They haven't because of the way the CPI is calculated (no consideration for the increase in the cost of Food or Fuel) and some (including many R's) are saying the rate of inflation has been OVER estimated?
Glad to see so many of our Freepers such as Wolfie are independently wealthy and will not have to worry about their retirement or, apparently supporting a widowed 90 year old Mother who relies on SS for income (and who because as a single Mom raising 3 children COULD NOT PUT ANY MONEY ASIDE, MORON) as some of us do and who while we/they help out, could not afford to support their family as well as their elderly parent (completely) at the same time
Such compassion!
No. If anything the inclusion of fuel and food are the cause of the 0% SS COLA in 2010 and 2011. The SS COLA is calculated from the average CPI (I think CPI-W specifically) in July, August and September. In 2008 that was when gasoline, natural gas and food prices were spiking and gasoline hit $4 for the first time. The CPI was very high in those three months compared to 2007 so the COLA in January 2009 was 5.8%. Soon after the summer of 2008 those prices dropped (with gas hitting $1.419 on Christmas day 2008 where I lived). The third quarter CPI dropped from 2008 to 2009 so the COLA was 0% (it would have been negative except they don't allow that). Then by 2010 the CPI had raised some, but it wasn't back up to 2008 levels. So once again no COLA. Right now the CPI-W is about 3% above the 2008 levels and going up fast.
If SS had used the fourth quarter rather than third quarter CPI then the COLA would have been about 1.5% each for 2009, 2010 and 2011 because the mid-2008 spike would have been missed.
I don’t think that that the rules of government i.e. Constitution that we live under demands compassion of one person for another. It does require we not impede the choices and opportunities for another. This certainly doesn’t preclude compassion and it can be argued compassion is a must in a good society. However, in the example cited I will ask where is the father? I will say I had no decision in any bad decisions of the woman to have children or even any of her choices in life. If by chance I am less fortunate (chances not) than the lady does she have to give something to me? This all goes to tell that somewhere along the line of life and at sometime in the past we as a Nation have fallen short as to instilling that individual actions have consequences. Let’s find help for the lady and her children but let’s cut off the future loading of these situations including immigration.