Cutting Social Security Doesn't

[Mr.Bee]

Last edited Sun Dec 15, 2024, 08:55 PM - Edit history (3)

Just HURT recipients, it also hurts
Landlords
Retailers
Grocers
Oil / Gas Companies
Electric Companies
Utilities
Did I forget any?
How about online shopping:
Amazon sales
EBay sales
and the shippers:
Post Office, UPS, Fed Ex and others
Yes, we Seniors support a lot of the economy that is taken for granted!
I live on Social Security.
66.1886% goes to rent.
After I pay utilities, electricity and Medigap,
I'm left $30 for the month for Rx and groceries.
I just got a whopping $10 a month increase
to Social Security for next year!

[oldtime dfl_er]

1. I hear ya

There is no other conclusion than that they want anyone who isn't in the work force to die. And those in the work force will be working simply to stay alive. The greed knows no end, and humans are simply collateral damage. I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Johnson and other GOP are investing in coffin making companies, body bags and other ghoulish disposal products.

[Attilatheblond]

8. Humans aren't even collateral damage. We are not even human to them. We are a natural resource to be mined for $$

And they intend to assure we are a highly renewable resource by pretending they are 'pro-life' while the reality is they love the idea of slaves providing more slaves.

[mamacita75]

12. Yes

The daughter of that last president invested in coffins, if I recall correctly. Along with voting equipment.

[Evolve Dammit]

20. Don't forget incarceration. Debtor's prisons next

[Silent Type]

2. There are over 30 million GOPers on SS. They might mess with full retirement age, but that's

about it. They’ll get enjoyment out of scaring people, though.

We do have an automatic cut to SS predicted by SSTrust Fund in 2030s. Obama tried to address that but was bashed by his own Party. We better hope Democrats are majority when Congress stops kick can down the road.

[Mr.Bee]

3. Thinking of cancelling the Medigap

and yes, it is United Healthcare. It would put $250 a month back in my pocket each month.
It started out as a deal $119 a month, but has since ballooned to $250 a month.
This year they denied paying a doctor visit, and I thought 'this is what I paying for'?
I understand it also pays for lab tests and 20% of Medicare B doesn't.
I can pay my own doctor visits and lab tests, and it would still be less than the annual $3,000.
I would just have to roll the dice on the 20% hospital Medicare B doesn't pay for.

[questionseverything]

6. Any medigap policy has to cover anything medicare covers

So I don’t understand how they could deny something Medicare paid but United does have the worst karma, I am so glad I didn’t pick them for my supplement

[lostnfound]

4. It hurts GenZ, GenX, and millennials working in a career hoping for promotion

When us boomers (frankly i consider myself GenX but no one else does) delay our retirements, it means less room for advancement at a lot of corporations.

Lots of occupations were better in the aftermath of the pandemic because of people retiring a little bit early. Like pilots.

[Shermann]

5. Waiting out coworkers to retire (or die) isn't a great strategy to land that promotion.

It might work of course but can take forever. I've had better luck jumping to a new job and negotiating that position I want on Day 1.

[The Madcap]

14. On the border of retirement as well

Some days I think five years of freedom before they kill me would be better than working five more and then dying from stress anyway.

[The Madcap]

15. Gen Z and Millenials should leave

for Europe as soon as possible. They need young people to work over there. If the U.S. is going to ruin their lives, why stay?

[MadameButterfly]

25. Another way any kinds of cuts in SS hurts the economy

The RW must have collectively failed at math. Even the rich aren't voting in their own self interests on this.

[Skittles]

7. they are hurting people like you

Last edited Mon Dec 16, 2024, 12:37 AM - Edit history (1)

to serve billionaires

it is sickening

it is important that people like you are HEARD

[Nigrum Cattus]

9. 65,000,000 Americans are on Social Security

Cutting it will destroy the very basis of our way of life.
Anyone or any group that would consider that will be
considered the enemy of the people.

[Mr.Bee]

13. Cutting it would destroy

the economy.

[Wiz Imp]

18. I'm pretty sure any cuts they would try would not cut benefits for current recipients

Sure they're evil and stupid, but they aren't THAT stupid.

[MadameButterfly]

26. How stupid are they?

I don't think we know yet. So far they keep showing me new lows I never dreamed of.

[Keepthesoulalive]

27. Very

[Wiz Imp]

32. The primary thing being proposed is raising the retirement age which would not affect current recipients

[Frank D. Lincoln]

39. I sure hope you're right about that.

Current recipients already planned their retirement budget out before taking Social Security based on what SS benefits were at the time. Cutting their benefits would foil their plan, in the most extreme cases resulting in homelessness.

Whereas, although raising the retirement age sucks, at least people who are still working can adjust their retirement budget planning.

[Wiz Imp]

42. The problem with raising the retirement age is it would totally screw over people who are close to 65 now.

If you're 55 and have been planning to retire at 65 then all of a sudden find out you can't collect for an extra 2 to 5 years, it becomes very hard to adjust your savings plan to cover the difference.

[Frank D. Lincoln]

54. Of course the real solution is to

lift the cap off of Social Security so that wealthy people pay their fair share. Problem solved.

Here's what Bernie Sanders says on his website:

[https://berniesanders.com/issues/expand-social-security/|

At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, the wealthiest Americans in this country must pay their fair share into the system. Today, a billionaire pays the same amount of money into Social Security as someone who makes $132,900 a year because the Social Security payroll tax is capped.

Bernie’s Social Security plan would lift this cap and apply the payroll tax on all income over $250,000 in order to accomplish four things.

First, we will make sure that Social Security will pay every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 52 years.

Second, we will expand benefits across-the-board including a $1,300 a year benefit increase for seniors with incomes of $16,000 a year or less.

Third, we will lift millions of seniors out of poverty by increasing the minimum benefits paid to low-income workers when they retire.

Fourth, we will increase cost-of-living adjustments to keep up with the rising cost of health care and prescription drugs by establishing a Consumer Price Index for the Elderly.

Bernie also mentioned this, which I find interesting:

Despite what you may have heard from those who want to cut back on Social Security, let’s be clear: Social Security is not “going broke.” Social Security has a $2.9 trillion surplus and can pay every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 16 years.

(Emphasis added)

But Democrats up and down the ballot should have been beating the drum for years about removing the cap off of Social Security instead of merely saying they'd "protect" Social Security. They've done the same thing regarding the Affordable Care Act instead of aggressively pushing for single payer (Medicare for All) healthcare.

[Wiz Imp]

56. I agree 100%

There have been numerous Democrats who have been vocal about raising the cap, but not anywhere close to even a majority when it should be every elected member of Congress making that push. They also should have introduced legislation in each session of Congress to raise the cap. It could have passed in Obama's first 2 years but they were too focused on trying a bigger overhaul of the system which would have hurt millions of everyday Americans, vs raising the cap which would have only impacted those who can most afford it. But they should have introduced the legislation since then even if it wouldn't pass. It would show the general public which party really cares about preserving Social Security.

[MadameButterfly]

59. It boggles my mind that Dems didn't do that

in the few years here and there that they had the majority and the presidency. That there were any Democrats opposing is ridiculous.

That's on the level of stupidity of Carter's health care plan not getting passed because of disagreement among Dems and now we can't even dream of such a sweeping plan. Or not getting a law passed so Congress doesn't have to raise the debt ceiling every year. Or not getting rid of DeJoy, or protecting the Monarch butterfly.

It's as if Dems were assuming there would always be later....

[mamacita75]

10. Wow!

What a great observation. Thanks for sharing it. It gives me hope.

[timms139]

11. The stupidity of

Trumps plan will hurt the trust fund for social security. Deporting people who work and pay into the system and can never draw from the fund will de-fund it and will have to be made up from somewhere. Republicans will never look at the overly rich to make up by taking from the free rides they have given them .

[Mr.Bee]

16. Did I forget any?

Last edited Sun Dec 15, 2024, 08:59 PM - Edit history (1)

How about Seniors who order items online?
Amazon sales
EBay sales
Post Office, UPS and others
Automotive Repair Shops
that Seniors on Social Security support!
Yes, we Seniors support a lot of the economy that is taken for granted!

[EarthAbides]

17. Disgusted

The amount of disgust I feel for these oligarchs and their henchmen knows no limit. Everyday is at least 10 new kick you in the ass ideas to be disgusted with. They will break everything that they can and steal everything that they can.

[JMCKUSICK]

19. I posted this the other day

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219818736

The worlds largest Oligarchy piggy bank.
When are these issues really going to get the fight from Dems that they deserve?
Middle class, Middle class, Middle Class
Every election
What about the poor and near poor that we never hear a peep about.
WHEN DO WE GET A VOICE??

[kerry-is-my-prez]

24. A lot of poor people don't think they're poor.

[eppur_se_muova]

38. "... trouble was that we didn't have any self-admitted proletarians. Everyone was a temporarily embarrassed capitalist."

John Steinbeck -- often apocryphally quoted as "Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck#Disputed


I've long thought that an alternative explanation was that Americans always believed they could vote their way out of their problems. No need for a difficult, painful, bloody revolution when there's a peaceful one scheduled every four years. But the more sophisticated among the oppressor class were working from the very beginning to capture the process, to give the public no more choice than a practiced prestidigitator forcing a card on his 'volunteer' from the audience. Even when it didn't go as hoped, the possibility that "we'll win next time!" was sufficient to tamp down resentment. Now the corruption of the process has become so nakedly apparent that large numbers of Americans are saying, instead, "we can't let this happen next time". How long do we have to wait before there's enough of them to force change ?

[RussellCattle]

21. 66.1886% ???? You seem to be budgeting very carefully already, so good luck in the future.

[Mr.Bee]

23. Very Carefully.

Wasn't it government that came up with the 30% rule?
The 30% rule for housing affordability originated from a combination of a 1969 amendment and 1981 government findings
The 30% rule is a common personal finance guideline that suggests spending no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on housing costs, including rent and utilities.
It's not the amount of rent that's out of step with reality, it's the Social Security amount. Just like the minimum wage.
If I counted utilities, that amount would go up to 75% easily.
I just got an increase of $10 a month for next year which is even more out of step.

[raccoon]

31. Well, the amount of rent is out of step with reality these days too.

[LilElf70]

28. The sad part is

that every item in bold increases periodically at a rate that is unacceptable. Eventually, the SS recipient can no longer afford such services. What happens then? Don't pay the full rent? Don't go to retailers? Don't buy groceries? Turn the heat down to 50 degrees? Don't use the AC in the summer? Don't flush the toilet or shower as often? Don't drive your car? What about repairs, oil changes?

I can only go to the piggy bank so much until the piggy bank is empty.

I recently had to get a part time job, just to help make ends meet. Occasionally I can put a few bucks away in the piggy bank. But I'm sure one day soon that will all end.

I'm pretty sure it isn't suppose to be this way in your golden years.

2.5%? It's a disgrace to all of humanity.

Oh wait..... remember trump was going to fix the grocery prices? Wait for it....... HE LIED AGAIN.

[applegrove]

29. And not just seniors and the people on disability.

The families of all those people will have to support them. Consumer culture will be gutted.

[Kaleva]

30. How do you survive on $30 a month for food?

[LilElf70]

34. At 4 bucks

for a can of spam, you can buy 6 cans, 1 loaf of bread and taxes.

Yeah, I don't see how that works.

Maybe Ramen noodles? 3 bucks for a 12 pack.

Gee, ya think something is wrong with this picture? How sad.

[Kaleva]

58. Over 10 years ago, my food budget was $116 a month

No meat. And my primary dinner most every day was boiled potatoes and cabbage.

I don't think I could have gone lower then $100 without facing starvation.

[Mr.Bee]

40. That's why I was

thinking of dropping the Medigap plan. $3,000 a year so they can deny care? Why even have it?

[Kaleva]

57. That didn't answer the question

What do you buy for $30 that feeds you for a month?

[LittleGirl]

33. Exactly

I just got my first SS check last month. If my spouse didn't work or he died, I'd be very close to homelessness and I wouldn't be living in CA. I would have chosen south western Michigan near my home town. The cost of living there is 1/2 of what it is out here in CA but I'd also be stranded in snow storms because I don't like driving in that anymore. If I had to get an apt or rent a house there, I'd use up every penny of my SS payment each month and I would have to get a part time job if I wanted to eat properly. I'd have to qualify for Medicaid and join a food bank.

[Jacson6]

35. I can guarantee you that Landlords don't care about Social Security cuts.

The corporations that own apartments & housing will just double the rents to make up for any loss. 9 years ago a corp bought the apartment I lived in doubling+ the monthly rental from $375 to $850 per month.

Capitalists are pigs.

IMHO.

[Mr.Bee]

41. Landlords

do if they begin losing tenants that can no longer pay rent.
As stated, 66% of my SS pays the rent alone.

[PennRalphie]

36. I have faith in our Democrats

They will not allow any of this to happen. I’m surprised that so many think the Democrats in DC are just going to roll over and allow this crazy stuff to happen.

[louis-t]

37. And it doesn't decrease the national debt.

It is simply something conservative have always wanted to do. The cruelty is the whole point.

[Cha]

43. Exactly! Those have been my

thoughts, too.. Thank You!!

[Hassler]

44. Somebody is going to be needed to pick

Farm fields when the migrants get locked up. Sounds like they want it to be we SSI recipients.

[IzzaNuDay]

45. Need another Grey Panther uprising

considering SS, medicare/medicaid are in the GOP’s crosshairs.

Time to get militant. Starting with keyboards, pens and pencils -write to congressional representatives. If we won’t, the dotard’s followers will!

[notKeith]

46. $10?

That can't be accurate. A 2.5% increase over 2024 means (if you're talking gross, not net) - you are getting $400/mo in 2024. Plus 2.5% = $10 added, making it $410/mo in 2025.
You can't be just making $4,800 per year, can you???

If your SS benefit is, for example, $1,927/mo, in 2025 it will be $1976 (2024 + 2.5%). That's an increase of $49/mo.

OTOH, I agree with you 100% on the idiocy of cutting SS.

[forgotmylogin]

47. Correct me if I'm wrong...

Isn't Social Security funded by citizens paying in throughout their lives to take care of people currently on it with the expectation they will receive the same assistance when they qualify?

It doesn't' directly cost the government anything, except perhaps the cost to run the program, which can be funded by SS premiums.

If I remember correctly, the only reason "SS costs the government" is because they borrow from SS funding for other purposes and have to pay it back with interest.

[Snoopy 7]

48. jesus christ people

When are we going to wake up and realize that what we look at is not what’s happening . They don’t care who receive Social Security, they don’t care who needs it or who doesn’t. They only care about one thing and the one percent only care about the the money. Remember that the amount of money in the Social Security coffers is amazing. They want it all.

[Mr.Bee]

50. Truth!

They want to use OUR Trillions of savings we paid into to gamble on Wall Street!
Just like they want to rid the FDIC so they can get their hands on your savings accounts!
Just like they did in the Roaring Twenties, which is WHY we have an FDIC!
Thievery most foul.

[Number9Dream]

49. The painfully low 2.5% cola this year will be gone before I see it

My 90 day prescriptions just tripled in price. They're saying they might raise our property taxes 21%. Food prices are still going up. 2.5% cola is a bad joke.

[Mr.Bee]

51. You got it, Number9

My wonderful 40¢ a month prescriptionD premium went up to $17! Time to get off!
Everybody should pay attention at Thanksgiving - a time of Open-Enrollment to check if your plans are screwing you!

[Mr.Bee]

52. The Point

is that cutting Social Security hurts more than its recipients.
Cutting EBT hurts more than its recipients too.
When you get EBT, do they give you a stamp? No. They give you a bank card.
So first it hurts banks that are getting a cut through their fees.
It hurts Grocers, and it hurts food suppliers.
And no, you can not buy non-EBT products with an EBT card. Experience.
It's time to stop believing the rhetoric and look at the big picture.

[Mr.Bee]

53. I might also add:

all this talk about privatizing Social Security
I had a private retirement account that lost me $12,000 in Trump's Wall Street crash in 2020.
Though the crash began on 20 February, selling was intensified during the first half of March to mid-March.
During the crash, there were multiple severe daily drops in the global stock market.
So if any of you young-uns are thinking it's the way to go, or it wouldn't be so bad, it snot!

[arthritisR_US]

55. Can you come to Canada? We have a 3 room house and you

could be here and then after that we could get the legal stuff all settled ?