quote:

ORIGINAL: Brain

According to David Frum, who was recently fired by the American Enterprise Institute, the Republican party is run by Fox news. Please investigate it and find out for yourself. Maybe somebody could post a thread about it.

As far as healthcare is concerned, if you really want to get rid of waste I think you need to support a public option, which will provide competition so the insurance companies will become more efficient and provide better insurance rates. Most Americans want the public option, over 50%, probably around 60% said people need to demand reform especially from the United States Senate which is really the problem.

People like Blanche Lincoln, Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson need to be replaced. There are probably several others who may get in the way of reform and they need to be flushed out/purged as well.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

I opposed the health care bill.  The main reason is that I felt that the health care system is inherently wasteful, and that extending it without fixing it would freeze the waste in place.

Obama made it clear that he wanted the bill, but that he also wanted GOP input.  Instead of that, the GOP opposed the bill and showed no interest in working to add input to it.  They spread lies about death panels, etc., and their tactics were to yell about negative parts of the bill, even though they could and should have simply gotten those parts removed.  The Dems responded to the poisoned atmosphere by spreading counterlies.

When Brown got elected, the GOP crowed that the bill was dead.  They taunted Obama as being ineffective and laughed at him for having been unable to get anything passed with a supermajority previously.

Eventually, Obama just said, "Fuck this", and pushed it through, over GOP howling.

The idiots need to understand that the reason that the Dems got a supermajority in the first place is because the public was so fed up with Bush and the policies that he and the GOP rammed through.  Claiming to have suddenly be the only true party representing the will of the people won't wash.  You cannot set yourself up to be the party of fiscal responsibility after eight years of record deficits, even if your successor is expanding them.

Okay, guys, you can either become the party of whiners complaining that Obama is passing legislation you don't like, or else you can work with him on making the bills more acceptable to you.  Your choice.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

The article you linked doesn't really support that assertion. Social Security has run with a surplus and built up a rainy-day fund from the surplus. This year, it may not run at a surplus because of the economic crisis. Big deal. Politicians will get a lot of propaganda mileage out of that, but in reality, that's what's SUPPOSED to happen. It wouldn't make sense to permanently collect more in social security taxes than we use.

Administrations keep borrowing from SS. I wont mention which ones... lol.

In all seriousness, that money was borrowed with the knowledge that it would never be returned. I never see a complaint about this.

quote:

current depression

quote:

ORIGINAL: cadenas

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

The article you linked doesn't really support that assertion. Social Security has run with a surplus and built up a rainy-day fund from the surplus. This year, it may not run at a surplus because of the economic crisis. Big deal. Politicians will get a lot of propaganda mileage out of that, but in reality, that's what's SUPPOSED to happen. It wouldn't make sense to permanently collect more in social security taxes than we use.

Administrations keep borrowing from SS. I wont mention which ones... lol.

In all seriousness, that money was borrowed with the knowledge that it would never be returned. I never see a complaint about this.

If that was true, we'd have a worldwide financial crisis that we can't even imagine despite our current depression. You are basically saying that the most secure investment vehicle in the world - US Treasury Bills - would not be honored. In other words, the USA would declare bankruptcy. If that really happened, Social Security would be the least of our concerns.

quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

How do you know? He had everything to do with his education sealed by an army of lawyers.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Thadius

Actually there is far to little competition in a number of states, therefore they get to set whatever price without worry of being undercut.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl


the Social Security system currently takes in more funds than it has promised to pay out to retirees.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

I opposed the health care bill.  The main reason is that I felt that the health care system is inherently wasteful, and that extending it without fixing it would freeze the waste in place.

Obama made it clear that he wanted the bill, but that he also wanted GOP input.  Instead of that, the GOP opposed the bill and showed no interest in working to add input to it.  They spread lies about death panels, etc., and their tactics were to yell about negative parts of the bill, even though they could and should have simply gotten those parts removed.  The Dems responded to the poisoned atmosphere by spreading counterlies.

When Brown got elected, the GOP crowed that the bill was dead.  They taunted Obama as being ineffective and laughed at him for having been unable to get anything passed with a supermajority previously.

Eventually, Obama just said, "Fuck this", and pushed it through, over GOP howling.

The idiots need to understand that the reason that the Dems got a supermajority in the first place is because the public was so fed up with Bush and the policies that he and the GOP rammed through.  Claiming to have suddenly be the only true party representing the will of the people won't wash.  You cannot set yourself up to be the party of fiscal responsibility after eight years of record deficits, even if your successor is expanding them.

Okay, guys, you can either become the party of whiners complaining that Obama is passing legislation you don't like, or else you can work with him on making the bills more acceptable to you.  Your choice.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alphascendant

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl


the Social Security system currently takes in more funds than it has promised to pay out to retirees.

Evidently, somebody hasn't been reading the news lately....

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

ORIGINAL: cadenas

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

The article you linked doesn't really support that assertion. Social Security has run with a surplus and built up a rainy-day fund from the surplus. This year, it may not run at a surplus because of the economic crisis. Big deal. Politicians will get a lot of propaganda mileage out of that, but in reality, that's what's SUPPOSED to happen. It wouldn't make sense to permanently collect more in social security taxes than we use.

Administrations keep borrowing from SS. I wont mention which ones... lol.

In all seriousness, that money was borrowed with the knowledge that it would never be returned. I never see a complaint about this.

If that was true, we'd have a worldwide financial crisis that we can't even imagine despite our current depression. You are basically saying that the most secure investment vehicle in the world - US Treasury Bills - would not be honored. In other words, the USA would declare bankruptcy. If that really happened, Social Security would be the least of our concerns.

The problem is well-known: Funded by taxes on workers' wages, the Social Security system currently takes in more funds than it has promised to pay out to retirees. And the federal government has been borrowing those surplus funds over the years. But that surplus is shrinking, and eventually the system won't be able to pay out all of the promised benefits.

quote:


Clinton, for instance, has pledged to stop the practice of the federal government borrowing the surplus paid into Social Security.

quote:

ORIGINAL: cadenas

Do you have a better idea what Social Security should do with several decades' worth of surplus funds?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alphascendant

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl


the Social Security system currently takes in more funds than it has promised to pay out to retirees.

Evidently, somebody hasn't been reading the news lately....

quote:

ORIGINAL: RacerJim

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

I opposed the health care bill.  The main reason is that I felt that the health care system is inherently wasteful, and that extending it without fixing it would freeze the waste in place.

Obama made it clear that he wanted the bill, but that he also wanted GOP input.  Instead of that, the GOP opposed the bill and showed no interest in working to add input to it.  They spread lies about death panels, etc., and their tactics were to yell about negative parts of the bill, even though they could and should have simply gotten those parts removed.  The Dems responded to the poisoned atmosphere by spreading counterlies.

When Brown got elected, the GOP crowed that the bill was dead.  They taunted Obama as being ineffective and laughed at him for having been unable to get anything passed with a supermajority previously.

Eventually, Obama just said, "Fuck this", and pushed it through, over GOP howling.

The idiots need to understand that the reason that the Dems got a supermajority in the first place is because the public was so fed up with Bush and the policies that he and the GOP rammed through.  Claiming to have suddenly be the only true party representing the will of the people won't wash.  You cannot set yourself up to be the party of fiscal responsibility after eight years of record deficits, even if your successor is expanding them.

Okay, guys, you can either become the party of whiners complaining that Obama is passing legislation you don't like, or else you can work with him on making the bills more acceptable to you.  Your choice.

That you would say the GOP showed no interest in working to add input to "Obamacare" when a Goggle search would quickly prove you're lying renders your entire message GARBAGE.

quote:

ORIGINAL: maebe

I just wanted to add my two cents to this conversation. i am one of the millions of Americans who voted for change. Finally the U.S. is on a path away from wasteful war spending that the Republicans put us on. I truly do not see why people have issue with making sure all of our countrymen/women have adequate health care. Many of the ideas in the new plan were originally Republican ones yet they now are against them. Go figure... the motivation behind current Tea party members has nothing to do with caring for fellow American's health.

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

quote:

ORIGINAL: RacerJim

quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

I opposed the health care bill.  The main reason is that I felt that the health care system is inherently wasteful, and that extending it without fixing it would freeze the waste in place.

Obama made it clear that he wanted the bill, but that he also wanted GOP input.  Instead of that, the GOP opposed the bill and showed no interest in working to add input to it.  They spread lies about death panels, etc., and their tactics were to yell about negative parts of the bill, even though they could and should have simply gotten those parts removed.  The Dems responded to the poisoned atmosphere by spreading counterlies.

When Brown got elected, the GOP crowed that the bill was dead.  They taunted Obama as being ineffective and laughed at him for having been unable to get anything passed with a supermajority previously.

Eventually, Obama just said, "Fuck this", and pushed it through, over GOP howling.

The idiots need to understand that the reason that the Dems got a supermajority in the first place is because the public was so fed up with Bush and the policies that he and the GOP rammed through.  Claiming to have suddenly be the only true party representing the will of the people won't wash.  You cannot set yourself up to be the party of fiscal responsibility after eight years of record deficits, even if your successor is expanding them.

Okay, guys, you can either become the party of whiners complaining that Obama is passing legislation you don't like, or else you can work with him on making the bills more acceptable to you.  Your choice.

That you would say the GOP showed no interest in working to add input to "Obamacare" when a Goggle search would quickly prove you're lying renders your entire message GARBAGE.

Help us out Jimbo.

Prove your point.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alphascendant

The Social Security Program stopped taking in more than it is required to pay out a couple of days ago.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RacerJim

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

quote:

ORIGINAL: RacerJim

That you would say the GOP showed no interest in working to add input to "Obamacare" when a Goggle search would quickly prove you're lying renders your entire message GARBAGE.

Help us out Jimbo.

Prove your point.

Do something yourself for a "CHANGE".

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alphascendant

quote:

ORIGINAL: cadenas
Do you have a better idea what Social Security should do with several decades' worth of surplus funds?

I guess you didn't get that memo either.