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Subscribe to RSSBuoyed by national editorials condemning some Democrats’ desire not to touch entitlements in any fiscal cliff negotiations, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) challenged the White House today on the issue of entitlement reform.
Citing White House adviser David Plouffe recent comments that “fiscal cliff” talks should address Medicare and Medicaid, the “chief drivers of our deficit,” Cantor said, “we have seen, this morning, several editorial writers indicate the same; that it is important that we put these drivers of the deficit on the table and include them as part of any agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff.”
Are we inching toward bipartisan compromise on the fiscal cliff? Is the president signaling he'll be more willing to work with business leaders in his second term? No Labels co-founder Mark McKinnon, Fortune Magazine's Leigh Gallagher and former DLC Chair Harold Ford Jr. join a conversation on these issues.
Cantor defended the GOP’s position of no increase on taxes for the wealthiest Americans and claimed that the party has “done its part” by putting new revenue on the table in the form of minimizing tax deductions and closing loopholes. He then accused the Obama administration of not putting forward a “good-faith effort…to talk about the real problem that we're trying to fix.”
Cantor’s desire to shed light on what he sees as Democrats’ intransigence on entitlement reform is a calculated effort by the GOP to try and paint the president and his allies as stubbornly in favor of policies that will add to the deficit, GOP aides told NBC News.
Recently, Democrats have coalesced around the idea that a “fiscal cliff” agreement should not necessarily touch Social Security and likely even Medicare or Medicaid -- and only pertain to spending cuts and taxes.
“If the public sees we’re willing to give something and Democrats are not, it’ll strengthen our negotiating position,” one GOP aide admitted.
It remains to be seen whether the American public will buy such an argument, especially with polls showing a majority supporting the idea of raising taxes on the wealthy to pay down the debt and not raise even the entry age into Medicare.
Michael Conroy / AP
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va.
Republicans, however, are banking on saying that Democrats are just as, if not more, unyielding on their “sacred cows,” and that leading to the typical Washington narrative of both parties being unwilling to move toward the center in favor of their own special interests. That, Republicans believe, could ultimately hurt the president, elected on the promise of doing big things.
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What do these losers do, pull straws to see who steps up to the mike first?
Is it just me, or do these guys salivate at the chance to put the screws to the president and the American people any way they can? I guess we can say that the "honeymoon" phase is clearly over with.
We all know there needs to be spending cuts and we all are aware that there does need to be some "entitlement" reform.
...and this GOP 'War on Entitlements' will destroy GOP as we know it.
Has the GOP learned anything from the 2012 Elections?
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I want to see the GOP do well...more for the sake of this great country than for the sake of the GOP - because a competitive two-party system is good for our country. I don't want to see the GOP falling into the cliff for refusing to compromise on fiscal cliff.
Listen here Cantor - I put money in SS and Medicare since day 1 of working. DO NOT TOUCH MY money!! Why are these called entitlements when it is our own money??
Whatever happened to politicans trying to do what is right for the country? It's clear President Obama is trying to do the right thing, while Republicans are playing political games. Maine sent Independent Angus King to the Senate specifically to be a bridge between Republicans and Democrats, but, it sounds like the Republicans just want to blow everything up, to protect the rich.
Raises taxes First then we'll talk, trust me. thats almost like the 'We come in Peace'
I agree, Elise. I really do not, and never have, understood why they are called "entitlements" when nearly all of us have been paying into the system. I have been paying into both programs since I was 16 years old.
Amy, most politicians today do not do anything unless it furthers their own career or agenda. Most of them are very self-involved. The Republicans right now are running their mouths off because they know that president Obama is out there meeting with the people. They are trying to pass themselves off as doing all the hard work and reaching across the aisle to make real compromise, when in fact they are seen as complete opposite. They are using the same playbook that they used last year. Again, I say, let's Thelma & Louise our asses off the cliff!
Whats wrong with a plan that increases taxs cuts out tax loopholes and that has spending cuts. Lets get past the cliff. Than argue!
The stupidity of the GOP is beyond belief. How is it they don't KNOW that Social Security is NOT an entitlement since it has been paid into by everyone who works? Let's cut all of THEIR "entitlements." Their pension, their medical benefits - everything. See - we could immediately cut a LOT of spending! Let's definitely start THERE!
I said it when McConnell shamed this country Obama's first day and I'll gladly say it again.
Republicans would not know honor if it where staring them straight in the face. True then, true now.
Sad they can not pick leaders.
He then accused the Obama administration of not putting forward a “good-faith effort…to talk about the real problem that we're trying to fix.”
The only "good faith effort" the rethugli-cons have shown is their willingness to put revenue increases on the table but not through rate increases. Like Mitt Romney during the campaign they refuse to be specfic about what deductions/loopholes they would close, willing only to play politics. Also, they only want to cut entitlements, not the defense budget, which is extremely over bloated. What they don't understand is SS, military/government pensions ARE NOT entitlements. They are benfits that people have paid into for many, many years.
The most ironic part is, the rethugs want the majority of Americans to make the sacrific. Well, I'm willing to discuss my military pension when the rethugs become willing to take a pay cut and make changes to THEIR retirement/medical benefits. Unfortunately we haven't heard a single world from them on this matter, nor will we.
TO: Pigotry who wrote:
I can't wait until that happens!
I am so sick of Republicans constantly trying to shield the ultra-rich as if they are the only people Republicans work for! Republicans are really trying to stick it to the American People HARD. Republicans just won't give us a break, let alone a tax break.
Republicans are doing everything in their power to force middle and low income families with the bill for their LIE CALLED THE WAR IN IRAQ that WE were against, and Republicans were "FOR" so that the rich could play war games on the Stock Market, AND THEY MADE MILLIONS!!!
If the only folks Republicans have any concern about are the mega-rich, then they don't deserve to be in the office that they hold.
Congressional Offices belong to The American People and are not for sale to mega-millionaires.
Honestly, when Cantor took the Oath of Office, who the hell did he think he'd be working for if not "We the People?
This has GOT to come somewhere under the heading "Dereliction of Duty".
Smitty-4183671
Lets get past the cliff. Than argue!
What bothers me is these cuts really don't do much in terms of helping our deficit, nor do they address our debt. All they do is cut the rate of the deficit and Congress can't even agree on them. We're going to be in worse shape than Europe really quick if we don't make serious changes in the way we spend money.
SS and Medicare is not entitlements, we have worked for that all are live, so you gops need to cut you entitlements and waste.
Tell you what cut me check for all the SS and medicare taxes I have paid for over 30 years without yet collecting one thin dime and I will walk away from what I am entitled to because I already paid for it. Cut me a check Congress!
Lets just go off the Cliff, Then POTUS will not have to bargain our entitlements to the GOP. Raise taxes on all then defy the GOP to say no to tax breaks for 100% of Americans on the 1st 250k, Then we can watch the GOP Biach and Complain about cuts to the military and then again we have the Aces
Federal Reps make $174,000 in salary, a lifetime pension for 5 years service, the best health insurance-bar none, at least 16 weeks of paid vacation each year, and they have the gall to fight unions, minimum wage raises, employer provided health insurance, and now SS and medicare for people who actually paid for it. Where is the outrage, they have a deal that makes the best union contracts I have ever seen look damn shabby. The American people should start the negotiation on reducing "entitlements" when they throw the things they vote for themselves and think they are entitled to on the table, and not before. I'll tell you what how about we propose your Congressman is paid the median level of income and benefits for his state, you think the reps from Texas can live on $11.20 an hour, that's $22,400 a year, why should they make nearly 8 times what the average wage earner in Texas makes, and that is just cash, if you compare the benefits it is even more obscene, if that is even possible. Don't you love a guy that makes almost 8 times what you make, with solid gold benefits, and a lifetime pension at full pay for 5 years work telling you that you have to be more competitive because you are costing his business donors to much. You get that folks? They get a lifetime pension at full pay for fives years service, but want to deprive you of the benefits you paid into for a lifetime. If I was in these negotiations they would do well to wear a clip on tie because I swear I would be reaching across the table and choking some of these bastards.
Hey Cantor, here's a thought, lets cut some of those entitlements that congress voted for themselves.
You know, the freebies you get after you leave office.
Oh and here's another one, how about not voting yourselves another raise until the citizens vote to give you permission to consider giving you another raise.
It's all fine and well you want to cut spending, but I have not heard you speak of cutting any spending on yourself (capital hill). Bite the bullet buddy, share the pain, and then I might take you as honestly trying to help.
Put those bloated cost of congress on the table first and perhaps you will be seen as honorable.
Forrest, I see were thinking the same on this issue. I wish more people would see this hypocrisy.
Cut theirs it's wastefull, but don't even talk about cutting mine, Congress needs to do some cutting at home.
Hypocrisy does not even properly describe it truth teller, they need their asses kicked.
I thought the "chief drivers" of the deficit was the wars and military wish list spending. Now we find out from Republican teabaggers it's those pesky old sick people on Medicare. And worse yet,those mothers and sick children moochers on medicaid. My,oh,my,why don't we still have debtors prisons and Oliver Twist like work houses for all those freeloaders to languish in. That way all our wonderful plutocrat class wouldn't have to pay more. How on earth can they be expected to skip buying the third Rolls,just because those lower class chumps think they need medical care. OMG what are we coming to,when those people matter,
With their poor record in support of education and more specifically education spending it would seem that education is not a top priority for the Republicans.
When you look at history the first to be done away with at the onset of a totalitarian regime are the intellectuals. Itellectuals are smart enough to see through them where those kept in the dark and poorly educated don't know any better and are thus easier to control.
This guy, Cantor, is lower than a worm crawling beneath the earths surface. Why is it so important that rich people not pay a little more in taxes as they did before Dubya gave them a break by cutting them? I guess that getting an answer to that would be like pulling teeth. Anyway, I have a new slogan to introduce that the President and Democratic Congress can use, and it's "Pay Up @$$holes, You Can Afford It!"
"Penny for the baby sir, penny for the baby?"
Letter to Republican party: We are past seeing and feeling the political waste you constantly create. The cost has never been acceptable.
Cantor, Boehner and McConnell are the epitomy of what is wrong with the party at this point. Still .... talking to a base that has no credibility. Republicans could not pick a leader if their lives depended on it. Still .... pathetic.
Elise I too paid my money in. As a matter of fact I have paid the maximun for 30 years. I want my money so forget about means testing!! OH, I know!! I am "wealthy" so I get less consideration.
Cantor should be on the streets of Pitching three Card Monte to passing tourists.
Trouble is, if the world were just enouogh to put him there he wouldn't make a dime at it because the sidewalk would be wall to wall with other Republicans trying to bilk pedestrians in bait and switch games.
John B,
Harry Reid does this daily, and has for many years. Along with his pal Nancy, they created a mess that will increase the deficit more than this President has with his give-aways.
We can make this really easy. If you are in congress less than 20 years, you get 3% a year into your 401K so long as you put 3% in. You also pay into social security and can then collect that. You get health insurance that is the median plan in your state and you must pay the median amount people in your state pay for it (that includes employer subsidized and individual payer prices.) Your insurance ends when you are no longer in congress. You can collect your 401K under the normal provisions. The congress and all who have served in it are the entitlement class. Cutting these entitlements will save the nation money right from the start.
We need to go over the fiscal cliff. It is unavoidable. The republicans have signed pledges not to raise taxes. They know those taxes have to be raised. By dragging this fight out and going over the cliff, the taxes will go up automatically and they can save face with their rich donors. Only after the country has gone over the cliff, real progress on deficit reduction can begin. Until that time, the republicans are just posturing and hoping their wealthy constituents won't figure it out and counting on the priest caste to spread the word of the guilt of the evil democrats to the sheep who flock to them!
Let's face it, the wealthy have no where else to turn. The sheep of the evangelical southern and midwestern churches will always buy into the line that no matter what is actually good for them, they can't vote for the satanic baby killers. This battle will continue forever unless we go over the cliff and make real progress as a result.
I'm sad to say Cantor is my representative (don't worry, I didn't vote for him). I know some of his supporters / friends, and I've interacted with him (on a completely superficial non-confrontational manner, I should probably add) (And yes, he comes off as a super-cold individual in person, although I'm willing to admit perhaps I was just introduced to him at a bad moment; he seemed distracted). One of the problems is many of his friends / wealthy supporters are what I call the "uneducated educated. They have degrees that would indicate an education, but they are so completely lacking in curiosity about the world, so determined to believe that their little lives in the west end of Richmond, a reality that they have mostly never left I might add, is the one true reality. And they believe their sheltered, non-diverse lives are the reality for everyone else. It is truly fascinating how little these people actually know about the world outside their own small circles, and their opinions sadly showcase how uneducated they are. Anyway, one problem with Cantor is that his supporters are these "uneducated educated" who will vote based on the misinformation schemes of today because they lack the basic level of curiosity and wisdom that so easily refutes these schemes.
Anyway, I write this, not really to attack Cantor (why bother, when it is obvious historians are going to destroy him in the history books), but to say: feel free to blame Cantor's district for his views. His constituents deserve the blame.
"Oh yeah! Says you!" -- 1funnygirl
Here's how the GOP can address SS. Pay me back every dime of what I paid into SS when I retire, and you can keep the interest.
AND, raise the income level that the SS tax is applied on now to $250,000. Have it apply to all forms of income - no hiding income, reclassifying income as something else, or laundering income outside of the US.
Problem solved for SS.
Not only are the members of Congress overpaid and provided with bloated benefit packages, but they do nothing! They are among the least productive members of American society.
I'd be happy to pay them what they are worth. That would be less than minimum wage.
Eric Can'tor Eric Won't? Either way, he needs to go.
Vote those bums out!!!
Morning.
Good Morning to you too California Tom.
On Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Real Simple solution: take out all the caps and make ALL income subject to the taxes. That woulds solve the problem.
Kaybeetoys - What you have said has been posted ad nauseum above. But it just can't be said enough in my opinion. These lethargic free loaders are taking the American public for a ride.
It used to be an honor to briefly serve in public office. It was a duty to the country that protected you and provided the means by which you could earn a living. Now this office has BECOME the means by which to earn a living. These lifetime (do-nothing) freeloaders have made a mockery out of public office. They have also turned it into a gravy train of which they are the conductor and the engineer.
Seems like the republicans want us pan handling singing brother can you spare a dime.
Since I paid for my Social Security and Medicare all my working years, I object to these programs being called "entitlements" too. I agree with 1.6, Who decided I was Entitled to this after I paid for these with every paycheck I ever earned.
Is this more Repug/teathugh speak? Don't call it by what it really is, a savings program instituted under FDR(another name they hate). Use Orwellian speak and call it something akin to a giveaway by the government. That way they can inflame the under and un-educated, which is their base, and who are probably beneffiting most by these programs.
Start calling these programs by what they are, Savings for Old age. No one is giving me anything I haven't paid for.
Gil You will probably receive more in benefits than you paid in plus interest. That is precisely the problem. We have overpromised (outsized returns) and paid for it from new investers (workers). In the real world this is called a Ponszi scheme. It fails when there are not enough new investers to supply the returns. The only difference is SS is "legal".
TES there are many of us boomers that will never live long enough to receive all the benefits we paid in , many of us worked the back breaking labor jobs and unhealthy jobs that were created by the corporations cause we had no choice it was as is now a employers market. SS is going broke cause it was raided many times by congress to pay for projects because it was so fat.
And in that vein there's a dirty little secret in the debate over extending the retirement age; whether you live longer depends in large measure on what you do for a living. Factory workers and truck drivers, for example, are NOT living longer, but they have to work longer because doctors, lawyers, and accountants live longer.
2833 The money that "was raided" still exists in the trust fund as bonds (IOU's). When that money is needed, it will have to be reborrowed to pay obligations. This "raiding" of SS has not shortened its lifespan! The idea that "raiding" the fund causes it to go bankrupt is a myth perpetuated by mental midgets like you. So is the myth that SS does not add to the deficit. When the fund becomes exhausted, either benefits will need to be decreased or general revenues will need to be diverted to close the gap. (and I don't believe the masses will allow decreased benefits)
WOW... The GOP lacks imagination. When there is fiscal crisis, politics is the art of the possible - both parties should work together to create an environment where economy can improve...more money fore more people... the greatest good for the greatest number.
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To start... the wealthy - those who benefit more from the system - should pay more into the system ... more investment in education, R&D, and the economy will produce more goods and hire more workers. The expansion of the Middle Class will increase people's purchasing power. More demand in the marketplace will mean more wealth for the rich business owners. The rich still get more.
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Yes We Can.
While I think that Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security need some sort of overhaul before they no longer exist, I don't think they should be the sole focus. There are MANY, many other opportunities for spending cuts. Eliminate duplicity, fraud, payoffs to donors, and other frivolous programs.
There is really no problem with social security and medicare. 2 human errors and 1 natural cause have brought challenges -
2 human errors - Bush tax cut for the rich have reduced revenue and investment into the system; and Bush-induced recession has caused more shortages
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1 natural cause beyond anyone's control - vast number of babyboomers (born from 1946 to 1964) have been retiring in great numbers...more payments have been required. But once the US passes the heavy traffic in 30-40 years, these entitlements will be flush with surpluses. Now, we need to increase revenues to pay for such natural expansion of entitlements outlays.
Wow, Oscar! I am impressed. I actually agree with you in regards to some fixing on those programs so that they will be there for the next generation. Not cutting the benefits, mind you, but some tweaking to their current state. Yes, there are many other opportunities as well, but the GOP has this fixation when it comes to SS, medicare and medicaid. Let's see now, what haven't Boehner and Cantor brought up in the last day or so? Defense. I give it another day or so and then we should hear them start squawking that we have to spend much more on defense. Now that program, IMO, needs a definite overhaul and a good old fashioned haircut.
Oscar - voted you up! I KNOW - never thought that would happen did ya? Good post and I totally agree!
Each side of the aisle has their fixations, AKGirl. Such as defense. :D
Since Obama already gave Medicare, SS, and Defense a haircut in his first term, I think he should look elsewhere in his second term.
OMG, AKGirl and Seeking (3.2 & 3.3), stop it! I don't want to have to start liking you. HA HA!! JK!
Oscar - come on, admit it - you already do!
Well, I will kindly disagree with you in regards to the defense budget, but hey, look, we are making an attempt to have a normal conversation on here between us, myself being a liberal, and you the decidedly conservative. You know, Oscar, I really do wish that all of us here, myself included, could stop stabbing eachother so ruthlessly at every chance we get. I also wish that people, such as yourself, would at least show some respect when talking or writing about president Obama. I mean, after all, he is the most important man in the entire world, and he is our president, and that in itself deserves some respect, no matter who you are or who is sitting in the oval office.
OMG! Had to do an edit when I saw what you wrote to me and SS! Too funny!
Pigotry Most of the Bush tax cuts (you know, those "tax breaks for the wealthy") went to the bottom 98%! So why is it that you insist on perpetuating the myth that they only went to "the wealthy"??!! If they were so much slanted toward the wealthy, allowing them ALL to expire would not harm the nonwealthy. So why is that the left will fight to the death to allow them only to expire only on the wealthy? It is because they know the truth, even as they lie to you!!!!
The claim ,what is good for the company must be good for our employees, has been a sacred cow for too long. We have our government borrowing our social security benefits under this guise, our employers underfunding our retirement insurance this way , our investment cos. doing this , our unions have joined in this roguery and we now are being told by all of these thieves that they can not afford to pay us back our rightful social security that we, yes ,we payed into. This is dishonest and we should not allow this roguery to continue. The supporters of the super rich parasites should either show that they work for their employers ,or their gift givers. Voters, we can not hunt with the foxes and chase with the hounds.
To: TES -2640989 who wrote (#3.8):
Really....?? is there such a thing as bottom 98%?? U R kidding, right? Do you want to hide the top 10% into the bottom 98%? Not so smart, TES -2640989?
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To: listoire whote (#3.9) -
Yeah... listoire, U R right... in addition to underfunding by employers, stealing by bankers, tax cuts by Bush, union honchos are also guilty by stealing from the pension fund when so many of these top union brass get multiple full pensions for every career position they have taken.
This is smoke and mirrors folks. The rich companies did away with pensions by pushing us into 401K's. They now want to pocket their contributios to SS and medicare by eliminating the programs.
Pigotry Nearly every household benefited from the Bush tax cuts!!! So if you agree that the majority did not go to the top 2%, why is it that you agree that the tax cuts should be eliminated only on the top 2%!!??
Right on target, Evelyn.
Does anyone remember when Bushie boy wanted us all to invest our Social Security accounts in the stock market? That was just before it crashed..................
Anyone else here see some manipulation???
Gil One of the problems with the SS system is that investing it in bonds gives barely enough returns to beat inflation. There was a rough patch in the stock market but over the long term the returns are much better than bond returns. I suffered through the drop but I have recovered since! I have done well over the years by investing in stocks. The stock market is not the trap you suggest if investing is done wisely. This is part of the reason why I will retire well and you will depend on SS. You are probably one of those who feel I should pay more than you for each dollar of benefit!
The CBO estimates that if the tax cut is extended to everyone the economy should gain 1.5% growth. If the tax cut is only extended to the bottom 98% the economy will still grow 1.25%. So even though the 2% at the top received 70% of the cut they only account for .25% of the growth. The 98% receiving only 30% of the cut will grow the economy 5 times as much because they actually spend the money.
More evidence those Conservatives refer to as "job creators" are really more "takers" than "makers."
Luke Russert ... nice of you to link to those National editorials ... sigh.
Oscar SS has nothing to do with the budget as it is freestanding. That's the main reason that should not be included in the talks, besides there are simple fixes that could be done to make the system even more solvent
I do think that is sort of what Oscar was trying to say. I think we all agree that SS shouldn't even be anywhere near the table, shouldn't even be in the room right now.
Have I mistakenly entered some sort of time machine with the setting left on stupid?? I feel like we've had this discussion before. This is how dictatorships become possible. I feel we may have lost the ability to govern ourselves adequately because instead of our elected officials talking it over with each other they seem to be in a race to the press to repeat the same nonsense they were spouting before the elections. We're @##$%^ America. Yay..
Yes, Dan, and I think we are all feeling it. It's that de ja vu thing! If we were to split screen all of them to now and then, it would all be the same old bull @!$%#. Apparently this is what we pay taxes for. To watch a bunch of imbeciles run our country........further into the ground if we let them.
. . take. . . . SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE . . off the table
....both parties agreed during the election...both are off the tqable....................
.......now.......LIVE UP TO YOUR PARTIES' AGREEMEND
Take taxes, medicare and the defense budget off the table! You sound like a good politition.
Time to end Bush tax cut for the rich...which has reduced revenues and investment into the system..that's the real problem. Don't fall into the Republican trap of starving the beast - that's a long-standing Republican trick of cutting taxes first, destroying the economy second, causing entitlement shortfall third, and destroying entitlements once and for all.
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We don't have to be super-smart to see GOP tricks, we need just to have common sense.
If I hear the word ENTITLEMENT one more time I may scream. It's time everyone understood something and damned well understood it thoroughly. Social Security and Medicare are not ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS. People like me have worked our entire adult lives and have been forced to pay money into a GOVERNMENT MANDATED savings accounts for our retirement years; Social Security and into a pre-paid health care plan; Medicare. I'll say it again. The government FORCED my compliance with these programs. I was NOT GIVEN A CHOICE. The government made me a guarantee that, by contributing to those programs out of my hard-earned pay, when I reached either age 62 or age 65, I would have health care coverage that I had already paid for and I would begin to get the money back that I paid into my retirement savings account in monthly allotments.
Food Stamps, Public Assistance, Medicaid, subsidized housing, heating fuel assistance and on and on; THOSE are ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS. They are programs that provide benefits, to some extent, to people who do not work or have not paid for them. Social Security and Medicare do not fall into those categories.
Lumping all of these programs under the same verbal umbrella sends an incorrect message; and it is calculated verbiage used to intentionally create a negative impression of the programs. Some of our politicians want people to believe that Social Security and Medicare are just more government welfare programs provided to lazy, worthless folks who refuse to work for a living. Words have power and to use this term regarding these programs is an attempt to make people angry; to retrain them to believe something that isn’t true.
Now some of the young bucks of the political circle have decided that this GOVERNMENT MANDATED PROGRAM is, actually, an ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM and "those people" receiving Social security payments each month and who have Medicare benefits are moochers - that we are lazy people who just want something for nothing. These politicians, who are SUPPOSED to be representing the best interests of the American people, have buddies on Wall Street that have sucked the private retirement and pension funds of unsuspecting people dry, so they need another source of money to play with so that they can maintain the high standard of living to which they have become accustomed. The solution some of these political idiots are kicking around is to turn OUR MONEY over to their pals on WALL STREET! We ALL know how that will end up, don't we? What a crock of bovine excrement!
These so-called "ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS" are nothing of the sort. It was a requirement for me to pay into the plans with the guarantee that I would get benefits or money back when I reached age 62 or age 65. Not age 67. Not age 70. Not age 72. To change the structure of the programs now, after forcing my participation for all these years, is nothing more than a breach of contract. If the fund we have been paying into has had its carcass picked clean through careless practices or outright theft, then these politicians had damned well better find a way to put the money they have taken out of it back into it. They can start by lowering their pay and their benefit packages. Personally I don't feel they are worth $177,000 a year, so they can take a salary cut to $30,000 a year. They can forget about their luxury health care plan that costs us millions of dollars a year and participate in Medicare like the rest of the working people. As for that retirement program into which they pay 1% of their income and get a return of 100% of their pay for life after serving for a measly five years can be tossed out as well. Most of us have to pay a substantial percentage of our income into our retirement as well as putting in 25 to 30 years on the job before we can retire. We need to change this system. That'll save a chunk of change that can be put back into the programs we have paid for and that they have mismanaged.
Get us the hell out of these wars that are, for the most part, just a way to bolster the coffers of the military-industrial machine. Halliburton and the other leeching mega-corporations have taken enough money from the pockets of the citizens of this nation. Use the money saved to help our American companies grow. That will put more people on the employment roles which means more money will go into the system and help sure it up.
As for all of the government employees who are exempt from paying into the programs because they have "special programs" just for themselves; that needs to be nipped in the bud. Why the hell should we pay taxes to provide them with separate retirement and health care plans while the ones we are depending upon are faltering? Who had the brilliant idea that government employees should not be part of the same system as the rest of the working people?
Medicare, also, is a program has been dubbed an ENTITLEMENT. But the working people have been MANDATED to pay into what was billed as a pre-paid medical insurance program. There was no choice. It was a contract between the working people and our government. We were REQUIRED to contribute to this PRE-PAID HEALTH CARE PLAN and in return, we would begin to receive the benefits of our contributions when we hit age 62 or age 65. They have screwed around with the money we have paid in and now want to change the contract they made with us. Well too freaking bad! Put the money back in that has been mishandled. You made us pay in all these years. Don't you dare try to change the rules in the final two minutes of the game.
To call these two programs; Social Security and Medicare, ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS, sends the message that people receiving the benefits from them are getting something for nothing. It is simply not true. Most of us who are at or close to retirement age, to some extent, are depending on these two programs. It isn't like we are able to run out and find a 40-hour-a-week job hoisting around a shovel at our age. There are some realities that come in to play as people get older. There is a reason people retire. WE GET OLD.
Maybe that is their point, though; they believe that the older people without millions stashed in off-shore accounts are of no value to society. Once we get to retirement age, they would be happy to have us all sent to the ovens or put adrift on an ice flow. It certainly seems like these mollycoddled little bastards have a huge disdain for the older segment of the population. How short-sighted they are, though. If they are lucky, someday they will be where we are, and maybe then they will think differently. Karma can be a real bitch. God help these egocentric little brats if they continue to try to screw the American working people around.
ENTITLEMENT. but yes SS and Medicare are entitlements, you said in your first paragraph. You pay into them, you're ENTITLED to them.
I'm with Ceasar, my paycheck and SS and Medicare I worked for and am entitled to them. Low income housing and food stamps and free cell phones are not entitlements, they're social programs.
D.Appel is right, they shouldn't be grouped together, it muddies the meaning of what we want to cut.
Let's just stop all the spending on military contractors.
Den & Cesar: that is the entire point of calling them "entitlements". Confuse those who are not collecting yet that somehow the government is giving all this money to seniors who didn't earn it or pay into it.
Entitlements is what the Defense Department gets every year w/o having to account for one penny of it!
D. You said it the best!!!!
Those on the right in their 20's and 30's are perfectly willing to gut social security as they haven't paid much into yet. People in their 50's and 60's aren't accepting that unless we're paid back what we've paid in with fair interest. Dollars paid in the 50's, 60's etc. when gas was 25c a gallon and a new car for 2k meant money was worth far more. Social security is as much an obligation of the federal government as treasuries.
I try very hard to be upbeat and positive, but when it comes to Mr. Cantor, being upbeat and positive is a difficult thing to do. I am from Virginia. Mr. Cantor is from Virginia. He is an arrogant, self-impressed do-nothing.
Forgive - so WHY do you guys keep voting him in????????
Mr. Cantor is a representative from an extremely conservative area that is adjacent to the Commonwealth's extremely conservative capitol, Richmond. Apparently, he is favored there. Those of us who live elsewhere in the state are not particularly fond of Mr. Cantor. Having said that, enough from me. Let's get on with the pushing/prodding of the powers that be to do something constructive....and meaningful.
Same as California who most of us is not impressed with Senator Feinstein yet we keep on getting stuck with her.
They get elected by gerrymandering. They don't get elected because they represent most in their states but because they slice the states up in such a way to get what they want.
On Janruary 20, 2009 at the Caucus Steakhouse in Washington D.C. "Crazy Cantor" and his fellow Tea Beggers declared war on the US Economy, the American People, the US Constitution, and the Office Of The Presidency. Now this is nothing new for "Crazy Cantor" to do, and he loves to protect the top 1% that he truely represents. "Crazy Cantor" is continuing to live in his "Tea Begger Bubble." He loves to lower taxes for the top 1% of Americans however, the 99% can pay the bill. Again! In the polluted "Tea Begger Brain" of "Crazy Cantor" all "Entitlements" are Socialistic. Only large corporations are 'entitled' to huge tax loop holes, and the very rich should be able to hide their profits on small islands. "Crazy Cantor" is starring in a new movie called. "Cantor Of The Carribean." It is another 'troubling' story of a Tea Begger burying his loot on a beach somewhere in the Carribean.
Shut up communist
The Republicans have been wanting to get rid of SS/Medicare/Medicaid forever. Employers hate the thought of having to match those deductions through payroll. I work in the accounting field and have clients that don't understand why they can't just 1099 everyone that works for them so they don't have to match the employee contribution. Heaven forbid, any Republican have to take advantage of Medicaid. This program serves as a safety net for so many individuals. I don't know how any one with a heart can just cut that program. I'm all for getting rid of fraud and abuse of social programs. But I don't understand how SS and Medicare gets labelled an entitlement when employees have paid into these programs through their wages. And I agree AG, when is defense going to come up in these talks about cuts?
Maybe all of our congress officials should watch the movie "Dave" and learn how to work together to make those cuts that can help save programs that truly benefit the American people.
The ultimate goal of the GOP is to get rid of SS and Medicare (and now the AFC act) since their inception, you are absolutely correct about this. The GOP hates to be reminded on a daily basis of the successes of these programs, something they never wanted to succeed. Medicare delivers health care in the most efficient way of any other American program ultimately saving its citizens a lot of money over the alternative. Likewise, Head Start actually saves taxpayers money by making children healthier and smarter at an earlier age opposed to the larger costs of sick people at a later age, this is proven over and over. Why not invest now for bigger savings later.
The problem is that the GOP never sees the big picture of overall costs and this shoots big holes in their posture of being fiscally responsible. Penny wise, pound foolish as Ben Franklin would say. So, the only conclusion to make is that the GOP does not really want to help the debt/deficit but to please their corporate masters at any cost. And one thing the corporate masters want is to get their filthy mitts on the Social Security trust fund by privatizing SS. Not going to happen.
Its great how rich people like eric cantor know what's best for the people who have less than him. Thats the republican party mindset. They have more so they know what's best for the rest.
yeah Smitty maybe we need real rich people that understand the plight of the middle class and poor. Perhaps Shelly Berkley or nancy Pelosi? Since they're so in touch with us Plebs.
Dont answer really. Im sure you're excuse for how the rich democrats are benevolent and genuine is touching but will ultimately just be disingenious like your post
CA-Dont answer really. Im sure you're excuse for how the rich democrats are benevolent and genuine is touching but will ultimately just be disingenious like your post
I'll just echo President Johnson's words for you: " The Democratic Party at its worst,is better than the Republican Party at its best."
Ceasar Augustus: Clearly rich people like Pelosi and other rich democrats are more benevolent than republicans. After all they're fighting to enact tax increases on themselves so the middle class can have a little more. Shocking to find a republican willing to admit there are rich democrats. To hear republicans talk only they pay taxes and have any right to say how they're spent. We have liberals like Buffet, Gates and the hollywood elite yet when food stamps are being doled out it's always republicans paying for them. According to them.
Cantor, details show that Republicans were the ones who rejected President Obama's Grand Bargain in 2011.
President Obama offered to gradually raise Medicare to age 67 and he offered to change the way cost of living increases are calculated for Social Security.
Records show Cantor headed the efforts to reject President Obama's Grand Bargain.
its not a bargain if you under 50 ...its baby boomers robbing the till once again.
You really believe that the baby boomers are robbing the till?We the most populous generation have been funding it for the greatest generation.We as a group have paid the more into it than the younger generations as we had living wage jobs unlike the minimum wage ones the younger ones are working at today.We the baby boomers are now ready to retire and should be given what was promised to us.your generation needs to talk to your representatives and let them know that you would like these programs to be there fo you when you can no longer work due to age.Social Security is underfunded as it has been borrowed from twice.Medicare has been moved over for the ACA.
The SS age for baby boomers already went up one year over the generation before, to 66, and they didn't whine, they contributed trillions. Don't be such a baby, you will live longer, you can take it.
Hey Joker, the youngest boomers are still under 50 and going to lose out if they change SS for those under 50.
This is really the wrong time to be playing politics, and those who are perceived to be doing so will be swept up in the backlash.
more like whiplash ... a gift of GOP majority whip in the House - Joseph McCarthy of McCarthyism fame.
Pigotry - I'm thinking tidal wave ...and all washed out to sea, never to be found again.... oh wait that was a delicious dream!
yeah...or tsunami...hurriCane
Pigotry - I do believe you're onto something.... hurriCane!
One can only hope, but I think to many believe that bull@!$%# he speaks.
An end to the Bush temporary tax cuts, not on the table.
No how no way, with that being their position they have sent us over the cliff.
Hang on folks were in for a bumpy ride, courtesy of the party of NO I will not help my nation in it's time on need.
But they will support and honor Grover(not the one from Sesame Street)
Instead of asking "Crazy Cantor" about entitlements America. Let us ask "Crazy Cantor" where he was on the evening of Janruary 20, 2012. Oh! That's right. "Crazy Cantor" will never let his fellow citizens know that he helped lead at the Caucus Steakhouse Restaurant in Washington D.C. Yes America. "Crazy Cantor" took the Tea Begger "Blood Oath." None of the GOP/RNC "Zombies" want the people to read about their "Caucus Conspiracy."
As soon as the gop and the right are willing to take benefits and pay cuts (for the good of the country) then they can talk about it. Otherwise they have no right to even bring it up.
The GOP/Tea Begger "Caucus Conspiracy" happened on Janruary 20, 2009, and not in 2012. The Tea Begger "Blood Oath" was still being 'obeyed' on Janruary 20, 2012. It is still being 'obeyed' even today. Demand that justice be done America!
The way to improve Medicare and lower overall administrative costs is to go to a single payer system. Than means no private health insurance middlemen which is what every other industrialized nation has already done. It will never happen however once the health insurance lobbyists start screaming socialism to save their clients' gravy train.
Think about it for a minute. I pay my private health insurer a monthly premium for prescription drugs (Medicare Part D) and then pay a co-pay. The insurer then bills Medicare for the difference between what I have paid and what the prescription costs PLUS an administrative fee for doing nothing that Medicare couldn't do itself and what Medicare does do with doctors and hospitals. Part D, by the way, was written by the health insurance industry lobbyists and the pharmaceutical industry lobbyists.
One other note - the Part D law prohibits Medicare from negotiating the cost of drugs even though other federal health providers such as the Veterans Administration do have that authority. Go figure.
The dems in the senate--- Harry hoar house of the senate said no to entitlement reform in any way shape or form so why have this discussion. Let these f'ers butcher each other and the us economy. The us spends 25% too much in cash on anything and everything. Nothing to do but wait. Also, 90% of the congressment were relected. We get what we deserve.
Alaska Girl is right. Once we get past the baby boom, this thing will right itself. There is no way social safety nets should ever be put into the private market. The guy who came up with 401ks in the beginning meant those kind of retirement accts to be a boost to ss, not the other way around. Once you go down that road, its going to be a done deal and there won't be any coming back. You just can't let them get a foot in the door.
The only eliminated deduction that would affect the top 1% and not screw the middle class would be to limit the mortgage interest deduction to one's primary residence. Currently, all mortgage interest is deductible. I never could understand why we allow mortgage interest to be deducted for vacation homes and second and third homes - except that the National Association of Realtors must have done a good lobbying job some years ago.
But even if all credits, exemptions and deductions were eliminated, the savings wouldn't begin to touch the current deficit much less the national debt. FDR knew the answer eighty years ago: Full employment which (a) increases income tax receipts from working Americans and (b) immediately reduces costs for all safety net programs.
Mr. Cantor.. Obama won the election so give him his tax increase on the 250k. Hold the debt ceiling and his failure to reduce entitlements...call him on his cure all that taxes on the rich will fix everything!! Does the GOP know how to play poker?? Maybe they should learn!! Taxes on the rich was decided when he won the election.. make him eat his words when things get worse with unemployment and he can not support everyone wanting entitlements over jobs!! WISE UP!
We have been in tax cut mode for 12 years, WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
I am sick and tired of hearing the wealthy politicians refer to Social Security and Medicare as entitlements.He is out of touch as are most politicians with how most Americans are scraping by paycheck to paycheck with no pensions and 401k's tanking.Most people on Social Security ,even those that planned for retirement are barely getting by.Recessions and inflation is not your friend when you are on a fixed income.To do away with the Social Security system for our younger generations,who are already paying into it, will create a third world country in the U.S.Every taxpayer should write to their Congress people and ask him how much has been borrowed from Social Security to date and when does our government expect to pay it back.
They blame Obama for moving the goal posts but ignore the fact that what was offered after the mid term elections has nothing to do with today after they lost the presidency and lost seats in both houses. They refused to compromise and now want to reset the goal posts. Not going to happen.
This phoney politician can start by cutting many of the freebees that politicians like himself receive as benefits and health coverage. the heallth coverage for disabled and injured Veterans vice the draft dodging politicians that he would like to cut.and most of the AIDE[SIC] we give to Israel. The first thing they do when things get tough is to use the Cantor types to bleed the US of its funds and troops.Hard to believe a STATE below the mason Dixon line can elect someone like Cantor.
Ed-653122,I agree with you.