McCarthy has put Social Security and Medicare at risk to become Speaker

[Uncle Joe]

(File: Getty)

Of all the things that Americans voted for in the midterm elections, cutting seniors’ hard-earned benefits wasn’t one of them. In fact, by denying Republicans an anticipated Red Wave, voters largely rejected MAGA-nomics — including more tax cuts for the wealthy and spending cuts for everyone else. Nonetheless, by making concessions to a small faction of MAGA rebels in order to become House Speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has opened the door for cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

One of McCarthy’s most dangerous concessions was agreeing to tie the lifting of the federal debt ceiling to spending cuts, which easily could include Social Security and Medicare. As former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich recently wrote, “For years now, a major goal of the extreme right has been to undermine Social Security and Medicare, the most popular programs in the federal government… The coming fight over raising the debt ceiling seems likely to become the defining battle over the next six to nine months.”

While it’s true that Democrats still hold the White House and the Senate, the president and his party will be under enormous pressure to avoid a federal government default on its financial obligations — and the ensuing economic chaos — if Congress fails to lift the debt ceiling. In 2011, Tea party House members took the country to the brink of default in order to extract concessions on spending from President Obama and congressional Democrats. Democrats resisted the GOP majority’s demands, but the resulting debt ceiling battle resulted in harmful spending caps that hobble Congress to this day. 

(snip)

Of course, the public is not demanding that Social Security and Medicare be cut. Quite the opposite: both programs remain overwhelmingly popular. A large majority of voters (83 percent) across party lines say they want to see Social Security expanded, not slashed, with the wealthy contributing their fair share in payroll taxes. Meanwhile, 62% of voters say they want Congress to raise the debt ceiling so that the government can meet its existing financial obligations, with no strings attached. Nevertheless, McCarthy has empowered a handful of ultra-MAGA members to dictate policy for the new House majority. One commentator called them political “nihilists” who believe in little more than an atrophied federal government and unfettered market capitalism which leaves working people behind.

(snip)

https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/3807765-mccarthy-has-put-social-security-and-medicare-at-risk-to-become-speaker/

[JoeOtterbein]

1. K n R ! Thanks for posting!...nt

[Lovie777]

2. Geez....

this is only the beginning.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. Republicans are nuts....

[link:|

[qazplm135]

4. Dems better be willing

To call their bluff and not fold

[Elessar Zappa]

5. I think the Dems will call their bluff.

Biden has said that he absolutely will not tolerate cuts to Medicare and Social Security.

[Hope22]

6. Everything he conceded to he wants to destroy.

I don’t believe they are forcing him to do one thing. He is a MAGAT. He duped the semi normal R’s if there are any left, into backing him.
I have to say that I find the way he speaks to us while he is killing the country very spooky.
I feel like we will be paying for whatever the orange one did to him down in Mara Largo post 1/6 for a very longggg time.

[Woodswalker]

7. I don't know about everyone else

But I'm a little fed up with the idea that seniors are going to be butt rammed by republicans on their social security when the vast majority of them "VOTE FRIGGIN REPUBLICAN"!!!

[BOSSHOG]

10. Yes indeed Teammate

I’m an old guy on social security and Medicare, and very thankful for it. Many old farts in town in similar situations are dumbass Maga idiots. But republicans know their voters and will blame Dems for the harm they plan on doing. My wife and I are fine and dandy thx to 50 yrs of money management but maga morons live day to day because of socialism and the decency of democrats to keep it solvent. If there is a god, he’s constantly challenging good people.

[slightlv]

11. Then I must be a really good person,

because I live such a challenging life! My sister and I were planning on a train trip to the west coast this coming summer. First time we've ever taken a vacation together; first real vacation I've had since I can't remember when. Everything is on hold until this gets worked out. If the Magas crash Social Security, we're screwed. I pumped a bunch of money into buying a house with cash, so that at least I'd have four walls and a roof over my head no one could take from me in my old age. That came from my retirement account. My sister and I both got screwed by Brownback when they changed the game rules on the Teachers Retirement Fund. She really got screwed, because the Arch Diocese changed the retirement rules on top of it.

We're also picking up the slack for my Mom, who is in a nursing home. So this will hit us twice... once on her, then on us, personally. So much for enjoying any kind of a vacation. Normal people who've played by the rules and tried to do right and take care of family through the years just can't catch a break. This country isn't made for people like us.

Thing is, Social Security isn't part of the general treasury. It's an insurance account that's suppose to be kept separate, so what are they basing their numbers on? Do they have any numbers? Are they doing the usual R thing and just pulling them out of their butt?

[BOSSHOG]

13. Republicans will do

Whatever their billionaire bosses insist they do. It’s one helluva investment for them. The GOP doesn’t write legislation. It is written for them at the state and National level by the American legislative exchange committee (ALEC) whose sole goal is to further enrich the rich. If you suffer, they don’t give a fuck because their pursuit is “common sense” legislation for the good of all. I fail to understand how people can be so evil, but apparently evil gravitates towards itself.

And who could possibly doubt the AMERICAN legislative exchange committee. MAGAs lap it up.
It’s like how could something named the Heritage Foundation possibly do wrong?

[lambchopp59]

12. The quick, sly FOX jumps over the lazy dog.

They won't read the facts. Fox tells them not to.
They won't believe they're voting their own demise.
Fox scares them the "illegals" are coming for their wealth.
So they go buy more guns.

How is it I spot the MAGA'S in 2 seconds?
No more clue than 2 scrappy looking MAGA'S at the propane fill station yesterday. 2 loudmouth jackals, missing teeth, driving an old, polluting jalopy. Got their tanks filled then slammed down the hatchback and there it was.
"Infowars" bumpersticker.
Social security recipients? Check.
Medicare beneficiaries? No doubt.
Intractably stupid? Obvious.

[phoenix75]

8. No worries...

Ain't gonna happen. Cutting Social Security and Medicare would be political suicide.

[Timewas]

9. Yes

They cannot do it without some dems joining them....they will spend the next 2 years making a lot of noise but they can't pass a bill without the senate and the president agreeing...