[neverdem]

If Obama does as the Kraut predicts, I'll be shocked. It means Obama thinks enough of those moderates and independents, a large number of which his reelection will depend upon, are that ignorant.

[BobL]

Of course he’ll demogouge it. The key is for the Republicans to KEEP QUIET, even though it could easily lead to the economy crashing. If the Republicans try ANY type of real reform, they will get their heads handed to them in 2012, and still not even get it reformed. I base that on the viceral reactions just on this site, whenever I bring up anything regarding reform.

The Republicans MUST make Obama lead on reform, and then join him if it makes sense. If Obama chooses to not reform...so be it - we defeat him in 2012 and drag everyone forward (including the ones on this site that just want THEIR money...regardless of it killing the economy).

But, almost certainly, Obama will not lead on reform...so the best thing to do is forget about and hope China and Japan don’t call their loans to us (and, unfortunately, Japan almost certainly will).

[tutstar]

bfl

[DrC]

“This claim is a breathtaking fraud.”

In the aftermath of all the lies told about Obamacare, it’s not clear what’s so breathtaking about this latest bit of mendacity. Seems to me it’s par for the course. Anyone surprised by this behavior strikes me as a bit naive 2 years into an administration governed by a Mob-like mentality.

[InterceptPoint]

In other words, the Social Security trust fund contains — nothing.

This statement is CORRECT.

I realize that FactCheck.org is hardly held in high esteem by we Freepers but it is worth reading what they have to say about the supposed Social Security Trust Fund at THIS LINK:

Some senior Democrats are claiming that Social Security does not contribute "one penny" to the federal deficit. That’s not true. The fact is, the federal government had to borrow $37 billion last year to finance Social Security, and will need to borrow more this year. The red ink is projected to total well over half a trillion dollars in the coming decade.

I believe FactCheck is correct in this case but would be interested in a more trustworthy source of the data if anyone knows of one.

[Sacajaweau]

They robbed old folks by not giving them COLA for two years, raising Part B insurance paid by people on SS, chopping 2% off the rate for this year (Why??)

When we do get COLA, it's ALL going to go for the Part B premium.

All my bills went up. Food and fuel have sky rocketed.

[MSF BU]

That “Means Testing” will eventually devolve to anybody retired with a decent nonunion pension in addition to Social Security. Work hard and invest all your life? You get screwed. Retire from IBM or Nucor or New York Life or Exxon or any of the plethora of decent companies that one way or the other reward you on the way out the door? You get screwed. Do an additional 26 years in the reserves after 4 years active duty? You get screwed. Do all of the above? You REALLY get screwed. That’s a great idea, from the point of view of the imprudent and nonindustrious. There is something wrong with changing the rules at the end of the game.

[upchuck]

I came across an article recently in which Robert Reich says fixing Social Security is as simple as:

the ceiling on income subject to the Social Security tax would need to be raised to $180,000. Do that and Social Security's long-term problem is solved.

I'm not an economist and don't believe Robert Reich is either.

Could the fix really be this simple?

[blueplum]

Sorry, charlie, but I’m 9 years away from collecting social security and I intend to collect what I’ve paid for, by God.

[nascarnation]

If we can’t defeat Baraq on $4 gas, 10% unemployment, skyrocketing food prices, and $1.5 trillion deficits, then we deserve him.

[stylin19a]

what’s with Krauthammer ? screw the means test.