence no real long term fiscal deal. Thanks Americans!

[SalisburySage]

Obama is really going to stick it to the Middle Class. Oh well they voted for him.