as if increasing Social Security would add to the debt

it is supposed to be fully fund by what we pay in

but since they took our money and filled the coffers with treasury bonds

it would add to the debt when they had to cash in their worthless paper to pay people

but in the end it is all worthless paper

and so it goes

JB

Wow! Give ‘em Hell, Harry!

To touch Social Security in any way would be theft! Enron all over. It is our money, and we didn’t ask them to “invest” it for us. How could privatizing it in any way help the PEOPLE? Hands out of our cookie jar!

Good, because Social Security has NOTHING to do with 1) the deficit or 2) the debt. It’s backed by bonds that are redeemable, AND though its surpluses have been constantly raided by the GOPigs, it still can pay out what’s due to retirees up till 2037 without any fixes at all, and after that it’ll still be viable.

If they’re going to raise the income cap, that’s one thing. Otherwise anything that lets the vampires of Wall Street get their hands on Social Security or that makes it harder for those who most need it is going to spell its death. So we better tell our Congresspeople to stop trying to kill it and carve it up for the bankers!

But Peter G. Peterson keeps telling Obambi and all the Senators and Congresspeople they HAVE to kill Social Security so that he and other Wall Street billionaires can play more casino games with privatized accounts (401(k)s writ large). They want the money and they’re determined to get it any way they can.

It’s not worthless, though.

They want you to believe that.

They are doing a good job conning us all. The money is there.

But they want to create a crisis so that they can get it once and for all.

The Reich-wing has hated Social Security and Medicare since they were created. Remember, Raygun made commercials claiming Medicare would lead to Socialism and a collapse of the “free market.” He was lying through his teeth then, as conservatives often do.

They want you to think it’s worthless paper, gone, dead, bankrupt, etc. But just watch, just like the “deficit” that Cheney said didn’t matter, or the borrowing the media turned the other way about, or all those TRILLIONS of Fed dollars the Wall Street hogs gobbled up, they are going to have a ball once it’s in their hands and out of ours. Don’t give the scum the peace of mind to even think they can get away with it, please!

Credit when credit is due, great job Harry. Saying it like it’s spelled: cuts to Social Security are off the table.

Credit when credit is due, great job Harry. Saying it like it’s spelled: cuts to Social Security are off the table.

Social Security cuts are off the table…till next week.

Thank you. We are forever indebted to you. How can we repay you for that? Cleaning your pool or as sex slaves tied with chains in your basement?

And there goes that picture again. Looks like the mothership is coming to beam him up.

Social Security cuts are off the table…till next week.

Thank you. We are forever indebted to you. How can we repay you for that? Cleaning your pool or as sex slaves tied with chains in your basement?

And there goes that picture again. Looks like the mothership is coming to beam him up.

treasury bonds are what is worthless

treasury bonds are what is worthless

Yeah, but all people like Boehner, Palin, Bachman, Limbaugh, Beck and O’Reilley have to say is that it does have to do with the deficit and the budget and people will simply believe them. It’s the new thing. You say something is responsible for the GINORMOUS deficit and conservative will want to cut it or do away with it all together. Oh and, lest we forget, it’s a socialist program, according to them. That’s the cherry on top.

Yeah, but all people like Boehner, Palin, Bachman, Limbaugh, Beck and O’Reilley have to say is that it does have to do with the deficit and the budget and people will simply believe them. It’s the new thing. You say something is responsible for the GINORMOUS deficit and conservative will want to cut it or do away with it all together. Oh and, lest we forget, it’s a socialist program, according to them. That’s the cherry on top.

[...] to revoke President Obama's signature health care law. This comes as a federal judge, …Cuts to Social Security are 'off the table,' Sen. Reid declaresRaw StoryIn US, sharp debate on jobs, deficit cutsInternational Business TimesGOP to Obama: Help us [...]

Hey Reid, will you kick the legs off of the table that the SS sits on so we never have to hear it again. Fuck, you sound like that guy teaching karate to that kid, “SS on, SS off, SS on, SSoff…….”

huge medicare deduction increases
no cost of living increases 2+ years

ongoing stealth social security cuts

Too bad he has to defend the tea tarded who are too ignorant to understand that SSI is not contributing to the deficit.

http://dailybail.com/home/ron-paul-what-we-need-is-wikileaks-on-the-federal-reserve-vi.html
“Ron Paul: “What We Need Is WikiLeaks On The Federal Reserve”

The SSI report admits it will be bankrupt in 2037. There will be NOTHING left in it. It is doomed regardless of your feelings or what political party you worship. The math is simple…too much going out and too little going in. The best plan is the plan that it is gone or else you may have no retirement or your children or grandchildren will have and will get nothing at all.

Yes, the ignorant are too gullible and stupid to notice that though. They actually think it can run forever on nothing but infinite debt.

Wrong. It is not viable. I am going to say right now that in 2050, SS and Medicare will either be gone or partially or wholly privatized regardless of the emotions of those who think it can run forever.

Promises are not enough. We’ve heard encouraging words before from Democrats who afterward failed to side with progressives when it counted.

Nothing left? Absolutely not true.
And let the cap rise to fairly tax upper income earners who live longer, and SSI will last well beyond 2037.
What other government service is funded through 2037?

How about an open discussion about how to make it work better? Off the table? How did that clown get reelected??

The cookie jar is being emptied. We need to learn how to make better cookies.

He sounds like Al – I invented the internet – Gore and the Social Security LOCKBOX. Who had the key?

Yeah, let’s take “the gov’mint” out of the equation and let Wall Street charge us a series of hefty fees for gambling with our retirement, because they have shown over and over again that there is no fraud, deception, or craven act that they will not commit in the pursuit of corporate profits and individual bonuses. This kind of ignominious thinking could only sound like an improvement to a fool. Here’s how the same Milton Friedman inspired thinking worked out in Chile and Great Britain as seen by Paul Krugman in 2004 when Bush tried to sell this same ignorant idea!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/2952825.html

George Bush had the key and raided it to pay for a war based on lies. How could anyone ever trust a Republican? They are the most corrupt party in history. They take from the poor to give to the rich.

Did not say that at all. NOT for privatization. But Reid’s position that everything is OK and there is no need for debate is ridiculous. Changes need to be made: let’s start with a higher retirement age for younger workers. I for one am willing to wait a couple of years before I get my benefits. Fuck, I will even entertain the idea of having wealthy people pay more into the system even though we know they will not get it back(making it more of a welfare system than retirement plan).

But at least have the discussion Harry.

But ole’ Harry thinks we don’t need to do anything..what a great leader, errrr, not.

PS: Krugman sucks

The cap right now is $106,800/year. That income is no longer rich by any means. Raise the cap.

you said: “(making it more of a welfare system than retirement plan).”

you mean like the welfare plan of bailing out the banks using my tax dollars while the CEOs of said companies make millions in bonuses? Meanwhile, those same companies pay little to nothing in taxes at all. THAT’S a welfare system.

His only opposiiton was a whack job of th first order.

[...] “We’re not going to balance the budget on the backs of senior citizens.” ‘ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/harry-reid-social-security-cuts-off-table/   I want to know where was this political courage hiding during the last two years?  Thanks [...]

[...] Cuts to Social Security are 'off the table,' Reid declares | Raw Story [...]

Bravo to Harry Reid! The Social Security “crisis” has been greatly exaggerated by Republican politicians who would like to do away with the program.

Social Security will be able to pay 100% of it’s obligations for at least another 25 years , after that even if nothings done it would be able to pay 75 to 80 % . If they simply raise the cap and make the rich pay the same percentage as the rest of us problem solved , period . An open discussion to make it work better ? With whom , the republicans , ha ha ha ha , you’re a hoot dude . Since you seem to believe you have a handle on this perhaps you could name one program the republicans have ever instituted that helped the average man what so ever , go ahead , think hard . They were against Social Security , they were against Medicare , they were against minimum wage , child labor laws, the forty hour work week , womens rights, integration , worker safety rules , the clean air act , food safety rules , over time rules and on and on and on and would weaken or repeal the aforementioned if given the opportunity , so go ahead name one damn thing they’ve ever done for the average American ? And you want to seriously listen to them on how to ” ha ha ” fix the most successful social program in the history of the world , which they have hated and tried to destroy from its inception , good thinking there bub . Now , as for Krugman , he may or may not suck as you say but I defy you to show where he hasn’t been spot on for , say , the last ten years or so ,. His columns are all available , so go ahead , dig up all of this misinformation and point it out , good luck with that . Then , we’ll go over to the conservative side and see how they stack up . From your posts I’m not exactly sure what your point is , except you don’t like Reid and apparently liberals , I’m not crazy about Harry myself , but I’m glad he’s standing in there on this one .
. .

Frankly , I’m to the point I say eliminate the cap altogether and double the payment on income over , say $150.000 on . I’m all for soaking the hell out of the rich , soak em good . They’ve damn sure been screwing the rest of us long enough and they can well afford it . The conservative ideology is that the workers need to be kept busy and occupied just trying to survive . I say lets turn that around , make the sorry bastards worry like hell that if they aren’t careful they might not be rich long and actually have to be productive to make a living . I’d like nothing better than to see the Bushes , Forbes etc wearing paper hats .

Maybe it’s only a coincidence but this is the year the first wave of baby boomers are starting to take their social security and medicare entitlements as they turn 65…
Doesn’t it seem odd that the GOP would like to do the same kind of daylight robbery on the baby boomers that Wall Street did to the entire non-wealthy populace?

Don’t worry . . . Senator SpaghettiSpine will back down from this.

Always has … Always will. Ditto: Pelosi.

Why do you think they call them “Wimpocrats” ?

War in the middle east.

Public option or some kind of competition to the insurance companies.

Shop around for lower drug prices.

Not to extend the Bush Tax cuts for the top two percent.

Renegotiate the free trade bill.

Do not let Wall Street receive higher salaries , bonuses while Main street is losing their jobs & homes.

We all will have to suffer TOGETHER with this economical disaster.

When statement do you believe has come true.

the repuggs want to cut SS because the only way to keep it solvent is to create new donors and that takes jobs and they don’t have a clue on how to do that,they’re still waiting on the rich guys who promised them they’d do that if they cut taxes. for yrs& yrs we’ve been waiting for that promise

I hope this doesn’t mean that Harry Reid is working a SSI deal under the table.

could not get past that sentence you opened with. so your belief is that people should get taxed into perpetuity. the more you make, the less of a percentage of your money you get back from the program. Its simple math. You might find that just, and my parents depend on it, but it is a welfare program

Reid is working a deal with them, but it will be a very very weak deal. I bet what the deal will be is that they will privatize it (the republicans) and they WON’T increase the retirement age. Yea Reid and Obama, you tell em. This is being privatized because thats the republicans major move. They can’t partially privatize it because they need the younger workers money to subsidize the older workers. If they privatize it all then all will get something, but it will be less and less as the years go along because of the rising inflation.

Reid is working a deal with them, but it will be a very very weak deal. I bet what the deal will be is that they will privatize it (the republicans) and they WON’T increase the retirement age. Yea Reid and Obama, you tell em. This is being privatized because thats the republicans major move. They can’t partially privatize it because they need the younger workers money to subsidize the older workers. If they privatize it all then all will get something, but it will be less and less as the years go along because of the rising inflation.

You are right on the negotiating, and you are missing the point on what needs to be negotited.

The key thing about “Social Security” is that it is there to ensure the economic security of the “Society”… all people in the society.

the changes that need to be made are:
- REDUCE the retirement age… This does two very important thing; It reduces the workforce which in turn raises wages and reduces unemployment AND it reduces seniors medical costs – if people can rest their body when it gets old they will not over work it thus reducing the need to repair it.
- RAISE payroll tax limit to at least $250,000. Those who benefit from the society should pay the most for the society.

Seniors and those injured and unable to work are not to be put on an ice flow (if you can find one) and set adrift – they are valuble knowledge bases and an important part of “the village” that raises our “children”. right now many seniors are forced to work at jobs that were traditionally “Teen jobs” because they are no longer able to do the manual labor job or technology has left their Masters Degree outdated. That is not a viable society, that is a road to surfdom…

PS: Krugman is the only trustworthy economist in today’s economy

People should be taxed to the level they use the “commons”: Legal system, roads, police, fire department, water, electric, gas, etc…

a company doesn’t just use the roads when it delivers it’s goods, they use it when each and every worker travels to and from work. Each contract signed is a legal document and therefore needs a legal system t enforce it. The company needs these workers to make their product and they should pay for all things related to getting their product made… that includes the damage they do to the planet – they should leave the planet is at least as good shape when they leave as when they came…

As far as People are concerned, The more you get from the society you choose to live in and earn a living from, the more you should put back into the system that keeps the society afloat.

What bank or corporation can say they have paid every bill on time and will continue to do so for the next 25 years???

That’s what the private sector, free market gets you! uncertainty due to GREED…

In other words, bend over. Social Security is ‘on the table’.

All we need is a republican president. Then the deficit will be off the table.

If we had a lockbox this wouldn’t have been a problem. These days I wish we had Al – I helped author the legislation that funded the Internet – Gore

Perhaps a dictionary would help , it’s a trust , you pay in paying for current recipients and then when you retire you get your stipend and so on , it’s not a welfare program . Got your conservative talking points down though . You like simple math ? Here’s some , the wealthiest among us pay an average of less than 16% in total ” total ” taxes , many of the most profitable corporations either pay nothing or get tax monies back . The rest of us pay in total over 35% , that’s total taxes , not just federal . If you look at the benefits the wealthy get from the commons , roads , courts ( did you know about 90% of the court system is used by business ) , the military , to protect their interests , the port authority’s etc etc , compared to what they contribute , they’re the ones on welfare . So exactly what do these genius’s do to ( gag ) earn 25% of the wages earned in this country and control 90% of the total wealth ? So according to your own supposed logic the wealthy should be taxed at a much higher rate and I agree . get the greedy bastards off the welfare rolls . Make them pay for the benefits they get from this country and stop being parasites . They have been allowed to become parasitic because they use their obscene wealth to stack the odds in their favor . If you would check , the countries that have the highest living standards , happiest populations ( including the wealthy ) and most stable economy’s all have very high taxes on the rich.. Oh , I’m not sure why you couldn’t get past the sentence I opened with , slow reader perhaps ? Those figures are well established , conservatives just like to ignore them .If you don’t know that then maybe you shouldn’t opine on the subject until you’re up to speed . One more thing , why is it unfair for the wealthy to pay taxes on all their income when the rest of us do ? They get much more benefit from the system , so why shouldn’t they help support the social structure they and their often useless heirs benefit so richly from , our work force , military ( which they often avoid ) and infrastructure etc ? I’ll be waiting for you to show the columns where Krugman really blew it , I’ll bet for a very long time
.

Well let’s cut the SS “entitlement” for Conservatives only. It is what they want so it’s a win/win for everybody.

Well let’s cut the SS “entitlement” for Conservatives only. It is what they want so it’s a win/win for everybody.

Well let’s cut the SS “entitlement” for Conservatives only. It is what they want so it’s a win/win for everybody.

I don’t trust you Reid, and let me guess… Raising the Cap is also off the table?

There IS a difference between the two wings of the single Corporate Party that governs America: Republicans will chop your head clean off while the Democrats will kill you slowly by a thousand cuts.

I don’t trust you Reid, and let me guess… Raising the Cap is also off the table?

There IS a difference between the two wings of the single Corporate Party that governs America: Republicans will chop your head clean off while the Democrats will kill you slowly by a thousand cuts.

I don’t trust you Reid, and let me guess… Raising the Cap is also off the table?

There IS a difference between the two wings of the single Corporate Party that governs America: Republicans will chop your head clean off while the Democrats will kill you slowly by a thousand cuts.

Privatizing Social Security is the sure way to kill it once and for all, that is the Republican game plan. The Republicans want to reward Wall Street with running this tried & true program. Can’t you just imagine how many old people would be jumping out windows if they lose it all in the market.

Privatizing Social Security is the sure way to kill it once and for all, that is the Republican game plan. The Republicans want to reward Wall Street with running this tried & true program. Can’t you just imagine how many old people would be jumping out windows if they lose it all in the market.

Privatizing Social Security is the sure way to kill it once and for all, that is the Republican game plan. The Republicans want to reward Wall Street with running this tried & true program. Can’t you just imagine how many old people would be jumping out windows if they lose it all in the market.

[...] PostHarry Reid Takes Social Security 'Off The Table' (VIDEO)TPMDCDaily Kos -Raw Storyall 10 news [...]

I see you didn’t put “on the table” the most obvious reform: Lift (or, better, eliminate) the cap on income subject to the social security payroll tax. Make it at least a “flat tax” so it won’t be so regressive as it is now. If you eliminate the cap, or raise it high enough, you could even lower the payroll tax rate and still increase revenues to the system.

I see you didn’t put “on the table” the most obvious reform: Lift (or, better, eliminate) the cap on income subject to the social security payroll tax. Make it at least a “flat tax” so it won’t be so regressive as it is now. If you eliminate the cap, or raise it high enough, you could even lower the payroll tax rate and still increase revenues to the system.

Yeah, Democrats and Republicans are just the same. If I had a quarter for everyone someone here made that same silly point.

Harry Reid has proven that that just isn’t the case. Now let’s see if he can keep to his word.

Yeah, Democrats and Republicans are just the same. If I had a quarter for everyone someone here made that same silly point.

Harry Reid has proven that that just isn’t the case. Now let’s see if he can keep to his word.

We will see… It’s about time that the GOP face the “filibuster madness” that has held up most of the meaningful legislation that Democrats have attempted to pass. In the matter of Social Security and Medicare – a filibuster is more than appropriate.

We will see… It’s about time that the GOP face the “filibuster madness” that has held up most of the meaningful legislation that Democrats have attempted to pass. In the matter of Social Security and Medicare – a filibuster is more than appropriate.

We will see… It’s about time that the GOP face the “filibuster madness” that has held up most of the meaningful legislation that Democrats have attempted to pass. In the matter of Social Security and Medicare – a filibuster is more than appropriate.

Ignorance is no excuse. Define “bankrupt”. Is our military funding “bankrupt”? It has nothing left in its surplus account does it?
Social Security was not intended to run with a surplus. There is a surplus because the baby boomers are paying for current retirees as well as themselves. Ron Raygun put this into place along with a democratically controlled congress. So as baby boomers retire we start to pull money out of the surplus, which is in the form of special Treasury notes ( a secure and proper investment). There is nothing broken about Social Security. The right-wing/corporatist confuse the issue to create panic to do something which leads to it’s destruction…along with the destruction of our retirees.

The best thing I’ve heard coming out of Harry Reid in ages.

Reagan started it in 1983 after he raised the cap. Every president since has done so, too.

Wall Street would charge a 10% annual fee just to manage the surplus. So that would net
them $240B per year for doing nothing.

[...] Harry Reid did not write this statement….Gretawire (blog)Wall Street Journal (blog) -Raw Story -Firedoglakeall 13 news articles » reddit_url = [...]

Any senior who votes for repubs can only be one rich American.

They don’t want to cut it. Repubs want to kill it.

Folks who vote for them are either rich or in total denial. Let’s see which repub protects them now? Quite simple. Not one repub will work to protect Social Security.

You are so out of touch, that all i can feel is embarrassment for you.

Exactly. I know plenty of Baby Boomers who are not rich and will need Social Security. All through the years many of them voted for the repubs, they kept telling me that the repubs will never touch Social Security.

I wonder how those Boomers feel now.