Medicare and SS

[baldo]

How many members here voted to cut their Medicare and Social Security benefits?

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-social-security-gop-20161209-story.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2016/11/10/will-president-trump-cut-medicare-and-social-security-as-well-as-taxes/#69712de9a43f

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2016/12/07/294368/how-tom-price-can-help-donald-trump-cut-social-security-medicare-and-medicaid/


http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/12/09/breaking-republicans-sneak-bill-to-raise-retirement-age-reduce-benefits-by-13/

[Serk]

*raises hand*

[RDAbull]

There are 3 common sense fixes for social security:

1) raise the SS taxable income limit, currently $118,500 to at lease $250,000.  Or maybe even all income like Medicare.
2) raise the age limit to collect.  Early retirement from 62 to 65, full retirement to 70.
When SS was created in 1932 you collected at 65, live expectancy was 67.  It was never meant to be paid out for 30 - 40 years.
3) means test income to benefit like Mediscare does now.  The higher you other sources of income the less you receive in SS.

One small problem:  Congress does not have the balls to even talk about the problem let alone fix it.

[dreamaker]

Correct me if I am wrong, a bunch of years back there was a surplus of cash in SS cookie jar, and the Gov. borrowed a bunch of it, and to my knowledge they never paid it back.Oops!  Then they came up with the excuse, that the reason the cash is low in the SS cookie jar, is because people are living too long now a days. Common sense tells me, that you can't take more cash out of the cookie jar, than you put in over time. Or have I been missed informed! I watch TV Sunday Mornings and listen to these so called financial experts and listen to their so call advice. If everyone is so much smarter than us, then why is our economy on a downward spiral. Again!! So if money is the issue to survive, why are we going to Mars, why do we pay people to dig up 65 million year old bones.  How does that put food on the table, because SS cookie jar defiantly puts food on peoples table.  The math seems simple, it's the mechanics that seems to be the problem!

[Serk]

Ponzi Scheme noun

A Ponzi scheme (/ˈpɒn.zi/; also a Ponzi game) is a fraudulent investment operation where the operator, an individual or organization, pays returns to its investors from new capital paid to the operators by new investors, rather than from profit earned through legitimate sources.


And I want out of the biggest forced Ponzi scheme in human history.

[Pappy!]

And.....mandate that congress' pay and retirement be directly linked to SS, as in comes out of this fund. Unless SS benefits increase there will be zero increase in pay or retirement for them either.

[RDAbull]

Ponzi Scheme noun

A Ponzi scheme (/ˈpɒn.zi/; also a Ponzi game) is a fraudulent investment operation where the operator, an individual or organization, pays returns to its investors from new capital paid to the operators by new investors, rather than from profit earned through legitimate sources.


And I want out of the biggest forced Ponzi scheme in human history.

If I were 45 I would say the same thing, but at 66 I don't have the time to invest there funds so as to replace the income that they will provide.  I will do the next best thing, hold off receiving the income until I turn 70 thereby increasing the payout available by 32%.  The other thing to consider is that today the combined contribution to SS is 12.4 % of payroll, when I started putting in it was 3.625% of the first $4,800 in earnings.  With my first check I will get back every dollar that was contributed during the decade of the 60's

Correct me if I am wrong, a bunch of years back there was a surplus of cash in SS cookie jar, and the Gov. borrowed a bunch of it, and to my knowledge they never paid it back.Oops!  Then they came up with the excuse, that the reason the cash is low in the SS cookie jar, is because people are living too long now a days. Common sense tells me, that you can't take more cash out of the cookie jar, than you put in over time. Or have I been missed informed! I watch TV Sunday Mornings and listen to these so called financial experts and listen to their so call advice. If everyone is so much smarter than us, then why is our economy on a downward spiral. Again!! So if money is the issue to survive, why are we going to Mars, why do we pay people to dig up 65 million year old bones.  How does that put food on the table, because SS cookie jar defiantly puts food on peoples table.  The math seems simple, it's the mechanics that seems to be the problem!

The mechanics is exactly the problem.  Like the blower in your picture adds more air to the engine, congress has added more to SS.  SS was never intended to be what they have made it to secure their congressional jobs.  The has not been any cash in the SS system since 1964 when it was combined with the regular budget to make that look better.  It has been a cash flow system that has now caught up to itself.  It first went cash flow negative in 2009 by 32 billion and has increased the deficit each year since.  As I said congress hasn't the balls to fix the system, so changes to mitigate the problem is small ways is the best we can hope for.

[dragonslayer]

If congress would stop stealing from it and giving SS to people who never put a dime in it SS and Medicare would have so much money it would boggle your mind.Have you looked up what SS is paying for that was never intended to be part of it.Hopefully Trumps people will put an end to this raping of SS funds for other uses.

[LandElephant]

YAWN.

I would think you would have something better to do at 2 am than throw out this weak bait to see who bites.Congress has been talking about fixing SSN and medicare since Jimmy Carter raised the age limits starting in 1975.

There hasn't been an increase to the SSN tax to cover inflation and just periodically has the government raised the income limit.

For 2017 the income limit is $127K give or take a few dollars and does little to fix the problem.  That just means that you and your employer pays more into SSN with no spending control put in place.

All this means for me is that I will have a higher level of income to drop off another year of the incedibally lower wages that I was paid while serviing in the military and have a higher income level that will raise my monthly payment the maximum allowed by SSN when I reach 67 (which is in 2 1/4 years. 

OBTW, didn't the democrats and Obama administration take 716 BIllion out of medicare to help pay for ACA. Didn't see you too upset about that.

So again, YAWN!!!!

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Add to that the rising cost of ACA and it just squeezes the middle class plus employers for mote money.

[baldo]

YAWN.

I would think you would have something better to do at 2 am than throw out this weak bait to see who bites.Congress has been talking about fixing SSN and medicare since Jimmy Carter raised the age limits starting in 1975.

There hasn't been an increase to the SSN tax to cover inflation and just periodically has the government raised the income limit.

For 2017 the income limit is $127K give or take a few dollars and does little to fix the problem.  That just means that you and your employer pays more into SSN with no spending control put in place.

All this means for me is that I will have a higher level of income to drop off another year of the incedibally lower wages that I was paid while serviing in the military and have a higher income level that will raise my monthly payment the maximum allowed by SSN when I reach 67 (which is in 2 1/4 years. 

OBTW, didn't the democrats and Obama administration take 716 BIllion out of medicare to help pay for ACA. Didn't see you too upset about that.

So again, YAWN!!!!

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Add to that the rising cost of ACA and it just squeezes the middle class plus employers for mote money.

Sorry Charlie....save your indignation for someone that gives a rats ass about it.

There have never been people in a position of power that could potentially slash retirees benefits like is in power now. If you don't care about it, why bother commenting?

This is serious shyte. If you choose to be a smartass and just whip off some drive bys, have at it.

I, for one, am seriously concerned that all the money that I've put it into the system won't be there for me when I'm ready to draw on it.

If that's not a concern for you, mazeltov. Good for you. The rest of us do....

I'm pissed off because all through his campaign, Trump vowed that he would not touch Med and SS. Yet the people he wants to put in charge are all about exactly that. If you don't care, good for you. But when I happen to be up at 2 am and read about it, yes, that's when I have something to say.

As far as your tired little nugget about Obama taking Medicare money for ACA....WRONG.....you can retire that BS anytime.....

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/feb/14/national-republican-congressional-committee/nrcc-says-obamacare-cuts-money-medicare-and-senior/


 

[Bighead]

YAWN.

I would think you would have something better to do at 2 am than throw out this weak bait to see who bites.Congress has been talking about fixing SSN and medicare since Jimmy Carter raised the age limits starting in 1975.

There hasn't been an increase to the SSN tax to cover inflation and just periodically has the government raised the income limit.

For 2017 the income limit is $127K give or take a few dollars and does little to fix the problem.  That just means that you and your employer pays more into SSN with no spending control put in place.

All this means for me is that I will have a higher level of income to drop off another year of the incedibally lower wages that I was paid while serviing in the military and have a higher income level that will raise my monthly payment the maximum allowed by SSN when I reach 67 (which is in 2 1/4 years. 

OBTW, didn't the democrats and Obama administration take 716 BIllion out of medicare to help pay for ACA. Didn't see you too upset about that.

So again, YAWN!!!!

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Add to that the rising cost of ACA and it just squeezes the middle class plus employers for mote money.

Sorry Charlie....save your indignation for someone that gives a rats ass about it.

There have never been people in a position of power that could potentially slash retirees benefits like is in power now. If you don't care about it, why bother commenting?

This is serious shyte. If you choose to be a smartass and just whip off some drive bys, have at it.

I, for one, am seriously concerned that all the money that I've put it into the system won't be there for me when I'm ready to draw on it.

If that's not a concern for you, mazeltov. Good for you. The rest of us do....

I'm pissed off because all through his campaign, Trump vowed that he would not touch Med and SS. Yet the people he wants to put in charge are all about exactly that. If you don't care, good for you. But when I happen to be up at 2 am and read about it, yes, that's when I have something to say.

As far as your tired little nugget about Obama taking Medicare money for ACA....WRONG.....you can retire that BS anytime.....

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/feb/14/national-republican-congressional-committee/nrcc-says-obamacare-cuts-money-medicare-and-senior/


 

You actually thought there would be something there? I was told from a young age it would be broke by the time I was old enough to draw from it.

[f6gal]

YAWN.

I would think you would have something better to do at 2 am than throw out this weak bait to see who bites.Congress has been talking about fixing SSN and medicare since Jimmy Carter raised the age limits starting in 1975.

There hasn't been an increase to the SSN tax to cover inflation and just periodically has the government raised the income limit.

For 2017 the income limit is $127K give or take a few dollars and does little to fix the problem.  That just means that you and your employer pays more into SSN with no spending control put in place.

All this means for me is that I will have a higher level of income to drop off another year of the incedibally lower wages that I was paid while serviing in the military and have a higher income level that will raise my monthly payment the maximum allowed by SSN when I reach 67 (which is in 2 1/4 years.  

OBTW, didn't the democrats and Obama administration take 716 BIllion out of medicare to help pay for ACA. Didn't see you too upset about that.

So again, YAWN!!!!

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Add to that the rising cost of ACA and it just squeezes the middle class plus employers for mote money.

Sorry Charlie....save your indignation for someone that gives a rats ass about it.

There have never been people in a position of power that could potentially slash retirees benefits like is in power now. If you don't care about it, why bother commenting?

This is serious shyte. If you choose to be a smartass and just whip off some drive bys, have at it.

I, for one, am seriously concerned that all the money that I've put it into the system won't be there for me when I'm ready to draw on it.

If that's not a concern for you, mazeltov. Good for you. The rest of us do....

I'm pissed off because all through his campaign, Trump vowed that he would not touch Med and SS. Yet the people he wants to put in charge are all about exactly that. If you don't care, good for you. But when I happen to be up at 2 am and read about it, yes, that's when I have something to say.

As far as your tired little nugget about Obama taking Medicare money for ACA....WRONG.....you can retire that BS anytime.....

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/feb/14/national-republican-congressional-committee/nrcc-says-obamacare-cuts-money-medicare-and-senior/


 

You actually thought there would be something there? I was told from a young age it would be broke by the time I was old enough to draw from it.

Ditto.  I've never expected SS to be solvent when my time comes, so I've planned accordingly.  I do wish I hadn't had to pay into it all these years.  if the government was concerned about ppl having a retirement income, they could have required the same percentage to be invested in a retirement fund.  Imagine how much of a nest egg you would have, if that money had been invested properly.

[Bighead]

Yeah I could retire now if I hadn't had to pay into the scheme

[dreamaker]

I am no rocket scientist on this subject, but there are other hands in the cookie jar, SSI and SSD and I am not talking about hard drives. I know a few young people that function better than I, that are on it. There is a guy and a girl across the street from me, they are in about mid 30's and they collect SS?. I seen the guy at the store using his EBT card and buying booze, you think that don't fry me. Now take them, "Plus" my area, "Plus" Detroit area, "Plus" Mich,. "Plus" USA, and what do you think that adds up to? I have do issue if someone truly needs it and deserves it and has put into it.  I have been living here over 25 years, and I don't think that girl and guy has ever had a Real Job long term, and added to the cookie jar. Now they lay around on their deck all day getting a sun tan I guess.

[Michvalk]

I am no rocket scientist on this subject, but there are other hands in the cookie jar, SSI and SSD and I am not talking about hard drives. I know a few young people that function better than I, that are on it. There is a guy and a girl across the street from me, they are in about mid 30's and they collect SS?. I seen the guy at the store using his EBT card and buying booze, you think that don't fry me. Now take them, "Plus" my area, "Plus" Detroit area, "Plus" Mich,. "Plus" USA, and what do you think that adds up to? I have do issue if someone truly needs it and deserves it and has put into it.  I have been living here over 25 years, and I don't think that girl and guy has ever had a Real Job long term, and added to the cookie jar. Now they lay around on their deck all day getting a sun tan I guess.

You can't use the EBT card to buy booze. If it really happened, you should turn in the store that did it

[dreamaker]

Ya I know that!! I have seen it at several small stores before. It pisses me off, but I have no proof. It all adds up, and we all pay for it. Who are the fools in life, we are, we get penalize for having a job.

[Paxton]

I am retired from the public sector in California. I paid SS in all my prior jobs,
but not in the public sector. ???
I worked for the PS for 30 years and by law had to pay into the California Public employees'
retirement system.(CalPERS)

However, in 1994 the law changed and all PS employees hired from 1994 on, began to pay into both, SS and CalPERS. Since I was first hired in 1977, the change in the law did not apply to me.
So, when I retired I did not have enough quarters to qualify for SS retirement income.

Thankfully, I was disciplined enough to put my investments into a 401K, diverting all salary raises
to the 401K and watched it grow. I also successfully invested on real estate.
I always drove an old car and although I could afford it, never had a car payment.

My daily driver, an UGLY beat up '99 Accord does not look good (several dents and a cheap primer job)
but it takes me anywhere I need to go.

I do get medicare on account of my wife's SS qualification. Unlike me, she get SS income.
In addition to medicare, we have supplemental medical & dental insurance.
I pay the price every month. My supplemental insurance bill for the wife and I
is $946 per month + $250 per month towards medicare coverage.

Now, while reading these posts it appears that some of us are depending only on SS for retirement.
Were I to get the same SS income as the wife instead of my retirement income,
together we could not afford supplemental insurance and for that matter
Dog Food begins to taste a lot better!

NOTE: Life in California is pleasant but very expensive. Yet, I would not want to live anywhere else.

[LandElephant]

Thanks for your response.  Nice to see you complete grasp of the problems with Social Security (SSN). You might want to take some time to maybe better research the program and all of the problems and attempted changes that have been tried over the last 30 years before you latch into an article that talks about what someone might suggest to fix SSN.

Clearly by this statement "I, for one, am seriously concerned that all the money that I've put it into the system won't be there for me when I'm ready to draw on it". You don't understand how SSN works. Guess what, it won't be there for you.  The money that WE put in today pays for those who are receiving their benefits NOW.  Your benefit will be paid by the next generation that is paying into SSN.

Let's talk about that benefit.  You will receive approximately twice what you put in to SSN. If you haven't looked at your annual statement you receive for SSN and did the math it might help understand some of the problems with SSN.

There are only two fixes to SSN.  Either get more money put into it, or cut the outlays to match what is available.  12.4% is the tax rate for SSN.  You pay 6.2% and your employer pays 6.2%.  To raise more income, you have to raise the tax.  That means more taken out of your pay check, and more taken from your employers bottom line.  That has never been a popular approach because it is considered likely to reduce labor in the market place.

Cut benefits, well you've already showed what that sentiment is like.  Although there is talk of removing the salary cap, the amount gained doesn't do much to fixing the problems with income coming in .  As well as taxing SSN above certain income levels which you will see in the article below.

To follow your lead here is an article that you might find interesting with some real facts concerning SSN:

http://www.fool.com/retirement/2016/12/12/heres-why-social-security-recipients-should-be-che.aspx

One way to improve the amount of money coming to SSN might be to get more people to work.  If 5,000,000 people get added back to the employment roles and say all the salaries average out to be $40,000. Then there would be approximately $25.2 Billion added to coffers of SSN. $12.6 Billion from the employee, and $12.6 Billion from the employer.

If you raise the tax to 13.6% (that is 1%) and using 150,000,000 already employed making an average of $40,000 would add to SSN coffers approximately $60 Billion.  So right there is $85.2 Billion yearly going to coffers of SSN without making any age limit changes.  That is an increase for each employee on average of $240 a year.

So to make it personal.  For me with the change in income taxed to $127,200 and if I was taxed at the new rate instead of the existing rate, my increase would be $763.20 or $28.25 a paycheck.  I can live with that because I know it's supposedly going to SSN to make it more solvent.

The other approach is the one that you seem to be upset about and that is changing age requirements and cutting benefits. Another hard pill to swallow and as unpopular as raising rates.

There are common facts about SSN.  It is going broke.  If you read the article supplied you will see that there is presently $2.8 Trillion reserve. By 2020 there is no reserve and more money is going out than coming in.  By 2034 benefits for all could be cut by 26%.

As others have said SSN is largest legal Ponzi scam out there. It just comes down to this.  Either bake a bigger cake, or cut the pieces smaller to make it go around for everyone.

As to your showing me that I put the wrong info out about ACA.  I did not.  I was showing you exactly what you were doing with you weak references to possible changes to SSN.  But I would like to thank you for the platform to maybe put some well thought out ideas and information on how to fix SSN. Not scream the sky is falling.

I would also like to thank you for showing all of us the chink in your liberal armor.  You don' t like being marginalized. 

I do give a Shyte about SSN.  I worry about what my children will have to deal with because there isn't any politicians out there with enough intestinal fortitude to push through meaningful changes to save SSN.  OBTW, medicare is going in the same direction and the changes are just as painful.

But like Paxton, I have made the hard choices to plan my retirement without depending on the government to supply my needs.  Hard choices at times but as I approach my retirement years I will be comfortable and if I get SSN I will use as I see fit.  If you haven't done that because you are depending on this government to supply you needs then you sir are the one with his head in the sand.

Fire away all you want.  Doesn't bother me at all.  I don't hide behind a board name when I make my comments.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[RDAbull]

Charlie, I agree with everything you said.
One point I would like to add:  When the employer hires someone, they know the total cost of that employment.  So in saying that they add 6.2% for SS and 1.45% for Medicare our of the employer's money is just a shift.   It is just a part of the cost of employment so I hold that it is really the employee's money as part of the employment cost package.  Those of us self-employed pay both parts.  The same can be said to what the employer (or the self-employed) pays in unemployment tax, worker's compensation tax, health insurance benefits, retirement plan contributions and all other cost of employment for them.  They have to calculate the total cost of employment and then make the decision if that can be justified by the goods or services that they sell.  If they can still make a profit, get the go signal. If not, everything stops and employment stops growing or dwindles.  Add that the government is not an efficient user of money we start behind the 8-ball.   
 I hold that only efficient use of dollars will make employment, hence the economy grow.  Everybody, including the government benefits.
3 cents - a penny change.

[Serk]

One way to improve the amount of money coming to SSN might be to get more people to work.  If 5,000,000 people get added back to the employment roles and say all the salaries average out to be $40,000. Then there would be approximately $25.2 Billion added to coffers of SSN. $12.6 Billion from the employee, and $12.6 Billion from the employer.

Which is why the crashing labor participation rate is FAR more troubling than the bogus low unemployment rate...

[baldo]

Thanks for your response.  Nice to see you complete grasp of the problems with Social Security (SSN). You might want to take some time to maybe better research the program and all of the problems and attempted changes that have been tried over the last 30 years before you latch into an article that talks about what someone might suggest to fix SSN.

Clearly by this statement "I, for one, am seriously concerned that all the money that I've put it into the system won't be there for me when I'm ready to draw on it". You don't understand how SSN works. Guess what, it won't be there for you.  The money that WE put in today pays for those who are receiving their benefits NOW.  Your benefit will be paid by the next generation that is paying into SSN.

Let's talk about that benefit.  You will receive approximately twice what you put in to SSN. If you haven't looked at your annual statement you receive for SSN and did the math it might help understand some of the problems with SSN.

There are only two fixes to SSN.  Either get more money put into it, or cut the outlays to match what is available.  12.4% is the tax rate for SSN.  You pay 6.2% and your employer pays 6.2%.  To raise more income, you have to raise the tax.  That means more taken out of your pay check, and more taken from your employers bottom line.  That has never been a popular approach because it is considered likely to reduce labor in the market place.

Cut benefits, well you've already showed what that sentiment is like.  Although there is talk of removing the salary cap, the amount gained doesn't do much to fixing the problems with income coming in .  As well as taxing SSN above certain income levels which you will see in the article below.

To follow your lead here is an article that you might find interesting with some real facts concerning SSN:

http://www.fool.com/retirement/2016/12/12/heres-why-social-security-recipients-should-be-che.aspx

One way to improve the amount of money coming to SSN might be to get more people to work.  If 5,000,000 people get added back to the employment roles and say all the salaries average out to be $40,000. Then there would be approximately $25.2 Billion added to coffers of SSN. $12.6 Billion from the employee, and $12.6 Billion from the employer.

If you raise the tax to 13.6% (that is 1%) and using 150,000,000 already employed making an average of $40,000 would add to SSN coffers approximately $60 Billion.  So right there is $85.2 Billion yearly going to coffers of SSN without making any age limit changes.  That is an increase for each employee on average of $240 a year.

So to make it personal.  For me with the change in income taxed to $127,200 and if I was taxed at the new rate instead of the existing rate, my increase would be $763.20 or $28.25 a paycheck.  I can live with that because I know it's supposedly going to SSN to make it more solvent.

The other approach is the one that you seem to be upset about and that is changing age requirements and cutting benefits. Another hard pill to swallow and as unpopular as raising rates.

There are common facts about SSN.  It is going broke.  If you read the article supplied you will see that there is presently $2.8 Trillion reserve. By 2020 there is no reserve and more money is going out than coming in.  By 2034 benefits for all could be cut by 26%.

As others have said SSN is largest legal Ponzi scam out there. It just comes down to this.  Either bake a bigger cake, or cut the pieces smaller to make it go around for everyone.

As to your showing me that I put the wrong info out about ACA.  I did not.  I was showing you exactly what you were doing with you weak references to possible changes to SSN.  But I would like to thank you for the platform to maybe put some well thought out ideas and information on how to fix SSN. Not scream the sky is falling.

I would also like to thank you for showing all of us the chink in your liberal armor.  You don' t like being marginalized. 

I do give a Shyte about SSN.  I worry about what my children will have to deal with because there isn't any politicians out there with enough intestinal fortitude to push through meaningful changes to save SSN.  OBTW, medicare is going in the same direction and the changes are just as painful.

But like Paxton, I have made the hard choices to plan my retirement without depending on the government to supply my needs.  Hard choices at times but as I approach my retirement years I will be comfortable and if I get SSN I will use as I see fit.  If you haven't done that because you are depending on this government to supply you needs then you sir are the one with his head in the sand.

Fire away all you want.  Doesn't bother me at all.  I don't hide behind a board name when I make my comments.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Charlie,

Thanks for the informative response.

FWIW, I too have made decisions since I started working to provide for my retirement.

The post was intended to gauge what others thought of the nominees for those that would be in the position to make these unwanted changes.

Bob

[Momz]

I am no rocket scientist on this subject, but there are other hands in the cookie jar, SSI and SSD and I am not talking about hard drives. I know a few young people that function better than I, that are on it. There is a guy and a girl across the street from me, they are in about mid 30's and they collect SS?. I seen the guy at the store using his EBT card and buying booze, you think that don't fry me. Now take them, "Plus" my area, "Plus" Detroit area, "Plus" Mich,. "Plus" USA, and what do you think that adds up to? I have do issue if someone truly needs it and deserves it and has put into it.  I have been living here over 25 years, and I don't think that girl and guy has ever had a Real Job long term, and added to the cookie jar. Now they lay around on their deck all day getting a sun tan I guess.

You can't use the EBT card to buy booze. If it really happened, you should turn in the store that did it

I see that all over Metro Detroit, and especially in Arab owned party stores and gas stations.
Wake up, it happens all the time, 24/7.

[Bighead]

Yeah and I read an article that they were trying to let it be ok for Colorado EBT holders to buy pot with them. They stated it was their right.

[dreamaker]

I am no rocket scientist on this subject, but there are other hands in the cookie jar, SSI and SSD and I am not talking about hard drives. I know a few young people that function better than I, that are on it. There is a guy and a girl across the street from me, they are in about mid 30's and they collect SS?. I seen the guy at the store using his EBT card and buying booze, you think that don't fry me. Now take them, "Plus" my area, "Plus" Detroit area, "Plus" Mich,. "Plus" USA, and what do you think that adds up to? I have do issue if someone truly needs it and deserves it and has put into it.  I have been living here over 25 years, and I don't think that girl and guy has ever had a Real Job long term, and added to the cookie jar. Now they lay around on their deck all day getting a sun tan I guess.

You can't use the EBT card to buy booze. If it really happened, you should turn in the store that did it

I see that all over Metro Detroit, and especially in Arab owned party stores and gas stations.
Wake up, it happens all the time, 24/7.

I am no way saying it's right and I am not making excuses for the small store owners, but from what I have seen. The small store owners are held hostage in two ways.  They struggle to exist because of the big super store squeezing them out, and if they don't honor some of the conveniences the customers want, they are out of business.  Damn if you do, and Damn if you don't. Like I said I don't agree with it, but I do understand it.  Back to the point, on Sunday morning TV, I some times watch these Financial programs, with these Financial Experts always spouting out about who is at blame and what is the right way to to do it.  But yet our SS and Economy is on a downward spiral, but those Financial Experts Bank Accountant are Fat.

[Patrick]

I don't know what is about to happen to SS and Medicare. I've always heard and felt that there would be nothing left by the time we were to collect it. All I can say now is they both have worked well for me so far and I just received notice of an increase in the next month or so.  The only problem I've found from my figures is that the check should be substantially larger than it is, but, since we are paying for folks that haven't it makes perfect governmental sense.

[f6john]

   My increase was 3 tenths of one percent which amounted to about $6.00 a month.

[dreamaker]

I feel, if people in our Gov, would just do what they are paid to do, and spend the tax money for what it is intended for, we wouldn't have half the issues we have. You can't take out more than you put in and give it away to non deserving people like a bunch of drunken sailors.(No disrespect to sailors)

[The emperor has no clothes]

I am no rocket scientist on this subject, but there are other hands in the cookie jar, SSI and SSD and I am not talking about hard drives. I know a few young people that function better than I, that are on it. There is a guy and a girl across the street from me, they are in about mid 30's and they collect SS?. I seen the guy at the store using his EBT card and buying booze, you think that don't fry me. Now take them, "Plus" my area, "Plus" Detroit area, "Plus" Mich,. "Plus" USA, and what do you think that adds up to? I have do issue if someone truly needs it and deserves it and has put into it.  I have been living here over 25 years, and I don't think that girl and guy has ever had a Real Job long term, and added to the cookie jar. Now they lay around on their deck all day getting a sun tan I guess.

You can't use the EBT card to buy booze. If it really happened, you should turn in the store that did it

I see that all over Metro Detroit, and especially in Arab owned party stores and gas stations.
Wake up, it happens all the time, 24/7.

I am no way saying it's right and I am not making excuses for the small store owners, but from what I have seen. The small store owners are held hostage in two ways.  They struggle to exist because of the big super store squeezing them out, and if they don't honor some of the conveniences the customers want, they are out of business.  Damn if you do, and Damn if you don't. Like I said I don't agree with it, but I do understand it.  Back to the point, on Sunday morning TV, I some times watch these Financial programs, with these Financial Experts always spouting out about who is at blame and what is the right way to to do it.  But yet our SS and Economy is on a downward spiral, but those Financial Experts Bank Accountant are Fat.

If we turn a blind eye to welfare fraud, we do no one any good. If you see fraud and don't report it, you are part of the problem. Whether it be a small business or not.

[DK]

Sheep to the slaughter. Which of your excuses justifying what Lord Cheeto and his Cabinet of Billionares is going to do misses the essential fact that he is not going to reduce the cost to the government. The only reduction will be of your benefit.

Be Aware; Trump's plan is to privatize Social Security and Medicare so as to further enrich his Band of Billionares.

I know it's hard to accept, but we've been had.

[baldo]

Sheep to the slaughter. Which of your excuses justifying what Lord Cheeto and his Cabinet of Billionares is going to do misses the essential fact that he is not going to reduce the cost to the government. The only reduction will be of your benefit.

Be Aware; Trump's plan is to privatize Social Security and Medicare so as to further enrich his Band of Billionares.

I know it's hard to accept, but we've been had.

Not WE, my friend......

[Serk]

Trump's plan is to privatize Social Security and Medicare

Brer Fox, please don't throw me into that briar patch!

[f6john]

Sheep to the slaughter. Which of your excuses justifying what Lord Cheeto and his Cabinet of Billionares is going to do misses the essential fact that he is not going to reduce the cost to the government. The only reduction will be of your benefit.

Be Aware; Trump's plan is to privatize Social Security and Medicare so as to further enrich his Band of Billionares.

I know it's hard to accept, but we've been had.

Do you have to polish your crystal ball every day?

[f6john]

Trump's plan is to privatize Social Security and Medicare

Brer Fox, please don't throw me into that briar patch!

One of my favorite childhood stories.