Seniors 'Near Poverty' at Risk in Deficit Cuts

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Social Security is not an entitlement......It is a program that both employers and employees contribute money for many years. Receipents are getting what is legally theirs. By the way, it is NOT a voluntary withholding, it is required by LAW>>>> SSI is welfare and so is Medicaid, NOT SS.....

jj of AL 4:53PM February 26, 2011

Only z 75 year old single woman trying to survive after working for forty years in low paying jobs, trying not to be a burden on her children will understand this comment.
It doesn't feel like Entitlement. It feels like I earned it the hard way.

Marie Esterman of OR 1:56PM February 26, 2011

My employer and I have contributed to Social Security nearly 7% each for nearly 40 years with little interuption. I have set aside no less than 10% and presently 25% toward my deferred comp and on paper should have a decent working class retirement. I am afraid that means testing is being considered to give some of my ant entitlement(s) to grasshoppers. I have co workers who have spent everything on trading up houses and cars, harleys, campers, over elaborat weddings and have nothing set aside while I have driven 10 year old vehicles and live in my first home. On the other hand, it appears inflation is about to riddle my funds. There is no winning for the middle (now lower)classes, it appears we are about to enter a Dickens world of have/have nots. I really feel I am going to be ripped off of 40 years of sweat, already my taxes have paid for Bankers, Insurance executives, wall street traders and auto industry not to mention two wars that have lasted longer than WW2 for no apparent reason other than bamboozlement.

Loren of CA 12:52PM February 21, 2011

This response deals with seniors only. According to SS and IRS, one household in three SS is the sole source of income. Another one household in three SS accounts for more than 60% (and according to government figures this number is around 80-85%). Only around 3% have household incomes exceeding $32k per year. It looks like most seniors are pretty well off because these are generally the ones that you see. Don't tell seniors to buy their own health insurance because it does not exist. Sorry, but it is not sold except with medicare as primary and most cannot afford it or even pay for it anyway. It says a lot about our society for us to try to solve our problems on the backs of our most vunerable citizens. It will harm many and not resolve our problems. SS is not an entitement program because it is funded by payroll deductions. Nope-it ain"t welfare. Look at your paycheck. The amount deducted is only half because the enployer pays an equal amount. If you are self employeed, the figure is almost 15% of you income. A lot-right! During the Johnson administration, SS was transfered to the general fund to cover up the huge deficits for thr Viet Nam war and the surpluses were so large that no one wanted to give back something that gave a huge amount of money that did not have to be accounted for. By the way-medicare was never supposed to be self supporting. Medicare and medidaid are NOT the same program. Medicaid is welfare.

Philip of TX 8:36AM February 20, 2011

This nut case is so liberal that every appendage on his body points to the left.
His posts are an obamanation! His treatment of Taxed of NH speaks volumes as to his bias and empty-headedness. Pox on his house!

Citizen of WI 3:29PM February 16, 2011

You mention the AARP. Yes the AARP had great influence on our politicians (Democrats & Republicans) Senator Simpson was Correct. Our leadership helped bring onour present problems. Maybe it's time AARP's leadership used its leadership again and realize that HISTORY repeats : ROME was giving Bread and GAMES to 20% of their population. Washington is providing FOOD STAMPS to 40MILLION and increasing!!!!! Let Us Wake. edh>>>netarrantseniors.net

ed havran of TX 12:30PM February 16, 2011

When they cut back on the money the ones on SS get,OBAMA and his wife the Queen and all in DC needs to look at what is going on over seas they will see the same thing happen here,like it or not.The money you payed in for 45-49 yrs is yours not the ones in DC as that are telling every day lie every day and people will start to say to h--l with it and go to DC as they are doing across the water. I hope not.Start by cutting welfare 100 percent if you can not take care of your kids have them put in a home for kids.I know of families that have kids so they can get Free every thing from housing,food, money ect. I was put in a home for kids in Knoxville Tn there was 250-350 kids at one time there I had more play mates than the richest kid in the world. I went into USAF in 1957-1961 when to WORK for GD,Lockheed and Boeing ec have a Q Clearance and most of all I have never asked the ones in DC for no help of any kind.I would not go in the service now because the nuts in DC wants to run the WAR behind the desk they have turned us VET away from every thing when this OBAMA HEALTH PLAN kicks in all you VETS go to VA and make them PAY for your health as DOCTORS ect.That will cost OBAMA big time and you will have more money to keep your family on your health insurance.KICK anyone that does not do what they would do,fire them. This is our country keep it that way for your wife and kids VOTE.

Jack L of TN 12:07PM February 16, 2011

Learn more about CMS's Medicare Parts A and B COLAs for 2011: http://www.healthcaretownhall.com/?p=3275

Jeremy Engdahl-Johnson of NY 11:23AM February 16, 2011

And so,while speaking of budget cutting and being one of those disabled senior
citizens,therefore I must ask where are President Barack Hussein & Michelle Obama own personal cuts at too here? As,just yesterday it emerged Obama is
getting himself two brand new very expensive Boeing 747 F Air Force Ones,to
replace the two he has now,and wore out with his bs trips all over hell? And why does Michelle Obama has a personal staff bigger then the Queen of England? And,have the Obama stopped gluttonously devouring $100.00 a pound
imported Kobe beef from Japan and ended costly weekly parties & state dinners
for third world dictators? And so,what have every US Senator & Member of Congress done as well,to reduce expenses and freebie travel and huge staffs?
So,come on now,so us the proof of your own personal expenses cuts at too?..
And,I bet neither the Obama Gluttons and Congressional Gluttons have not made a single cut in your own US Taxpayer Paid For Gluttony,now have you?
And,you want to cut or tax everything that old and/or disabled low income retired American citizens like myself benefits,while you live like Gluttons,and you
still aloow 40 Million illegal alien parasites to bleed the US dry,do you now?
So,just remember that Senior Citizens Vote too and we can vote you out just as
easily as we helped to vote all of you into office. So just try your virtual one step above genocide cuts on all of us,senior citizens and be prepared to join
the unemployment lines in 2012 and 2014. Shame on You all here,Barack Hussein
and Michelle Obama,and all 100 US Senators and 435 Members Of Congress,as
the onus is on all of you here,once you do so! May God Have Mercy On You &
Your Gluttonous Miserable Disgusting Disgraceful,Corrupt Evil Souls!

Ralph of AZ 10:50AM February 16, 2011

So glad to read that life just doesn't happen to you. Where do you get off telling others tough it out because life was good to you? Not everyone works at a job where they make enough to set aside for their retirement, i.e., waitress/waiters, maids, dishwashers, janitors, etc. When you go out for your next meal, think about those that are serving you and how much they make an hour; while, you probably stiff them on their tip because they already make enough.
Part of living in a civilized society is paying taxes to make the society better. I see that you, and many like you, would rather live by yourselves, growing your own food, having leach fields, collecting your own drinking water, not driving on maintained roads, no firemen or police, etc. I for one would rather pay taxes!

Tree Hugger of CO 10:26AM February 16, 2011