Bernie Sanders twittered chart that clearly shows Chained CPI cuts to seniors.

[madfloridian]

Last edited Tue Dec 18, 2012, 09:48 PM - Edit history (1)

Bernie Sanders ‏@SenSanders
Here is a chart from @NoSocSecCuts showing how benefits will be cut if Congress enacts the chained CPI. #budget http://pic.twitter.com/zd2Gaa4h

Bernie Sanders Twitter

Crossposted at Madfloridian's Twitter page

[Yavapai]

1. No wonder they want to get rid of guns.

Sorry if this offends. Will delete if it does.

[femrap]

11. It actually

gave me a bit of a laugh.

Looking at other cultures where the elderly are poor, suicide rates are up. The least the US gov't could do is help us old folks kill ourselves so we can leave what little we have left to either help our families or the charities of our choice.

I don't want to give what money I have to Big Pharma or Big Med....they have plenty of money. You know if the old folks start to pull the plug, we could really kick Big Pharma and Big Med in the genitalia.

I'm really looking to getting off this planet...life just isn't what it used to be. No one says 'Excuse Me' anymore. Never mind 'please.'

Thx for the laugh....but I have been told I have a rather dark humor.

[LiberalArkie]

25. I turn 65 in January and plan on retiring in March.. I would be happy to die off around 70 anyway

[femrap]

28. I turn 60 next

month and I keep thinking maybe I won't make it. I wouldn't mind one bit.

Life is becoming such a chore filled with bores who bother me to my core!

[BlueCaliDem]

34. You have NADA to fear except Leftwing fearmongering itself.

Before everyone freaks out about this, you all should go to The People's View and read what this really entails.

First off:

"There are no cuts being proposed to social security's basic benefits. Social Security benefits are currently calculated using a formula that takes into account your income and replaces a certain percentage of it. Here is exactly how that's done: by determining one's average monthly income - wage-inflation adjusted - in the 35 best earning years of one's life, and then applying a "bend point" formula to determine your base benefit (fashionably known as PIA or the "primary insurance amount&quot .

Second:

If you retire in 2011 at your normal retirement age, for example, your basic benefit is determined using the following formula:
(a) 90 percent of the first $749 of his/her average indexed monthly earnings, plus
(b) 32 percent of his/her average indexed monthly earnings over $749 and through $4,517, plus
(c) 15 percent of his/her average indexed monthly earnings over $4,517.
Again, these "bend points" are adjusted by a formula that has been set in law since 1979, are based on wage-growth, and there is absolutely no changes to that formula in the gang of six plan, and the changes proposed to it in the Fiscal Commission plan actually increases the base benefits for the poorest workers who are also likely to have the least in savings or other retirement income.

If you're tired of hearing all this gossip that sends you into panic, go read this article in detail and stop relying on tweets to get your information on something as complicated and intricate as this. Jesus people. You're Democrats! You're better than this!

[madfloridian]

36. I read it. Not in panic mode, am in angry mode. Frustrated mode.

Misleading because none of us is saying that the basic benefits are being cut. They are going to be cut because the cost of living formula put on the table this week will give them less money as they age.

It is frustrating to see that presented as being different than a cut. It is a cut....a rose by any other name.

I am very tired of being talked down to, fussed at, called an idiot, told I wasn't bright....I am sick of it.

The centrist Dems have done this to us for years and years, and I am tired of that warning that all is okay, shut up and sit down.

Social Security should NOT be on the table in any form in the deficit talks.

[Tutonic]

33. Old people with guns.....hmmmmm

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Those are somewhat lower numbers then I've seen.

I wonder what's up.

[madfloridian]

3. Here's a couple of twitter links that might help.

I am not sure what the difference is. I trust numbers from those I trust. Not good at economic type math.

https://twitter.com/search?q=CPI&src=tren

https://twitter.com/NoSocSecCuts

[leftstreet]

4. But...but...the press is making all this up

Why are good solid progressives responding to these horrible lies as if they're true?

[Faryn Balyncd]

5. Does ANYONE believe the actual impact will not be much greater than the projections? K&R

[madfloridian]

6. I believe it will be much greater.

to you.

[plethoro]

8. It will be. After all these low interest rates when productivity increases

inflation will explode. Then the shortage of ss money for old seniors will be staggering.

[JaneyVee]

15. Yes, but that's not even the larger point, which is why are we even picking on the elderly & poor?!

The rich have never sacrificed a thing for this Nation.

[hay rick]

7. Numbers don't look right to me.

I'm expecting projections based on an average difference between CPI and chained CPI, but the numbers on the graph don't support a single number difference. If the average difference is 0.32%, the cuts would come to 3.2%, 6.2%, and 9.2%. If the average difference is 0.37%, the cuts would come to 3.7%, 7.2%, and 10.5%.

They may be using an assumption other than constant difference between CPI and chained CPI. I wouldn't expect the difference to be constant but I also don't think any relationship other than constant difference is predictable, especially 30 years out.

In the end, it isn't a math problem, it's a morality problem.

[madfloridian]

14. Agree with your last sentence. Won't argue about the math.

I consider myself intelligent, but I don't have a feel for economics. I will never argue on that topic.

I just resent they are playing games with this important program. They have already made changes to Medicare, and more on the way.

You are right, in the end it shows the true moral center of our country. It ain't looking so good right about now.

[bullwinkle428]

9. K&R. It's clearly a lot easier for some DUers to attack

other DUers, rather than attack someone like Bernie Sanders.

[MotherPetrie]

10. This is unconscionable

[AnotherMcIntosh]

12. It doesn't seem that Obama (D) will do this. On the other hand, who appointed the members of the

Cat-Food Commission?

[Overseas]

13. K&R. I wrote to my congresswoman in opposition to any changes to SSI. Keep the COLA.

We want a regular Cost of Living Adjustment, not a fancy Chained CPI.

No Changes to Social Security is what we all voted for.

NO CUTS IN BENEFITS.

I'm so tired of Democrats feeling obligated to make cuts to correct budget deficits run up by Republicans with their illegal wars and giant tax cuts.

I am mad at the media who go along with the assumption that Democrats have to give something if the Republicans go along with taxing the Super Wealthy. Both parties need donations from the Very Rich. Both are sacrificing by asking them to pay more.

[madfloridian]

16. I did also.

Not sure it will do any good.

[TheKentuckian]

17. Hell, back before we became a coven of Reaganites the word was that the COLA was too stingy

and didn't properly weigh actual expenses of people on the scuffle like rent, food, utilities, fuel, and health care.

[Autumn]

24. Ah the good old days. I remember them well.

My how things change.

[JDPriestly]

18. Who gets $1,611 from Social Security in a year?

That's a lot of money. You could live on that.

The average Social Security benefit is a little above $1,200 per month. The COLAs are very small. It would take 10 years for a person receiving $1,200 per month now to reach $1,611 -- and then the reduction in COLAs would pretty much eat up a lot of the Social Security check.

Forget that. It's a nasty betrayal on Obama's part.

He shows a lot of compassion for children, maybe because he has two. That's wonderful. He's a good man.

But he shows very little if any compassion for seniors. He's still a good man, but he's got a problem there.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

30. Well according to a flyer I recieved from SS

If I retire at 66 1/2 I will recieve $2,082 a month. At 70 I would recieve $2,665 a month.

You must be pretty frugal if you can live on $1,600 a month.

[JDPriestly]

38. It's less than that.

The average Social Security payment is a little over $1200 per month.

That is why chained CPI is so horrible. And there is no hope of increasing it in my view.

[madfloridian]

19. In case you missed DeFazio's rant on this Chained CPI....video

Here's a link and the video.

DeFazio explains the "chained CPI" and Gang of Six Plan

[broadcaster75201]

20. And yet Seniors put the GOP in office

Even being one, I am having a VERY hard time feeling badly for old people. They have created death and destruction with their support of the GOP.

[AzDar]

21. K & R

[woo me with science]

22. kick

[Kip Humphrey]

23. Chained CPI = Progressive Poverty for seniors... adapting an old Vulcan saying,

Live Long & Suffer!

[proverbialwisdom]

26. Thanks. Very informative thread, K&R!

[GreenPartyVoter]

27. Bernie Sanders is an American treasure.

[ChiciB1]

29. MadFloridian... Thanks So Much For Info...

I think. I feel my liberal heart hurting. I did vote for Obama, even knowing he was really a Blue Dog. But what other choice was there???

Some other factors came into it such as my feeling that once electing a black person it didn't seem right that this country should turn around and said "pfft!" Romney simply scared me to death & I felt he would GIVE the Repukes the chance to do so much more damage.

There are times that I'm reminded of Pink Floyd's "We Don't Need No Education!. I knew & so many others knew. Still there have been times I've felt sorry for Obama, then I turn around and say, Why?

He may be a good man, but FDR & LBJ he ain't. Guess it's the "times they are a changin' and I'm trying very hard to understand and realize that I CAN'T HAVE MY PUDDING!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

31. If I may play devil's advocate for a sec

Obama's offer may be a politcal ploy to show how unco-operative the Republicans really are. Note that Boner rejected Obama's offer and plans to push ahead with a plan B vote.

Nancy Pelosi did pretty much the same thing last May when she offered to preserve the Bush tax cuts for all except those making over one million a year.

[jtuck004]

35. Oh what fun it is to play 3d chess with live people. n/t

[Poll_Blind]

32. DU REC +1 nt

PB

[avaistheone1]

37. k&r