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Thu 8 Jan, 2009 09:19 am
From your linked article:
Quote:Mr. Obama did not offer specifics on how he would address Social Security and Medicare, nor was there any hint that he expects to ask Congress to approve draconian cuts in benefits. The programs are vital to millions of Americans, and talk of cutting benefits has long been considered politically explosive. On the other hand, both programs face long-range problems, given the growing legions of baby boomers nearing retirement and, in the case of Medicare, the ever-rising cost of health care.
Much ado about nothing, methinks.
It is hardly much ado about nothing. The truth is that the only reason there are cash flow problems with the Social Security Trust Fund is because every president and Congress since 1966 has taken the surplus from social security payroll deductions (which are by law supposed to remain off-budget and be invested) and applied them each year on-budget to reduce the federal deficit without ever paying it back. So the Executive Branch and Congress stole (misappropriated) the money from the fund, and now wants to punish seniors for their the federal governments shenanigans.
Barron Laycock
I can remember Obama wanting to have free day care for all kids aged 4 weeks to 6 years. If there's no money for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid how will there be money for day care and diapers for children?
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