Republicans in congress say big cuts coming to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leftists here think the administration will take away current social security checks?

No the RWNJs want to cut socialist state. This has been a dream of yours. Next up child labor laws and weekends.

They are probably delusionally thinking "oh but they won't cut MY social security and MY Medicare, I'm a good person and I voted for Trump - they need to go after all those OTHER people and cut THEIR benefits."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leftists here think the administration will take away current social security checks?

No the RWNJs want to cut socialist state. This has been a dream of yours. Next up child labor laws and weekends.

They are probably delusionally thinking "oh but they won't cut MY social security and MY Medicare, I'm a good person and I voted for Trump - they need to go after all those OTHER people and cut THEIR benefits."

I bet this is it. MAGA probably wanted Trump to go after the "baby mamas" and "losers" but thought their social welfare would be left alone.

It's like those people who thought Trump would only deport dangerous criminals, but then deported their loved ones.

Honestly, greed makes people dumber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that lawmakers will ultimately face tough choices on spending in next year’s unified GOP government, suggesting cuts may be coming to social welfare programs

We’re going to have to have some hard decisions. We got to bring the Democrats in to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. There’s hundreds of billions of dollars to be saved, and we know how to do it, we just have to have the stomach to actually take those challenges on,” McCormick told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5019422-republican-social-security-medicaid-medicare-welfare-cuts-trump/

This will be fun to watch because at the same time congressional republicans are cutting these benefits they will be giving tax breaks the rich. You know they will also go after the VA and veterans’ disability.

Unless the Democrats cosign those cuts, it would be political suicide for about a generation.
You need much more bipartisanship in congress to solve a problem like that.

I think it is impossible to say what is political suicide for republicans. So many things over the past decade should have done them in for years to come. But here we are. The current political climate is that they barrel ahead doing whatever they feel like and their supporters will figure out a way to justify it or blame the democrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that lawmakers will ultimately face tough choices on spending in next year’s unified GOP government, suggesting cuts may be coming to social welfare programs

We’re going to have to have some hard decisions. We got to bring the Democrats in to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. There’s hundreds of billions of dollars to be saved, and we know how to do it, we just have to have the stomach to actually take those challenges on,” McCormick told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5019422-republican-social-security-medicaid-medicare-welfare-cuts-trump/

This will be fun to watch because at the same time congressional republicans are cutting these benefits they will be giving tax breaks the rich. You know they will also go after the VA and veterans’ disability.

Unless the Democrats cosign those cuts, it would be political suicide for about a generation.
You need much more bipartisanship in congress to solve a problem like that.

I think it is impossible to say what is political suicide for republicans. So many things over the past decade should have done them in for years to come. But here we are. The current political climate is that they barrel ahead doing whatever they feel like and their supporters will figure out a way to justify it or blame the democrats.

It won't be turning off social security. Trump could put his voters out on the streets and they'd still find a way to attend his rallies, maybe even buy $2 of his crypto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that lawmakers will ultimately face tough choices on spending in next year’s unified GOP government, suggesting cuts may be coming to social welfare programs

We’re going to have to have some hard decisions. We got to bring the Democrats in to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. There’s hundreds of billions of dollars to be saved, and we know how to do it, we just have to have the stomach to actually take those challenges on,” McCormick told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5019422-republican-social-security-medicaid-medicare-welfare-cuts-trump/

This will be fun to watch because at the same time congressional republicans are cutting these benefits they will be giving tax breaks the rich. You know they will also go after the VA and veterans’ disability.

Unless the Democrats cosign those cuts, it would be political suicide for about a generation.
You need much more bipartisanship in congress to solve a problem like that.

I think it is impossible to say what is political suicide for republicans. So many things over the past decade should have done them in for years to come. But here we are. The current political climate is that they barrel ahead doing whatever they feel like and their supporters will figure out a way to justify it or blame the democrats.

It won't be turning off social security. Trump could put his voters out on the streets and they'd still find a way to attend his rallies, maybe even buy $2 of his crypto.

Exactly. MAGA can justify anything to themselves. They’ll be back to using outhouses and talking about great Trump is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might be a stretch to call it a Ponzi scheme, but it does have similarities, namely that it relies upon funds from the current workforce to pay for the retirees receiving SS income.
This is a problem because it relies upon an ever-increasing workforce and GDP, and that is not sustainable or desirable.

The math is pretty bad. Between my employer and I, we are putting in 12.4% of my salary up to the cap. If I were to invest that same amount into a broad index fund (set and forget) with the plan to eventually withdraw from that when I retire, I would come out way ahead compared to what I will draw in SS benefits. SS is a bad deal.

As far as raising the cap goes, how fair would that be without raising the benefit amount for those who contributed higher amounts? It wouldn’t be fair. And if we did also increase the benefit amounts to those people, then it wouldn’t solve the problem either. So I say let’s not increase the cap.

Part of my solution would be that over a years-long period, we transition/ramp from FICA deductions to self funded retirement. Give everyone something like TSP, but the (eventual) 12.4 percent should be locked up into age based index funds that cannot be accessed via loans or withdrawals, and must be paid out at retirement via monthly payments not lump sums that someone might do something stupid with. If you want to have a lump sum available, you save for that separately.

Doing so would create a temporary (though years long) gap in funding that unfortunately would have to be paid for by increasing retirement age, small reductions in SS benefits, a VAT, spending cuts, or ideally a combination of these means in order not to place the burden disproportionately on any one group. It will be painful, but less so, and eventually the problem will be solved.

This is a terrible idea because the whole point is that people don't save for retirement for a variety of reasons and we, as a society, because of what happened in the Great Depression, have decided there should be a social safety net.

Sorry I might not have explained it well. Everyone would still participate and be eligible for benefits, but the goal is that eventually rather than 12.4% going to FICA, it would be going into a personal investment account that is eventually annuitized or paid out as RMDs or whatever. As long as you continue to work and earn, you will get a benefit. If someone does not work or earn, then do they earn benefits under the current system?

That will create even more uncertainty and instability for retirement. The whole point of a social security is risk pooling for returns benefits. The savings rate can be lower while providing stable payments when mortality risk is averaged across a population instead of individual savers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that lawmakers will ultimately face tough choices on spending in next year’s unified GOP government, suggesting cuts may be coming to social welfare programs

We’re going to have to have some hard decisions. We got to bring the Democrats in to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. There’s hundreds of billions of dollars to be saved, and we know how to do it, we just have to have the stomach to actually take those challenges on,” McCormick told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5019422-republican-social-security-medicaid-medicare-welfare-cuts-trump/

This will be fun to watch because at the same time congressional republicans are cutting these benefits they will be giving tax breaks the rich. You know they will also go after the VA and veterans’ disability.

Unless the Democrats cosign those cuts, it would be political suicide for about a generation.
You need much more bipartisanship in congress to solve a problem like that.

I think it is impossible to say what is political suicide for republicans. So many things over the past decade should have done them in for years to come. But here we are. The current political climate is that they barrel ahead doing whatever they feel like and their supporters will figure out a way to justify it or blame the democrats.

Why would it be political suicide? There won't be meaningful elections going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might be a stretch to call it a Ponzi scheme, but it does have similarities, namely that it relies upon funds from the current workforce to pay for the retirees receiving SS income.
This is a problem because it relies upon an ever-increasing workforce and GDP, and that is not sustainable or desirable.

The math is pretty bad. Between my employer and I, we are putting in 12.4% of my salary up to the cap. If I were to invest that same amount into a broad index fund (set and forget) with the plan to eventually withdraw from that when I retire, I would come out way ahead compared to what I will draw in SS benefits. SS is a bad deal.

As far as raising the cap goes, how fair would that be without raising the benefit amount for those who contributed higher amounts? It wouldn’t be fair. And if we did also increase the benefit amounts to those people, then it wouldn’t solve the problem either. So I say let’s not increase the cap.

Part of my solution would be that over a years-long period, we transition/ramp from FICA deductions to self funded retirement. Give everyone something like TSP, but the (eventual) 12.4 percent should be locked up into age based index funds that cannot be accessed via loans or withdrawals, and must be paid out at retirement via monthly payments not lump sums that someone might do something stupid with. If you want to have a lump sum available, you save for that separately.

Doing so would create a temporary (though years long) gap in funding that unfortunately would have to be paid for by increasing retirement age, small reductions in SS benefits, a VAT, spending cuts, or ideally a combination of these means in order not to place the burden disproportionately on any one group. It will be painful, but less so, and eventually the problem will be solved.

This is a terrible idea because the whole point is that people don't save for retirement for a variety of reasons and we, as a society, because of what happened in the Great Depression, have decided there should be a social safety net.

Sorry I might not have explained it well. Everyone would still participate and be eligible for benefits, but the goal is that eventually rather than 12.4% going to FICA, it would be going into a personal investment account that is eventually annuitized or paid out as RMDs or whatever. As long as you continue to work and earn, you will get a benefit. If someone does not work or earn, then do they earn benefits under the current system?

If you did this Wall Street would take most of the money, the vast majority of people would underperform the market and end up with significantly less money. This is a stupid idea. Look at the disastrous returns for 401k which are provide to most higher education white collar employees. Their investments returns alway 30-40% below market returns because they chase return, do not rebalance, pick stocks, etc. THis does not include many take the money out and pay penalties.

You also have to address SAHPs, disabled, etc. and who/what would manage the portfolio. Wall Street firms would love this free money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that lawmakers will ultimately face tough choices on spending in next year’s unified GOP government, suggesting cuts may be coming to social welfare programs

We’re going to have to have some hard decisions. We got to bring the Democrats in to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. There’s hundreds of billions of dollars to be saved, and we know how to do it, we just have to have the stomach to actually take those challenges on,” McCormick told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5019422-republican-social-security-medicaid-medicare-welfare-cuts-trump/

This will be fun to watch because at the same time congressional republicans are cutting these benefits they will be giving tax breaks the rich. You know they will also go after the VA and veterans’ disability.

McCormick is a nobody.

Tough talk from someone who voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Older Gen X and I've been paying for Medicare and Social Security since I was 15.

Cut these programs if that's how the country wants to go but phase it in.

That's not how the country wants to go. It's how one man wants to go. The point of our government is that it is a system of checks and balances. If the congress has anything to say about it, neither Medicare nor Social Security are going anywhere any time soon. If the Congress doesn't weigh in, well, then we have even bigger problems.

Trump has said he's not cutting them. A few in Congress have proposed it, and the unofficial, unappointed and unelected DOGE have suggested it. Posters are just getting excited in their doom-and-glooming and catastrophizing.

And roe is settled law

Who said that?

Certainly not the justices.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-justices-said-roe-abortion-confirmations-rcna35246

"When we directly and explicitly said 'Roe is settled law' we didn't actually mean it and were playing word games."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rs in Congress doesn't care about gutting social security because it doesn't really impact them that much. They get a fat pension and government healthcare for life not to mention that many have made a lot of money from insider trading and behind the scene business deals.

They will say that everyone needs to contribute to reduce the budget and debt, then give wealthy people big fat tax cuts.

MAGA are so stupid. You think your little tax cuts will make up for gutting social security and medicare that you will need in your retirement. Complete dumba$$es.

Thanks for your concern, but I’m a Trump voter who will have absolutely no need for social security or Medicare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Older Gen X and I've been paying for Medicare and Social Security since I was 15.

Cut these programs if that's how the country wants to go but phase it in.

That's not how the country wants to go. It's how one man wants to go. The point of our government is that it is a system of checks and balances. If the congress has anything to say about it, neither Medicare nor Social Security are going anywhere any time soon. If the Congress doesn't weigh in, well, then we have even bigger problems.

Trump has said he's not cutting them. A few in Congress have proposed it, and the unofficial, unappointed and unelected DOGE have suggested it. Posters are just getting excited in their doom-and-glooming and catastrophizing.

And roe is settled law

Who said that?

Certainly not the justices.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-justices-said-roe-abortion-confirmations-rcna35246

"When we directly and explicitly said 'Roe is settled law' we didn't actually mean it and were playing word games."

Roe was way too permissive. It needed overturning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, Republicans have been talking about getting rid of the ACA for years. But when they have a majority, they don't.

They won't cut social security or Medicare, either. Whatever blather they are saying.

Exactly. They’re not touching it. It’s all talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that lawmakers will ultimately face tough choices on spending in next year’s unified GOP government, suggesting cuts may be coming to social welfare programs

We’re going to have to have some hard decisions. We got to bring the Democrats in to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. There’s hundreds of billions of dollars to be saved, and we know how to do it, we just have to have the stomach to actually take those challenges on,” McCormick told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5019422-republican-social-security-medicaid-medicare-welfare-cuts-trump/

This will be fun to watch because at the same time congressional republicans are cutting these benefits they will be giving tax breaks the rich. You know they will also go after the VA and veterans’ disability.

It was the plan all along. Notice that Trump is stacking his administration with billionaires. And now they will cut social security and Medicare to help themselves to tax cuts. Party of the working class folks!

Unlike those impoverished Democrats like Newsom, Pelosi, Bumenthal, Feinstein, Kerry, etc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, Republicans have been talking about getting rid of the ACA for years. But when they have a majority, they don't.

They won't cut social security or Medicare, either. Whatever blather they are saying.

Exactly. They’re not touching it. It’s all talk.

Nah. They’ll have to.