I received a letter today from the Social Security Administration concerning my COLA (cost of living adjustment). It started off with, “Your SS benefits will INCREASE by 2.0% in 2018 because of a rise in the cost of living”. That is their standardized letter that they use “every” year in December, unless you’re not getting one and, of course, that saves them a lot of stamps.
I thought “wonderful, a COLA, my second one in 5 years”. I should have known better. Now I don’t want to sound ungrateful but last year, my COLA amounted to about $2.00 a month, that’s right, $24.00 for the whole year. I was hoping for a bit more than that because we went 3 years without one. So after comparing the letter to my bank statement, I discovered my “increase” was going to be $12.00 a month LESS than I received this year, that’s $144.00 LESS for the coming year. Some increase, (who does this math?)! Not only did they take back last year’s COLA, they took an additional FIVE TIMES more than what I got on my last COLA! So think about this; if I had received a COLA the size of the last one every year (as it had been for years), then they just took 5 years worth of COLA away from me per year, from now on, “because of a rise in the cost of living”. “The cost of living goes up so you don’t need as much money next year!” “Rising prices cost less!” says the logic of the Republican party. The bastards haven’t even passed their “tax reform” bill and they are already attacking the SSA. Just so you know, I received $504 a month in 2017 and in 2018 it will be $492, BIGGLY INCREASE, it’s YUGE! This isn’t a COLA, it’s a Koch-a-Cola! So I wonder, does it taste like Kool-Aid too?
I am a Veteran of the U.S. Army (1971-1972). I was disabled by an illness while serving my country. Yes, disabled in 1972, it has been a life long (they call it “pre-existing now) condition. I get a VA disability comp check which is my main source of income and covers most of the months needs. My SSDI covers my cat food, gets cigarettes and maybe a tank of fuel, (it’s over $3 a gallon again, that’s $100.00 a fill), to finish the month. I am glad I don’t have to live on just the SSDI check alone, I don’t know how anyone could. Yes, I am well aware that there are many, many people in this country that are in worse shape and I have felt fortunate not to be homeless and starving like so many of my Brothers and Sisters-at-arms have been. I am thankful to you for that.
So now I wait for the letter from the VA about the COLA that I haven’t received in 5 years to see how that will turn out. I heard prez say that there will be a big increase in the military budget and my VA check is linked to what the active duty personnel get, so I wait and I wonder. I did hear Paul Ryan state that after the tax reform bill passes, they will start chopping the social safety net, (it hasn’t passed as of this writing but it looks like they have already started the cutting). I’ve also heard that they plan to cut my VA comp check, privatize the VA and make me “buy” a capped (and crappy) voucher for my VA health care. How much will they charge me for the voucher when I have a “pre-existing condition” and with the cuts to my VA comp, would it be “affordable”?
I KNOW, (just from over 50 years of watching them), that everything the Repubs have “privatized” has been a total disaster to those who receive those services. I have watched what used to be a pork barrel bill put in to a “must pass” bill (for their state infrastructure or other project), get morphed into “deregulate” everything for the corporations and the rich. They were shy at first, a little here and a little there, but with each success, (and each bribe), they became bolder, now they do it in front of us while lying and believe that there is nothing we can do about it anymore. Half a century of lies and deceit have brought us here and those under 50 don’t know much more than the lies they’ve been told. It saddens my heart, this is not the country I served. I have hope that we can still turn it around, otherwise there will be no government by 2024. I think the GOP needs a new motto, here is a suggestion: “Starve a government, feed a billionaire!”
Anyway, Merry Effin’ Christmas, billionaires! Think about us while you are enjoying your, $20,000.00 dollar a plate, (just like at a fund raiser, right? Politicians are expensive!), Christmas party dinner. Just remember, $144.00 worth of that one meal, I paid for, at least drop an olive for me. I will send a mouse over to pick it up right away. (/s) For the rest of us, I miss dinner too.
Thanks for letting me rant.
As always, resisting with you.