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You don't believe 25 billion can be cut from Medicare without hurting those who really need it. I believe we can cut much more than that and still provide needed services.
Yes, we could cut $25 billion from medicare while simultaneously improving the services it provides.
But that won't happen because Congress is in the pocket of pharma and biotech, and wants the government to pay as much as possible for everything.
You don't believe 25 billion can be cut from Medicare without hurting those who really need it. I believe we can cut much more than that and still provide needed services.
Do you believe in the tooth fairy too? 25 billion is 4% of the medicare budget that money has to come from somewhere, it's not like they can find it under the cushions of the sofa. And then there's the other half a trillion in cuts to medicare in the Republican budget, I guess you think that's no big deal either?
The first beneficiary of SS retirement income contributed $22.75 in leas than 3 years before turning 65. She began collecting benefits in 1940 and died in 1975 and had recieved a lifetime benefit of $ 22,888.82.
A 2 income couple who turned 65 in 1960 recieved 8X more than they contributed, based on average income.
A 2 income couple who turned 65 in 1980 recieved 3X more than they contributed, based on average income.
A 2 income couple who turned 65 in 2010 will get less than they contributed, based on average income.
A 1 income couple, as was once common, benefitted more than a 2 income couple.
The historical decades old gaps between contribution and benefits were primarily attributed to earners who had not made contributions their entire working lives. It took the earning power of the babyboom to fund the benefits of prior generations.
About 23% of those 65 and older rely on SS for at least 90% of their household income, right now. As many as 31% of seniors in most red states rely on SS for 90% or more of their household income.
It would be political suicide to reduce benefits for seniors/ near seniors. 1 in 3 Americans is now age 50 or older and quite capable of voting as a block.
The Reagan income tax cuts were were accompanied by an increase in Payroll taxes and an evolving change to full retirement age. The Payroll Tax rate has remained unchanged for 30+ years.
The Bush Administration pitched a plan to take a percentage of SS contributions, private into designated funds. The Republican majority in Congress at the time did not support the Admin's plan because of unfunded liabilities that would explode the debt. Instead, they kicked the can.
The Obama Admin inherited an economy that was shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs a month. A temporary Payroll tax holiday was implemented. Where the temporary holiday expired, no shortage of Republicans chose to portray it as an increase in taxes.
Congress critters of all colors put partisanship before acting in the best interest of the people.
Yes cutting welfare is lovely. Too many are on it for too long. Its an emergency measure not a lifestyle.
TANF which is the program most people refer to when they talk about "welfare" is federally limited to 5 years in a lifetime. Some states have limited eligibility to as little as 12 months.
Do you believe in the tooth fairy too? 25 billion is 4% of the medicare budget that money has to come from somewhere, it's not like they can find it under the cushions of the sofa. And then there's the other half a trillion in cuts to medicare in the Republican budget, I guess you think that's no big deal either?
Trump ran on a promise to not cut SS and Medicare.
TANF which is the program most people refer to when they talk about "welfare" is federally limited to 5 years in a lifetime. Some states have limited eligibility to as little as 12 months.
It all depends.
A minimum 20 hour / week training/ work requirement exists for continued eligibility.
States can request a change to this work requirement when unemployment within the state is at least X. During the Great Recession, many states opted out of the work requirement because of unemployment rates. As unemployment declined and the economy improved, many states no longer qualified for a continued exemption to the work requirement.
No shortage of Governors took the opportunity to make major announcements that they were getting tough on welfare recipients and would require them to work, send a very different message than the state no longer qualified for waivers.
That a parent trains/ works or not, has no bearing on welfare benefits to children.
That a parent is employed at least 20 hrs/ wk, usually in low wage jobs, has no bearing on welfare benefits to children.
Teen pregnancy rates have been lower than at any time since the mid 40's. Single parents are now chronologically older than their counterparts. They may or may not be more emotionally mature than teens.
There is a global trend towards single parenthood. Iceland has the highest rate of single.
When 2 people of the opposite sex engage in unprotected sex, there's an increased liklihood, a baby will result.
The poorer the population the higher the fertility rate everywhere. It has nothing to do with welfare benefits. The US fertility rate has been declining since peak in 1957 and reached a record low in the first Q of 2016.
Last edited by middle-aged mom; 11-20-2017 at 10:18 AM..
TANF which is the program most people refer to when they talk about "welfare" is federally limited to 5 years in a lifetime. Some states have limited eligibility to as little as 12 months.
To get 5 years of TANF would be a challenge. Most are sanctioned off long before that.
Parents who are unable to secure employment, often end up on SSI disability benefits.
Which means that instead of being on the dole until the youngest reaches 18, now they receive monthly checks for the rest of their lives.
Wonder what program(s) will have to step in to take care of those who are no longer eligible for Medicare or Medicaid?
To get 5 years of TANF would be a challenge. Most are sanctioned off long before that.
Parents who are unable to secure employment, often end up on SSI disability benefits.
Which means that instead of being on the dole until the youngest reaches 18, now they receive monthly checks for the rest of their lives.
Wonder what program(s) will have to step in to take care of those who are no longer eligible for Medicare or Medicaid?
Again, the welfare benefits of children are not dependent upon the employment of adults in the household.
An adult holding a very low wage jobs is unlikely to have an impact on the benefits his/ her children.
The fertility rates of poor people are substantially higher across the globe regardless of welfare. Countries with the richest welfare benefits have substantially lower fertility rates than those in countries with no benefits.
Yes, we could cut $25 billion from medicare while simultaneously improving the services it provides.
But that won't happen because Congress is in the pocket of pharma and biotech, and wants the government to pay as much as possible for everything.
Well, you got at least part of that right, but it's not just Congress who is in the pocket of pharma...look who else is:
"Alex Azar, the new nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, is being pitched as someone who will help lower the price of prescription drugs. "He will be a star for better healthcare and lower drug prices," President Donald Trump said in a tweet announcing Azar as his pick on Monday. Azar is Trump's choice to replace Tom Price, who resigned from the position in September after his use of private jets was reported to have cost taxpayers more than $1 million. Trump, who once said that drugmakers are "getting away with murder," has promised to get rising drug prices under control." Trump's HHS nominee Alex Azar history with drug pricing at Lilly - Business Insider
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