[rexthecat]

My guess is that more than half of the folks on FR are getting Social Security and Medicare. And we are not going to agree to losing our benefits. So this can be argued. And debated. But it’s dead on arrival.

[palmer]

My guess is that more than half of the folks on FR are getting Social Security and Medicare. And we are not going to agree to losing our benefits

I am less than 10 years from retirement and would gladly renounce all my SS today in exchange for eliminating all SS witholding. I would also agree to have my own taxes raised a little to pay for current recipients. By "a little" I mean I would get a extra IRA deduction to catch up my retirement savings since I am so close to retirement.

[qaz123]

I think the first thing to do before ending the program in it’s entirety is, find out who is actually collecting the bennies. If they paid into it, then they deserve it and then some.

Lets find out all the foreigners...immigrants of all types, SSI recipients that shouldnt’ be getting it, etc...eliminate all that waste and fraud. See where the math ends up and then slowly ween ourselves off of it.

[Svartalfiar]

My guess is that more than half of the folks on FR are getting Social Security and Medicare. And we are not going to agree to losing our benefits. So this can be argued. And debated. But it’s dead on arrival.

Yup. Many Republicans seem to lose their conservative principles when they're the ones getting hurt. Sad but true.

Easy solution though. TARP-style bailout of all SS. Everyone gets a lump sum straight into a Roth IRA (no taxes assessed) based on amounts paid in, and those currently receiving can either stay on the program, or take the same lump sum. NO new enrollees. Program will end itself within 20-30 years as the last old people on it die off.

Same as Medicare, cut all enrollment. Current recipients can be moved over to their state programs, or allowed to stay and die off instead. Again, program is gone in 20-30 years.

Medicaid can be easily switched over to state programs. No new enrollees, and pare the program down over five years, and people will self-migrate to their state program. Or private charity. Or nothing, since it was simply a free lunch for them to start with.

Section 8 can also be phased over to the states. Pare benefits until the Fed rolls are empty.

Food Stamps can switch to states, who can supply basic foods to pantries, who then disburse it. NO junk food or lobster or filet mignon or swordfish at the HEB / Central Market / Sprouts.