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T H U R S D A Y , M A R C H 2 4 , 2 0 0 5"Saving" Social Security? Not That Hardby Michael in New York on
3/24/2005 02:06:00 AMHere's another point about the annual report on Social Securityand Medicare, the one that said Medicare is in much worseshape (ignore that, says Bush) and that some of the warningdates for SS have moved up a year (meaningless when you'reprojecting decades ahead, say most experts).One item in the New York Times:"To pay all scheduled benefits over the next 75 years, thegovernment would have to raise an additional $4 trillion intoday's dollars, $300 billion higher than the figure projectedlast year."You mean, if we simply chose not to make permanent those taxcuts for the super rich -- the ones Bush enacted because heinsisted we would have such a massive surplus in our budget itwould be downright dangerous -- that this ALONE wouldprovide enough money to shore up SS for the next 75 yearswithout ANY other changes? With money to spare? Gee,choosing between an unnecessary windfall for people making$300,000 a year and more versus ensuring that old peopledon't go hungry is a really tough choice.I guess when Greenspan said fixing SS really wasn't that hard,he knew what he was talking about. Mind you, I don't thinkspiking those windfalls for the super rich is all that should bedone -- modest changes in SS are perfectly reasonableadjustments to make (such as raising the retirement age whenfull benefits kick in two years since people live so muchlonger).And of course some of that money is needed for Medicare. Butlet's pick our priorities. Very recent windfalls for the super-richof focusing on the health and minimal needs of the elderly?Gee, what would Jesus do?
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3/24/2005 02:06:00 AMHere's another point about the annual report on Social Securityand Medicare, the one that said Medicare is in much worseshape (ignore that, says Bush) and that some of the warningdates for SS have moved up a year (meaningless when you'reprojecting decades ahead, say most experts).One item in the New York Times:"To pay all scheduled benefits over the next 75 years, thegovernment would have to raise an additional $4 trillion intoday's dollars, $300 billion higher than the figure projectedlast year."You mean, if we simply chose not to make permanent those taxcuts for the super rich -- the ones Bush enacted because heinsisted we would have such a massive surplus in our budget itwould be downright dangerous -- that this ALONE wouldprovide enough money to shore up SS for the next 75 yearswithout ANY other changes? With money to spare? Gee,choosing between an unnecessary windfall for people making$300,000 a year and more versus ensuring that old peopledon't go hungry is a really tough choice.I guess when Greenspan said fixing SS really wasn't that hard,he knew what he was talking about. Mind you, I don't thinkspiking those windfalls for the super rich is all that should bedone -- modest changes in SS are perfectly reasonableadjustments to make (such as raising the retirement age whenfull benefits kick in two years since people live so muchlonger).And of course some of that money is needed for Medicare. Butlet's pick our priorities. Very recent windfalls for the super-richof focusing on the health and minimal needs of the elderly?Gee, what would Jesus do?
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HuffPost PoliticsThe Wrong Reporter Asks Obama A Question - Thechance to ask a question during a prime-timepresidential press conference is treasured realestate in the world of journalism. So when thePresident...1 minute ago
Daily KosIOKIYAPI (It's OK If You're A Private Insurer) -Here's William Kristol revealing the *horrors*hidden within the health care bill as it emergedfrom the HELP committee... For Kennedy and hisco-autho...13 minutes ago
Ben SmithObama: Cambridge police acted 'stupidly' - Afterspending most of an hour patiently reiterating hisarguments for changing the health insurancesystem, President Barack Obama turned his press21 minutes ago
Paul KrugmanProfessor in chief - I found Obama's health carepresentation so impressive - so much command ofthe issues - that it had me worried. If I really like apoliticians' speech, is...41 minutes ago
EschatonObama Speaks - In Case You Missed It50 minutes agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
Show AllA M E R I C A B L O G T V
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: "Savin...http://www.americablog.com/2005/03/saving-social-security-not...
1 of 57/22/09 10:34 PM
Visit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 322 videos >I collect with
vodpod
In honor of SenatorDeMint
For the GOPers, healthcare is politics. They just
Traditional media has todebunk the birthers
One small step...
The right-wing media, thevoices of the GOP, in
REM - Orange CrushNext 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: "Savin...http://www.americablog.com/2005/03/saving-social-security-not...
2 of 57/22/09 10:34 PM
Ezra KleinTab Dump2 hours agoWonk RoomSen. Byron Dorgan:The ‘Trade’ InCap-And-Trade ‘MakesNo Sense To Me’4 hours agoHealth BeatTruth Squad: WallStreet Journal HealthCare Editorial Wrong onthe Facts . . .5 hours agoThe TreatmentHatch Is Out6 hours agoDaily DoseProviders Endorse 'Payfor Value' Proposals12 hours agoG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
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Top AdAdvertise in this spot.H E A LT H C A R ER E F O R MAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: "Savin...http://www.americablog.com/2005/03/saving-social-security-not...
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S E A R C H
AMERICAblog
Web
SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: "Savin...http://www.americablog.com/2005/03/saving-social-security-not...
4 of 57/22/09 10:34 PM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: "Savin...http://www.americablog.com/2005/03/saving-social-security-not...
5 of 57/22/09 10:34 PM