Pic Of The Moment: Chained CPI: Are You Sure You Want To Do That?

[JDPriestly]

24. This article deserves a prize. It is excellent.

http://www.alternet.org/economy/7-chilling-facts-about-retirement-america-should-make-obama-tremble-cutting-social-security?page=0%2C3

Means-testing Medicare would wipe out the savings of older Americans.

It would make saving for retirement a futile exercise.

What a bizarre idea. You don't need to do the math to figure that one out.

Suffering an extremely costly illness at some point after you reach 65 is a virtual certainty. Only the very lucky die suddenly from a stroke. In fact, most of us will not be allowed (by the system, our families, etc.) to simply pass away from our first heart attack or stroke or bout with cancer.

It's very hard to let a loved one go.

Means-testing Medicare would mean that those who saved would be forced to pay every penny of their savings, sell their houses if they are so fortunate to have managed to pinch pennies and pay down a mortgage, borrow against everything they have, do without in order to pay for insurance.

Right now, Medicare is not free, but it is relatively affordable.

Insurance companies would charge enormous amounts of money to cover seniors who without fail have a myriad of pre-existing conditions.

The biggest problems in America today are joblessness, the disparity in wealth between the richest and the poorest and the deterioration of the environment.

Solve those biggest problems and the rest will take care of themselves.

Congress is doing nothing, zero, zilch about our biggest problems and focusing on doing Wall Street's bidding.

Every DUer should read that article at Alternet. I'll give you a hint. It explains why Obama is recommending the chained CPI and starting the first attack on Social Security, why Obama will attack Medicare and the kinds of pension perks Obama himself will receive when he retires.

It makes for good reading. I highly recommend that article.