The Republicans can and WILL use any Social Security cuts against Obama

[FLAprogressive]

And the White House just lives in a bubble, they don't care......just as long as they're the "adults" and they do what's best for corporate America. The Republicans are having Obama do their dirty work for them. And I don't think Obama gives a shit. He'll have nice cushy speaking engagements post presidency.

[dbonds]

1. If there are any cuts, he should not be the Democratic candidate. Period.

[polichick]

2. Absolutely right.

[pnwmom]

5. So you think the 14 cent (cent, not percent) cut in an increase is a make or break issue? n/t

[polichick]

6. imo just putting it on the table is a make or break issue - social security has NOTHING...

...to do with the deficit.

[pnwmom]

8. It's part of the budget. Gore wanted to put Social Security into a "lock box"

but Bush was elected. And re-elected. Remember?

[polichick]

11. But these talks are about the debt ceiling and the deficit...

Gore was right - and it's really unacceptable for Obama to do this. He might as well run as a Republican next time around.

[pnwmom]

13. The long term deficit is affected by Social Security, although

you're right that that isn't an immediate issue.

[dbonds]

16. Well, bush was Selected...

but that aside - SS isn't a part of the budget. The fund has been raided in the past and paying back the fund from the budget is what we are really talking about. They are looking for ways not to pay it back. We have paid into it as an insurance policy. The I in SSI is for insurance.

[SoutherDem]

20. Does it stand for Insurance or income?

I think it is income. If it is insurance, then what is the problem making all pay into it but if you retire with over a certain amount of income/wealth not getting it. Isn't that the principle of insurance use it only if you need it? If it is income, then I understand the argument against setting a benefit for the wealth.

I remember years ago, during the Reagan tragedy, 20/20 did a story about possible changes to SSI. The reporter went to his mother's retirement community, it was very high-end. The reporter gathered several senors to discuss SSI, once he established that each person in the room was wealthy and did not NEED SSI in any way, form or fashion, he asked if to preserve SSI for their children, grand children and great-grand children, would they be willing to give up their SSI checks. The answer was 100% NO! "That is our money, we paid into it all these years, and we want what is ours"! Ever since then (now about 30 years) I have been asking that question of why not limit the wealth of those who receive the payments. The answer always seems to be no because I want the money I paid into it no matter if I need it or not.

[dbonds]

21. Just did a search to make sure, and the official name is Income.

But reading the articles I see the word insurance used interchangeably. It is designed as a retirement program that you pay into and you get money out. It isn't money that the government just owes everyone. So I can see the wealthy peoples point that they paid into it and should get their money back out like everyone.

[FLAprogressive]

12. This.

[dbonds]

7. Yes.

Putting 1 cent on the table for discussion is a make or break deal.

[pnwmom]

10. That makes no sense to me. If the government goes into default,

our credit rates will skyrocket, and the economy -- which is crawling along the floor now -- will fall into the hole it could take decades to crawl out of.

[dbonds]

15. That won't ever happen.

The power brokers have too much at stake. Fear, fear, fear is the way they control us. Don't know about you but I'm tired of being controlled by fear. Make a stand, this is the last line to stand on anyway. All others have been crossed.

[larwdem]

19. yes

your right I keep saying obama Is using the fear card and some du'ers think I'm nuts

[TBF]

9. Eisenhower increased the amount of folks eligible for Social Security -

and we have a DEMOCRAT poised to cut the program. It can be 14 cents or 1400 dollars - either way it is wrong.

[FLAprogressive]

18. It's sad that Dwight D. Eisenhower was a better Dem than Obama is....

[TBF]

23. Well, he had his faults too, like the original planning for the Bay of Pigs...

but I like to point out his progressive stances on Social Security.

[DesertFlower]

14. i agree. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

3. They can and will use it against any and all Democrats who

vote for any cuts at all. They will do so full stop.

[razorman]

4. As well they should, if he caves in.

[TheKentuckian]

17. Deservedly so, no one should be so stupid or callous.

The TeaPubliKlans would be hypocrites but what else is new?

Any Democrat on this bandwagon is dead weight at best and a black hole at worst.

[SoutherDem]

22. Isn't that the Republican way...

create a problem, blame the Democrats, get the American people to vote Republicans back into office to create an even worse problem, get voted out again, make the problem still bigger, blame the Democrats, and so on and so on.