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Hands Off Social Security
A White House deficit commission is reportedly considering deep benefit cuts for Social Security, including a steep rise in the retirement age. We cannot let that happen. The deficit and our $13 trillion national debt are serious problems that must be addressed, but we can and must address them without punishing America’s workers, senior citizens, the disabled, widows and orphans.
First, let’s be clear: Despite all the right-wing rhetoric, Social Security is not going bankrupt. That’s a lie! The truth is that the Social Security Trust Fund has run surpluses for the last quarter century. Today’s $2.5 trillion cushion is projected to grow to $4 trillion in 2023. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, experts in this area, say Social Security will be able to pay every nickel owed to every eligible beneficiary until 2039. Got that? In case you don’t, let me repeat it. The people who have studied this issue most thoroughly and have no political bias report that Social Security will be able to pay out all benefits to ever eligible beneficiary for the next 29 years. It is true that by 2039, if nothing is changed, Social Security will be able to pay out only about 80 percent of benefits. That is why it is important that Congress act soon to make sure Social Security is as strong in the future as it is today.
The hatred of Social Security from the right-wing anti-government crowd is based on the fact that Social Security, a government program, has been enormously successful in accomplishing its mission. For 75 years, in good times and bad, Social Security has provided financial security for tens of millions of Americans.
Despite this outstanding record, Social Security has become a political football. For ideological reasons, some in Congress believe that government should not be in the business of providing benefits to seniors or the disabled. They want to privatize Social Security. Others say, incorrectly, that Social Security is going bankrupt, so benefits should be reduced and the retirement age set at 70. I strongly disagree with both assertions.
While the critics profess concern about Social Security’s financial future, their fuzzy math ignores the fact that this highly successful program has not added a dime to our deficit. From the day when the first check landed in the Ludlow, Vt., mailbox of retired legal secretary Ida May Fuller on Jan. 31, 1940, Social Security has more than paid for itself.
With regard to the future of Social Security, there are some really dangerous ideas out there, and one proposal that makes a lot of sense.
One of the worst ideas is to privatize Social Security. After the greed and recklessness of Wall Street caused markets to collapse in 2008, does anyone still seriously believe it would be a good idea to turn the retirement security of millions of Americans over to Wall Street CEOs whose dishonesty and irresponsibility have no end? Their administrative fees alone would take a 15 percent bite out of workers’ retirement investments, not to mention the real threat of another stock market collapse. In sharp contrast, administrative costs for Social Security are less than 1 percent of the program’s budget. Most importantly, despite economic conditions and the ups and downs of the stock market, Social Security has never failed to pay full benefits to every eligible beneficiary.
Another horrible idea is to move the retirement age up to 70. That would cheat today’s young workers out of about 15 percent of their retirement benefits over a lifetime. The proposal also ignores the reality that millions of workers in demanding professions simply cannot continue to work until they are 70. The upshot for them would be reduced lifetime benefits for retiring “early.” Lower-income workers, those less likely to have other savings, would be hurt the most.
In the midst of all of the destructive rhetoric and ideas out there with regard to Social Security, there is one proposal which is simple, sensible and would keep Social Security strong and solvent in a fair and just way. Under the law today, the Social Security payroll tax is levied only on earnings up to $106,800 a year. That means millionaires and billionaires get off scot free on all of their income above that amount. In other words, an individual who earns $106,800 pays the same Social Security tax as a multi-millionaire. That’s wrong. Applying the Social Security payroll tax on those with the most income, say over $250,000 a year, would correct this inequity. According to CBO, applying the tax to all income would provide all the revenue that Social Security needs for the foreseeable future – for our kids and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
As we mark the anniversary of Social Security, now is the time to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. For 75 years, Social Security has lifted millions of people out of poverty and has provided stability and dignity for the elderly and for other vulnerable Americans. Our goal today must be to make sure that Social Security will be as strong and stable 75 years from now as it is today.
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Show AllObama and Congress will apply the boiling frog strategy to assure that the upcoming gutting of Social Security will not get Americans into the streets:
The intial gutting will affect only those who are still 15 to 20 years or more from being eligible for Social Security, so they won't feel it for two decades. In the meantime benefits will gradually diminish to the point that 25 to 30 years from now the program will be a shadow of what it is today and a majority of Americans will demand that it be curtailed.
Exactly. And that 'boiling frog strategy' has an architect. His name is Alan Greenspan. HE is the one that introduced hedonics and other funny number games in the CPI. Without touching the FIRE business sectors because their constant increases barely budge the CPI, the paltry COLA 'raises' are Orwellian defacto cuts in pay each year. In the meantime the FIRE sector merrily drives us into penury while the government BLS (beauro of labor standards otherwise known as base for lying statistics) says everything is hunky jake.
Just look at the 'weighting' in the CPI that the following unavoidable costs of living in the USA have:
1) PROPERTY TAXES (technically not a business sector unless you define the US as fascist)
2) HEALTH INSURANCE
3) ANY OTHER KIND OF INSURANCE
4) MEDICAL SERVICES
5) MEDICAL DEVICES
6) several other corporate friendly categories using hedonics
If any of the above were accurately reflected in the CPI, then the government would have to put a damper on the ruinous raises these categories have. So they conveniently accidentally on purpose under weight our very real expenses in the CPI. That's what lobbyists buying congress achieves.
These bastards plan ahead. It's really quite insiduous because it does a complete end run around the laws that made such decent social programs like social security viable. It really is similar to Reagan's strategy of naming pollution champions from industry to the EPA.
corporate scum.
AGELBERT: I don't know if you're a new poster, or someone who altered his screen name; but I want you to know that I find much intelligence and insight in your posts. I believe you said you were a pilot? If so, perhaps flying over the flatlands expanded your vision of what goes on "below." Thanks for sharing (so enthusiastically!) in this forum.
Siouxrose. I am AGG. I was thrown off in January from getting too foul mouthed about hypocritical pro war but pro ecology and environment positions by the people of _____.
I promise to be nice now.
They did quite a job of locking me out. They ban your IP address so a new handle and password don't help. Folks like Henry8/THomas Moore/Mightymite prove they have access to multiple IP addresses by morphing so quickly after getting banned. Us poor folk don't have that luxury.
And I won't mention the Zorkians (the poor sci-fi short story I wrote) again either.
AGEL: Well, if it's any consolation, some of the better thinkers from this site were once banned. I know because they have emailed me and we've discussed this issue. I wish a few were banned, who, as you say, have access to MANY screen names. And I have MY sources as to what this is all about. I do my best to allude to it in the forum (from time to time), but was advised not to state the data overtly.
Thank you for returning. I must confess that while I do recall your previous name plate, I can't remember any direct conversations. I've posted thousands of comments, and do my best to remember the positions "regulars" assume. As is the case in any club, virtual or otherwise, affinities and non-affinities emerge.
One day I'd like to tell you a pilot story that emerged from my imagination before coming to life right off the actual page. Jessica Fletcher found her murder mysteries come to life in the TV series, "Murder She Wrote." I find far more amazing things come to life... as if born directly from the writer's notebook.
Thank you for the info.
Keep up your fine prose. With the snowstorm of disinformation people are subjected to these days, we need all the critical thinkers we can get.
I'm not a poor thinker but I hope to be a better thinker and someday a great critical thinker as I age without getting uptight about it. Some critical thinkers are nice while others are rude. Rude people turn me off.
War is rude.
I thought war was more than rude. It's conflicts gone out of control but rudeness can lead to it.
Yes, I am a licensed pilot. I taught flying, then flew commercially before I joined the FAA and became an Air Traffic Controller. Late in my career I went back to school for a bachelor in science with a major in biology (pre-med). I wanted to become a doctor. Several problems ended that dream but I did learn enough to be 'dangerous' about medicine I guess.
Thank you, Senator Sanders, for being such a forceful advocate for our Social Security system.
Another Thank you, Senator Bernie Sanders! Great statement in defense of our Social Security!
No Democrat, he, yet Senator Sanders sounds like FDR, or Harry Hopkins, or Henry Wallace. Voices from 75 years ago who created this working safety system.
Try to get Senators Harkin or Feingold or Kerry or Dodd to sign off on this statement. Good luck! Wall Street is more important to this crowd of current DC Demos; they're anxious to get it privatized and likely make a bundle.
Much admiration for Senator Sanders. Best wishes.
Bill in Dubuque
It is interesting, and revealing, as to how the Right Wing is framing this discussion.
When discussing the ending of the Bush Tax cuts, and or raising the amount on which Social Security raised, they refer to it as a "Massive tax hike" with words like "This will be the greatest tax hike in US History".
THAT alone is anough for far too many people to be opposed to these solutions. They all believe it is THEIR taxes that will go up.
Why not refer to the Inavsaions of iraq and Afghanistan as MASSIVE tax hikes on the American worker? This would be much more honest.
Already a trillion and counting flushed away, and for what?
I wish the damaging remarks were limited to Republicans.
On the 75th anniversary of Social Security last month all Obama could say was "the Republicans want to privatize Social Security", thereby placing himself on the defense that will result in him capitualting on this issue just like he has on all other issues.
A president who really believed in hope and change would have told the world that he would push to increase the contribution cap (that Sen. Sanders mentioned)to a level that would allow the program to increase the benefits for all recipients.
You're so right. Another clue to Obama's intentions would be the sort of people who he appointed to the commission, especially its head, Alan Simpson; they all believe in their rotted little hearts that SS--and Medicare and Medicaid--should be slashed and burned.
Actually, if O were in any way the rational and populist man he campaigned as, he would never have created the commission in the first place. It's left to economists like Paul Krugman to tell us that during a time of depression we shouldn't worry about deficits and cutting budgets but rather spend to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and put money in people's pockets, which will over time naturally draw down the deficit.
But instead, Obama is following the neo-liberal, Chicago school style of economics, which says, when the opportunity presents itself, as in time of depression, economies must be knocked down and its components sold to the highest bidder; social programs destroyed; and labor and its unions slashed.
The havoc this IMF and World Bank philosophy has wreaked upon the world was documented in 'The Shock Doctrine' and can now pretty much be used as a manual for what's happening in the u.s.a.
President ObambyaBush has never, to my knowledge, made a commitment to assure Social Security spending and the Cat Food Commission is stacked against protecting it. A regression analysis shows the reason for the huge deficits, initiated by Reagan,fund the Pentagons/spy agencies. The Cat Fooder's will not even consider the real reason for the Federal deficits, Pentagon spending and will use the usual red herring, stalking horse of social security as the reason.
TEDDY recently posted some very elucidating material from The Asia Times that provided an analysis of the U.S. economy and the way the dollar has been artifically propped up by the mere printing of money. That's money that was never earned through viable industry. Were it not for the U.S. military acting to buoy up the dollar (almost in the way the local Mafia wise guy makes sure to get "his" cut from business merchants), other nations might not lend the scam legitimacy, and the reality of the deceit might be exposed to the light of day.
Another poster pointed out that when elites no longer believe in a particular currency, they invest in gold. That appears to be the current case.
The point of these examples is the elites know the Stock Market (and U.S. economy) is mostly functioning on the basis of elaborate spectacles of smoke and mirrors. They need a major cash infusion to keep the con going... and that's why they are aiming at Social Security.
Now if the right-wing PR machine can convince tea party types to act against their best interests, if it can compel a nation to war on false pretexts, would we really be completely surprised to find the con great enough to seduce everyday people into once again acting against their own best interests?
Nothing is too amoral for our complicit two-parties-morphed-into-one system to enact.
Stock up on canned goods now. And since coffee is an import, I recommend beefing up on stocks if you enjoy that beverage, as I do.
Thirty years of a well oiled US propaganda machine have already convinced most Americans that I know to believe not only that Social Security is going broke, but that the estate tax results in Americans losing their businesses and farms (the list of similar urban legends is long).
A lie repeated three times without being challenged becomes a fact for most Americans. Why let facts get in the way of a good story ?
RAY: Yes. Your observation, unfortunately, is accurate.
The father of the guy I date just came into a lot of money. I was walking the dog and he told me, like a kid at a pep rally, "I love George Bush." (He knows I detest the man, who is not even human in my eyes.) The reason? The family's rich aunt managed to die THIS year when some kind of inheritance jubilee is going on. Although there are 5 relatives (my guy's father could legally take the lion's share), they will not have to pay a PENNY on several million dollars.
Since their family is Republican, there is no disconnect between collecting unemployment or tapping into other generous government programs. They see it as their "due." My guy says, "Hey! I paid for it." For me to explain that the paltry sum taken from his check every week hardly equals the amount doled our week after week, and that it was a program advocated by "socialists" means nothing. Nor does his father recognize the degree to which that sum (liberated from taxes) pocketed, may deprive others of necessary social services.
Someone in the forum posed the analogy between conservative values and a "Hey, get away from MY money!" attitude. I think it's accurate.
Perhaps if the way money was collected and utilzed by society reflected more fairness, more of us would be ready, willing, and able to donate in generous fashion. The way things stand, too many opt for a "I got mine, the hell with you" response.
From your post and this quote from the article;
"Under the law today, the Social Security payroll tax is levied only on earnings up to $106,800 a year. That means millionaires and billionaires get off scot free on all of their income above that amount. In other words, an individual who earns $106,800 pays the same Social Security tax as a multi-millionaire. That’s wrong."
It is becoming very clear that the rich is an unsustainable burden on this country that will be the death of it. These people are insatiable pigs, literally a cancer on the land. The take millions time more from society than they contribute to it. It really is disgusting.
The urban legends you mention are based on mindlessness, the inability to discern thoughts, including the thoughts of others from facts. USG propaganda machine is "oiled" by mindlessness and can be observed on TV by the hour, minute, seconds. Mindlessness propaganda is used by the government, business, pretend christian preachers[harlot]with false doctrines[babel] and institutionalizes mindlessness thereby giving it legitimacy.
Siouxrose, I don't buy your theory. I do believe that the US military in the Mideast does help to buoy a hegemonic dollar. Whenever the world economy looks shaky, the value of gold moves up. I do not believe that the Stock Market "need[s]" Social Security money. Most naturally they want it. Right-wing and corporate propaganda has been fine tuned over the years. Some people are completely blinded by it and some of us only partially. I do not believe anyone is totally immune. The world economy and the US will likely bump along about as has been lately. I realize some areas are hurting badly. I live in what seems like a fairy-tale world. The unemployment rate in my area of Minnesota is only 6-7%.
GREG: My opinion and the information it's based upon hardly require your consent. I don't think there's ever been an issue, starting with genetic modification of food, that you and I agree upon. So what's new?
Well said.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if one day we came to this forum and we didn't have to wade through arguments that totally ignore the empathy required to be considered human?
It gets old to talk to people that look down from a high point on aN ALPINE SLOPE AND TELL THE POOR BASTARD TRYING TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN THAT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE SO MUCH DIFFICULTY ON THE 'LEVEL PLAYNG FIELD'.
Sorry for the caps. I pushed the caps lock by mistake and just don't feel up to changing it.
I guess 'what's new' is that some days I'm more bothered by the 'fear card' than other days. When you insinuate that our ability to buy coffee may well come to an end, I say you're playing the fear card. Sure it could happen, but I hope you don't scare too many people with such talk.
Stocking up is a great idea. People should also become more aware of the edible flora around them by downloading free info from the web and printing it. I read recently that in our commercialized, homogenized, compartmentalized, monoculturized, propagandized and thoroughly over marketed popular food choices, we are severely limited. Out of thousands of edible fruits, vegetables and foliage, we actually consume 23 or less varieties. As to the polluted soil we have, Sunflowers and spinach have been proven scientifically to leach the soil of heavy metals. The adult plants must be taken to a toxic waste disposal site but then, after testing the soil, one can proceed to plant 'exotic' plants like dandelions (FAR MORE IRON THAN SPINACH), etc.
There is a way. The corporate crooks just don't want us to know about it.
This may account for why a Repubican CONgress wanted to introduce legislation earlier this year to outlaw the growing commodities, including flowers, by persons on their own property.
SR - are you sure that there exists some elite that is thinking about this and planning? I don't see any thinking going on, just a mad chaotic free-for-all of every person out for themselves. If we respond to that with personalized and individual solutions, we are operating from the same anti-social mindset that the wealthy and powerful are.
On the tea party people - I listened to Chomsky the other night talking about the tea party people - not the organizers and financiers, but the sympathizers. He made a good case that they see the whole system as unworkable, and that they are right about that. We can be speaking to them, or the right wingers will be.
There is something real fishy going on with those Gold Purchases and there so many things hidden from us we can never really know the truth as to what is going on.
Recently India and other countries bought Gold Bullion , much of it from the US stockpile out of Ft Knox only to find that on delivery much of the bars were in fact Gold Plated Tungsten.
This is making headlines in Europe and Asia but rarely mentioned in the USA.
This seems linked to the recent arrest in Switzerland of Japanese nationals carrying 134 BILLION in US Bonds.
Just prior to 9/11 elements in the US and European Governments were investigating a massive Money laundering scheme involving illicit money being drained from national treasuries and funneled through a Cabal if International banks and Brokers. This included the 2.3 trillion Rumsfeld alluded to as being "missing".
It was a fortunate Coincidence that all the evidence of these schemes were housed in WTC1 and 2 , WTC 7 and in the Pentagon in the section that was struck by those "Jihadists flying airplanes".
Due to 9/11 the investigations all halted as the evidence was all but destroyed in one fell swoop.
We are not talking billions...or hundreds of billions...we are talking about TRILLIONS.
I can not help but be suspicous and see a link between the suggestion that certain Individuals were laundering hundreds of Billions of dollars through various banks and financial institutions with this suddenly followed by a "Banking Crisis" wherein the Government claims trillions need to save the economic system.
Johnny Runs a bank.
Johnny uses the bank to launder money gained through criminal activities and Johnny and his friends strip that bank of all its assets to line their pockets. Johnny goes to the President and whispers in his ear "My bank is going to fail..how about a bailout"? The "failure" is publically claimed to be a result of bad loans and or derivatives. The Pres and taxpayer step in to bail out the bank...' Johnny and his pals are now 3 trillion richer and no one is the wiser. He rewards his friends in CONgress.
What an interesting story! I do, however, think you are CONflating a few too many facts, rumors, and suspicions. I'm sure I'd enjoy the movie though.
Yes even Newton would be dismissed in such a manner were he to try to draw a link between the force of Gravity and an apple hitting him on the head.
The post was not intended for the Corn fed.
This guy can be counted on to support the status quo... whatever the issue in question, the debate du jour, corn fed or otherwise.
GW: Thanks for the info. I read "Deep Capture," and Teddy's article from The Asia Times. Although things are rotten in Denmark, those of us who respond to the stink are called "conspiracy theorists" or crazies. Sure makes it easier for the official cons to continue the work of dismantling the nation, dollar by dollar, ideal by ideal, foundation stone by foundation stone. Now that's something to champion (tongue in cheek).
Folks, all I ask for is critical thinking and facts. Conjectures are fine unless we start to imagine them as true. There's far too much truthiness going around.
Truth can be a good thing as long as it isn't distorted. You're right on truthiness getting out of control sometimes.
Here is some truth for you. The 'corn fed' accusation comes from the fact that a corn diet leads to Pellagra. Pellagra is associated with the four Ds (dermatitis, diarrhea, DEMENTIA, and death).
Our brilliant, exceptional, intelligent pioneers in the USA were frequent victims of pellagra before the scientists figured it out. However, those 'dumb' Mexicans never seemed to get Pellagra.
From the Linus Pauling web site:
Interestingly, pellagra was not known in Mexico, where corn was also an important dietary staple and much of the population was also poor. In fact, corn contains appreciable amounts of niacin, but it is present in a bound form that is not nutritionally available to humans. The traditional preparation of corn tortillas in Mexico involves soaking the corn in a lime (calcium oxide) solution, prior to cooking. Heating the corn in an alkaline solution results in the release of bound niacin, increasing its bioavailability.
But you won't read about how brilliant the Mexican method of tortilla preparation is in our bullshit pro corporate media. You have been corn fed by PR experts to your detriment, pal.
Ignorance is okay but arrogance sucks.
You are confusing that poor man when you speak of Newton. He can't figure out what fig filled cookies have to do with gravity.
when you add in a bunch of illicit funds, thanks to a few booming poppy seasons and a bunch of booming bombs, the need for laundering becomes even clearer...
untie the bow line
we're off to Havana
to deposit a billion
and have a banana
cocaine and coladas
a new tailored silk suit
sex on a private beach
with a beautiful prostitute
Of course! Wells Fargo was caught red handed. You know, grandpa Warren Buffett's favorite bank (after Goldman Sachs). The SEC response? A fine for laundering, not millions, but BILLIONS in drug money. No charges. 9/11 is like one of those triple banana splits with sprinkles, nuts, three kinds of syrup and free refills. It was the culmination of the perfection of the 'giant rug' made by our elite to sweep inconvenient information under and use the event for numerous new war profits and general mayhem. What a deal! The mafia gift that keeps on giving.
However, logic and 9/11 don't mix in the USA.
Follow the money? No way. Our populace is cowardly or complicit. The few sane individuals like you and I are excluded from credibility.
USA = GREED + MACHIAVELLI
from the article:
~ For ideological reasons, some in Congress believe that government should not be in the business of providing benefits to seniors or the disabled. ~
if I put money in when working, and then get money out when retired, how is that a benefit? isn't that just me getting my money back later?
is this sentence from Sanders really saying some in Congress believe that government should not be in the business of providing seniors or the disabled the courtesy of returning to them the money taken from them years before?
Bernie, I will be carrying a sign in the "Working for America" rally that simply says, "tax the rich." If the rich want to emigrate as a result let them go to some banana republic that will have them and see if they feel safe there. I don't want the US to become a banana republic, though it is well on its way.
Many rich ungrateful republicans AND democrats are leaving. Look up the Soverign Society ( these reptiles are great at fancy, innocuous sounding names). The idea is that rich folks should emigrate to Central or South America to avoid messy things like taxation and patriotism. But you will never read about it in the news. what a country.
In one of my rare moments of snarkiness (?) I once told a republican marketing advisor that if he was so crazy about low taxation, perhaps he should head for Mexico. I told him that perhaps they'd still let him crawl under the fence.
I think he is taking you seriously. Have you heard about the latest rage among the rich? I read about it on microsoft money, no less. They are renouncing US citizenship because it is no longer 'cost effective'. Clever folks, eh? I'm sure they whisper the pledge of allegiance every time they see old glory. RIGHT!
Bernie Sanders made them all slightly upset back in 2008 when he proposed financing the bailout (700 billion dollar heist) by taxing the 400 richest families in the USA who's policies had led directly and indirectly to the financial crash.
That was just before the rest of the senators fell on the floor laughing at the absurdity of taxing the people that own the US government.
Go, Bernie! I just hope you don't cave on this as you did on healthcare ......
nice back handed insult
but of course somewhere in your mind must be the realization that if bernie did not "cave" there would be no healthcare reform at all
besides he got a lot of concessions to help poor people in that bill
"nice back handed insult"
Nope, just a reminder not to slip again ....
"but of course somewhere in your mind must be the realization that if bernie did not "cave" there would be no healthcare reform at all"
Precisely! there would have been no Obamacare - or healthcare deform, and we could have continued and escalated pressure for single payer which is what we really need. Obamacare sidetracked the debate and steered it into this bad news bears bill, as it was intended to do .....
gnken
Now that the US Govt. has enacted all these Anti Terroist Laws. No one will be able to protest the crushing of Social Security by the Right Wing Conservatives that are about to come to power. IF we protest in the streets we will be arrested and maybe jailed for long terms to scare the rest away from even thinking of protesting. Social Security will be disminished to nothing. The wealthy will lavish in there drunken riches why the rest of the population is enslaved to work till we drop. Welcome to the 21st Century America and dont expect any help from other nations. I thank the Tea Baggers and other doofuses who will cause all of that. Im 55 and paid into Social Security and now Im told - that it is not "A Pay in - You Get Back" system. Who's ready to fight for SS?
Bernie,
I agree that the lies about the fiscal unhealth of social security are pervasive and destructive. So? When did mendacity ever stop PR corporate goons involved in perception management in order to reframe an argument to foster some new corporate rape of the treasury?
And suppose you succeed in your endeavor to avoid changing the laws on social security and/or the retirement age?
What are you going to do about the defacto trashing of social security on an annual 'death of a thousand cuts' basis by the paltry COLA adjustments? The gamed CPI that Greenspan brought about has trashed social security ALREADY! And you can add many pensons and the minimum wage to the trashing. It's a clear corporate agenda to force everyone to become speculators bowing to the bull god on wall street by buying stocks since the buying power of pensions is shot. It's what a corporate owned government is expected to do.
Senator Sanders, even according to our government's gamed CPI numbers, the minmum wage is below 1968 levels!
This is an OUTRAGE! If the CPI calculations are not corrected to reflect real inflation and the minimum wage is not brought to something approaching a living wage, then all your words are of zero import. There was NO INFLATION for the last two years but insurance rates, propertty taxes and medical services WENT UP SEVERAL PERCENTAGE POINTS. We, the people, are eating those raises for the further enrichment of the most wealthy members of our society.
The federal reserve comes out every few months to say that "interest rates will remain near 0% for the time being". Can YOU get a ZERO COLLATERAL, 0% interest rate loan in Vermont? I don't think so. The last I checked, credit cards, personal loans and houses are considerably more than 0%. And the cars sold at 0% are just gaming the numbers to avoid dropping the MSRP price. We really are tired of the news media blabing about interest rates that only a handful of bank crooks that we bailed out can get on our dime while we get to eat the inflation with constant government lies about the cost of living.
The government doesn't work for us Bernie. We get it.
But I'm not the senator, YOU are. What are YOU going to do about the planned impoverishment of the American people through inflation and gamed CPI numbers?
Bernie talks a good game but lacks the courage to walk his talk rendering him mostly useless.
This is my problem with voting for Democrats as "the lesser of two evils." Fact is, a Republican Congress would face far stiffer Democrat opposition to cutting Social Security than a Democrat Congress will display.
A wise man once told me, "It'll be the Democrats who cut entitlements, just as it'll be the Republicans who will eventually pass gun control." I wouldn't bet against either possibility. That's the way it has worked outside the USA ...