CSM - "Cut, cap, and balance: What does it mean?" - The Death of Medicare and SS.

[TomCADem]

Here is a refresher on what is the Cut, Cap and Balance plan that the House Republicans tried to pass, and that virtually every Republicans presidential candidate has pledged to pursue, including Mitt Romney. Now, despite the alleged exemptions of Social Security and Medicare, the plan as well as the balanced budget amendment does not explicitly require cuts to Medicare and Social Security, but to achieve the cuts required under the plan, Medicare and Social Security would have to be fundamtally cut and changed to meet the eventual 18 percent of GDP spending target. That is down from 24 percent now. Worse, it implements a two-third vote requirement for tax increases to protect the rich, er job-creators, that Republicans love so much.

In other words, it is a Republican plan to destroy, not just cut, Medicare and Social Security that is hiding in plain sight, because people will see the exemption for Medicare and Social Security for express required cuts, and not see how the plan makes such drastic cuts unavoidable. And, almost all of the Republican presidential candidates signed on to a plan, which the House GOP had approved. We should take this very seriously.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0719/Cut-cap-and-balance-What-does-it-mean-The-highlights

Highlights of a Republican-written "cut, cap and balance" bill the House plans to consider Tuesday:

—Cuts next year's projected $3.6 trillion in spending by $111 billion. Roughly two-thirds of cuts from department and agency budgets, one-third from automatically paid benefits, but leaves decisions to Congress about which programs would be cut. Exempts defense, security, veterans, Medicare and Social Security.

—Gradually decreases, or "caps," spending over the coming decade from 24.1 percent of the economy this year to 19.9 percent in 2021. Over the decade, that would mean about $6 trillion less spending than President Barack Obama proposed in his most recent budget. Congress would decide details. If a cap was exceeded, spending would automatically be cut, exempting Social Security, Medicare, military personnel, veterans and interest due on the debt.

-Congress must approve and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment requiring abalanced federal budget before the government's debt limit can be increased. After congressional approval of a balanced budget amendment, federal borrowing authority would automatically increase by $2.4 trillion, matching Obama's request. Requires that the balanced budget amendment resemble current House and Senate proposals, which would require two-thirds majorities in Congress to raise taxes or to allow annual spending to exceed 18 percent of the economy — more severe than the 19.9 percent target for 2021 in thecut, cap and balance bill.

[dkf]

1. 20% of GDP is the traditionally accepted norm for spending.

A single payer plan is the best avenue to do this. Forget Medicare as we know it. We need to overhaul to a system more like Canada.

[Urban Prairie]

2. These rightwing assholes wish to drag the US back into a 21st century version of

Europe's Dark Ages, including all the untreated contagion, diseases and illnesses, IMO.


Ring around the rosie, pockets full of posies...ashes...ashes...



Clang!! "Bring out your dead"!! Clang!! "Bring out your dead"!!

"But I'm not dead yet!!"

Whack!!

"He is now!!"

The Rethug's health-care plan for the poor and aged:

Die, quickly!!

(props to MP and AG)

[Poll_Blind]

3. Damn....

PB

[redraider1974]

4. Frank Luntz was paid well for thinking of that catchy phrase

[TomCADem]

5. What Is Key Is The Corporate Media's Cooperation, Look At The Democratic Bill...

The Democratics rolled out the "Big Oil Bailout Prevention Liability Act" following the Gulf oil spill. Nonetheless, no media outlet used the title of the bill. They just called it the "liability cap" bill, which made it sound like it was capping liability.