Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty-Guest Blogger
It is probably just me, but it seems that every time we hear about a proposed deal to extend the debt limit and avert a government shutdown and a debt default, the plan does nothing more than cut the taxes on the wealthiest Americans and Corporations. The latest proposal by the so-called Gang of Six is just one more example of Congress attacking the Middle Class.
“The cuts in the Gang of Six plan aren’t minor, either. It proposes a chained CPI adjustment to Social Security, which may not be a bad idea when combined with other measures to boost benefits and strengthen the program, but on its own is tantamount to a $1,300 cut each year for recipients over their lifetimes. Strengthen Social Security co-chair and former Obama adviser Nancy Altman has denounced the idea as an overly harsh cut. “The chained-CPI is poor policy, and given that seniors vote in disproportionately high numbers, it is equally poor politics,” she said.” Think Progress This latest attempt by both sides of Congress to claim victory over the imaginary debt crisis just seems to be another attempt to please their corporate masters.
Does it bother anyone else that a group of Senators from both sides of the aisle would call themselves the “Gang of Six”? These Senators are doing their best to terrorize the Middle Class so maybe the moniker is appropriate. While some of the details of this proposed plan have not been agreed upon, what we do know troubles someone like myself who may be utilizing Medicare and Social Security in the next few years. “These tentative changes include repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax and establishing three simple tax brackets for individuals, while cutting “tax expenditures” and adjusting the corporate tax rate to between 23 percent and 29 percent.” Business Insider How can a tax rate be lowered for major corporations who pay no taxes now?
The proposed cuts to Social Security retirees is especially disturbing. “Lawmakers and the Obama administration are reportedly considering switching to a “chained” Consumer Price Index. According to the advocacy group Strengthen Social Security, the chained-CPI could lead to annual Social Security benefit cuts of $560 for those aged 75, $984 for those aged 85 and $1,392 for those aged 95. “The proposal to shift to the chained-CPI is actually a stealth attack on Social Security,” said Joan Entmacher, director of family economic security at the National Women’s Law Center, during a Friday conference call with reporters.” Huffington Post Is anyone surprised that the Congressional terrorists would be considering reducing payments to Seniors and reducing corporate tax rates? Just why is Social Security being discussed when it has no impact on the Deficit?
I have a novel, Gang of America idea to suggest that would actually reduce the deficit and protect Social Security. Actually, it is not my idea, but the idea of the vast majority of Americans who are repeatedly telling Congress to tax the wealthy and Corporations and to leave Social Security alone. I realize my Gang does not have much lobbying power, but we have millions of votes. Congress, it is time to get on board with the Gang of America’s ideas and you just might save the economy and your jobs. Let’s hear your ideas to “fix” the imaginary debt crisis.
Respectfully submitted by Lawrence Rafferty-Guest Blogger
kderosa, I do challenge anything that I think is suspect or untrue. I will also sometimes challenge to see the response. If I missed anything, I apologize.
kderosa,
How do YOU know that most elderly people CAN afford to pay 100% of their health insurance premiums?
*****
“How about if they still had (and then invested) that 2.2% of payroll taxes that was taken from them during their working careers?”
I guess it depends how much you earn. A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck. 2.2% of payroll taxes for someone who earns minimum wage isn’t all that much money–not if you’re suggesting if it was put aside for retirement, it could provide for all the retirees living expenses and medical insurance. The investor would also have to cross his/her fingers and hope his/her investments didn’t loose any of their value over the years. Remember Enron?
@rafflaw, you certainly do not challenge all kinds of statements without support, you consistently fail to challenge all the “right kind” of statements. we have a name for that phenomenon — confirmation bias.
@AY, you are way too much of a dolt to understand that once government “help” has been forced upon you, and by that I jmean your tax dollars have been taken to obtain that “help” you can then use the “benefits” that you paid for.
Employers should not be in the busines of providing health insurance, it’s that simple. The expenses being paid for health insurance should go to the employee as salary and then the employee should buy his own health insurance. Kind of like how the life insurance market works. Unfortunately, our health insurance system has been screwed up by excessive government interference
I doubt you clean up very well. Though perhaps you think you do.
kderosa,
I have been gone for awhile, so I am a little late to respond to your statements. First of all, I challenge any facts without support. It does not mean that I do not accept or agree with them. Elaine was correct in asking for more up to date statistics because of the Bush Depression.
The private insurance system is strong enough without getting rid of Medicare and the President’s health care plan actually would strengthen the private insurance companies by bringing them 30-40 million new customers. I prefer single payer, but maybe it is a start.
I do not think many people who can afford it actually say no to health insurance. Some young people who at that age think they are bulletproof might forego it, but most of the people who are without health insurance don’t have it because they can’t afford it.
Good morning to all.
“We are socialists, we are enemies of today’s capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions.” –Adolf Hitler
(Speech of May 1, 1927. Quoted by Toland, 1976, p. 306)
And to think…this possible….
AY,
Ok … so some hippies were gay and some Nazis were gay which is another point kderosa missed … I no longer bow to his thorough knowledge of all things Nazi.
He led me on AY … it was all pretense … he’s no Nazi scholar … I’m pissed!
@Elaine. I don’t understand why your providing health insurance as an employer leads to a public option being the right policy choice, It does not follow, which is not to say that it isn’t the right policy decision..
How do you know that most elderly people cannot afford health insrance? How about if they still had (and then invested) that 2.2% of payroll taxes that was taken from them during their working careers?
We do need haelthcare reform, but the kind we just got wasn’t the right kind.
You can never get the lobbyists out of Washington as long as you have legislators willing to be bought.
and Guess who wrote this and what year:
“We are socialists, we are enemies of today’s capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions.”
“Some of us believe we still need serious health care reform. Maybe if we could get the lobbyists out of Washington, we’d be able to do that.” (Elaine)
What!!?? You’d be sending all of kderosa’s friends to the unemployment line!!?? … shame on you.
Blouise,
Maybe this was before your time on the Blawg…But we did discus the Nazi’s SS and being gay….
Maybe Kdpanzee wrote this:
The Pink Swastika: Homosexuality in the Nazi Party
By Scott Lively and Kevin Abrams
Documents the homosexual and occultic roots of the Nazi movement in Germany. Much has been written about Nazi persecution of homosexuals. Yet, many Nazis were homosexuals themselves, and the so-called persecution was merely one faction using the state to suppress the other faction or was unrelated to their being homosexual.
http://constitutionalistnc.tripod.com/hitler-leftist/id12.html
Kdpanzee,
You are way too much of a dolt to understand…that you can’t have it both ways…Either you are for government help or you are not…The best word that describes you is “hypocrite…”
Do you recall the thread that Mike S., started about a friend of his that was an accountant…had been with the company for something like 10 years and from what I can recall an exemplary record …his wife gets cancer and he asks for time off to take care of her…his reward is to be fired…
I know..the employer is there for profits…How about this side…the Employers group rates just went up because of the catastrophic illness…seems like a valid reason to terminate someone…from your stand point….
Tell blouise I like the mud….I’ll woller with you for a while…but when I get up, I at least have the ability to get cleansed and look at myself in the mirror…can you say the same?
kderosa,
I bow to your thorough knowledge of Nazi thought and practices but you left out the strongest link between Nazis and hippies … astrology.
(All that aside, may I purpose a toast that we can share … raise your glass and say with me … “Thank god we don’t work for Rupert!”)
@AY, did you just think that argument up or did the “voice” in your head tell you it?
Government required me to pay taxes which funded the development of the Internet, so I get to use the Internet, since I helped fund its development while complaining about all the dopey thinks government does.
kderosa,
I agree that tying insurance to employment is a bad idea. My husband knows that all too well. When he owned two different companies, he paid a lot of money to help provide excellent medical and dental insurance for his employees. He felt it was the right thing to do. That’s why he and I both think a public option for healthcare insurance would be a good idea.
I didn’t attempt to deflect away from people who refused to pay for medical coverage. Most elderly people–in fact, most people–can’t afford to pay 100% of their own health insurance premiums–not if they want to eat and have a place to live.
Some of us believe we still need serious health care reform. Maybe if we could get the lobbyists out of Washington, we’d be able to do that.
Kdpanzee,
You are using the Internet. Without government intervention and land grabs, you would not have this ability. So with this said, you complain about government but yet complain when it try’s and helps someone else…. Cry me a river…..
Blouse,
Wallering….
@Blousie, Many nazis were vegetarians and environmentalists. All those nutty views go hand in hand. Once you discount the antisemitic genocidial views, I’m sure there is much in the nazi platform you and Henman would find likable.
@AY, you must think you just made an intelligent point. You should know by now that you aren’t capable of intelligent thought yet. As long as I’m obligated to pay in to all these dopey programs you love, I am entitled to collect any benefits I’m entitled to especially where the program has distorted or displaced the market. I told you, stick to personal insults, making real arguments is beyond your limited ability. Have you replaced your tinfoil hat yet? You usual get more docile afterwards. I guess those mind rays they’re beaming into your pea sized brain must be stimulating something.
kderosa,
Obviously you haven’t read HenMan’s views … he’s a hippie with flowers in his hair