Yes, some Republican senators really are talking openly about Social Security cuts

[Althea]

Also, raising taxes on anything other than SS payroll taxes destroys the political popularity of SS by claiming it is a government benefit you get only because you paid the money into the system. That is why the right attacks the left for "socialism" but they do not include their SS or Medicare in that category because they "paid for it."

All those other taxes mentioned in the article (wealth tax on assets, raising payroll cap) are all attempts to make upper income pay for the SS benefits of everyone else. We already get more back in benefits than we pay in, so maybe we should limit benefits to what we paid in taxes. Or, put that same money in an S&P 500 index fund and you get the amount when you retire. That eliminates government's biggest expenditure and gives the worker more than he gets in SS benefits.

If you're self employed and pay all of FICA, that margin is less. Even so...your check is commensurate with what you paid in over the years. SS is the best investment employees can make, as they double their money at the outset.

If you retired during one of the Republican economic crashes, you wouldn't be very happy with your S&P 500 payout. SS is considered much more stable, and quite frankly the SS retirement is solvent. SS disability is what is killing the system.


Corporate lobbies fight against FICA increases, as they are the ones who fund half of the rate hikes.

 

[Althea]

LOL

Yes, under present circumstances, that will never happen. It would take a major paradigm change to excite enough Americans to push Congress to change.

Think Pearl Harbor, the Sixties, Oklahoma Federal building or 9/11. About 40% of Americans don't vote and about half of them aren't even registered to vote.

If neither part can inspire even 10% of those who don't vote, why would anything change? It's the citizens themselves who have to demand change....as they are doing now. Sure, the Republicans will be gloating for weeks to come but they'll be bitching and whining about corrupt elections again in 2024.

In this nation, we tend to take our voting privilege for granted. Other nations would kill for the right to participate in real elections. You make a great point here.

Looks like IQ won out over MAGA mentality last night. Any gloating will be over the tiniest of margins, notwithstanding the myriad 'Red Wave' threads here yesterday.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

In this nation, we tend to take our voting privilege for granted. Other nations would kill for the right to participate in real elections. You make a great point here.

Looks like IQ won out over MAGA mentality last night. Any gloating will be over the tiniest of margins, notwithstanding the myriad 'Red Wave' threads here yesterday.

Agreed, but why? What is the solution?

At least common sense. LOL There'll certainly be gloating by the MAGAts since their grip on reality is tenuous at best.

 

[Althea]

Agreed, but why? What is the solution?

Complex issue. The perception (reality) that 'it doesn't matter' is prevalent among youth voters. No third party candidate will stand a chance because the status quo won't allow it. Unfortunately, the '16 election was one where it most certainly did matter, but kids refused to vote.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

Complex issue. The perception (reality) that 'it doesn't matter' is prevalent among youth voters. No third party candidate will stand a chance because the status quo won't allow it. Unfortunately, the '16 election was one where it most certainly did matter, but kids refused to vote.

Disagreed on St. Hillary saving the nation.

 

[Althea]

Disagreed on St. Hillary saving the nation.

Reading between the lines often makes no sense. Saving the nation?

Notwithstanding your hatred for her, you have to admit that the Supreme Court would be very different today had kids in key states voted.

There's a chasm between saving the nation, and simply not destroying it. There was nothing that the nation needed saving from in '16.

Quite the contrary

 

[Dutch Uncle]

Reading between the lines often makes no sense. Saving the nation?

Notwithstanding your hatred for her, you have to admit that the Supreme Court would be very different today had kids in key states voted.

There's a chasm between saving the nation, and simply not destroying it. There was nothing that the nation needed saving from in '16.

Quite the contrary

QED. I don't hate anyone. The fact Hillary is a crook and broke the law on classified material is a fact you refuse to accept. Fine.

I'm watching Fox's "The Five". The subject about why the Republican Wave turned into a ripple came up along with the idea the abortion was a bigger issue than most Republicans seem willing to accept. Greg Gutfeld went ballistic with a loud rant about "the unborn" indicating he clearly didn't get it.

Later he claimed Air Supply wrote "You can't get what you want" both proving he's out of touch and that you and he have a lot in common.

Agreed that burning down the nation to "save it" is a bad idea. You should consider remembering that the next time you seek to strip Americans of their unalienable rights like Greg Gutfeld.

 

[Althea]

QED. I don't hate anyone. The fact Hillary is a crook and broke the law on classified material is a fact you refuse to accept. Fine.

You cannot mention her name without lying about her. So you either hate her, or you're just a partisan hack.

I'm watching Fox's "The Five". The subject about why the Republican Wave turned into a ripple came up along with the idea the abortion was a bigger issue than most Republicans seem willing to accept. Greg Gutfeld went ballistic with a loud rant about "the unborn" indicating he clearly didn't get it.

Later he claimed Air Supply wrote "You can't get what you want" both proving he's out of touch and that you and he have a lot in common.

LOL. On rare occassions I might tune in for 5 minutes just for comedic relief. I don't know how you do it. I tuned in for a few minutes this morning to see how they were reporting last night's disappointment. Of course, the real morons don't go on air until later in the day.

Agreed that burning down the nation to "save it" is a bad idea. You should consider remembering that the next time you seek to strip Americans of their unalienable rights like Greg Gutfeld.

Not sure what this nonsense is about, but clearly Fox News rotted a little of your brain away today

 

[Dutch Uncle]

You cannot mention her name without lying about her. So you either hate her, or you're just a partisan hack.

LOL. On rare occassions I might tune in for 5 minutes just for comedic relief. I don't know how you do it. I tuned in for a few minutes this morning to see how they were reporting last night's disappointment. Of course, the real morons don't go on air until later in the day.

Not sure what this nonsense is about, but clearly Fox News rotted a little of your brain away today

QED.

Usually I can only take about 5 minutes myself, but it's post-election now. Fox has been subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, shitting on Trump and pushing DeSantis and Team Normal all day.

Clearly you are a LW fanatic who is no different than the RW fanatics. It's why I'm an Independent. Your party is not better than the Pedo Nazi Party.

 

[Althea]

QED.

Usually I can only take about 5 minutes myself, but it's post-election now. Fox has been subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, shitting on Trump and pushing DeSantis and Team Normal all day.

Clearly you are a LW fanatic who is no different than the RW fanatics. It's why I'm an Independent. Your party is not better than the Pedo Nazi Party.

I'm not a Democrat. Unlike you, I was always an Independent. You're a RW fanatic who got butt hurt by Romney/trump. So you quit.

Unlike you, I would never throw a vote away on a third party candidate. Hopefully, Texas will have thousands more like you in the future. It'll split the Republican tickets.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

I'm not a Democrat. Unlike you, I was always an Independent. You're a RW fanatic who got butt hurt by Romney/trump. So you quit.

Unlike you, I would never throw a vote away on a third party candidate. Hopefully, Texas will have thousands more like you in the future. It'll split the Republican tickets.

Ah, so not a Democrat, but still a LWL? Interesting. Thanks.

A gift for you: