Perry’s scorn for Social Security won’t be issue in GOP primary
In his 2010 book “Fed Up,”, Texas Gov. Rick Perry didn’t hold back in expressing his scorn for Social Security and Medicare.
Social Security, he wrote, is a “Ponzi scheme,” “a crumbling monument to the failure of the New Deal” created “at the expense of respect for the Constitution and limited government.”
It’s going to be fascinating to see how that language plays out politically. In a recent CNN poll, 64 percent of Americans said they oppose making “major changes in Social Security and Medicare” as a means of addressing the debt problem, while only 35 percent supported the idea. Those numbers suggest that Perry’s statements could become a serious problem in a general election.
(A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll released in March produced similar numbers. Only 18 percent said Medicare cuts were necessary to “significantly reduce” the deficit, while 54 percent said they were not. Just 22 percent said cuts to Social Security were needed, while 49 percent said they weren’t.)
At first glance, you might think that Perry’s position would be a liability in the GOP primary as well. According to the CNN poll, only 42 percent of GOP voters say they would support major changes in Social Security and Medicare, while a large majority of 57 percent reject the idea.
Theoretically, that should open up a two-pronged attack against Perry for somebody like Mitt Romney. By defending Medicare and Social Security against major cuts, Romney could align with a majority within his own party. It would also allow him to make the case that Perry’s extreme position might cost him the general election against Barack Obama.
But Romney hasn’t taken that course, and I don’t think he ever will. Here’s why.
It gets down to the difference between music and lyrics. Lyrics provide the words, but the music is what makes people get up and dance. It’s true in entertainment, and it’s true in politics as well.
If Romney criticizes Perry for taking an extreme view on Social Security and Medicare, he’d be getting the lyrics politically right. However, the music that GOP primary voters would hear is there goes RINO Romney, defending government entitlement programs. It is not a tenable position. It would be like standing in front of the GOP convention and singing “My Country T’is of Thee” to a hiphop beat.
It’s the music that matters.
– Jay Bookman
UPDATE: I should also point out that in the CNN poll, 80 percent of those identifying themselves as tea-party supporters say they support major cuts in domestic programs as a way to cut the deficit.
However, only 47 percent of tea-party supporters back major cuts in Social Security and Medicare; 52 percent oppose it.
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426 comments Add your comment
Brosephus
August 26th, 2011
11:04 am
md
The way I see it, we’re pretty much f**ked either way. Things should begin to return to normal by the time my daughter’s going into high school, and she just turned 3.
TruthBe
August 26th, 2011
11:06 am
USinUk, For you information and others. The meaning of the word socialism aka”socialist” according to the dictionary is Political and economic theory advocating state ownership and control of the means of production, distribution, speech, and exchange. Total control by the state or federal governments.
Talking Head
August 26th, 2011
11:06 am
getalife,
i’m sorry you are so dependent on the government, maybe one day you will be free
Bosch
August 26th, 2011
11:07 am
GS,
“Nevermind the fact that our parents didn’t seem to mind our stink and fluids when they raised us.”
Just my observation, but baby poo (and doggie poo) and throw up is NOTHING compared to 90 year old poo and throw up.
Not even in the ballpark. Vicks Vapor Rub is not just for chest colds.
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:07 am
Since you cons want to default to end SS and Medicare, look your parents in the eyes and tell them you will take care of them and listen to their responses.
They will be scared to death.
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:08 am
th,
Tossing your parents on the streets is your answer right?
Dusty
August 26th, 2011
11:08 am
Well, well, what a surprise! Bookman is going to tell the GOP how to run their primaries. You would think he would spend his time telling Democrats how to make people forget Obama’s lead into economic “rock bottom” in our country.
But no! Let’s tell the GOP how to run their business.
Sure thing Bookman.! More “expert” advice.from the failing side. How about a little fault finding with your own Dems before you get to the GOP?.
Gordon
August 26th, 2011
11:08 am
“Utter nonsense. If Congress doesn’t do ANYTHING for the next ten years, and that includes not extending any tax cuts, then our budget problems get solved at the end of those ten years. Real numbers.”
BullHockey.
But this might surprise you. Simply cutting spending 1% (really cutting, not slowing the increase of growth) every year for the next 8 years would balance the budget. But balancing the current budget alone would not solve our problems. The difference in the long term costs of entitlements and what we are expected to receive based on current law is an unfunded liability. It is why private companies have to show that on their books. The government doesn’t, and those numbers are huge.
Stevie Ray
August 26th, 2011
11:08 am
Realist, you bring up an interesting point that nobody wants to touch. The fact is while I need to pass a test to drive my car, I can reproduce at will regardless of my citizenship, marriage, or financial status. Whether I can provide an environment favorable to my dependents is irrelevant. As a result, too many unsuspecting kids are brought into society at great disadvantage and thru no fault of their own, end up down wrong path and become drag on society. Where do you draw the line between “pursuit of happiness” and what could be argued as common sense?
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:09 am
Zedd — “Spin it anyway you want. Facts are facts and those whose said Perry wanted to secession were wrong. A spade is still a spade.”
Ever hear of “dogwhistle” politicking?
Bosch
August 26th, 2011
11:09 am
And with THAT — my daughter just called and has broken dress code — must take clothes to school, the little vixen’s shorts are too short!!
She’s got her mother’s legs, what can I say — you flaunt your obvious attributes, and they both have long nice ones — oh, that reminds me, I also need to run by the sporting goods store and get a wooden bat upgrade.
Girls.
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:10 am
TruthBe: So is there anything out there that is suddenly TOTALLY state controlled under Obama?
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:10 am
As of Page 4:
Anti-Obama posts = 6
Individual anti-Obama posters = 5
Anti-Bush posts = 3
Individual anti-Bush posters = 3
Fake posts meant to skew the results = 1
Mr Sunshine
August 26th, 2011
11:11 am
And SSI isnt a Ponzi scheme? Of course it is and it is being played on Americans by the US GOVT. In other words our glorious aHole leaders have spent the money and we are the Ponzis.
You and your liberal spin never cease to amaze. Perry, Romney or Bachman, it doesnt matter because your boy ObaManure is goin DOWN.
Brosephus
August 26th, 2011
11:11 am
Adam
TruthBe
August 26th, 2011
11:11 am
getalife, I would do the Christian thing and move my parents in and take care of them. My father has passed away, he was a war hero and served our Country well. Thank you! And how about you dear friend,would you do the right thing also?
Generation$crewed
August 26th, 2011
11:11 am
Bosch
August 26th, 2011
11:02 am
That is an issue that no amount of debate between us will resolve. I feel that is ones own responsibility to cover theri medical needs. Just my opinion. You see health care as more of a right. That is a fundamental difference will will have.
Can’t say if I’m right or you are. Its a matter of opinion. My family has done the best we could to account for as much of the cost as possible.
I also understand everyone could not or did not do this. There in lies the problem. However there are many who Could have saved more and were in a position to account for later life expenses.
Again I commend you at nt increasing the amount the gov would owe by placing them in a nursing facility, that would also have to be paid for. Every little bit of savings helps us younger folks have a better chance at a future on par or better than those of the past.
TruthBe
August 26th, 2011
11:12 am
Adam, Yes this economy is now ALL obama’s.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 26th, 2011
11:12 am
Bosch is suffering from “the hunter becomes the hunted” syndrome…..
Joe the Plutocrat
August 26th, 2011
11:12 am
TruthBe, thanks for the political science lesson. so, as I am wont to ask these days; where exactly do Merck, Goldman Sachs, Lockheed Martin, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Archer Daniel Midland, et all fit into Obama’s nefarious “socialist” gameplan. we are not living in a socialist economy; we are serfs/peons in a capitalist oligarchy.
Talking Head
August 26th, 2011
11:13 am
getalife,
my parents have learned to not intrust their well being in the government and have made choices in their lives so that they won’t have to stick their hand out to the government…they tought me how to fish too
you can hold my hand if you want
Normal
August 26th, 2011
11:13 am
Interesting read…
http://www.thenation.com/article/162922/democrats-rural-rebellions
Dusty
August 26th, 2011
11:14 am
Well, Bosch, have you finished demeaning your older family members? Good that you took care of them (did they have the money?) Why ruin it by acting like a jerk?
Perhaps you would also like to tell us about your personal mishaps in the toiletry area. Well, don’t. You have already gone beyond desirable limits on conversation. We don’t need anymore.
TruthBe
August 26th, 2011
11:14 am
Got to go all, have fun and GOD bless you and your families.
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:14 am
Generation$crewed — “Unless tough decisions are made and my generation accepts the facts that we will not get an even trade on our SS investment.”
SS is not an investment and never has been. It’s insurance.
And if I live to 62, which I presume I will, I’ll never see a dime back on that fat term life policy I took out when I was 32. Are you upset about that, too?
Uncle Jed
August 26th, 2011
11:14 am
Social Security, he wrote, is a “Ponzi scheme,” “a crumbling monument to the failure of the New Deal” created “at the expense of respect for the Constitution and limited government.”
+++++++++++++++++++
I think I can agree with the part about Ponzi scheme. It does appear to be just that. As another poster pointed out, all candidates, even the incumbent will need to address the subject in the campaign/debates. I predict that all, even the incumbent, will suggest raising the eligibility age at some point and reigning in disability fraud, etc. I think that if someone can get some traction on the concept of allowing a portion of one’s account to be set aside for guaranteed higher yielding investment options with a modecum of personally directed control it will be a winner with the peeps.
sam
August 26th, 2011
11:14 am
what is social security adn medicare?
ty webb
August 26th, 2011
11:14 am
in other news…how “racist” is hurricane irene?
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:15 am
Jay 10:42 – after adjusting for taxes and cost of living, one is much better off in TX. Trust me. I got more than a few relatives there.
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:15 am
tb,
If the grandparents are alive, move them in too.
My answer is yes but millions of Americans can’t afford it so millions of Seniors are on the streets.
This is not Christian.
Real Christians would never want their family on the streets and some preachers are taking the heat for speaking this truth from the unhinged cons.
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:15 am
TruthBe: Adam, Yes this economy is now ALL obama’s.
Weak. Very weak.
JKL2
August 26th, 2011
11:15 am
Jay- It’s going to be fascinating to see how that language plays out politically.
Translation: The evil Republicans want to take away your Social Security and Healthcare. Vote for the party of free handouts.
AmVet
August 26th, 2011
11:16 am
“i’m sorry you are so dependent on the government…”
Oy.
Rhetorical question of the day.
Why are so many of the right wing Christians on this blog so hateful and un-Christianlike?
Just Another Anonymous One
August 26th, 2011
11:16 am
Your 3030 statement shows your ignorance. Just spend 5 minutes and look it up. You might be surprised.
Or better yet, why don’t you back up your statement regarding that 100 trillion dollar unfunded medicare tab. Go ahead. Take five minutes, six if you like. Surprise us and do it in four.
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:16 am
TruthBe – thank you for so thoroughly proving my point that the people who call Obama socialist don’t have the first clue what the word truly means.
Generation$crewed
August 26th, 2011
11:17 am
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:14 am
Did someone force you to take out that life insurance policy?
cause they take SS straight out my check and I have no choice in the matter.
Be responsible for your own decision. I was never consulted or asked about my preference to purchase SS insurnace.
So you wanna compare some apples to these oranges over here in a little bit?
Generation$crewed
August 26th, 2011
11:18 am
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:16 am
Kinda how you don’t KNOW (notice I used caps too) what conservatives think?
Jimmy62
August 26th, 2011
11:18 am
Can you please explain how Social Security is NOT a Ponzi scheme? You mock people for calling it a Ponzi scheme, but provide no logic as to why you think it’s not.
A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that works fine until you run out of new investors. For SS, the investors are new workers. Since there are less new workers than there are retirees and soon-to-be retirees, then you are running out of new investors, and the whole scheme is falling apart. It’s a Ponzi scheme any way you look at it.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 26th, 2011
11:18 am
How exactly is SS a “free handout” given that its completely funded by employment taxes?
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:19 am
Is TruthBe like Jay’s blogmascot or something?
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:19 am
USinUK @11:16 am
Midori
August 26th, 2011
11:19 am
USinUK – Jon Stewart would agree with you.
He did a hilarious bit on that last week.
TruthBe – thank you for so thoroughly proving my point that the people who call Obama socialist don’t have the first clue what the word truly means.
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:20 am
Screwed – if they espouse the GOP platform, I do.
as do we all.
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:20 am
Social Security really does resemble a policy scheme, at the mechanical level, no doubt about it.
Thomas
August 26th, 2011
11:20 am
How exactly is SS a “free handout” given that its completely funded by employment taxes?
We continue to move to a paradigm that those who fund don’t receive and those who fund a little bit receive the majority.
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:20 am
Midori – I saw it – laugh flippin RIOT
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:20 am
policy =ponzi
typo, oy
Talking Head
August 26th, 2011
11:20 am
amvet,
what does being dependent on the governement have anything to do with Christianity or any other religion for that matter?
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:21 am
G$ — “Did someone force you to take out that life insurance policy?”
Irrelevant to your contention that SS is a bad “investment.”
“cause they take SS straight out my check and I have no choice in the matter.”
Again, irrelevant.
“Be responsible for your own decision. I was never consulted or asked about my preference to purchase SS insurnace.”
What’s that got to do with the fact that you’re wrong about SS being an “investment?”
“So you wanna compare some apples to these oranges over here in a little bit?”
You’re the one comparing an insurance program to an investment, not me. Perhaps you should pay a little more attention to the difference between the apples and oranges in this discussion, because I just had to point out a very key distinction between them to you.
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:21 am
jm – it’s friday. all typos are forgiven
as they are on monday, as well
Tues, Wed and Thurs, however … it’s -15 points.
kayaker 71
August 26th, 2011
11:22 am
USinUK,
I too have a daughter who lives in Portland, OR who is about as liberal as they come. We bicker with each other in much too long telephone conversations about our differences in ideology but granted, she is not the enemy. Perhaps a poor choice of words on my part. But she is reasonable in her objection, able to realize that anyone can be wrong and willing to engage in give and take. Not like the typical liberal love fest on this blog where anyone with a different idea is the devil incarnate and is hopefully mired on the dark side. Guess it goes both ways.
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:22 am
Yeah, run perry on defaulting to end Medicare and SS.
You will lose in a landslide .
Go for it cons and end your party for good.
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:22 am
Jimmy62: People have been calling it a Ponzi scheme long before we had this recession. They were wrong then, and they are still wrong now unless ALL insurance programs are Ponzi schemes. In which case, you better save up yourself and forget about having any kind of insurance for anything, right?
Atlanta1
August 26th, 2011
11:22 am
Confirmation that Perry is a threat. Let the organized trashing begin…
Joe the Plutocrat
August 26th, 2011
11:23 am
Talking Head, who cares who can fish and who cannot fish? do you understand that the oligarchs OWN THE FISH (or pond/ocean)? everyone keeps on talking about “spending” and “entitlements” as if the money simply vanishes into thin air. as I said, the money is “created” out of thin air by the Federal Reserve Bank and it flows through the economy, where it is registered as a debt on our national tab, and INCOME/REVENUE on the oligarchs balance sheets. and since, half the oligarchs now do their taxes “oversees” or benefit from tax breaks and loopholes “over here” a sginifcant portion of the the $$$ does not re-cyle through the economy. how many times do I have to SAY IT? when social security funds are disbursed, the recipients use those funds to buy good and services, ergo; the bulk of the “wealth” is redistributed vertically as oposed to horizontally. this is what is meant by “spreading the wealth”. think of it as fertilizer (and spare me the B.S. jokes). if you have a 200 sq. foot garden, with tomatoes and sweet potatoes and corn and beets, you don’t dump your entire cache of fertilizer on one plant or one crop; you spread it around, harvest your produce, and use the revenue to purchase more seeds and fertilizer, as well as some of Redneck Convert’s beer (and maybe even a JB Travelin’ Music greatest hits CD).
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:23 am
Jimmy62 — “A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud”
And that’s the distinction you’re looking for right there. SS isn’t an investment.
Look up the term OASDI. See what that “I” stands for.
AmVet
August 26th, 2011
11:23 am
The two points were unrelated.
For example, as an American you are dependent on the government, but I have no clue if you are a Christian or not…
Generation$crewed
August 26th, 2011
11:23 am
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:20 am
Again you said conservative. Do I need to go show you again?
You do understand that not all consevatives are republicans just like not all liberals are democrats?
And all republicans are not conservative in all aspects.
Just like not all democrats are liberal in all aspects, don’t you?
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:24 am
“it’s -15 points”
Is Jay going to start putting up a scoreboard? Awesome….
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:24 am
Up to the end of Page 5 results:
Anti-Obama posts = 9
Individual anti-Obama posters = 8
Anti-Bush posts = 3
Individual anti-Bush posters = 3
Posts meant to skew the results = 2
New since Page 4 results:
Dusty @ 11:08a – anti-Obama
kayaker @ 10:10a – found a “bozo” mention so I had to update the previous tally.
Mr. Sunshine @ 11:11a – ObaManure. nice…
TruthBe @11:12a – Technically this one doesn’t count because I provoked it so it’s added to the “skew the results” list.
NO new anti-Bush posts on page 5.
No Dave R, or I would be searching for TMs.
Redneck
August 26th, 2011
11:25 am
No Jay, Tea Party people know that Medicare and Social Security get their funding from a direct tax paid by the taxpayers. No so for mediacaid, foodstamps, TANF, housing, WIC, etc which comes from general taxation.
If you word your question differently regarding Medicare and Social Security you may get a different answer.
Just saying, you know?
williebkind
August 26th, 2011
11:25 am
Well, Jay is playing his role as a dependable liberal media person. The subject should be Obama and how he is not performing–does he even play bogey golf. Instead Jay and the liberal media is slamming potential candidates who are not in control of anything at this time. Americans without jobs are secondary to liberals. That means the unemployed are depending on the government for a living. Yes, they liberals are fine at swapping statistics that mean nothing. They will even skew the input data to control the outccome. I do get the feeling there is a division among the liberals and many are going to sit at home during the election but that is just me. The conservatives have to defend themselves against the mainstream lame medias and many bloggers. Did you hear some more liberal medias have failed or went under? Yep those internet sites had to close. I am reasoning that statistics like 98% saw the site but only 2% participated did not provide enough funds without government grants. The liberal spin on that is a whopping 98% of internet users learn about that site. Hehe. Liberals sure are funny.
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:25 am
kayaker – 11:22 – it sounds like you and your daughter have the same convos I have with my dad when we talk politics!
( hey! waitaminnit!! maybe he really isn’t deaf after all – maybe he’s just pretending not to hear me!)
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:25 am
GS,
Post your positions on the issues and it will probably show you are a con.
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:26 am
OH OH WAIT! Jay wrote about Perry and Romney. You can tell who liberals fear by…..
Generation$crewed
August 26th, 2011
11:26 am
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:21 am
Insurance is an investment.
By nearly every concievable definition of investment.
But hey.
If you think that you choosing to buy a life insurance policy is the same thing as being forced to pay into SS then I am really not sure if you can be helped.
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:26 am
Adam
“unless ALL insurance programs are Ponzi schemes”
You’re factually wrong, my friend. Insurance funds purchase assets that are available to pay off liabilities. No such thing occurs in Social Security.
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:26 am
jm – yes … and the person with the worst record at the end of the day is going to have to clap erasers
Talking Head
August 26th, 2011
11:26 am
Joe,
I agree with your assessment of the Fed…however, I am making the basic point that we should not be dependent on government to determine the course of our lives…make your own choices, learn to be self sufficient, personal responsibility…God I love this country!
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:27 am
Genaration$crewed: You do understand that not all consevatives are republicans just like not all liberals are democrats?
And all republicans are not conservative in all aspects.
Just like not all democrats are liberal in all aspects, don’t you?
Statistical outliers don’t help make a good counterpoint.
yuzeyurbrane
August 26th, 2011
11:27 am
Good analysis. Also, Teapeople will dominate Repub. primaries. So Perry is the winner. But American people won’t drink this Kool-aid in general election.
JKL2
August 26th, 2011
11:27 am
getalife- Since you cons want to default to end SS and Medicare, look your parents in the eyes and tell them you will take care of them and listen to their responses.
My parents are set as they have always been very frugal. They currently take care of my grandmother. We are already set to take care of my mother-in-law when the time comes that she feels it’s necesary (she’s 74). Her other 6 children are deadbeats and have no interest in the matter, so the writing has been on the wall for several years that this is how it will all play out.
Sorry your fellow constituents don’t feel the need to take any personal responsibility for their families. Hard enough to get them to take responsibility for their children, let alone parents…
PS: feel free to call me a racist and flame away to deflect from my point.
Generation$crewed
August 26th, 2011
11:28 am
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:25 am
Which issue you wann know about? Posted a pretty indepth set of ideas about 6 or 7 blogs ago, on defiiet reduction and other economical ideas.
Might be surprised at it all. Certainly wouldn’t say it would make me a con.
You got an ideas to help or are you just here to b*tchabout those who you disagree with?
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:28 am
jm – “Insurance funds purchase assets that are available to pay off liabilities. No such thing occurs in Social Security.”
wrong – the SS trust fund holds $2.7 Trillion in US debt
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:28 am
jm: You would be correct that I was factually wrong if I actually was saying that all insurance is a Ponzi scheme. In fact, I was pointing out this is not the case, and it is also not the case with Social Security.
TruthBe
August 26th, 2011
11:29 am
Joe the Plutocrat
August 26th, 2011
11:12 am
TruthBe, thanks for the political science lesson. so, as I am wont to ask these days; where exactly do Merck, Goldman Sachs, Lockheed Martin, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Archer Daniel Midland, et all fit into Obama’s nefarious “socialist” gameplan. we are not living in a socialist economy; we are serfs/peons in a capitalist oligarchy.
Government controls their money in the form of taxation for the start. Restrictions, laws and bylaws, who they can sell to and where. You know stuff like that for example. Also since you listed Goldman Sachs you should read about the inside deal that the obama administration gave to Warren Buffet. No wonder Buffet’s up obama’s ass. I would too if I was given a inside trader deal on Goldman Sachs for 5 billion. Lets see how much is Goldman sachs worth today after we the taxplayers bailed them out. 200 billion? And Warren and company controls them because they got all the best voting stocks and were given control of Goldman Sachs.No other large investor was given the same deal or opportunity Read a little more and some names like Shore Bank of Chicago, Climate Change Carbon Credit exchange, Chicago Excahange, Brokerage deal with Goldman Sachs, 4% worldwide commissions would come up. Yes folks it’s the oldest game in town the rich get richer by using their money and influence to bull politicans like little ole obama and the rest. Remember the golden rule” He who has the gold,Rules”.
Jimmy62
August 26th, 2011
11:30 am
Joe Mama- What SS was officially named when it started has nothing to do with what it is now. It’s not insurance, and it’s not the same program it was when it was first created (for one thing, there was none of this mysterious empty “lockbox” stuff back then, and benefits were tied closely to estimated lifespans, which they are not at all anymore). If anything, it’s a massive transfer of wealth from black people (who tend to have lower lifespans) to white people (who tend to live longer past retirement age).
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:30 am
th,
Personal responsibility is not blaming our President for the deficit and gop disasters.
When will you start using personal responsibility for your party’s destruction of our country?
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:30 am
yuzeyurbrane: But American people won’t drink this Kool-aid in general election.
TEA, yuze, TEA. They won’t drink the TEA in a general election.
AmVet
August 26th, 2011
11:31 am
Yep, the suddenly enlightened cons are no longer Republicans.
Or is it, the suddenly enlightened Republicans are no longer cons?
Hysterical…
Disgusted
August 26th, 2011
11:31 am
My point exactly! How sad is it that so many feel it is the role of others (gov’t through taxation) to pay for the care of their parents? Nevermind the fact that our parents didn’t seem to mind our stink and fluids when they raised us. Guess its a good thing they didn’t ship us off to homes for someone else to take care of us all.
Parents, hell! I’ve been changing the diapers of my paralyzed wife for months now. This current stinking so-called healthcare system makes no provision for help in that regard. If you’re a working stiff and you don’t qualify for Medicaid, you’re on your own. Obamacare can’t possibly be worse than what we have now. The only time I see home health care workers is when they drop in for so-called therapy, spend 20 minutes, then bill Medicare $107 for that visit. And we’re lucky to have Medicare. Our private health insurance won’t cover such visits, in spite of the fact that it costs $14,000 per year. And you think that’s superior to anything else on the horizon?
You’re one deluded soul. The only people benefiting from the present system are the parasites—people like Dusty, Bruno, and thousands of others who make their living off the misfortunes of others. I say bring on single payer!
Generation$crewed
August 26th, 2011
11:31 am
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:27 am
Only if it is to counter the proclaimation of another, such as one who claims to know what conservatives think. Especially if that person then goes and changes what conservatives think to now making all conservatives to espouse the ideas of the GOP.
That is factually not true. Unless you can show me how that is true?
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:32 am
jm – http://www.cnbc.com/id/29880401/The_Biggest_Holders_of_US_Government_Debt?slide=16
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:32 am
USinUK
“wrong – the SS trust fund holds $2.7 Trillion in US debt”
Soooo, insurance companies are just allowed to hold their own bonds and count those as assets? Try again. When I owe myself money, I don’t get to count that as an asset but not a liability USinUK.
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:32 am
GS,
I guess you posted under another name because this is the first time I have you seen you.
On this issue, you are a con but say you will not toss your parents on the streets.
Good for you.
Jimmy62
August 26th, 2011
11:32 am
JKL2: Who said we want to default or end SS? You did. Most of us conservatives and libertarians and Tea Party types just want benefits adjusted to match expected lifespans, which SS did when it was created but is no longer anywhere close to being tied to expected lifespans. And I’d love to see you find where anyone ever said that we should default.
Dusty
August 26th, 2011
11:33 am
USinUK says that people who call Obama a socialist have no idea what it means.
Could be. Democrats are the ones who promote socialism so they must know more about it than others.. Do we have a suggestion that Obama is not socialistic? Is that possible?
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:33 am
Adam 11:28 – you were offering that as evidence of a rebuttal to the argument that SS isn’t a ponzi.
Your evidence and assertion were wrong.
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:33 am
the SSTF /= the US Treasury.
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:34 am
jk,
Over 14 million Americans lost their jobs in the w collapse.
What about their parents?
It’s not about you me generation.
Talking Head
August 26th, 2011
11:34 am
“When will you start using personal responsibility for your party’s destruction of our country?”
I’ve said several times that I don’t and didn’t approve of Bush’s second term and his big spending agenda. However, looking back at historical deficit spending, you will see that spending began to skyrocekt in 2008 with legislation passed by a dem controlled congress.
When will you except reality?
Generation$crewed
August 26th, 2011
11:35 am
Disgusted
August 26th, 2011
11:31 am
I have no problem with you or your wife collecting benfits. I am only advocating that those who do not need the benefits, need not take them and that currently is not the case.
Don’t know how that makes me a deluded soul?
But if it made you feel any better to rant at me, I am glad i could help with a problem I did nothing to casue nor advocate. Hope you feel better.
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:35 am
Ok, folks. For those not quite up to speed on finance 101, let me explain something.
IF the SS trust fund held assets other than their own debt, then one could legitimately say there is a trust fund with value. If they held foreign bonds, corporate bonds, real estate, etc etc etc., then there would really be a trust fund.
When you owe yourself money, that’s not a trust fund. That’s fraud (if you try to declare it as an asset but not a liability). Or a ponzi.
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:36 am
th,
When will you take personal responsibility and admit the money was spent on the w collapse?
AmVet
August 26th, 2011
11:36 am
One for each side of the ledger, Adam!
George Jr, aka the Uppity Muslim Kenyan Marxist, is an acolyte of his all white uncle – GeeDub.
They, like most in Washington have used socialism to bail out capitalism.
Few choices after the attempted corporate destruction thereof…
jm
August 26th, 2011
11:37 am
For the really daft, answer this:
If you go borrow $1million and then put it in the bank, are you a trust fund baby?
No points for the correct answer, just some shred of credibility if you’re a liberal.
USinUK
August 26th, 2011
11:37 am
“Democrats are the ones who promote socialism”
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I stopped reading …
Adam
August 26th, 2011
11:38 am
Jimmy62: And I’d love to see you find where anyone ever said that we should default.
Sometimes it’s almost too easy….
Ron Paul
Punditry
Both have videos to prove it.
Talking Head
August 26th, 2011
11:38 am
get,
money spent on the w collapse, spent by dems
getalife
August 26th, 2011
11:38 am
Go for it th.
Lets hear what he spent the money on..