did I just hear Obama say Social Security checks may not go out

[Alameda]

after August the third? WTF....I depend on my check. Worked over 50 years to get it, all the time paying in to it. Am I upset.....YES!!!

[Drale]

1. Well put the blame in the right place

This is 100% the Repukes fault.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Drale]

26. Since you have not been here that long I'll cut you some slack but

We would have more then enough revenue if the Rich and corporations payed their fair share of taxes and we stopped these pointless wars.

[trueblue2007]

46. Drale.... you are 100% right. Today on TOM HARTMANN show, they discussed how much $$$

we would have saved if we were NOT IN Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. BILLIONS AND BILLIONS!!

[sharp_stick]

27. Enjoy your stay n/t

[RebelOne]

47. Plus this idiot does not know the difference between

it's and its. It's means it is and its is the possessive pronoun.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Alameda]

30. exactly!!!

[Raven]

35. Take some responsibility???? I have for the past 50 years. Why

don't you take some responsibility and get your Goddamned facts straight. Take some responsibility...one huge load of bullshit. Your Republicans should take some responsibility for getting us in this mess.

[redwitch]

36. I don't get your point.

What is the OP supposed to do and millions of other Americans who depend on their SS check? And ask the average American what they think of Social Security. Go ahead, I dare ya. I double dog dare ya.

[MineralMan]

38. And the turd is in the punchbowl. Will it float or will it sink?

Aha! It sinks. Nice try, though.

[Contrary1]

41. What he should do is offer to do away with about 75% of defense spending...

And for what it's worth; I think many on the Right think a lot more of the American people are with them than actually are.

[YvonneCa]

44. Lost ??? n/t

[alfredo]

48. One reason there is higher revenue is an increased population.

The tax burden falls heaviest on the middle class. They don't have the tax loopholes and expensive accounting department the landed gentry possess. The middle class doesn't have the same clout with the GOP and Supreme court as does Exxon Mobile, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the Koch brothers.

The rich, with the help of accountants, lawyers, and the GOP have been able to skip out on their responsibilities. It appears that patriotism and sacrifice is only for the "little" people.

If we default, we will lose some of our sovereignty.

BTW how much of our debt is Social Security, and how much is bush's tax cuts?

[EC]

49. Better brush up on your facts.

Debt is at about 20% - 22% of GDP now and revenues are at 16% - 19% so your facts right there are back wards. Revenue is at it's LOWEST IN HISTORY, because of all the unemployed (of which repubs said they would create jobs, but just like today, with their light bulb vote, no jobs bills - except for the ones the Dems brought to the floor to be ignored)and the Bush tax cuts. I think your last statement is wishful thinking on your part. I'm not even going to bother putting you on ignore, since I don't think you'll be with us too long.

[pnwmom]

52. Taxes as a fraction of GNP is the LOWEST since 1950.

Inflation is what makes the revenue numbers look high, but they're not -- not compared to the GNP.

We could eliminate most of the deficit merely by letting the Bush tax cuts expire.

[tridim]

2. He said he can't guarantee it

Because of the irresponsible politics being played by the GOP.

[Islandlife]

10. That goes without saying

There are very few guarantees in life. All we can do is hope and work toward an acceptable outcome.

Let's not get too excited over this statement.

[Bryn]

3. Me, too

If my check doesn't come, how will I pay rent, electricity, internet connection, food for me and my pets????

I feel like Kate during Hurricane Andrew: WHERE THE HELL IS THE CAVALRY? THE POLITICIANS NEED TO STOP PLAYING GAMES.

Seriously, they do need to stop playing games with our lives while they drink $350 bottle of wine.

[MineralMan]

17. Call a republican legislator and tell them what you told us.

That's what President Obama is suggesting you do. Talk to the ones who are holding things up.

[jwirr]

53. Not only will I not be able to pay rent but when I do not the owner of

my apartment will not have the money to pay the mortgage and there will be no home to live in when or if they decide to pay us. This is insane. I think he is saying this is the consequences it the rethug to not agree with him not what he wants but what if they do not agree?

At least Dayton went to court to make sure that vital needs were taken care of.

[JuniperLea]

4. What Drale and tridem said!

And look at the headlines for the latest GOTP trickery in this saga! Classic!

[FSogol]

5. Yup, the GOP is gambling with your wellbeing. n/t

[Wind Dancer]

6. Some of us would like to eat!

If checks don't go out, can you imagine how many lives will be shattered?

[pnwmom]

14. A while back many DUers were up in arms about of one proposal

that would lower an increase in the S.S. COLA by 14 cents -- this, part of the Democratic concessions in order to get the Rethugs to vote for the debt ceiling increase.

Kind of seems sort of minor by comparison, doesn't it? Compared to the thought of millions of Social Security checks not being sent out at all?

I think Obama is right to do everything he can to protect S.S., Medicare, and Medicaid. But I also think a lot of people don't realize the enormity of what a default means. We really are on the brink of a catastrophe here.

[Drale]

21. I still don't think many people, including some here on DU,

really understand what a default would do or for that matter what really would happen if the Repukes would be allowed to regain power.

[pnwmom]

50. I know. They're the same people, I think,

who claim that there is no difference between the two parties.

[Alameda]

29. while $$$ keep going down the Military Industrial Complex drain

tax for the rich is not seriously discussed....give me a break!!! They are picking on the vulnerable. However the trickle down effect of this will be huge...no bills paid, which means reduced income for those entities.

[pnwmom]

51. Taxing the rich IS being seriously discussed. Even Kent Conrad, the

"conservative" Democratic Senator, is pushing for a 50/50 split in new revenue vs. spending cuts -- as opposed to the Rethugs, who want 100% to come from spending cuts.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Oh, shush! Just enjoy the political ping-pong game Mr/Mrs Ball.

[scheming daemons]

8. He basically said that Boehner, Cantor, and McConnell are trying to make sure you don't get paid

....

[YvonneCa]

43. Which would be...

...the TRUTH. At Last.

[elleng]

9. I think said 'Can't guarantee.'

Please calm down, Alameda. The $ is there for SS. The 'big boys' are doing tactics. SS recipients will certainly be paid.

[Ilsa]

11. He needs a stop payment on Congress' paychecks. nt

[pnwmom]

12. You're just becoming aware of this NOW? Why did you think this was such a huge deal?

Yes, defaulting means that Social Security checks might not go out. And our credit rating will be destroyed, and interest payments on our debt will skyrocket, and our economy -- now dragging along near the floor -- will fall through the bottom.

You should be upset. We should all be upset. This is the giant game of chicken the Rethugs are determined to play.

[MineralMan]

13. No. He said he couldn't "guarantee" they'd go out.

Big difference.

[MineralMan]

15. Uh, I receive SS, too, and I'm not the least bit worried.

He's laying the blame on the Republicans. The payments will be made. The debt ceiling will be raised. Relax. Don't let every word that gets said about all of this frighten you. You're just hearing strategic stuff here.

[pnwmom]

18. I wish I were as confident as you, MineralMan. I think the Tea Party is full of loony tunes

who are trying to lead us off a cliff.

[MineralMan]

25. Of course. And President Obama is pointing that out.

People who are worried should contact their nearest Republican legislator and tell them what they think. Further, we should all be supporting President Obama on this one. He truly does have our backs here.

[Alameda]

34. I'm in the SF Bay Area, all my people are on board.

[JuniperLea]

22. Spot on!

Even when you lay it all out step by step, let people know exactly what is going on... then the page turns and shows you to be correct... and they STILL don't get it!!

:banghead:

Scary... seriously scary.

[emulatorloo]

16. CALL THE GOP AND GET THEM TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING. TELL THEM TO GIVE IN AND RAISE TAXES

ON THE RICH and MAKE A DEAL.

[JuniperLea]

23. Spot on!

Exactly right! The ball is firmly in their court... tick tick tick tick tick... time's a wasting!

[YvonneCa]

45. Exactly. n/t

[kstewart33]

19. Don't worry.

Obama is putting the pressure on the Repubs big time.

Business is too, today.

The debt ceiling will be raised.

[ZombieHorde]

20. Why aren't the military contractor's checks being threatened?

Seems strange.

[pipi_k]

31. My thoughts on why that's not happening...

Because military contractors' checks wouldn't have the same emotional impact.

Who would care? Are they poor? Elderly? Disabled?


To put it another way, if someone is going to, for instance, use a taser on something, what will cause the most emotional outrage...

Threatening a bunch of blood sucking leeches?

Or threatening a basket full of furry little puppies?

[ZombieHorde]

39. Good point. nt

[Ruby the Liberal]

32. Because it is kabuki theater

Pols only work to get re-elected. On the eve of an election year, what sound byte is going to get more attention - raising Medicare to 67 and stopping SS payments (which is ridiculous as they are computer generated and direct deposited) or 'defunding the MIC'?

[ZombieHorde]

40. A very logical guess. nt

[Rex]

33. Sorry they just had to give the MIC 600 billion dollars so

you see what is more important in this country. Citizens always lose to military contractors, even the elderly and infants. Money is more important.

[mitchtv]

37. I suggest the first non payment be congressional paychecks

and USSC paychecks

[reformist2]

42. Let the Repugs have their default - it will be the last thing they ever do.

[vanbean]

63. Ok, Krug. You just playing chicken is dangerous. Our creditors could very well

think that we just may do it sometime. Either now or later. If you play chicken, other drivers think you just as crazy to play as if you crach doing it. Cantor has his hand on the suicide nob on his steering wheel trying to impress some chick 'cause he thinks she will think he is brave and will put out.

[MilesColtrane]

54. Letter to my shitbag Republican Rep.

Dear Representative XXXXXX

I am writing to ask you to encourage the leadership of the House to reach a deal with the White House and to raise the debt ceiling limit.

The health of the economy of the United States and the world shouldn't be a pawn in a game of political chicken.

Sir, you know very well that during the prior Administration your leadership voted to raise the debt ceiling 19 times for a total increase of 4 trillion dollars.

As a practical matter, do you really think it is a good idea to threaten the default of the government and the subsequent furor of those dependent on its services come November 2012?

I, and the others in your district, will certainly remember these shenanigans the next time we visit the voting booth.

Yours very sincerely,

MilesColtrane

[madville]

55. Where's the surplus?

I thought social security was solvent and had trillions in reserve. Is it paid with borrowed money?

[MilesColtrane]

56. It is paid by FICA taxes.

Yes, there is supposed to be a surplus in the Social Security Trust Fund, but that money goes back to the Treasury (for the government to spend on other things) in exchange for IOUs (special government securities).

[SoCalDem]

57. It's like when Grandma sends the baby $100 a month for his college

and instead of putting it in the bank for him, Mom & Dad spend it:)...Someday "the baby" will be 18 and wonder where all that money is:(

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

58. I'm waiting for the news when they offer IOU's,

Didn't it they do that in California?

[mmonk]

59. It's all theatre.

Both parties are fighting for corporate money. It will be raised with further bleeding of the poor and middle class.

[CakeGrrl]

60. Yep. Too bad the House has been overrun by Teabaggers. -nt

[Long Shadow]

61. I didn't realize that SS was a segment of the executive branch...

until now.

[LiberalAndProud]

62. If it were, this wouldn't be a problem.

The Republican Congress will look really bad on August 3 if government payments stop. We all know who isn't negotiating in good faith, and it isn't our executive.