I read a diary about some amazing and creative resentment about how this Administration is fucking the elderly because it was projected by the trustees who oversee Social Security that there will be no Cost Of Living Adjustment(COLA) for 2011. In fact, all the change and hope this Administration has worked hard for and implemented to benefit the elderly is totally wiped out because of the failure to increase the COLA adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries in 2010 and 2011.
Let's look at what we are really talking about in context. A 15 years average COLA adjustment between 1995 and 2009 was about 3%. An eligible individual will receive an average monthly maximum Federal SSI payment of about $674 a month in Benefit. The 3% COLA adjustment would have given eligible individual $20 more a months.
20 dollars a month is what has caused one to spitting nickles in that other diary (link provided at the bottom of this diary). I call it sensationalizing a non-drama drama.
Do you really want to know how this administration is really fucking the elderly? Then, follow me...
Crossposted at The People's View
This is how the Democratic controlled Congress AND White House have managed to fuck over the elderly.
- giving $250 economic stimulus check to 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in 2009.
- In 2009, adjusted COLA for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients by almost twice the 15 years 3% average (Which was a 5.8% COLA Adjustment even though this COLA was set in 2008 when Bush was in office and trying to court Seniors to vote for John McCain - UPDATED)
- When it became clear Seniors wouldn't get an adjustment increase in monthly benefit payments in 2010 that failed to repeat the bonus given in 2009,The POTUS proposed an extra $250 for Social Security recipients for 2010. (You want to take a note, know who the 12 Democratic who voted against increasing benefit payments for the next primary.)
- Cutting prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients by 50% and began eliminating the plan’s gap ("donut hole") in coverage.
- Passing as part of H.R.3962 (Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010) a $6.4 billion measurereversing a 21 percent cut in physician payments that would have started a flood of rejections by some doctors of seniors covered by Medicare.
- Expanded eligibility for Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,400 per year for an individual).
These are just some of the messages we lack to amplify and always eager to project a failure. There is no failure by Democrats to manage the message. The message has been given to us, we are just cynical and selfish, we continue to see the other way and focus on the negatives.
We have a 9.6% unemployment rate. In fact, a 20 plus percent unemployment for African Americans and 45% for African American teens. These are Americans who are out of work, some no longer eligible to collect unemployment, in bankruptcy and can't feed their loved ones. We have 600,000 people that are either homeless or in shelters who don't know where their next meal is going to come from. we have a growing Deficits (budget deficit of the federal government) which are expected to total $9.8 trillion over the next 10 years and a national debt which stands at nearly $13.4 trillion today.
However, some will complain that not being able to get a COLA Adjustment to increase SSI Benefit by a $20 a month is a life and death situation for the Democratic party. If you believe that and your have an enthusiasm gap to get out and fight, I will repeat what Obama has said in his Rolling Stone Interview:
"If people now want to take their ball and go home that tells me folks weren't serious in the first place," he said. "If you're serious, now's exactly the time that people have to step up."
When so much good has been achieved for our Seniors it is completely outrageous and totally selfish to claim for a moment that being short by $20 a months can get some people over the edge, angry and mad that they could spit nickles at the President or claim after today they are so disgusted that they will not make any effort to GOTV. If we do that, we are failing ourselves and failing the most affected segment of our population in poverty.
Can we at least give credit for the many things accomplished for Seniors rather than try to caricature and talk down to this President in a condescending and vicious tone.
Seniors, don't be fooled by some who lack the understanding of the impact of this President's policy for Seniors. This President has given Seniors more in saving today than any COLA adjustment will give for the next 10 years. Let's be critical about what is said and what is actually gained from policies implemented.
Caricaturing and talking smack to Democrats and this President in a condescending and vicious tone is just not a winning strategy. Let us all start and/or continue mopping the floor for the next three weeks even with all our disappointments because the alternativeis just not acceptable.
GOTV!
PS: Since the link to the diary mentioned does not allow me to point to it, I will point you to my commentin the other diary. From there, you can read the diary for yourself by clicking View Story at the top.