Between the time Obama announced his "temporary payroll tax holiday" on dec. 6, 2010 and signing it into law on Dec. 17, 2010, the Republicans told the world that if Obama ever attempts to end the "holiday", they will holler TAX HIKE and Obama will capitulate just like he has every other time the Republicans hollered TAX HIKE since January 20, 2009. The Republicans added that although Obama can claim a 2% tax cut, when he tries to restore it, they will holler 32% TAX HIKE. Anybody still think Obama's tax "holiday" is really TEMPORARY ? When, in December 2010 Obama had the best opportunity he will ever have to end the Bush tax cuts, he not only failed to do so, but gave the Republicans more than they demanded by adding the "payroll tax holiday". Capitulation implies that you give in to all demands of the opposition. What is the definition of giving the opposition more than they demand ? Compound Capitulation ?

When will someone in the Democratic Party grow a pair and initiate a primary challenge to this Milquetoast? Meanwhile, Barry stands up in front of the cameras today trying to play the tough guy and fails miserably. No matter what the issue, the most reactionary elements in Amerikan government simply have their way with this weakling at their whim. He simply cannot muster any sense of conviction on anything that benefits workers.

Is Obama's end game to eliminate the EMPLOYER portion of payroll tax and therefore SS and Medicare altogether? Tell me it is not so Obama. .................PAR........................ SS has been on the block since spring of 2010 when Obama appointed all conservatives to his 'Cat Food Commission'. (http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ask_this.view&askthis...) ..................PAR................................ Obama then gave US his payroll tax holiday. (Two year holiday. On June 14, 2011, Obama was talking about making the holiday permanent.) This is very significant as it is the first actual cut to the SS program. Everyone thought it was great - less taxes, etc... It was not great. The 6.2% was cut to 4.2%, which is a 32% reduction in cash employees paid into the SS fund. .................Par................................ Recently, there was an article on CD that the White House was considering elimination of employers' payroll tax entirely. I take this as rumor only. Was the employee tax holiday the bait to make an employer cut sound only fair? This would be the end of SS and Medicare. Employers now pay: 6.2% FICA, 1.45% Medicare and 0.8% FUTA. (Employees pay 4.2% FICA - post holiday). If employer payroll tax is eliminated, funding to SS and Medicare, the cash being set aside to be paid out to citizens in the future, would be cut 65%. SS and Medicare would then run out of funds really quickly. ..........................PAR................................. Was the payroll tax holiday a trial balloon and is the elimination of employer payroll tax Obama's ultimate goal? To add insult to injury, corporations like GE and Exxon have been making the news lately for not paying income tax. The only tax corporations cannot beat is the payroll tax. No matter how many CPAs and lawyers are on staff, every corporation pays the 6.2% + 1.45% + 0.8% on the gross wages of employees, (up to a salary dollar limit). ...........................PAR................................ At a time of huge deficits and talk of draconian austerity measures, when corporations have a big bag full of tricks to avoid paying taxes, (for the commons - including their defense while conducting business overseas), talk of cutting corporate payroll taxes, is TREASON. I blame Reagan, who said, 'Corporations don't pay taxes people do'. Should I be blaming Obama also? Tell me it is not so, Obama.

No doubt he will extend this to employers then he can tell the Rs that he is all for tax cuts too. I can only hope that those of us dependent on Social Security remember this sell out when the election gets here. The lesser of two evils is still evil.

Of course, what's needed is the SS/Medicare deduction/'contribution' applied to the income of the wealthy. So far the argument seems to be, 'Let the working class continue to fund Social Security!' Also, I'm wondering if the lowered contribution amount for current workers will negatively affect their SS retirement benefits.

Austerity is what they have planned for us. It works like this. Fix the elections, dry up the revenue stream with tax cuts, then demand "Austerity." Raise taxes on the poor and middle classes, sell off public lands etc. to the high bidders, and raise the price of everything. We starve, they profit. It's all quite simple really.

There is the inch that stole the mile. Given away again. Sold out. I'm going to move into my own bat cave, this one is full of......................................................................!!!

This "payroll" tax goes streight into Everyman's Social Security retirement account. Mister Obama has diverted those funds from our retirement and our childrens into the pockets of the Corporate Business Party. And I thought Bush should hang for crimes against the American people...

I think that this is another example of Obama being a sell-out. Its outrageous that the Republicans claim to be concerned about Social security and they then undermine that program. Cutting the payroll tax undermines social security. What Republicans want to do is incrementalism. First they want to attack and destroy FICA tax which independantly funds these programs. In that way they can then expose the program to be more easily defunded or underfunded. Social security is funded by FICA which runs automatically and therefore does not need renewal. It was designed that way to keep greedy politicians hands from being able to kill it. The program is also run according to rules regarding eligibility rather than by benefits being provided till money runs out. As Republicans want to change Medicare to block grant, they basically want to do the same with social security which will make it so they can underfund the program, and basically kill it by blocking any bills to fund it. The goal is to kill medicare and social security. This has nothing to do with money because there is more than enough money in this country to fund these. ITs all about Republicans not wanting government to help people, and not wanting the super rich to required to help the poor. The ultimate goal of Republicans is to consolidate all power and wealth into the hands of a wealthy and powerful corporate elite, destroy our democratic government, and create a society where the poor are left to die while rich elites continue to gorge themselves and amasse massive wealth, where corporations are soveign entities that are above the law and serve to enrich a wealthy elite by exploiting the masses and killing the poor. Republicans are basically fascist Nazis but they do a much better job of killing right out in the open but not being held accountable. The streets are there concentration camps, to where people are commited by being fired by corporations and then left to die. Human life has no value to republicans, they are murderers and the only thing that is important to them is money. Youre life is only valuable when you have billions stashed away in bank accounts. Much of the American population in much the way common germans were duped into supporting the Nazi party by propoganda, are now exposed to 24 hour corporate Republican propoganda. The US is no longer a democracy, the corporations own the politicians and the media. All of the means of change and tools to change things are controlled by them. Republican elites do not believe in Democracy and have already destroyed it. Increasingly it seems the US population does not really care either. The US had a brief period when it looked as though it was about to become a truly democratic society in the 1960s. The US came close to implementing universal health care, universal housing gaurantees, rights to a clean environment for all, rights to a living wage, unemployment protection that is not time limited, universal college education, all things that are essential in any truly free society where people will not be left to die because they have deemed no longer valuable by capitalism or corporations. Corporate campaign contributions and propoganda were limited and exposed. Universal voting rights were established in the 20th century and the right of employees to collectively bargain. For once, t he US was beginning to look like a true democracy with a true right to living where the common people had the ability to fight back and wealth elites power was being limited. This so alarmed the elites that they began to work to destroy this and to turn back the clock. This involved the conspiracies of the right wing christians , libertarian and free market-supply side types and efforts of them to control and take over all of the countries insiututions, including media, which they have been successful of. Unlike Republican delusions, the US did not resemble much a truly free society or a utopia for all, in fact free market ideas have a poor history, the US economy in the 1800s was subjected to severe instabiliies under the gold currencies, and small government. Even in those times there was no free market puratinism, which would be an utter disaster and simply serves to allow a corporate elite to take over the economy and to destroy any democratic control over the economy. Corporations now have become more powerful than they have ever before and control pretty much everything and through control of resources,a re defacto lawmakers. Byu controlling money and resources, they also control media and poltiicians and are able to keep themselves permenantly in power as dictators. The corporations will always win in the media and democracy because of Republicans is effectively over. With the loss of true liberal Democratic party, which was the only entity that still represents democracy, freedom, and individual rights in society, democracy is basically dead. Republicans are outright fascists and control much of the media, and are basically a part of the corporations.

Obama quit trying to be such a cute fascist. I mean, it's a common fact that the Fed just printed TRILLIONS and TRILLIONS of dollars for the banks. Why then, gentle fascist Obama, couldn't the Fed do the exact same thing to fund SS and Medicare? The fascists who control our government and the governments of the West are just phoning it in now.

Seriously, is anyone surprised by this at this point? I didn't think it possible. but the contempt I hold for this man has surpassed what I felt for the faux Texan. I will actively work for O'bomber's defeat, though deep down I think fair and honest elections in this country are no longer possible with the crooks in charge of counting the vote. We need a revolution NOW.

I already knew he was an asshole but he has managed to become a war crminal, a theif, and a liar; all in less than 4 years. Bush set course for the iceberg, barry put the peddle to the metal, and is throwing the lifeboats overboard and is going to steer other boats to this same berg; and, so, now it is just a matter of time. Don't see anyway this boat is going to change course. Tony

Obama is out to destroy Social security as we know it. To do this, he needs the cover of the Republican party. This explains why he trashed progressives before the 2010 elections. He wanted to lose the house so that he could continue the grand privatization scheme of the neoliberal agenda. He's not there for us, he's there for them.

Do not mess with Social Security or Medicare. These are the sacred cows and for years the Trust Funds have been raided illegally. That money belongs to all the the United States Citizens that have paid into the system for years. Stop the charade now or you don't get any votes from us citizens. Republicans and Democrats a like it's your money not the Governments. The game is over and come 2012 any politician can be thrown out of office. We the working class want our country back and you Right and Lefties do not own any of it.

Only the D's can dismantle Social Security.

I'm 74 and retired. I have to laugh when they make statements like, "For instance, a worker currently earning $100,000 should have paid $6,200 in payroll taxes for 2010 wages, but will pay only $4,200 for earnings this year. a wage earner Making $100,000 per year would save..." -------------------------------------PG------------------------------------ In my entire working life including 25 years in the fire service, I never approached $50,000, even as a Battalion Chief. Now, I draw a pension that is one hell of a lot less. If they succeed in trashing Medicare as they want to do, my life expectancy will be how long it takes me to die of some disease or injury. It is hard enough to just hang on to my house and pay the bills. Every time some unexpected bill comes up, I have to borrow on my life insurance. That is about gone. -------------------------------------PG------------------------------------ Social Security was a well funded program, with billion$ in it. Then the politicos saw all that money, reserved for a purpose, to help the elderly survive, and they figured out a way to "borrow" the money to use in the general fund or for our many wars. The fund now has worthless IOU's from the government and they want to get rid of it because for it to survive, they have to pay some of it back! -------------------------------------PG------------------------------------ I guess we oldsters are just part of that surplus global population they are trying to figure out how to get rid of. Well, if they take our medical care and our pittance of a pension away, and see that we are driven out of our homes to live in the street, that should take care of a few million in their 70's and 80's. The young ones can just be sent off to be cannon fodder, or to die of unsafe jobs in virtually unregulated plants. -------------------------------------PG------------------------------------ But by golly, those billion and trillionaires are adding still more to their vaults and that's what it is all about anymore, isn't it?

A stealth attack on Social Security by our con man in residence. A trial balloon to see if anyone gets it. More to come unless the intent and effects are exposed.

Are you really that stupid? Still supporting the Zionist whore Obama? Franken is more of the same. Follow the MONEY!!!!

What a despicable betrayer of Social Security. He has just spit on the grave of FDR. Actually it's more like he defecated on FDR's grave and memory.

To readers: really sorry about no paragraph breaks. the CD software is, for some reason, eliminating breaks today.****** Rand-y Alan Greenspan truly designed the Social Security Tax and Trust Fund as it exists now. Why support it?****** Talk about deception, misdirection, and confusion! The-Matter-With-Kansas is now demanding more taxes on the workers! Gee, what a Right-wing mantra, that somehow got planted into the heads of the people. And it has got people worried, just because the banksters and bean-counters say its 'trust fund' may go bust IN FORTY YEARS! Meanwhile the USA itself is really BUST NOW!!! Ridiculous!****** Social Security is NOT a mutual fund or some passbook bank account! Wall Street, though, salivates at the thought of looting it by making Social Security into another 401K jalopy, and it has been behind a long campaign to shrewdly deceive and convince people that Social Security is just a mere savings account via a massive and expensive propaganda barrage it hopes will pay off big time..****** And Right wingers also have a hard-on to utterly destroy Social Security, because they really know what it is exactly... it is Social-IST Security. That is, it is a form of common welfare provided by the government to its citizens.****** Really, we should be ELIMINATING the Social Security tax altogether, as it hits the working class and the poorer citizens hardest and the rich NOT AT ALL, AS IT WAS RE-DESIGNED TO DO BY ALAN GREENSPAN a couple decades ago...and it is,a tax upon the workers that was hidden under the mendacious cover of a 'trust fund' for senior citizens, so who could argue against it?****** But where are the trust funds for other areas of government, like the military? Oh yeah, it's that same 'Social Security Trust Fund' that can be used at will by the executive administrations but kept off the official budget book... again, as it was designed to do by thug Alan Greenspan, that evil-billionaire arch-villain.****** Let's get honest, and dump the FICA tax. Then, let's take back the Federal Reserve from the banksters and forget government interest payments to the already-rich.****** Then, let's eliminate the bloated tax code, with special breaks for all the busy-nesses that over time have plugged their own special breaks into it and finally have plugged it up completely (for example, 401k refers to A PARAGRAPH of a special law intended only for Xerox that the tax lawyers have now blown sky high into a way to shift millions of workers off the responsibility of the companies they worked for, and instead serve as fodder for Wall Street). It is now official. The tax system has become a travesty. But in reality, it is a travesty designed to serve the tax lawyers who designed it and the business interests that had it modified to their likings. Guess a Frankestein monster is not what they had in mind... but as long as they get their tax breaks...****** Replace this with a simple, ultra-progressive tax on business and NOT individuals. After all, revenue is made by doing business, not by being alive. Save 100 million tax forms per year.****** Call it, say, the National Rent. Paid to the citizens of the USA, just like any other business pays its landlord. Or just like oil companies pay ALASKA and its citizens today, within Alaska's Socialist tax system. And no deductions - do you tell your plumber you have to deduct the cost of your business advertising or your education or braces from his bill? I think not. Why, if the government is useful, would you treat your own government worse than a plumber (who is dependent upon the Socialist sewer system anyway)? Ask GE.****** So remember when you argue for more taxes on workers, that even when the overlords say it is for Social Security, they don't mean it. The 'trust fund' has always been looted, and always will be. Until people realize it is SOCIALIST SECURITY and does not necessarily need a trust fund, as it should be provided by the government in its course of actions each year, out of general revenues... just like bondholders want.****** And oh, for those people who think the governement is 'broke' - that is another deception and misdirection. For even today ONE SINGLE hedge fund is worth $3 Trillion! And hedge funds, according to the Bank of International Settlements, owe... not just a mere $14 Trillion like the USA (owes to the Social Security Trust Fund and China and the world's super-rich)... no, hedge funds owe over $1 QUADRILLION! Are they 'broke'? They don't say they are, and they don't complain endlessly about their own 'debt'... just about yours! Even though they themselves are the ones who put you into debt slavery, along with your very own government of by and for the people.****** So what is the people's government worth, eh? I think a bit more than one stinking (literally) hedge fund! ****** And remember, back in the Great Depression, the economy somehow, due to government action, could all of a sudden go into overdrive for World War 2 and turn on a dime to prosperity, pride, achievement, accomplishment and community, thus ending that Depression... maybe because the Republicans and Babbits of that era were so afraid they would lose their power to their rival fascists in Germany and Japan that they stopped blocking the True Work of a Socialist Government, which is Power to the People.

Quick, somebody grab the jumper cables. Maybe we can jump start President Zero's brain! Anybody got a deep cycle marine battery?

So we are supposed to support bankrupting Social Security for a few extra dollars in our paychecks? The harm will be to our children and to young people, lower paid workers, who will face old age without any form of income, as pensions are now rare. _________________________________________________________________________ Obama is the clever Jacob who is tricking us out of our birthright. We do not have to be gullible and short-sighted Esaus.

For the umpteenth time, Obama is a Republican just pretending to be a Democrat. Call him a politically-correct Republican if you like because he's ambivalent about abortion and gay rights, but in every other respect he's pursuing Republican policies. He's not just "capitulating" to Republicans, he's leading them.

Bush's Wall St. bailouts continued, Bush's income-tax cuts for the rich extended, Bush's Iraq war extended, Bush's Afghanistan war doubled down, Bush's military spending increased, Bush's budget deficits increased, Bush's Minerals Management Service staff retained (while oil companies cut corners on environmental protection and job safety at off-shore drilling sites), Bush's labor policies continued, Bush's assault on Constitutional rights continued, Bush's imperial presidency doubled down.

Add Obama's "accomplishments" like Romney-care (private health insurance mandates) and hundreds of billions in financing and indemnification for the nuclear power industry (it's as "safe" as off-shore oil drilling), and no one should be surprised that privatization of Social Security is next on Obama's list.

Lest I forget, Obama also solicited bribes (campaign contributions) from Monsanto and other bio-tech companies by instructing federal agencies to ignore court rulings and safety concerns, and allow planting of genetically modified crops which are linked to cancer, birth defects, neurological disease and allergies, and which permanently contaminate and biologically alter other nearby crops.

What will kill us first? Terrorist retaliation for Obama's war atrocities, an Obama funded and indemnified nuclear plant disaster, Obamanomics devastation in our senior years, or Obama's toxic food?

Yesterday in a conversation on Wisconsin Public Radio, Bill Moyers pointed out that Obama has never seen himself as an executive but always as a moderator with sweet speech. If Republicans threaten to cut off the arms and legs of Democrats, Obama will compromise by having the Democrats agree to having just one of their legs cut off, at the Democrats' expense just to be fair to the Republicans.