Now here we are not even six months after a decisive 2012 election win and we have to be bothered with social security cuts on the horizon.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is correct about slowing the growth of social security payments, would be devastaing. Most seniors in this country have worked and put money in this plan for decades. Most seniors are on a fixed income. Most seniors live under the poverty line and Social Security is their only monetary link. And families of these seniors understand all of this, so cutting payments right now could be disastrous to these families.
One thing the public also, understand is cost of living and inflation. This is why President Obama endorsing the Chained CPI approach will throw millions of seniors under the bus. Here is the basic understanding of this approach:
Proponents of the chained CPI include the Washington Post Editorial Board[2] the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget,[3] the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities,[4] and the Heritage Foundation [5] and it is included in various bipartisan commissions designed to reduce the deficit such as Simpson-Bowles, Domenici-Rivlin and the Gang of Six.[6] Opponents of the measure contend that changing inflation metrics to the Chained CPI would be a benefit cut to programs like Social Security and Supplemental Security Income.[2] Opponents include the American Federation of Government Employees, the AFL-CIO and Social Security Works.[7] Opponents claim that the current CPI devised for programs for the elderly understates their inflation by not taking into account different buying patterns for different age groups.[8]
The CPI approach is a cut, period.
The main new element of the budget is his proposal, offered previously in private negotiations with Speaker John A. Boehner, for a new cost-of-living formula that would reduce future Social Security benefits.
The budget is written to bring the GOP to the table and to make the Democrats try to campaign on THIS to regain control of the congress in 2014.
Good Luck.
Right now, this is a gift to the GOP. To finally have a Democratic President not only sign in the sequester cuts, but to finally have him tout cutting social security payments and curb medicare benefits. This gift is a shield to the GOP for 2014. They won't have to tout their glee, but just point the finger to the head of the Democratic Party whose budget was put forward by him.
Barack Obama does not like politics, but he surely likes being in charge. But with this responsibility lie those under you. Like your Democratic Party members that must go out and actually explain this? People are not dumb. It is obvious for the discontent towards the Republican Party; they made the bed, laid in it and lost effectively in 2012. Why give any openings to them? I understand the word "getting along", but the public also understand that the obstructionists have been the Republican Party. The Republican Party even understands that by their own "autopsy report", so why give them any help to keep control?
Lastly, President Obama said the minimum wage should be 9.00 and hour. (in the real world it should be at least 20.00 an hour) I agree it should be increased, more than 9.00 an hour. The big open secret is that many in this country are working in poverty. Even 9.00 an hour is not going to help a family of 3. It won't. People are not out there spending money, because it is not there to spend. These families look at every penny, cut that is out there and still have to get section 8 housing, WIC, food stamps, if they qualify by having a minimum wage job. President Obama understands this, but at the same token he wants to cut social security payments? You don't have to believe me, listen to him.
And we are suppose to trust President Obama to do the right thing? I don't. Not when you have a bunch of DC bubbled up insiders who wears 3000.00 suits daily, have plenty of money in the bank, not a monetary care in the world for their families, have not talked to a "real person" in probably years, but they are to make policy for me? Sorry, that is trust I can not believe in.
Contact your senators, house representatives, President Obama, now is time for the voice of the people to be heard. Remember, President Obama said any change that will come will have to come from us. Let's see if he will listen.
7:31 AM PT: This budget also includes a tax hike, which Republicans approve:
The proposal would change how Social Security pension benefits are periodically adjusted for inflation and, in doing so, also change the adjustment of federal individual income tax brackets, resulting in slightly higher taxes for many Americans.
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