Republicans warm to Social Security, Medicare reform as 2024 election nearsEntitlement programs account for roughly 70% of government spending

Fox News ^ | 04/01/2024 | Elizabeth Elkind

[DownInFlames]

Reducing payouts in these programs is political suicide. It’s a trap for the republicans. The answer is to reduce the number of participants and eliminate early retirement. Be very careful doing a means test.

[combat_boots]

Got into an argument all those years ago about this. With my father.

He convinced me as an independent thinker that these programs stifle independence.

He was an original, that one.

[cgbg]

Yup—zero out all foreign aid and end all foreign wars.

Then seal the border tight and deport the millions of illegal aliens.

Then we can start talking about entitlements.

[Kazan]

Social Security is NOT an entitlement. It's something the masses paid into. The money paid in was supposed to be set aside, was put in the general fund and sent by irresponsible politicians.

This in incredibly stupid strategy. I have no doubt it is designed undermine Trump and MAGA's chances in 2024.

The Federal budget could easily but cut in half without the average American feeling it. We've wasted billions on illegals and foreign meddling, both of which have endangered our national security. The defense industry has become nothing but business that politicians feed and get money laundered through.

[citizen]

Their “reform” will be to trim the benefits for American citizens, yet continue to hand out SSI cash & Medicaid benefits for every illegal who makes it into the country.

[Reverend Wright]

Yes.

And if Social Security cuts don’t sabotage Trump, they will start advocating “market-based carbon reduction”. ie.carbon taxes; or a VAT tax; or Paul Ryans border adjustment tax.

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-folly-paul-ryans-border-adjustment-tax-19754

[Gaffer]

It’s close to that, actually. This website tracks Biden’s budget to 65% for entitlements.

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/u-s-federal-budget-breakdown-3305789

[Mariner]

Cutting these programs is a CERTAIN electoral loser.

“Raising taxes on the rich” is an electoral winner.

Take it to the bank.

[Gaffer]

All W-2 based income is taxed for Medicare purposes. You’re supposed to even pay it if you’re in your own business.

If you don’t qualify for SS (i.e., having not worked enough quarters) you can qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which is paid out of the general fund but managed by SSA.

And then there’s the ever-abused SSDI (disability) which is being used for early retirement by very many people.

[Sacajaweau]

SS and Medicare are NOT entitlement programs. I paid into it for 50 years. And they STILL take the Part B Premium right out of your SS paycheck...every month...and it’s about $175/mo now. So I’m still paying over $2000 a year for this “entitlement”. Ten years in...that’s $20,000.

[Gaffer]

74 here. I paid in also and Medicare is a good deal for me. I also have reached my buy in contribution for SS

[cherry]

we need to stop making millionaires of federal workers....start there...