Seniors 'Near Poverty' at Risk in Deficit Cuts

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The ONLY way our national deficit will be mitigated (without breaking the backs of seniors) is to eliminate the IRS and current Tax Code - and legislate a flat tax across the nation. If you make a buck, you pay tax on it -- no exceptions.
The second mandate must be that Federal spending on "employment benefits" be altogether zeroed out. I'm not talking about direct employment benefits such as health care programs or vacation programs or even per diem assistance when living in the District of Columbia.
I'm talking about the INSANE amounts of money which federal employees are granted in fringe benefits. Why in the name of sanity are our tax dollars spent for the President's family (and entourage) to go on junkets across the nation or around the world? The First Lady's place is in the White House - not in some far away land, glad handing at the expense of our taxpayers. The President's children should be IN SCHOOL -- not gallivanting around the world on Air Force One. Stay home - or go back to IL. Stop wasting my money!
The same applies to members of Congress. Why does the taxpayer pick up the tab for members of Congress to travel back and forth between their home states and districts or other non-essential travel? Their workplace is in Washington, D.C. - not traveling around for personal intent at taxpayer costs.
If fiscal responsibility is EVER successful -- it has to begin at the top, with the President and members of Congress. So long as those big-wigs don't PERSONALLY feel the intense pressure of budget restrictions, our budget woes will never improve. You can't make up fiscal shortfalls by reducing spending at the lowest rung of the ladder.
What's happening in Washington, D.C. right now is an overlay of the old bedtime story "The Tailor and the Giant." The Tailor (President and Congress) is duping the Giant (Taxpayers) again and being rewarded with bags of gold! Remember Taxpayers (and seniors) we are hefting bags of gold on these people - and they bite the hand which feeds them.

Bob in WA of WA 10:08AM February 16, 2011

Anybody, any age, could fall into poverty tomorrow. Good job today... well, it could be gone tomorrow. No matter your age, no matter your circumstance, we are all living on the edge. There are only a few who aren't on this battered see-saw. Good luck everybody.

DD of AR 10:10PM February 15, 2011

I had my first job at 6 years of age selling Grit Newspapers in my neighborhood! I paid into the SSA beginning at age 16. Since those times I have worked and paid into the same coffers expecting to see fruits for my labors now that I am sixty years of age and disabled (due in part to the working conditions and simple physical taxation on my body!)! Where do any of you who were in a position to 'plan' your futures get off saying we 'all' could have done the same!!?? I worked at jobs requiring physical and mental labors that would make most of you today curl up and cry! All the while, I continued to get an education (BA from college), thinking this was the avenue upward! Bullsh!##t! My paying for this same education cost me dollars, and the loss of 'real' earnings while doing so! Now, you Mamby-Pamby punks in suits and chinos want to cut the programs I paid diligently into for my future, while you take your forty-something, silver-spooned woes to the bank??!! Drop dead! Better now, than wait until you reach sixty-something!!!

Tony of KY 5:42PM February 14, 2011

all I've heard is 'reduce social security" . I haven't heard anything about government pensions being reduced . What about when the Wall Street crashed? How are they maintaining their pensions? Are they taking from Social Security to plump up their pension? Why was the social security retirement fund ever split up into two funds and the money conveniently disappeared. We should have a huge surplus for the retireing baby boomers. where did it go? why hasn't it been repaid with interest?! I too have worked hard ( since I was 16 ,paying into social security) all my life with no vacations. Forced over time on week days and weekends. No bonuses. Higher medical payments, higher gas prices, higher taxes, higher food prices,clothing, etc. where did all those tax dollars go to? we need a government audit of the whole system. Maybe fines and jail time is required ,( not a slap on the wrist) thats' why do many do wrong because they can get away with it. will it take a revolution here like egypt? hmmmm. ?

millie of WV 12:38PM February 14, 2011

I just retired two years ago. I have SS and my retirement savings to live on. My mom is retired and lives on her SS and retirement savings. My dad lived on his. My grandparents on their retirement savings. Why should I have to support anybody that did not act responsibly enough to save for their own retirement? It is not fair. I shouldn't be paying for other peoples food, housing, medical bills...... and I don't care how old they are or what their excuse is for wanting the money I expended a large part of my life earning. I worked too hard and went without a lot so I would have retirement money, I didn't do anything that anybody else couldn't have done. Now I am expected to pay their bills? What part of this is fair?

Taxed of NH 12:07PM February 14, 2011