General Discussion

earthside

(6,960 posts)

31. What is the problem?

Thu Apr 11, 2013, 10:56 AM

Apr 2013

That is still my first question about this proposal of Pres. Obama's ....

What problem is cutting Social Security benefits supposed to solve?

Secondly, I'm sure seniors spend virtually all of their Social Security check every month -- so Social Security is clearly economically stimulative. So, why is Pres. Obama promoting a proposal that will have a negative effect on the economy?

Third, I know almost all politicians want to be loved by everyone, but what is this weirdness with Barack Obama that he so desperately seems to want the Repuglicans to be nicer to him?

Finally, it was demoralizing the progressive/Democratic base that led to the 2010 election disaster for Democrats. This Obama Social Security proposal would appear to be having a similar effect on the base. Is there something self-destructive with Pres. Obama? Why would he be doing a 2014 version of the 2010 'abandoning the public plan option' that caused so many Democrats and liberals to just stay home?

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Social Security belongs to the American people. It is not Obama's to bargain with. [View all] Triana Apr 2013 OP

"How dare you Mr. President." SammyWinstonJack Apr 2013 #1

+100000 woo me with science Apr 2013 #50

K&R Scuba Apr 2013 #2

Excellent post Oilwellian Apr 2013 #3

That is woo me with science Apr 2013 #4

"...Chicago gangster-style knife in back..." alcibiades_mystery Apr 2013 #5

Two words - Revelations/antiChrist xtraxritical Apr 2013 #40

One word loudsue Apr 2013 #109

so true! wendylaroux Apr 2013 #6

They ARE listening. To the rich.... Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2013 #61

Nancy Pelosi is not calling this a "cut". Life Long Dem Apr 2013 #7

Horse shit. We all know this is a cut. COLA adjustments downward are cuts. n/t Triana Apr 2013 #8

What about the poorest elderly? Life Long Dem Apr 2013 #12

It's great that such protections might be included. However.... Triana Apr 2013 #15

Population growth in America has been below Zero for many years now. Cuts are not necessary. DhhD Apr 2013 #17

I don't know where your're getting that. OnlinePoker Apr 2013 #44

Yeah great Life Long Dem Apr 2013 #19

Fuck "PROTECTIONS" from the President's policies. woo me with science Apr 2013 #27

Right on!!! lark Apr 2013 #42

The "protections" ( I read them) are A JOKE.. and you are correct! tokenlib Apr 2013 #83

I agree with YOU. We should be raising the payouts, not making cuts AllyCat Apr 2013 #86

Why cut from others who are not much better off to accomplish that? Where are your posts from the Bluenorthwest Apr 2013 #18

It's interesting that you would allow the poorest to suffer Life Long Dem Apr 2013 #22

"allowing"? Why are we getting a Sophie's Choice when it is NOT necessary? djean111 Apr 2013 #23

Now *THIS* is hiding behind the poor. Marr Apr 2013 #25

Amen. woo me with science Apr 2013 #28

Thanks. Life Long Dem Apr 2013 #35

Your straw man needs some work little "Republoprog" Dragonfli Apr 2013 #62

The poor now get food stamps, rent subsidies and other programs that JDPriestly Apr 2013 #90

Yep. It's a shell game. unrepentant progress Apr 2013 #101

You're assuming that those protections won't be negotiated out of the bill dflprincess Apr 2013 #30

Somebody else responded to your bull$hit on another thread brentspeak Apr 2013 #46

I agree with you completely. Further, all those calling for Obama's head are forgetting that we got Hoyt Apr 2013 #80

Do you think $1200-say $1700 is middle class? Or does it still qualify JDPriestly Apr 2013 #85

Will you centrist shills PLEASE quit pretending that Census "poverty" has something to do with REAL eridani Apr 2013 #103

Had not EVERY President for the last 40 years not fiddled with COLA calculations. Fuddnik Apr 2013 #29

And not a single one of them was dealing with the worst depression since the Great Depression eridani Apr 2013 #104

Keeping the 'powder' dry I see....n/t haikugal Apr 2013 #33

If it is not a "cut," why is Obama pushing for it? AnotherMcIntosh Apr 2013 #36

Nancy may find herself with a Democratic challenger--a real Democrat! emsimon33 Apr 2013 #64

Don't flatter yourself Life Long Dem Apr 2013 #66

Are you saying you are not a real Democrat and onlty faux Democrats voted in 2010? Dragonfli Apr 2013 #78

What I notice about the corporate "Democrats" dflprincess Apr 2013 #92

LOL emsimon33 Apr 2013 #118

She is rich. What does she care? JDPriestly Apr 2013 #84

"strengthening of Social Security" - will be interesting to see how many fall-in with that? usGovOwesUs3Trillion Apr 2013 #117

K&R. MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #9

K/R Great article. Autumn Apr 2013 #10

K & R Ganja Ninja Apr 2013 #11

K&R !!! n/t RKP5637 Apr 2013 #13

Absolutely! It's our money...not a Poker Chip! Recommend KoKo Apr 2013 #14

Wonderful post! Agree 100% byeya Apr 2013 #16

AMEN. K&R closeupready Apr 2013 #20

Agree: K&R Paper Roses Apr 2013 #21

Look at what he surrounds himself with. Fuddnik Apr 2013 #24

After this shit I am wondering what unpleasant surprises might come up with ACA. n/t L0oniX Apr 2013 #26

What is the problem? earthside Apr 2013 #31

Perhaps the only point of it is to peel off a couple of Republicans to vote for revenue increases. randome Apr 2013 #68

We are all speculating ... earthside Apr 2013 #71

I think that his father abandoning him dgibby Apr 2013 #81

That makes as much sense as anything else. earthside Apr 2013 #87

K&R!!!! haikugal Apr 2013 #32

Actually, we own EVERYTHING, ... as long as we fight for it, Festivito Apr 2013 #34

The whole reason I wrote this .... Triana Apr 2013 #37

We're fighting, fighting hard for this ONE CRUMB! Festivito Apr 2013 #45

We aren't the people that matter lark Apr 2013 #47

K&R - with !!!!! + 1000snds (n/t) bread_and_roses Apr 2013 #38

Wow think_critically Apr 2013 #39

"they need to blame themselves"... ljm2002 Apr 2013 #52

"There is no getting around it" AgingAmerican Apr 2013 #53

You obviously didn't read my post upthread about fixing official rates of inflation. Fuddnik Apr 2013 #54

The Chained CPI calculation *assumes* an ever lowering standard of living. Marr Apr 2013 #60

+1 treestar Apr 2013 #77

It belongs to us, it is not yours to bargain with The Blue Flower Apr 2013 #41

higher taxes think_critically Apr 2013 #43

False flag lark Apr 2013 #51

We already do, Have been since 1983, the tax increase was specifically implemented Dragonfli Apr 2013 #65

The ignorant young need to understand that FICA was DOUBLED in 1983 eridani Apr 2013 #105

Very Well Said supercats Apr 2013 #48

K and R Liberalynn Apr 2013 #49

Oh Hell yes! n/t 99Forever Apr 2013 #55

Well said, Triana. colorado_ufo Apr 2013 #56

Politicians both right and left for decades used to be mindful of not scaring old folks avaistheone1 Apr 2013 #57

'How dare he' is correct. This sense of entitlement these politicians have is truly upsetting. sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #58

Agree w/ all you said. And yes speaking of "entitlement"... Triana Apr 2013 #59

+100000 I complained a while back woo me with science Apr 2013 #73

"too many of these clowns seem to have forgotten that they work for us." Triana Apr 2013 #79

K&R emsimon33 Apr 2013 #63

It's a good thing that Obama was elected from Illinois and not Blagojevich. AnotherMcIntosh Apr 2013 #67

BINGO! kentuck Apr 2013 #69

Why? zentrum Apr 2013 #70

So do torture camps, for-profit health scams and criminal banks just1voice Apr 2013 #72

Why is it tha there is usually only one person who gives a damn? truedelphi Apr 2013 #74

Double Amen! What hutzpah! Its not "HIS" to compromise! Peregrine Took Apr 2013 #75

Correct. I sent him an email weeks ago that said "It's not yours to 'bargain' with" whathehell Apr 2013 #89

Yet another thread on this treestar Apr 2013 #76

I can't believe what I am reading here. Is there some contest going on to see who can be asjr Apr 2013 #82

Nice post. I'm starting to think that everyone with the capacity to reason Number23 Apr 2013 #88

Complacency.... Triana Apr 2013 #91

I rest my case. asjr Apr 2013 #94

Post removed Post removed Apr 2013 #95

Oh, aren't you the vicious rage insulter. Cha Apr 2013 #100

A lot of the same people were trashing him before this.. Cha Apr 2013 #99

Recommend jsr Apr 2013 #93

Amazing post. Thank you! smirkymonkey Apr 2013 #96

If the consequences weren't so bad, I would actually be enjoying the moment. Beacool Apr 2013 #97

The other candidate was a corporatist as well eridani Apr 2013 #106

Wrong Clinton. Beacool Apr 2013 #112

Goddamn right! Blue Owl Apr 2013 #98

K & R AzDar Apr 2013 #102

i think your expectations of democrats is unwarranted. tomp Apr 2013 #107

Wow! What a GREAT paragraph! This says it all... loudsue Apr 2013 #108

Yep. I cannot believe this is now on the table and being commingled with the deficit. myrna minx Apr 2013 #110

"It's now in the bloodstream with pundits gleefully calling for it's eventual inevitability." Triana Apr 2013 #111

The new spin on this very site is that even if it does pass, its not too bad. myrna minx Apr 2013 #114

Well written and backed up with data. fasttense Apr 2013 #113

k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t Laelth Apr 2013 #115

kick woo me with science Apr 2013 #116