Pay up future Juniors:

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama called on Congress Wednesday to approve $250 payments to more than 50 million seniors to make up for no increase in Social Security next year. The Social Security Administration is scheduled to announce Thursday that there will be no cost of living increase next year. By law, increases are pegged to inflation, which has been negative this year.





The White House put the cost at $13 billion. Obama said he would not allow the payments to come out of the Social Security trust funds, further eroding the finances of the retirement program. Social Security already is projected to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes in each of the next two years. However, Obama did not offer any alternatives to finance the payments. A senior administration official said Obama was open to borrowing the money, increasing the federal budget deficit. The official, who requested anonymity, was not authorized to speak on the record.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091015/D9BB77S00.html

Why not fund this the way they plan to fund health care? Tax the pensions of other retirees.

Cutting the elderly's benefits while sending 15,000 more troops to war. Sounds like someone we know.

BO’s policies make no sense at all; seniors didn’t get a raise in their payments because there was no increase in the cost of living……..so why give them a raise? Especially when it is to be paid for by me and my kids at some later date.

Buying votes?

That's what some of us have been saying, "Meat the new boss, same as the old boss."
But the kool-ade drinkers couldn't be told because they were entranced by the shiny Hope&Change bauble.
There is a correlation between the facts that Bush the Lesser's approval rating was higher than the national average here and that Obama won the Dem primary in Lancaster County.
Brick short of a hod?

i guess obama anticipates the economy growing next year..

and that means the potential for inflation..

god knows...

conservatives have been worried about inflation for years...and still nothing..

i can't wait to hear...

hannity..limabugh and beck tell their audience...

not to take the money..

and lord knows...all those old people who got $250 dollars last spring..

either didn't take it...ot sent it back..

LOL....

maybe they used the money to buy tea bags...

Too bad the original stimulus money didn't go to the people who were losing their homes so they wouldn't default on their loans.
Instead of "trickle down" it should have been from the ground up.
But then those Wall Street bankster CEO's wouldn't have gotten their obscene bonuses and paid tribute ... er ... campaign contributions to deserving Senators and Representatives.

Obama promises not to take it out of the Social Security trust fund. What Fund?
There is no trust fund it's broke.
Just tell everyone you're going to print the money and pray to the Chinese they will buy the bonds that back up the worthless paper.

This has got to be a joke. The reason that SS in not increasing this year is because the cost of living has not increased. Gasoline is 1/3 less than a year prior. Grocery prices in general are less costly than last year. Granted, retirees portfolios are are hurting, but $250 isn't going to fix that problem. My retirement savings has taken a hit also. Where's my $250? Seems like Obama just wants to give more of my money away. I'm really getting tired of politicians pandering to seniors.

Don't worry under Obamacare they'll be dropping like flies.

Old (White) people will be in the back of the health care bus.

$250 is just to keep them happy until they realize how screwed they are.

Just like the Nobel Peace committee anticipating BO’s peace initiative? Betting on the come? Considering BO’s failed Spend-zilla package I think he can forget about any economic rebound next year. Nice try though.

I have been saying the same thing to my friends for the longest time. Screw Wall St! I am no economist, but the writing is on the wall; long term jobs are not being created. You can only repair so many roads/bridges and not everyone is going to be a nurse or a doctor. Working for $10/hr is a slap in the face and just ludicrous.

But if I may ask something personal of you.....if you don't like Obama, who would you have liked in the White House and what economic strategy did that person have?

Thanks!


So let's be rational adults, ok? Tell us who you would have voted for and what type of strategy that person may have implemented if he/she were in the White House?

Criticizing is way too easy. Let's hear some ideas.

That's just DAN-dy, lol

He's not cutting anything. Just not giving the cost of living allowance which was/is intended to offset inflation. There wasn't (according to them) any inflation so no need for the cost of living allowance.

It is clearly a, "do you like me now", propaganda ploy.

So let's be rational adults, ok? Tell us who you would have voted for and what type of strategy that person may have implemented if he/she were in the White House?

Criticizing is way too easy. Let's hear some ideas.
[/quote]


You are right. McCain would have been a disaster too. It would have been 4 more years of Bush.

I am glad we have a socialist in the White House. It will push us to the edge of bankruptcy that much quicker. It will be very interesting when everyone wakes up and figures out what happened.
The trouble within the USA will be nothing compared to China looking for their money.

Another Clinton, who else. The only problem with an economic strategy is that the economy didn't tank until after the Democratic selection in Denver.
But I do know that Hillary would have worked on solving the problems instead of continuing to campaign after the inauguration as Bush and Obunko did.
She would be back stabbed by the Democrats and knee capped by the republicans and in the end perhaps accomplished as much as Obunko, but at least she would be out there trying instead of flying off to an Olympic site selection meeting to preen.

What AM I right about? I meant for this to be an exchange of ideas. I, in no way, meant for this to be a Republican vs. Democrat question. Saying someone is a socialist is not an exchange of ideas.

And I agree, China will come knocking for their money one day. But let's hear what you have to say or would have voted for and some economic input. Ok?

Ok, so Hillary would have been your choice. And do you honestly believe the economy ONLY 'tanked' after the Democratic selection in Denver? Our economy has been on a downward spiral for many years and FINALLY it caught up with us. You can't afford two wars without taxes. You can't lend people money without the ability for them to pay it back. This is economics 101. Actually, we could probably go back to the late 1990's and pinpoint when the tanking really started.

Well, no, you really don't know that. You can speculate that she may have, but you don't know for sure. Speaking of speculation....another group that should be thrown to the wolves....SPECULATORS!

And she may have been back stabbed by the Dems. But why? Knee capped by the Republicans....probably, but it would have happened with any other Democratic president too.

I can't speculate on whether or not should she would have been going to an Olympic site selection meeting, but I ask....what would have been her economic plan? I'm asking for ideas and what I am NOT doing is saying Obama's plan is right. Personally, screw Wall St. Let them fail.

This is an exchange of ideas. The facts are Obama is a socialist. And the Rebublicans talk a great game but had 8 years with Bush and could not do anything to curb big government.
Spending was out of control now it lunacy.
There is no turning back. We are fat lazy society with half the people on one form or another of the government dole. It is like the guy ready to go bankrupt charging up his last credit cards.

The quicker the Zhit hits the fan the better. The dollar is in the tank which is great if we had any industry left to sell something. But we don't.

What needs to be done:

Open up the flood gates of immigrants and make them official cititzens so they can start paying for our Social Security.


Term limits on every level of government.

Have Texas Suceed from the union so like minded Conservatives have a place to go.
My back is sore carrying so many liberals.

If Obama is a socialist on one end of the scale, I would have to believe Bush was a socialist on the other side giving tax breaks to the richest people, engaging in two wars and helping his Halliburton war mongering buddies. But alas, I don't want to get into a "he said, he said" debate.



When you say "half the people on one form or another of the government dole," can you define what you mean and show some statistics?



I agree that we have no industry left, but you must admit....it is greedy corporations that have either outsourced or offshored to make money for the stockholders. I find it revolting because I had worked for a company that was purchased by Danaher, they moved our company to Mexico (just Google them) and you will see how they have their greedy fingers in everything.


If we have no industry, where are the immigrants going to work? Picking fruits and vegetables? Cheap labor will not fill the Social Security fund.


You and I agree on this! Let's call Joe Pitts and hold him to his word regarding term limits.

I have no issue saying good-bye to Texas! As a matter of fact, take Florida with you. But don't expect to be defended or calling for aid when tornadoes hit or a hurricane takes out a few coastal cities.

Do you honestly think liberals are the only people who got us into this mess? Maybe Obama's back is sore attempting to dig us out from this mess since the Conservatives had control of congress from 1994-2006? Just a thought?!

Semantics perhaps? Eliminating a COLA increase that's been in place for 34 years is most definitely a "cut". When you become accustomed to this increase every year, and it's suddenly removed, one who is dependent would most certainly have to "cut" something out to make up the difference due to inflation and diminished spending power.

With a COLA allowance, the percentage is calculated on last benefits. It's cheaper in the long run to just give out a lump sum check. Over time, this saves a lot of money. If this continues, year after year, those dependent on Social Security will end up short changed in the future.

Assuming the benefits do not increase, here's how folks are getting screwed.

$10,000 per year + 2% COLA increase.

2008 - $10,000 + 2%
2009 - $10,200 + 2%
2010 - $10,404 + 2%
2011 - $10,612 + 2%
2012 - $10,824

$10,000 per year with the "lump sump payout"

2008 - $10,000
2009 - $10,250
2010 - $10,250
2011 - $10,250
2012 - $10,250

[quote name='Right of Smart' date='Oct 15 2009, 01:02 PM' post='636902']
This is an exchange of ideas. The facts are Obama is a socialist. And the Rebublicans talk a great game but had 8 years with Bush and could not do anything to curb big government.
Spending was out of control now it lunacy.



Right of smart please define Socialist? Also you complain about spending when obama is stuck fixing all of bush's f-ups. The whole banking fiasco was on a roll before obama got in there. All the capitalists were screwing us over way before obama got in there.

This is NOT a cut. A COLA is a "cost of living adjustment". Since the cost of living has not risen in 2009, there is no need for an adjustment or a one time payment. If someone has become accustomed to an increase every year, that is their own mistake. No one is getting screwed in this case except the working taxpayers that have to see their hard earned money given away needlessly once again.

and now talk of $500 for every newborn???? Like people aren't popping out babies for extra cash already???? Heck...I'd be in favor of some people getting $500 to have their tubes tied.
what a disgrace.

Congress got their latest salary increase; They didn't cancel it just because finances are tight and the cost of living was basically static. Out of guilt if nothing else they have to do something for the seniors.

and according to you...

just the usual denial...

lol....

meanwhile...

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will not automatically increase in 2010 as there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009.

http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/colafacts.htm



the free market is always right..

right?

right?

LOL...

according to me???

as a veteran this affects me by-the-way bud...

Your being a veteran is not a trump card. We're all in this, "bud."

Right on the (printed on demand) money, bud.

You are correct when you say we're all in this together - what I was referring to is that while I am against the "giving" of the $250.00, I'll be a recipient.