Why GOP hates Social Security; LOVES harming America

THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE defines all Republican politics.

There is the obvious:  At Republican insistence, Americas spend more on the military than the total of the next seven highest spending nations.  It is not an issue of national defense.  Most of the programs are useless to the point that even the Pentagon lobbies against them.

Spending on the military drains the Federal Coffers and deprives the Nation of funds for its citizens and maintenance of its basic infrastructure.  Cut the Military budget in half, and you would still spend more than the next three or four nations; cur it in half and there would be NO DEFICIT,. plus there would be a surplus to fully fund Social Security and other programs which build the economy.

Consider Social Security.

If the minimum average payment were more than 150% of poverty, those of Social Security would not need to be subsidized by SNAP, LIHEAP, etc.  Thus those programs would cost less to fund.

If the minimum wage were increased to $15 or more an hour, the related worker-employer contribution to Social Security would DOUBLE.  PLUS, the workers would not need to be subsidized by SNAP, LIHEAP, etc -- those programs would cost less to fund.

People would have more disposable income, and that means they would demand more goods and services, which means there would be a demand for workers to provide those services or goods. Increase demand for goods an services, and unemployment declines.

GEE the effect of declining unemployment equates to the removal of people from welfare.  Again the cost of those programs declines.

If you want to harm people, belittle those who need public assistance, deny those who are retired the income they were promised – thus forcing them onto the public assistance you denounce – at the same time deny retirement programs funds by depressing the minimum wage.

Finally, squander revenues the government obtains – and if it cannot be squandered, invent means to allow those who are exporting jobs and wealth NOT to have to pay taxes and thereby reduce the un-squandered surplus while, ideally, transferring the real tax burden to the same people you have denied of a living wage.

The Most Harm To The Most People … it’s a simple, if long term, game.  One that is competed by denial of healthcare to those you have burdened with high taxes and low wages, and belittled for needing the welfare you forced them to qualify for.  After all, you get more people on welfare when they are too sick to work – so make sure they are denied the ability to stay healthy.

We hear that “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.”  That is true.  But the tide lifts the boats from below the keel.  When all boats are beached, and the tide comes in, it lifts the smaller shallow draft boats first – the people at the bottom for who a relatively small about of lift provides all the buoyancy they need.

It is only when all the smaller craft are afloat that the continuing increase in tide will lift the larger ships.  Of course the tide could rise by rain pouring down from above.  The larger boats catch it, the rain fills the holds, passageways or compartments – and then overflows the gunnels and trickles down to provide the lift the smaller boats require.  Unfortunately, the larger ships are now swamped – they do not rise, but capsize and sink … we call it a Recession, Great Recession, Depression, Economic Collapse … and knowing this, the owners order the Captains to batten down the hatches and set sail for distant ports … What we call Outsourcing.

If the rain continues, the smaller boats will rise, or capsize; the ships will have long since gone and the port will be empty … those who service it will have no work.  But that is the goal of TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS –to destroy the economy of the port that was abandoned.

THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE defines all Republican politics.

History, Social Security – a bit of reality

Republicans in Congress want cut Social Security and everything else they can – except for military spending, where they will quickly allocate money for programs and technology the military clearly tells them are obsolete and will need replacement within a matter of years … basically within the time it will take to produce what Congress is funding.

This approach is described as being “Fiscally Conservative.”

But screw that let’s take a look at today’s Social Security allotment in terms of history.

Most alive today do not recall the 1968 New York City Teachers strike.   In 1967/8, Teachers could NOT afford to live on what they were being paid – so they unionized and went on strike.

The strike succeeded and teachers got a living wage.

Thus a single starting teacher, fresh from college, could actually afford to live and teach.  Their salary, roughly what the average Social Security recipient now receives.

Sounds good – being on Social Security and having the income of a 21 year-old teacher.

The problem?  Being on Social Security in 2014, and having the income of a 21 year-old teacher in 1968.

Except that, what cost a dollar in 1968 now costs $6.85.  Thus Social Security recipient is now faced with living on the equivalent roughly six weeks income for that 21 year-old teacher in 1968 – and must live on it for a year.

After working hard their whole lives, and being promised a secure retirement, Social Security recipients are now faced with reliance  SNAP (food stamps) HEAP (energy assistance) and various reasons to engage in forced routine interaction with government “welfare agents” – all at a considerable cost to the government; one which could be avoided if Social Security recipients were given the income levels they were promised and paid to have through the funds contributed from their paychecks and matched by their employers.

The nation – specifically the Republican Party of the last 35-40 years – has willfully broken it’s promise to the people and, like a Dickensian  Scrooge, decided that the Bay Boom generation deserves to be dead, or live below poverty levels.

Of course, as in the military budget waste, they are doing then same for the whole nation.  They will, very soon, bring down America.  Thanks to them, the nation is not prepared for a modern insurgent war of the type which destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon.

America is not prepared for a modern insurgent war of the type which was fought in Vietnam and Afghanistan – where there is no victory for the invader (America) but a wide range of reasons for the population to raise  up against the image of America and Christian Crusaders.

America is still using, and falling for, Cold War rhetoric.  The Cold War opposition has become Capitalistic and uses money, not guns, and certainly not invading armies, to make its points.   LOL Russia quickly learned the stupidity of that approach when, in its historic quest for a warm water port, it invaded Afghanistan.  Now Russia holds a third of the energy that Europe needs, has rid itself of the Pale of Settlement – made useless when the Jewish population, the source of its mercantile successes was driven away by the Nazis – and has, along with Red China, become a major American creditor.

In many ways, thanks to Republican policies, we are playing out a modern “Merchant of Venice” – America being the Christian merchant whose ships are all over the world and, because of their wasteful domestic spending, are sailing on borrowed money; Russia is Schlock, the Jewish money lender (a very comical turn of events for a nation which hated Jews).  The difference?  This time Schlock possesses the same number of guns as the debtor Christian Merchant, and has the intelligence to know that it is the “first one in the water” who will lose the war – the ancient oral has been continually proven correct, the invader will ultimately be defeated, and in the Modern World, America has chosen to take the invader role.

Yep, it is all about Social Security, and the mindset which places more value on killing foreigners than on supporting the aged and sick, the widows and orphaned children.  It is all about a “Christian Nation” which makes it a point to violate the teaching of Christ – both at home and abroad.  It is about a nation which wishes to “Live by the sword” and somehow believes they can spit upon, and defeat, the Christian adage which dictates that they will die “By the Sword.”

As my readers know, I have multiple books warming on the subject:

The Tea Party: America Upended

Saint Paul's Joke: 'The Punch Line's A Killer'

Biblical Prophecy: Are we in the Revelation Era

Death Over Life: Secret of Revelation: A Prophecy of America's Destruction

Fortunately, as can always be “predicted”, those who are driving us over the cliff are careful to avoid the warnings.

Unfortunately, we are at that point in history when what is obvious and being ignored – the elephant in the room – is about to shit, and America is holding its tail.

It’s all the Republicans

What love is TEA PARTY PLANNING: "a measure passed Oct. 1 by the House Rules Committee — a body, like the House of Representatives itself, with a Republican majority — that essentially prevents House members from calling for a vote to end the partial government shutdown, now reserving that right for the House majority leader."

Thus, this whole matter is pure Republican -- 100 % House controlled ... The President and Democrats are removed from the default process, only the Republican Speaker of the House can prevent USA from becoming the next Greece.

We also need to understand that one of the agencies the Tea Party will default on paying is HOMELAND SECURITY.

Basically, the Tea Party has already, and will continue to, set the stage for the next 9-11 … The borders are virtually open, and, should America go into default on Thursday (14 Oct), it will have daily tax revenues equal to seventy percent (70%) of its daily needs.  Look at another way, it will need to cut a third of its budget – anything which is not in every sense not an immediate priority.

What gets cut?  Interest payments on Treasuries?  Foreign nations and rich Tea Party backers will want their checks, so that’s off the table.  Social Security – an average $500 a month for 62 million Americans, plus the administration cost – Bush wanted that privatized and this will get rid of it … but will in no way withhold collection of the withholding contribution.  In a pay-as-you-go pension system, backed and subsidized by the Treasury Bonds Social Security was required to buy,  will stop.  Withheld funds are embezzled so that China, Mexico and other nations which benefited from outsourcing will get their money, but our elderly will be allowed to  have the electricity turned off and freeze to death as winter temperatures plummet – NOTE, the Tea Party has insisted that and temporary extension end, and default begins, in time for the Winter & Christmas Season.

Then there is the matter of theft -- Social Security funds due from the Treasury Bonds and representing the past payments, plus interest, made by now retired or disabled workers.

THIRTY PERCENT REDUCTION – no more highway work; no more repairs to bridges; a plunge in construction work which will then result in a plunge in tax revenue and so require more cuts.  THIRTY PERCENT quickly becomes FIFTY PERCENT … and America is still in default … as fun has it, as Treasury Bonds mature, there are no funds to pay them (we usually borrow to pay, a function called rolling over the debt) … YEP!  Another cut in resources which will require another cut in “benefits”.

The window is a mere two years.  Then we have the 2016 Presidential Election – no incumbent, open field, who will be blamed?  Does it matter?  The Dollar will no longer be a Reserve Currency, and our credit rating will make Greece look like a secure investment.  China controls the game … it will be the Yuan which becomes the Reserve Currency, and the Yen will be solid.  The world will be in recession.

THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE

IT IS A “LONG GAME”

THE CONCLUSION WILL BE SEEN IN 2034

FREE TO BE HUNGRY

“FREE TO BE HUNGRY” is a neat title for a New York Times, Paul Krugman, article published 22 Sept. which deals with Food Stamps – which address “the third of his famous Four Freedoms — freedom from want — seems to have been turned on its head. Conservatives seem, in particular, to believe that freedom’s just another word for not enough to eat.”

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) – formally known as Food Stamps – is a key element of economic growth.  You didn’t think of that, but it is reality.  People make spending choices, and when the choice is between food and consumer products, food wins.

Think about that in terms of “economic stimulus packages”. if the money is given to the rich, they use it to buy luxury items; donate it to foreign charities, or charities operating in foreign countries; they us it to expand their foreign business operations, or sit on it – buy stocks in companies that are already operating and therefore nothing is added to the national economy.

If we save people from diverting their limited resources to a buying of basic food stuffs (which are produced locally, therefore supporting the local economy), then their limited resources can support other local businesses and products.  Limited resources are not diverted to foreign luxury products.  SNAP is a true stimulus – it provides local economies with seven to ten times its local amount.  Every dollar in SNAP introduced to a local economy circulates seven to ten times … only then does it exit the local economy to enter the next provider economy … that economy is the domestic wholesaler’s locale.

Fortunately, the Republicans understand this; they have economic knowledge and advisors to tell them how the economy works – people who finance their operations and guide American resources into the realm of outsourcing.

The Republicans understand that (as al Qaeda has often stated) the destruction of America cannot be achieved with the destruction of its economy.  To destroy the economy, first money must be diverted from the bottom, the local communities where the average person lives – not the “manufacturing” communities, and certainly not the wallets of the people who are outsourcing all our economic potential.

The Republicans understand that they must starve the lower classes, must deprive them of medical care, must make their lives miserable and take away their hope for a secure future – that will, if nothing else, set the stage for rebellion.  Rebellion is good for those seeking the destruction of a nation – during the Cold War America sponsored many rebellions … but never took proper advantage of the result.  But again, that was REPUBLICAN administration policies.

 THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE

it begins with abuse of the poor.

it begins with those who do the day-to-day chores.

“Saint Paul’s Joke” takes many forms to be achieved.

SOCIAL SECURITY FAILURE

This article comment infers, the last ten years of life -- the years covered by Social Security that the GOP hates and seeks to destroy -- are years of suffering:

“US life expectancy for both sexes combined increased from 75.2 years in 1990 to 78.2 years in 2010; over the same period healthy life expectancy increased from 65.8 to 68.1 years,”  (Wed, Jul 10, 2013 By Maggie Fox, Senior Writer NBC News)

Seems the Republicans have gotten some of what they want and strive for…

THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE

ASSUMING THEY LET YOU LIVE THAT LONG

Congressional Idiots need to Focus on Social Security

Gappy Days Are Here Again 10 May 2013 By Bill Maher

Seems Bill Maher touched on something, but didn’t get the significance.  For Maher, it was an increased wealth among the wealthiest moved National wealth up by “a whopping $5 trillion”…

The real story is the active move to decrease the income of the bulk of Americans – the Baby Boomers who are going on, or are on, Social Security.  Pump money into their pockets – not incentives for the rich to waste money in the name of “Stimulus Packages.”

The only real “Stimulus Package” is one which gets spent in diverse communities without any oversight from tax dodging executives.  Social Security money goes to local banks, local stores, and local business.  It pays contractors to improve homes, true, it pays doctors and other medical professionals, but it also goes to all those large and small items which are so often compensated for by entitlement programs.

The idiots who reduce Social Security really seek to increase the cost of entitlements and compensatory payments which underwrite property taxes, or pay for telephones and cellphones.  Put that money into Social Security and reduce the cost of government – as government employees retire, they will not need to be replaced.  The budget will be balanced.

But the goal is to make the rich richer… and create 

THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE

Jobless Children Starve Elderly on Social Security

April 21, 2013

The Jobless Trap By 

PAUL KRUGMAN

We are indeed creating a permanent class of jobless Americans.

And let’s be clear: this is a policy decision. The main reason our economic recovery has been so weak is that, spooked by fear-mongering over debt, we’ve been doing exactly what basic macroeconomics says you shouldn’t do — cutting government spending in the face of a depressed economy.

It’s hard to overstate how self-destructive this policy is. Indeed, the shadow of long-term unemployment means that austerity policies are counterproductive even in purely fiscal terms. Workers, after all, are taxpayers too; if our debt obsession exiles millions of Americans from productive employment, it will cut into future revenues and raise future deficits.

=============================================

OK, and part of the problem is removing money from those on Social Security.  They spend their money – no saving for old age, they’re already there and, ideally, are ready to do the things they planned on doing when they got there.

But the GOP was happy to  borrow Social Security funds to pay for the murder of foreign nationals … now they want to cut  Social Security funds … do they plan to murder our elderly?   Or, try to starve them, or, with a Bush like privatization plan, bankrupt them and the Whole Nation?

The Most Harm To The Most People.

Klugman sees one aspect of it.

Why are you so blind?

Consider this: Jobless Children Starve Elderly on Social Security … because Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system, and a lack of workers will starve the system.

Social Security at 62 or 70/72?

Let's see: Life expectancy 76, at 62 (for ease of math) you get 1000/month; at 66 $1080, at 72 $1320. Therefore the choices are $168,000; $129,600; $63,360. Therefore, the difference between retirement at 62 and 72 is a gift to the government of $104,640... which, if they follow the Bush (Jr & Sr) model they will squander on WMD to kill third world women and children.
Look at the math ... strangely, heart attack or disability, may force retirement, but it would, in the long run, make you more money.
It certainly would have gotten you medical benefits -- and depending on your age at the time, you could have gone on disability... making a touch more .. plus medical coverage. Now you can turn your attention to the thing you wanted to do, but couldn't because you were a 9-5 slave.
Even if you retire at 70, they have stolen 62% of the retirement benefits you would have received had you retired at 62 and if you live to national average of 76. There are a host of secondary benefits which are not part of AARP calculators (any more than the lost income is included). The late retirement is as much, actually more, of a fraud as GW Bush's privatization idea was... it is a way for the Government to deny you the benefits you paid for -- which the GOP is now trying to find a way to steal from you.... all because they wanted to run up deficits (remember Reagan doubled the National Debt, Bush #1 was working toward doing it again, and Bush #2 actually did it -- yielding a national debt more than four times what it should have been had the GOP lived within its budgetary meant and just paid the interest/debt service like any responsible person is expected to do.)

The percentages used in the first paragraph are based on AARP calculations.  AARP provides a free Benefits Calculator, but it doesn’t take into account the reality of lost secondary benefits, or accumulated benefits.  In some states, the “income” determines a state subsidy for rent or property taxes – right there you can get the $80 difference between retirement at 62 and 66,  if you keep in mind your actual taxes might mean you get more than that difference.

Next, Medical care.  Remember, our GOP opposes life – they oppose government provided medical care of the type found in nations whose population outlives ours.

The reality is, for all their “pro-life” nonsense, the GOP is out to kill as many people as possible.   Even the core issue of the “pro-life agenda” is based on increasing the numbers killed – remember, if not for the Supreme Court, anti-abortion laws would include abortion that are done to save the live of the mother (usually because both mother and fetus [or child] will die before the fetus is viable, ie, tubular pregnancy).  Thus their real agenda is to terminate an adult and a fetus – not to ensure the life of the fetus.  Though they would allow the fetus to live, if it ensured the death of the mother – that is the pragmatic reality of the laws they promote.

Continuing with the “pro-life” example: Who is going to pay the medical bills for the fetus they did not want terminated?  Who will pay the medical costs for that child, and how will they get educated … remember, the GOP opposes paying for education and medical care.  If you put in a Bill to provide additional money for education or health assistance, the GOP will be the first, and loudest opponent. 

When have they ever, in recent history, advocated improving education in poor or rural communities?

When have they ever, in recent history, advocated improving medical care in poor or rural communities?

Identify any piece of GOP sponsored legislation WHICH WOULD HAVE DIVERTED MONEY FROM MILITARY KILLING MACHINES TO THE SUPPORT OF LIFE FOR THE LIVING.   Can’t be done – the GOP wants to kill people.  That is why push wanted to privatize Social Security – he knew the majority of Americans  would soon qualify, and if he could both privatize it and (while out-sourcing jobs, and so protecting the wealthy income streams) then causing the government to tank the markets, he could hurt the majority of Americans in one shot… with the next, or some subsequent, administration taking the blame.   To ensure the blame is passed to non-GOP administrations, the GOP is obstructionist with regard to anything that will benefit the people of this nation.

Look at Washington… show me where I’m wrong.  Show me a GOP Congressman who is actively working to help the average person, to put money in the hands of those who will spend it (the ultimate stimulus package) … those who are retired and and will be buying things to help their children, or put smiles on the faces of their grandchildren.  NO!  They are actively trying top take the disposable income out of the hands of that group --- to reduce them to marginal subsistence levels.

Marginal subsistence levels for any who are on, or are approaching, Social Security collection dates, is the perfect anti-stimulus program.  It achieves two goals, first it eliminates disposable income for those most likely to spend it, and second, it pushes more people to the levels at which they will qualify (and really need) welfare benefits.  Their goal is to suppress the economy while increasing costs to government.   That will ensure the collapse of the nation.

THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE

IT IS THE GOP WAY OF LIFE

Hey, Destroy America, Vote Republican

It’s less messy than bombs… and more permanent.