Replies

Do you have an examples of politician promises that are made 10 or 15 years in advance?

You need to read your own answer. You said, "As I indicated there have been reform plans advocated by Ryan, Coburn, and others to change benefits for those 55 and under." There is an example of a promise that in 10 or 15 years, we'll do things differently.

If it's a great idea, why don't they propose doing it now? They don't propose doing it now, because now means it must really happen. It's safe to promise that things might change in 10 or 15 years. But, things won't really change in 10 or 15 years unless people in 10 or 15 years want things to change. Anything that you promise now can be undone in 10 or 15 years. These guys know that.

You need to wake up to reality. No major politician of either party or of any philosophy is advocating reducing senior benefits now, the only time that they can change benefits. You suggest that these guys have a great idea, but that it wouldn't be a great idea for now. In fact, they can't change benefits in 10 or 15 years. They can't build a new house in 15 years now. They can just pass a law promising that the program will change in 10 or 15 years.

It's a lot of baloney. Show me a politician who wants to create a change that takes effect now. We can only control the things we do now.

You need to read your own answer. You said, "As I indicated there have been reform plans advocated by Ryan, Coburn, and others to change benefits for those 55 and under." There is an example of a promise that in 10 or 15 years, we'll do things differently.

I can't believe you don't understand that. These are proposed bills that would reform SS and Medicare. The SS reform would not apply to those 55 or older. If passed, the law would go immediately into effect. It would be the law just like the 1983 change to SS.

If it's a great idea, why don't they propose doing it now?

Ryan did propose to do it now.

You need to wake up to reality. No major politician of either party or of any philosophy is advocating reducing senior benefits now, the only time that they can change benefits.

I said that. Why do you persist in this strawman?

It's a lot of baloney. Show me a politician who wants to create a change that takes effect now. We can only control the things we do now.

There were and have been specific proposals to do just that from Ryan, Price, Coburn, etc. And the Simpson-Bowles proposal drew bipartisan support. As I said, nohting will happen unless both parties put forth a proposal similar to what was done in 1983.