Business: Trump appears open to overhauling Social Security and Medicare, in break from 2016 campaig

[yaesu]

Source: WaPo

President Trump appeared to express a new openness to revamping entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare in an interview aired Wednesday morning, potentially opening the door to overhauling two of America's largest government programs if he is elected to a second term.
Speaking with CNBC from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said tackling entitlement spending is "the easiest of all things" and seemed to suggest higher economic growth would make it easier to reduce spending on those programs. It was unclear exactly what changes the president was envisioning, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request to clarify.
"At the right time, we will take a look at that. You know, that's actually the easiest of all things, if you look," Trump said. He later added when asked about entitlements: "Well, we're going -- we're going to look. We also have assets that we've never had. I mean we've never had growth like this."

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/01/22/trump-appears-open-overhauling-social-security-medicare-break-2016-campaign/

[captain queeg]

1. The fact that Trump is considering attacking SS really needs to get out in the news

That’s one subject even many of the kool ade drinkers would get upset about.

[groundloop]

32. And it's not a fucking ENTITLEMENT. I've paid into these programs for years.....

I've EARNED my upcoming Social Security retirement benefits.

I wish the damned press would quit buying into the repub propaganda when they keep repeating the word "entitlement". Repubs are a master at misdirection, and the press plays right along.

[Skittles]

35. that is why it IS an entitlement

we are ENTITLED to Social Security because WE PAID INTO IT

[PatrickforO]

36. I prefer 'earned benefit' because 'entitlement' implies somehow that it is

undeserved.

After all, how many times have we heard the Millennial generation criticized for having a 'sense of entitlement?'

Thus, I feel like Social Security is an earned benefit that I have paid into paycheck by paycheck for a work history that now spans 45 years. And, before I get to 'full retirement age,' my work history will top 50 years.

[Skittles]

38. EVERY generation is criticized for having a "sense of entitlement"

the word entitlement simply means the fact of having a right to something.

[NY06DemSoc]

41. Solid idea! Is there a place where we can make strategy suggestions like this?

I've been looking for a Strategy group here on DU.

[captain queeg]

43. Let me know if you find one

Or if you start one

[Peregrine Took]

2. Even his fans must know this is a 100% loser.

As the old saw goes, "you never win an election taking something away from people."

I see wee weary rabbit, McConnell, behind this.

[Midnight Writer]

10. You can, however, win an election by taking something away from OTHER people.

[Maxheader]

30. The 30%ers are like..

A bloodied fighter in the ring...The pain, the busted up body...
As long as its from a handjob winger, they don't care...
Anything but a democrat in the white house...
Conservatives suck a big wiener...

[not_the_one]

42. well, as long as it is not too big to get into my mouth...

I'm cool with handjobs, too.

I'm just sayin'.



This IS Democratic Underground. We ARE a big tent type of place. And some of us are SOOOO sensitive. You could probably call us "delicate little flowers".

Me? I'm a pansy.

[riversedge]

44. Who will tell them when they only listen to foxnews???

[Iliyah]

3. Read that the Republicans plan to . .

gut Medicaid from red states. To those who vote in their best interest, I feel for you.

I truly believe tho they will start with the people of POC. Republicans hate POC.

[left-of-center2012]

4. Trump: "tackling entitlement spending is "the easiest of all things"

[backtoblue]

7. .

[not fooled]

17. Just like healthcare!

The con lies yet again.

Any senior who plans to vote (or vote again) for this pos is particularly nuts (anyone who votes for him is screwed up).

How much clearer do his intentions have to be to convince maggots?

[pazzyanne]

23. Since when are SS and MC entitlement programs?

I seem to remember that I and my employers paid into it for over 50 years. tRump may find he is increasing the number of Grey Panthers if he and the republicans try this. I have never understood people voting against their own self interest.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

29. It's the "Big Lie" the Republican have been repeating for years now.

They're pushing for workers to be required to put all of their retirement into the stock market. Employees will only be able to buy from a list of "approved" stocks (this was the answer I heard once to the question, "Can we invest in anything?" ). How does a company get on the list? How much have they contributed to the politicians who make the decisions?

[PatrickforO]

37. I haven't been that impressed with AARP, because I have yet to see any

editorials in their paper singling out Republicans for whittling away at Social Security over decades.

So, what's the deal here? Are these proposed cuts meant to fun the giant 2017 tax cut for billionaire parasites? That's what I'm thinking.

[OldBaldy1701E]

39. Of course it is...

when you are going to just gut one program to pay for tax cuts (read: giving it to the rich because they don't have enough money).

[PSPS]

5. Typical WP softball headline. "overhauling" really means "dismantling"

[deurbano]

13. A prime example of why we are where we are. Another euphemism for "gut" in the article: "revamp"!

In this case, it's just the standard, positive spin afforded the GOP's unpopular agenda, rather than the full-bore "journalistic" contortionism required to normalize the Mango Messiah.

[YOHABLO]

14. How about the word: ''adjustments''

[hibbing]

21. Just like "tax reform" equals massive tax cuts for the ruling class n/t

[CrispyQ]

6. And Luckovich classic. Spread it far and wide.

[pazzyanne]

24. An oldie, but a goody!

[MarcA]

25. +1,000 n/t

[onethatcares]

8. what it means

is we have to give the haves more of what they have and take away the little that the have a little have. Besides, the deficit is overwhelming and we have to start cutting back on "entitlements".


I hope that sooner or later the assholes that voted for him come to the realization he's broken every promise he's ever made. Breaking the one concerning Social Security and Medicare is easy for him.

[ArizonaLib]

15. He probably mixes it up with 'inheritance'

He probably thinks his base will be all for taking money from people who got their money from their parents. He's had his head up the wrong place so long he doesn't know which end is up.

[sarcasmo]

11. "Overhauling" more like destruction.

[YOHABLO]

16. I'd like to see Trump overhauling a toilet in his jail cell.

[videohead5]

12. WTF is he talking about!

GDP is no better than it was when Obama was president and Obama created more jobs. He's not even come close to Clinton's growth numbers.

[FiveGoodMen]

18. If only we penalized people for lying

[mpcamb]

19. It's just one more place to loot-

and it's fulla OPM...other people's money.

Of course he's interested!

[3Hotdogs]

20. SS recepients will owe retro-regressive fees to the SS administration.

The way it will work:

Your SS monthly allotment What you will owe back per month.

-0- to $499. You get nuthin'

$500 to 1,000 per month. $495.00

$1,000 to 1,500 200.00

$1,600 to 1,990. 100.00

$2,000 + *



*You're already a jobs creator so you don't need to pay anything back. You make America great, already. -0-

[LogicFirst]

22. The top 2% do not need SS.

[Tiggeroshii]

26. Losing strategy

And completely terrifying.

[beachbumbob]

27. its about getting all the money into the hands of wallstreet for their profit

thats always been the intention going back decades. The rich hate seeing that big pile of money thats untouchable for their profit

[MarcA]

28. Wonder if part of this is to divert from the Impeachment Trial.

Of course, he, midnight moscow mitch, GOP and the oligarchs who truly are real enemies
would love to do this but they know what a firestorm it would create for them. So, maybe
that's part of the timing.

[rickyhall]

31. I wish the goddamned media would stop calling them entitlements,

it's our fucking money.

[Rebl2]

34. EXACTLY

Many that voted for him will not be happy about this. He promised them he would not touch social security!

[AZ8theist]

40. He also said his tax plan would cost him a fortune...

LIE.

He LIES every fucking time he opens his mouth.

Plus, he's too fucking stupid to know how economies actually work. A blithering idiot.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

33. Going to be a one termer