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Subscribe to RSSThe Hill: “Republicans on Capitol Hill may be in the process of learning a hard lesson: Meddling with Medicare, whatever the nation’s fiscal circumstances, just isn’t popular.”
On that note, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced it’s running automated phone calls attacking House Republicans for voting to overhaul the program for those under 55. An example of one of the calls in 20 congressional districts across the country:
“Hi, I’m calling from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee calling about Congressman Lou Barletta’s vote to end Medicare. You’ve paid into Medicare for more than 25 years and deserve the Medicare benefits you’ve earned. Under the Barletta plan, Medicare ends and you’ll have to save about $182,000 more to pay for your health care. Where will you get $182,000? Everyone agrees we must cut spending and tighten our belt, but Barletta has made the wrong choice. Ending Medicare to pay for subsidies for Big Oil making huge profits or tax breaks for the ultra rich! That’s not right.”
John Harwood on the fight over raising the debt-ceiling: "'No one wants to vote to increase the debt limit,' said Donald Marron, a former economic adviser to President George W. Bush who now runs the Tax Policy Center. But neither does any leader in Congress dispute that 'the cap has to go up.' That history explains why financial markets have shrugged off the drama now building around the debt limit. When Mr. Boehner warned last week that 'there will be no debt-limit increase' without deep spending cuts, his audience at the New York Economic Club responded with polite applause and no apparent alarm. As politicians with governing responsibility, Mr. Obama, Mr. Boehner and Mr. Reid must amass legislative majorities for an increase by August to preclude government default, according to the Treasury Department. That effort also includes, Mr. Marron noted, 'jockeying to see who wins the right to vote "no."'"
“The United States has reached a ‘critical moment’ in its relationship with Pakistan after the killing of Osama bin Laden, Senator John F. Kerry said yesterday before flying to Pakistan to address what he called ‘very disturbing’ evidence of the Pakistani government’s knowledge of insurgent sanctuaries,” the Washington Post reports, adding, “The Massachusetts Democrat is the most senior US official to travel to Pakistan since the raid on the Al Qaeda leader’s compound.”
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This is a case of Democrats abusing the elderly with scare tactics. It is shameful! Both parties know that Medicare must be reformed in order for it to continue providing medical coverage. Liberals want to appear as if nothing needs to change and the program will be just fine as long as the Republicans don't get a chance to "end" it. This is ridiculous and a lie. I am so ashamed of the Democratic Party.
I guess you were really proud then of the Republicans spouting that unless they were elected in 2008 we would be hit by terrorists attacks again, I guess you were equally proud of the Republican leadership and the T-Baggers screaming about death panels and pulling the plug on Grandma. I guess you stood up against those lies like the straight shooter you want us to believe. I guess you are equally proud of the Republican/TPers "birthers", that Obama is not an American, or is a Muslin with terrorist plots; or are you equally proud that the Republican/TPers party would like us to believe that Gays practice bestiality, that Latinos and Blacks and other minorities should be feared; and oh so many others - the list goes on and on and on. What a freaking hypocrit!
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones and your house is soooooo transparent!
@Mark
Shocked, I tell you, the man is shocked! Why, because Democrats finally learned how to use your own lies against you? Finally the Dems are getting the backbone they need to put an end to YOUR lies! You think it won't end Medicare, don't you realize that's been the plan for over a quarter of a century.
Mark - What are you saying. The Ryan Plan was put forth by Paul Ryan, a Republican Legislature. It was passed in the House solely by Republicans. This is Democrats scare tactics??? Ryan scared the Dickens out of me not Obama, nor the democrats. Frankly all Republicans scare me these days. I can't figure out what they're trying to do, but it doesn't feel good and I know it doesn't benefit the American people or our country. You should be ashamed that the Republicans want to throw grandma under the bus to give more money to the wealthy.
Mark-- did you know that the last 3 GOP presidents signed TWENTY deficit riddled budgets and pushed thru massive tax cuts for the wealthy for the SOLE purpose of creating a debt crisis and privatizing the entitlements???
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo4.htm
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm
http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/06/tax-cuts-republicans-starve-the-beast-columnists-brucebartlett.html <=== Conservative Republican
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10054/1037783-109.stm <== Nobel Prize-Economics
http://www.dlc.org/print.cfm?contentid=251788 <=== Democrat
So what should happen to a party that has endangered our national security and economic future just to accomplish a political goal??? There are various other was to effectively address the debt crisis without privatizing Medicare. The gop just doesnt want to DO them because what they want is ALL the entitlements GONE!
How come they call their plan to give tax money to business privatization instead of socialism?
I dont think they've used the word "privatization" Too many letters! They musta looked up "socialism" in their Funkandwagnells!! LMAO!
Tom
Do you know that it is Political Suicide to Veto a Budget?? It has NEVER BEEN DONE.
slodon: just FYI, President Clinton vetoed the Republican Budget in December 1995. I guess that must have been total political suicide because he was reelected in 1996 and guess who was gone before his term was out as Speaker of the House ?
I'm proud of the Democrats for telling people the truth. Ending Medicare is not reforming Medicare.
Proud of them for telling the truth? What truth? That we can just ignore the problems with Medicare and Social Security, scare the hell out of seniors even though ANY proposed changes wouldn't occur for the next 7-12 years at least and keep on telling the American people that it's no big deal? you mean that truth?
@Steven - Like the truth that it is okay to have as much corporate welfare as possible, but not to give people who have paid into the system what they deserve? Is that the truth you want told? I don't believe many millionaires, billionaires and huge corporations such as oil and pharma are hurting too badly? But I sure do believe that what the Republicans propose will kill the middle class. Take your pick. If you want to take care of the problem roll back the tax cuts for the rich, take back the subsidies for the huge corporations and break them up so that we don't have 5 huge oil companies, or 5 large banks that can screw the whole economy of the world. If you want to take care of the problem how about bring the troops from around the world and cut out the waste of the Halliburton buddies of Cheney and Bush, and the other contractors that have screwed us out of billions of dollars. How about taking away the lifetime benefits of your congressmen? How about terms limits so they won't give all the goodies to those whose life is spent lobbying for the rich? How about some other solutation other than killing the middle class, which they've pretty much done up till now, and now want to end the death rattle by cutting "entitlements" which are not really entitlements, they are savings accounts the American people have fed into their entire working lives. Maybe they can pay back some of the IOUs from looting Social Security and other so-called entitlements. We also pay for Medicare insurance, on a much cheaper basis than paying 25% of your income to the insurance companies to give you what every human being should be "entitled" to, such as health care. But no, you would like to pay the insurance companies and pharma for that right, the right to have insurance rather than the right to have healthcare, which is administered much better through Medicare than it could ever be for the for-profit healthcare industry. Just common sense, not fear, just reality.
The Democrats have always protected the systems that support the elderly, the sick, children and education. In the last election, Republicans made many false and inflammatory statements demeaning the Democrats and their positions.
But today it is the Republicans that are proposing the gutting of these programs. Republicans have no vision for America. They do not take responsibility for sound management of government. The Republicans will trash middle-America as they continue their obsession with self-interest and special interests.
This current Republican Party has just about destroyed our great nation.
Job1..... and they did it DELIBERATELY! Spread thw word. Write your Senators and Congresscritters. Tell them we wont ALLOW it!
no need Tom the seniors are the largest voting block in the country. You think they are going to give up their health care?
And if you really want to do something Write and demand they pay back the 2.5 trillion they borrowed and wasted
job1 - I see you don't like playing with a full deck or perhaps your lights are on but no ones there?
The democrats have been in control of the senate since 2006, the house from 2006 - 2011. and the executive branch since 2009.
Your big bad republicans have controlled the house since jan 5 (?) of 2011.
While I am still years away from medicare, how is anyone going to convince our seniors that medicare as they know it today will remain solvent? National news reports changed the date of medicare insolvency down to around 2024. We have listened for years about all the bandaids being applied to SS. Do you think medicare will be any different? Does anyone really believe that SS or medicare will look the same in 2050?
Obama wants us to believe that the government can control healthcare costs. Can anyone tell us the last time that the government successfully controlled costs without government sponsored subsidies. Perhaps obama needs to give medicare back the $500 billion he borrowed to help fund obamacare.
American, Yes, the Dems have had a majority, from 2006-2008 they had a very slim majority, for a single year they had an unfilibusterable majority in the Senate, yet they went ahead and TRIED to work with the Repubs, the responsible, AMERICAN thing to do. But since then the Repubs have filibustered and fake filibustered (rule 22) a record number of bills, over 400 of them, that would have helped America, so do not try passing off the lie that since the Dems have held a majority that this is all their fault, AMERICA KNOWS better than that. AND, since the Repubs just CANNOT allow an intelligent, well spoken Black Democrat, who soundly trounced them in the Presidential Election, to have ANYTHING good happen during his Administration, they have worked to do ANYTHING at all that MAY hurt his chances at re-election, no matter WHAT damage it does to America in general and Americans who are hurting the worst in particular. Maybe Bush needs to give back the over 2.5 Trillion that he kept off the books as well as the money that he plain gave away in tax breaks to the very richest of us and Cheney needs to give back the hundreds of billions that went to his Halliburton in no bid contracts for the war that they started on the basis of lies.
The ONLY reason that the outlook for Medicare and SS is because of the fact that most Americans are unable to pay enough in taxes while those that have the money to be hiring aren't and have MASSIVE tax breaks themselves. Minor tweaks would fix the funding on those programs, privatizing them would actually hurt America much worse and only those that are Already-Too-Obscenely-Rich-To-Fail would benefit.
It all started with Ronald "walks on water" Reagan. First he sells the US on "Supply-Side" trickle down economics ... makes major overhaul of the tax system, saying in his smooth Ronald McDonald voice "aren't you better off now than 4 years ago". Then, 1 1/2 years later, increases FICA deductions on the middleclass by saying "the extra money will shore up Social Security & Medicare through 2040" ... then, when the extra tax money started flowing in, he spends it on Star Wars, the Russian arms race, and, ohhhh yeah, MORE tax cuts for the wealthy. Not ONE DIME of that extra tax on entitlements was used to shore up those programs ... NOT ONE!
Then Bush runs on "read my lips ... no new taxes" ... and stupid ME votes for the lieing butthead as he implements the largest tax to the middleclass in US HISTORY to date just 6 months into his first term.
Then along comes his son, and ... well, do we need to continue? If George W graduated from college, he cheated to do it, that's for sure.
Attention Republicans ... your Trickle Down is YELLOW, please stop it!
Mac
Does your boss pay you a wage? If so that means his/her company makes money. When was the last time a person with less money then you paid you to work? So Trickle Down does work.
I see why they call you Slow Don.
trickle down works everyday and has worked ever since the industrial revolution. Where do you all think the middle class came from? Santa?
The middle class came from unionization well after the industrial revolution. The middle class has lost income under trickle down economic policies. 13.7 million unemployed people are waiting for the jobs to trickle down, those with jobs are waiting for a raise to trickle down.
Unionization in the US private sector is past its prime and dying in the face of the global economy. Any further unionization will only be done in the emerging markets.
US regulatory reforms have dealt a death blow to private sector unions. You know things like OSHA, workmans comp, healthcare, etc.
Public sector unions will also be in decline as the private sector taxpayers realize how much the unions are costing the private sector.
What I would like to know is why did obama ignore private sector jobs in favor of maintining public sector jobs? Did he think that we would buy off on his empty rhetoric of "shovel ready" jobs?
If there is little to no demand for goods and services do you really believe that business will hire people to do nothing? Yes, job growth can be viewed as "trickle down" since it is a lacking economic indicator during recessionary times. Speaking of jobs, why not start your own business and hire someone??
@Simple Simon Slodon
Just because gravity works on our liquid excrement does not imply it has any effect on economics.
Small minds think alike and repeat the same tactics expecting different outcomes.
A golden shower does NOT equate to economic bliss. I care not to wait until rich men decide to throw me a crumb; WAY TOO UNAMERICAN. Frankly, coming from so called Chirstians, not very Christ-like either. (See HUCK's latest choice of MONEY over serving his people - no fire in his belly LOL)
I work. I expect to earn a fare wage and it ain't no 7-10 bucks an hour when CEO pay is in the stratoshphere. NO HUMAN is worth the amount of money being 'earned' by them and anyone gambling with other folks money on WALL STREET. Thems that haves AIN'T interested in sharing. Corporations are treated as the thems that haves now too so they can playhavoc with our way of governing, rig elections, avoid taxes and undo our historical safety net.
Trickle down was debunked 20 years ago. Even the the REAGAN creator of the convoluted metric, David Stockman, says it's BUNK. Very old debate. Retread issues is all the GOP have to run on; that and the TP nutcase agenda.
OBAMA 2012! To further right the ship AND lead us forward.
Reagen's VP - Bush Sr. called it "voodo economics".
The current Republicans are constantly insulting the American people and they have literally become emboldened by getting away with it. They are bold, aggressive, arrogant and obnoxious as they just take people for granted, while being confident that together with the substantial financial backing and focused overt and covert support of their influential, powerful and extremely wealthy controllers, who ‘pull their strings’, they can repeatedly con and manipulate the public.
They advocate keeping taxes down .... always stubbornly when it is for the very wealthy .... they say to reduce government spending and the deficit .... even when that was never their priority under Bush-Cheney or when benefiting Special Interests. They say they will resolve the problems .... but really only fault and block every effort without any bipartisan or constructive effort. They want the average American to vote for them .... but arrogantly just cater to Special Interests and the few and together they aggressively spend unlimited effort and money to con and manipulate public opinion. The total middle-class seeks government to demonstrate needed financial responsibility, honesty and conscientious effort to create jobs and to bring the economy back to the 2000 level .... but what the Republicans arrogantly offer is just that giving more to the wealthy will do the trick .... even when Bush-Cheney convincingly proved that the ‘trickle down’ theory is a total fraud. The bottom-line is their loyalty is to the few, not to Social Security, not to Medicare, and not to the majority who they give only rhetoric to deceive and con. They have used creative and even bazaar appeals to fears, biases, prejudices and emotions ... including with well sponsored and creative efforts to manipulate the Christian block, with the Swift-boat propaganda and now with the Tea Party extremes ... always being highly emotional and with little truth and without any real solutions. Based on their actions, what can the people really expect from the Republicans .... when the obvious is seen, then the logical decision should be to reject their deceptive efforts, to actually be insulted by being taken for granted and to refuse to be duped and manipulated and instead to demand they return to a real focus on the majority.
Whatever people’s biases, they still need to be objective and rational in their own best interest. Whenever the people loose the discipline to care about the truth, for whatever reasons they may rationalize, there will always be those who will exploit that and take advantage for their own personal gain.
Giles - Benefitting the rich by tax cuts, subsidies for corporations, and pandering to special interests has always hurt the working people. It is disproportionate for a worker to make $40,000 a year when his CEO makes $40,000. The corruption in corporate America will someday be stopped by people who will not tolerate it anymore. We ended up with Homeland Security because we were kept in fear by being threatened with "The Axis of Evil." We gave up our freedoms and our rights. I don't think it was worth it. It is the way government controls the people. I saw it during the Cold War and during the McCarthy hearings.
Amazing, Don seems to not have a clue... My boss works for the same company I do, we make money together (for the company and the share holders,--one of which I am) the company has many levels and goals to help grow our ability to do more work and get paid more. So please stop focusing on the boss/VP's/or CEO's and understand that individual compensation needs to be taxed appropriately, corporate profits needs to be taxed appropriately .. by appropriately i mean in accordance to the ability to pay and the cost of the level of support we are asking our government to provide. If that means for the upper end of the scale that means 39% minus deductions, so be it. if you want the water clean, the air breathable, the streets paved, the electrical grid to function, and the military strong enough to keep invaders from thinking about starting some nonsense/.....then pay for it. I do and have and will enjoy this country of ours and the benefits of being one of us. otherwise, you and those who don't should please leave, I am sure some others will fill in quite nicely.
I Everyone! I made this post in March: reposted, below. I would appreciate feedback from anyone who might have read, researched, or Cliff noted ,etc., Klein's book. Thanks loads.
Haven't posted in a very long time, but reading some very insightful political literature. Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism", is a powerful read for all of you devoted liberal and progressive posters. I implore all of you to read it , if you haven't already. I had to do little fact checking, if any, because most of the events and occurrences I have lived through and remember, some quite vividly,though I was not armed with much of the information that most of you and I now have access to.
Keep up the good work all of you true patriots and please read the book. It explains via narrative, timeline and extensive research and interviews, exactly what is happening now. Conclusion, prior to completion of the last 166 pages, impending, pervasive oligarchy through "Corporatism" via privatization.
We must remain vigilant and dedicated in our actions and goals for the future.
#6.11 - Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:31 PM EDT
#6.11 - Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:31 PM EDT
Kinda like all those republican scare attach adds all over the TV about Obama care taking away Medicare benefits during the 2010 elections season. Hurts, don't it. You don't have my sympathy.
Why does Congress always attack social programs instead of corporate welfare, waste in government, the Department of Defense budget. I just watched the Michael Moore program about people fighting back at home foreclosures, Bank of America not paying workers that they put out of work and the ensuing protests. Why does Washington always try to take away from the middle class and the poor and give to the rich. I say we vote all the incumbents out next election and keep doing it until we get a Congress that actually represents the people instead of being self serving and pandering to the wealthy.
summertime - could it be that revenue comes from the private sector to fund said social programs?
As for the housing mess, it takes two to tango. The home buyers could have said no!
Well, we started voting out the incumbants in 2010. It will take about 8 more years to recycle thru all the senators. Go for it, prefer term limits myself. Even having a national non partisan plan for long term objectives would go a long ways to minimize our current political theatrics.
Talk about democrat fear mongering. From the article...
From a recent CBS report... oil companies profits are .06/$ of revenue, computer companies are .16/$ revenue and pharmaceuticals are .17/$ revenue and you all cry about oil company profits???
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7365896n&tag=api
The GOP/RNC "Hoodlum's On The Hill" voted to end Medicare. That is fact! It is on the record for everyone to read. The GOP/RNC just are not meddling with Medicare. That was done by "Richie Rich Ryan with his "Budget Of Butchery" economic plan of evil. They already voted a big YES to end it. How can the GOP/RNC meddle with a program they already voted on to kill?? Does the GOP/RNC have a memory issue?? Oh No! They have Alzheimers too! That would explain their circus like behavior when discussing Medicare. Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! The Party of No has got to go!
really think medicare as we know it today will be the same in 2024?