Originally posted by: David Miller
Call social security benefits what you want - it is still an entitlement to those who paid into it.
Donald Trump and the Republicans are looking to make cuts to your entitlement, David (not just impacting the people you believe did not pay into them).
They need to reconcile the massive hole they put in the deficit to benefit the people they really care about.
https://www.ssa.gov/history/briefhistory3.html
This is a most interesting read concerning the history of social programs, from ancient Greece, to the English "Poor Laws", to systems brought to the American colonies. Civil War Pensions ("America's First Social Security Program"), the "Company Pension", Coxey's Army (I'd heard of it but didn't have a clue), the Industrial Revolution, the stock market crash and great depression (actually the 3rd "great depression"), Huey P. Long's proposals ("Every Man a King"), the Townsend Movement, and much more leading up to and beyond present day Social Security.
It is long but you can stop anywhere. I haven't come to the end yet 'cause I have things to do. I can't wait to get back.
Non partisan, BTW. At least as far as I have gotten to.
It all comes down to whether a given society views its poor as lazy, undeserving, unworthy bums or it treats them with compassion.
Europe adopted social democracy postwar because so many of its people learned firsthand what it's like to be without the necessities of life. We, on the other hand, never really experienced that. That's why our society is so badly split on the issue.
Trump's stated desire to cut Social Security and Medicare is going to hurt him with his base. He promised in 2016 that he wasn't going to cut either and a significant portion of his base is old white folks on SS and Medicare. I can't see them getting on board with increased medical costs plus a pay cut.
Originally posted by: Mark
Trump's stated desire to cut Social Security and Medicare is going to hurt him with his base. He promised in 2016 that he wasn't going to cut either and a significant portion of his base is old white folks on SS and Medicare. I can't see them getting on board with increased medical costs plus a pay cut.
I HOPE so---but aren't many of the people who would have been fucked in the ass if he had managed to destroy Obamacare continuing loyal, fanatical members of his base? Don't the farmers whose livelihoods have been threatened by his tariffs still drive hundreds of miles to attend his hate rallies?
You ask any of the mouth-breathing deplorables if they're concerned about Trump's fiscal policies, and they'll just say it's all LIBURRUL FAKE NOOZE and they're looking forward to Trump's tripling of Social Security and Medicare payments. Plus, free beer for everyone!
Did you ever read "1984"? There's a scene where Big Brother cuts the chocolate ration and there's a mass demonstration thanking him for raising it. Trumpers are, similarly, perfectly willing to accept an alternate reality. They'll convince themselves that the Trump deficit is no big deal and the drop in government revenue caused by his tax breaks for corporations and the rich will be made up for by, uh, well, Trump's bigly economic, uh, well, what about Benghazi, HUH? What about that???? And Hunter Biden! Deep State! MAGAMAGAMAGAMAGA sis boom bah!
And the rants of Der Fuhrer get more crazed as he realizes no one in their right mind believes his twisted lies...
Stalker-poo, the adults are talking--why don't you go to your room and play with your Trump blow-up doll?
Obama cut Medicare, but that was ok.
Originally posted by: tom
Obama cut Medicare, but that was ok.
Fixed - "Obama cut Medicare fraud, and that was ok"
Fraud continues & spending was decreased in other areas.
