The title is not a rhetorical question, and this is not a rhetorical diary/discussion. I'm looking for PRACTICAL AND RELEVANT answers and discussion. It doesn't matter what happened 4 months ago, 4 years ago, 4 decades ago. IF we accept that there must be compromises made with the CURRENT GOP house in order to get us out of the sequester, what are you willing to compromise on if not Chained CPI for SS benefit increases?
Below are some options. It seems that, if Chained CPI is really on the table behind closed doors, it's not enough. So, what combination of the below, and/or of your own ideas, would you be willing to compromise on, give up, whatever that you think the GOP would consider taking? Or do you want to just sequester this year and take our chances till the next election?
REMEMBER, none of this 'oh well ha look if we raise the SS cap on income then we'll help SS and that's what the GOP wants.' No, the GOP will never pass that, so it's really not worth our time (right now).
DON'T FORGET: I AM NOT SAYING ANY OF THESE WILL LEGITIMATELY CUT THE DEFICIT, PAY DOWN DEBT, 'SAVE' ANY PROGRAMS, ETC. I'M TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CURRENT STONEAGE GOP WOULD GO FOR.
Options for compromise:
Chained CPI for SS Benefits
Cuts in Medicare beneficiaries: amounts and/or age eligibility
Restoration or increase in military/Pentagon funding.
Tax breaks for corporations (with or without loophole closing).
Ending the AMT
Ending the EITC (earned income tax credit)
Loosening environmental controls on corporations (don't know enough about this to get specific, maybe you can help).
Backing off of presidential privilege to directly increase the debt limit
Ending planned parenthood funding
Defunding 'Obamacare'
Decreasing foreign aid
And/or????
Remember, be practical and put yourself in the current congressional situation before you answer.
1:32 PM PT: The options listed were to be discussed philosophically, not 'and we get nothing in return'. They would be part of a compromise, etc. So 'I'll take this if we get that' would be what I was looking for too.