Republicans plan to “rein in” social security and Medicare if they take control of congress

[Anonymous]

Interesting article in NYTimes re Republican plan to reduce federal deficit by cutting social security and Medicare. First time I’ve ever seen the plan so clearly articulated.

“WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans, eyeing a midterm election victory that could hand them control of the House and the Senate, have embraced plans to reduce federal spending on Social Security and Medicare, including cutting benefits for some retirees and raising the retirement age for both safety net programs.”

Granted the push to get rid of ACA foundered, but surprising that Republicans would have this as a policy position. Or that people would vote for this.

[Anonymous]

Good. Money losing ponzi scams that provide horrendous ROI. It is absolutely irresponsible that discussions around reforming and cutting SS/medicare refuse to take place, because they're going to bankrupt the country.

[Anonymous]

They are banking on Baby Boomers to be more wedded to culture wars than their bank accounts.

I don't know why any Baby Boomer would vote for a Republican knowing this plan....but the GOP elite are betting they will. Identity politics are a drug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are banking on Baby Boomers to be more wedded to culture wars than their bank accounts.

I don't know why any Baby Boomer would vote for a Republican knowing this plan....but the GOP elite are betting they will. Identity politics are a drug.

If it's anything like past republican plans to reform social security, it will exempt anyone within 20 years of retirement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting article in NYTimes re Republican plan to reduce federal deficit by cutting social security and Medicare. First time I’ve ever seen the plan so clearly articulated.

“WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans, eyeing a midterm election victory that could hand them control of the House and the Senate, have embraced plans to reduce federal spending on Social Security and Medicare, including cutting benefits for some retirees and raising the retirement age for both safety net programs.”

Granted the push to get rid of ACA foundered, but surprising that Republicans would have this as a policy position. Or that people would vote for this.

Yes this needs to be done ASAP for the long term health of the program. I really doubt anyone over 55 right now will have anything changed. Below 55 --- lots of changes --- age, benefits, increased contributions.

[Anonymous]

It will be hard to raise Medicare age for anyone within 5 years of age 65. Those people are planning on it and their employee plans depend on it as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Interesting article in NYTimes re Republican plan to reduce federal deficit by cutting social security and Medicare. First time I’ve ever seen the plan so clearly articulated.

“WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans, eyeing a midterm election victory that could hand them control of the House and the Senate, have embraced plans to reduce federal spending on Social Security and Medicare, including cutting benefits for some retirees and raising the retirement age for both safety net programs.”

Granted the push to get rid of ACA foundered, but surprising that Republicans would have this as a policy position. Or that people would vote for this.


Yes this needs to be done ASAP for the long term health of the program. I really doubt anyone over 55 right now will have anything changed. Below 55 --- lots of changes --- age, benefits, increased contributions.

Sounds inflationary. Won't employers have to pick up the slack in 401K matches and the medical insurance they provide to their retirees or workers who are now older and still on the job (with more medical needs)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Interesting article in NYTimes re Republican plan to reduce federal deficit by cutting social security and Medicare. First time I’ve ever seen the plan so clearly articulated.

“WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans, eyeing a midterm election victory that could hand them control of the House and the Senate, have embraced plans to reduce federal spending on Social Security and Medicare, including cutting benefits for some retirees and raising the retirement age for both safety net programs.”

Granted the push to get rid of ACA foundered, but surprising that Republicans would have this as a policy position. Or that people would vote for this.


Yes this needs to be done ASAP for the long term health of the program. I really doubt anyone over 55 right now will have anything changed. Below 55 --- lots of changes --- age, benefits, increased contributions.

Sounds inflationary. Won't employers have to pick up the slack in 401K matches and the medical insurance they provide to their retirees or workers who are now older and still on the job (with more medical needs)?

? private companies do not offer medical insurance when the workers retire, unless you have a union of some kind, but even those are dropping coverage for retirees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are banking on Baby Boomers to be more wedded to culture wars than their bank accounts.

I don't know why any Baby Boomer would vote for a Republican knowing this plan....but the GOP elite are betting they will. Identity politics are a drug.

If it's anything like past republican plans to reform social security, it will exempt anyone within 20 years of retirement

that's the way they'll do it. Younger people tend to vote Dem, Baby Boomers tend to vote R.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting article in NYTimes re Republican plan to reduce federal deficit by cutting social security and Medicare. First time I’ve ever seen the plan so clearly articulated.

“WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans, eyeing a midterm election victory that could hand them control of the House and the Senate, have embraced plans to reduce federal spending on Social Security and Medicare, including cutting benefits for some retirees and raising the retirement age for both safety net programs.”

Granted the push to get rid of ACA foundered, but surprising that Republicans would have this as a policy position. Or that people would vote for this.

Yes this needs to be done ASAP for the long term health of the program. I really doubt anyone over 55 right now will have anything changed. Below 55 --- lots of changes --- age, benefits, increased contributions.

There needs to be changes made but I don't think that Congressional Republicans have run the numbers to improve the strength and longevity of the programs.

This is just another cut-taxes-and-make-money plan. The Boomers are all retired now, do maybe Rs are ready to cut benefits for Boomer's children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are banking on Baby Boomers to be more wedded to culture wars than their bank accounts.

I don't know why any Baby Boomer would vote for a Republican knowing this plan....but the GOP elite are betting they will. Identity politics are a drug.

If it's anything like past republican plans to reform social security, it will exempt anyone within 20 years of retirement

that's the way they'll do it. Younger people tend to vote Dem, Baby Boomers tend to vote R.

The lovely “I got mine, screw you” mentality that some people live in.

But that’s a pretty big risk for an older voter to take, trusting that what the GOP promises (“Roe is safe; it’s settled law”) will be what they deliver (“Next up, we’re coming for birth control”).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. Money losing ponzi scams that provide horrendous ROI. It is absolutely irresponsible that discussions around reforming and cutting SS/medicare refuse to take place, because they're going to bankrupt the country.

Programs that people who have worked hard pay into. Now, if you want to means test it, I'm all for that. Why does anyone making over 400k need SS? I'll tell you why. They will say "I earned it!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. Money losing ponzi scams that provide horrendous ROI. It is absolutely irresponsible that discussions around reforming and cutting SS/medicare refuse to take place, because they're going to bankrupt the country.

Programs that people who have worked hard pay into. Now, if you want to means test it, I'm all for that. Why does anyone making over 400k need SS? I'll tell you why. They will say "I earned it!"

People pay into a lot of stupid things.....your using sunk cost fallacy. SS will bankrupt the country. The only fair option is to evenly distributelsses and gradually phase out the program. .

[Anonymous]

The GOP has been promising to cut social security and Medicare for years, and yet the Republicans I know, who are completely dependent on social security to live, still keep on voting for the GOP. It boggles the mind.

At this point, I'm think if that's what they want to get, that's what they are going to get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The GOP has been promising to cut social security and Medicare for years, and yet the Republicans I know, who are completely dependent on social security to live, still keep on voting for the GOP. It boggles the mind.

At this point, I'm think if that's what they want to get, that's what they are going to get.

Reagan actually increased taxes to pay for medicare, and Rs were fine with that. Gosh, I wonder why.