Why Voters Will Get a Lot Angrier

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You have to cut whole programs. We don't need Medicare; that is what Medicaid is for. We could probably cut half of the half of Social Security that is Social Security Disability for a 25% of Social Security savings. Or, if we absolutely had to and there was no other way, cut Social Security 100% and put anyone who ends up very poor on welfare. These are the hard choices to be made because of promises made that never really could have been kept.

mfan of OR 10:42PM October 08, 2010

From the beginning, Social Security was never a sound system. It has always operated on a pay-as-you-go basis, with current workers supporting current retirees. Forget all those T-bills SS supposedly has. All they are is a need to tax to pay upcoming benefits. When SS started, life expectancy at 65 was only a few years. 30+ workers paid in for every retiree collecting benefits. Now the average 65 year old is likely to live another 15 or more years, and there are about 4 workers for every retiree, a number that will continue to decrease. It just doesn't work actuarily, and all of this has been obvious for a long time. SS is an inter-generational transfer/support system. Either raise taxes or reduce benefits (or a combination) -- there is no other option. Personally, I think folks like myself who are in the top tax bracket, can live without SS. It should be weighted more toward those with greater need (fair or not).

Kunst of CA 11:42PM August 26, 2010

I swear that after a time, people will vote for someone who tells them they will need to sacrifice. Those in Congress now just skirt these issues like we don't understand, when in reality there's nothing average people understand more than balancing a budget. It couldn't hurt to speak to us as adults, seeing how Congress's approval rating slithers in the 10s-low 20s anyway.

PalinBidenLoveChild of OH 6:21PM August 25, 2010

The big corporations and the top 1% of wealth will make all those decisions. It matters not what the majority of middle or lower class Americans want, or suggest. And it matters not for whom we vote, they all get caught up in the vortex of lobbyist influence. Goodbye America as we knew it. It was all pretend anyway.

Linda Brazis of IL 1:29PM August 24, 2010

Yet another puerile article that never touches on the problem. 2/3 of the American population would be delighted with an eviscerated government. Social Security was actually a sound system until the government raped it. I suggest we eliminate all federal and state pensions by merging them with social security this year (this includes the house of reprehensibles). This would eliminate the rampant fraud and criminal behavior continually exhibited by government employees in their cynical efforts to pad their nests while the working man has to eat cat food because of his huge tax burden. Cut spending. Get rid of the government parasites (like Dodd, Frank, and other whores for Wall Street). Throw the Wall Street criminals in jail for the largest theft in the history of mankind - - better yet, have them drawn and quartered outside the NYSE.

DVD of CA 8:14AM August 17, 2010

The end is near.

Carl of LA 2:18PM July 27, 2010

Some of the most serious problems seem the US is facing are high unemployment, hand-outs from the government, and tax cuts, amongst others.
How can we eliminate this problems?
Let us say that the US provides grants to students who enter the fields of sciences. Will they be able to obtain jobs? If jobs continue to flow overseas it will not matter how much money will be spent on education. We will end up with underpaid and underemployed highly educated professionals.
Look at what IBM is doing: closing job in the US and transfer them to India.
GE is bringing foreign workers with B1 visas.
Industry in general is closing operations in the United States to move production overseas.
By restricting or prohibiting importation of goods and exportation of jobs we can manage to provide jobs to the unemployed. This will result on more people employed, which will reduce the number of people receiving hand-outs, and as a result, there will be an increase in tax revenues for the government.
Close borders to imported products.
Penalize companies exporting American jobs.
Eliminate the generous tax benefits that companies obtain when they receive foreing dividends, which sometimes allows to pay no taxes on their profits.
Eliminate transfer pricing, which allows companies to manipulate revenue, paying no taxes in the US while paying low taxes in safe haven countries with a low tax rate.

Carlos of CT 11:15AM July 27, 2010

Response to Jeff "The Perfect Fascist State"
Jeff, your m eotional response is heartfelt but it just doesn't jibe. First, Jews were not illegal immigrants in Eurpose during the late 1930's and 40's. They were citizens of their respective countries and following the laws therein. Illegals in the US have committed a federal crime creating a moral vacuum in the Southwest. Like many in thei country, (who came out of college never having learned to think synthetically), we react with emotion and simply haven't the capacity to reason in difficult issues. It is no "cruel" to enforce laws, any more than it is cruel to teach a child to avoid the dangers of smoking. Read the salient book "Until Justice and Peace Embrace" by N. Wolterstorff and you will be enlightened. Good luck on your path to truth.

Mike of NC 10:44AM July 27, 2010

When money changes hands at an increased rate, the reality is that more people have more currency to spend more of the time. What "hamstrings" economies is the reduction of monetary velocity. The culprit? SAvings, fear, and increased unemployment. These are simple macro-economics 101 facts. Either Obama never had economics or was graded on a curve. Here are some things that will revive the economy by restoring confidence and increase monetary velocity. (1) Reduce short term capital gains taxes, (2) eliminate IRA withdrawal penalties, (3) eliminate IRA deposit caps for individuals. As a givernment, act impartially, hoinestly, and uphold the laws of the land to provode confidence that there is fairness in the world. Right now, ther eis the opposite culture in Washington and worst corruption in US history among Democrats. It is appalling. (4) Last, rather than looking to inject monitary velocity via government, look to invigorate it in the public sector by providing grants to small businesses and awards for individual innovation in science, engineering, literature, art, mathmatics, medicine, and fuels technology. Also, follow the will of the people if you are an elected official. You're just a servant, do so with humility and grace and self-sacrifice for those who have elected and trusted you.

Mike Williams of NC 10:36AM July 27, 2010

If they quit spending money on chasing pot and taxed it would be a win-win situation. oh and by the way there are alot of dangerous processed drugs that are prescribed every day, pot is natural.

josh of AZ 1:18AM July 21, 2010