Obama to cut social safety net in budget deal

[Barefootsies]

Time to get out the axe, and get serious about this subject (along with massive military cuts).

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama raised anew the issue of cutting entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security as a way out of damaging budget cuts, a White House official said on Sunday, as both sides in Washington tried to limit a fiscal crisis that may soon hit millions of Americans.

Signalling he might be ready to explore a compromise to end automatic spending cuts that began late Friday, Obama mentioned reforming these entitlement programs in calls with lawmakers from both parties on Saturday afternoon.

"He's reaching out to Democrats who understand we have to make serious progress on long-term entitlement reform and Republicans who realize that if we had that type of entitlement reform, they'd be willing to have tax reform that raises revenues to lower the deficit," White House senior economic official Gene Sperling said on Sunday on the CNN program "State of the Union."

Republicans have long argued that the only way to tame budget deficits over the long haul is by slowing the cost of sprawling social safety net programs.

These include the Social Security retirement program and Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programs for the elderly, disabled and poor that are becoming more expensive as a large segment of the U.S. population hits retirement age.

FULL STORY

[Vendzilla]

I would like to see Obama start with at least a budget passed on time

[Rochard]

Originally Posted by Vendzilla

I would like to see Obama start with at least a budget passed on time

Of course. Everything is Obama's fault.

[Robbie]

Nothing is being "cut" at all anyway.

These "cuts" are only reducing the amount of GROWTH this year.

Goddamn govt. is NEVER gonna actually cut their thieving down.

Remember...anytime a politician says "Cut" it really means reducing the amount of GROWTH in govt. spending.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by Rochard

Of course. Everything is Obama's fault.

I think he's referring to the fact that the President is required by law to submit a budget.

Once again this year...Obama has not done so. And Harry Reid has refused to let ANY Republican budget even be voted on in the Senate. And no Democrats have submitted any kind of budget.

Basically Pres. Obama and Democrats know that stuff will have to be cut. And they don't want to be associated with it so they can later say it was the heartless Republicans who did it.

This is all politics.

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by Robbie

I think he's referring to the fact that the President is required by law to submit a budget.

Once again this year...Obama has not done so. And Harry Reid has refused to let ANY Republican budget even be voted on in the Senate. And no Democrats have submitted any kind of budget.

Basically Pres. Obama and Democrats know that stuff will have to be cut. And they don't want to be associated with it so they can later say it was the heartless Republicans who did it.

This is all politics.

yeah, instead of working on the problem, he's still on the campaign trail pointing to the GOP as the problem makers, I mean how can he blame them when he's on a trip not dealing with it..


Yes Rochard, this is his fault!

[Relentless]

The eventual deal was likely done quietly six months ago and this dog and pony show is just the way they felt they could sell it to the American people as if there were two teams in play rather than just one.

[Major (Tom)]

How is social security an entitlement program if we pay into it.
Bs
Duke

[blackmonsters]

There has never been an American President who did this well amidst so much whining and stalemating by the other party.

[SmutHammer]

Edit: This is what you all have voted for....

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

There has never been an American President who did this well amidst so much whining and stalemating by the other party.

lead·er·ship
/ˈlēdərˌSHip/
Noun
The action of leading a group of people or an organization.
The state or position of being a leader.
Synonyms
guidance - lead - direction - management - command

[Vendzilla]

Leadership isn’t about blaming others, but realizing any blame levied should rest solely upon the leader. The best leaders will only point the finger at one person – themselves. The truth of the matter is no victories are won by participating in the blame game. It’s been said, “the only thing that happens when you throw dirt is that you lose ground.” Blame doesn’t inspire, it breeds malcontent and discord. If trust is the cornerstone of leadership, then blame can only be viewed as the corrosive behavior that eats away at the foundation. Don’t be the “Teflon” leader who worries about what might stick – be the mature leader who takes the hit, deals with the issue, and moves forward with character. Lead – don’t blame…

[DTK]

This is part of the reason actual liberals and progressives are pissed off at him. Not that I am one, just sayin'.

Just like every president since '80, he's governed center-right.

Of course you'll never hear this from right-wing media, as it runs counter to their 'he's a radical socialist' myth.

[GrantMercury]

Originally Posted by DukeSkywalker

How is social security an entitlement program if we pay into it.

"Entitlement" is a word with more than one definition. It seems to get thrown around a lot as a pejorative - meaning simply a belief that one is deserving. But it also means a right granted by a contract. Social Security IS an entitlement program. All who pay into it are entitled to its benefits.

[BFT3K]

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Vendzilla

Leadership isn?t about blaming others, but realizing any blame levied should rest solely upon the leader. The best leaders will only point the finger at one person ? themselves. The truth of the matter is no victories are won by participating in the blame game. It?s been said, ?the only thing that happens when you throw dirt is that you lose ground.? Blame doesn?t inspire, it breeds malcontent and discord. If trust is the cornerstone of leadership, then blame can only be viewed as the corrosive behavior that eats away at the foundation. Don?t be the ?Teflon? leader who worries about what might stick ? be the mature leader who takes the hit, deals with the issue, and moves forward with character. Lead ? don?t blame?

Ok, then there clearly are no republican leaders in congress.

[Robbie]

I have seen several Democrats on news programs suggesting that Social Security should be "means tested".

And that means...if you are rich you don't get your money back.

The whole idea of it being a "contract" is slowly being pushed aside and it will just be revealed for what it truly is...just another tax that people will have taken from them by the govt.

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Ok, then there clearly are no republican leaders in congress.

Clearly, the POTUS in not a leader, it's his job to bring the two parties together.

Reagan did it with Tip O'neil
Clinton did it with Newt Gingrich

Barry just blames others

[BFT3K]

The fight should be The People vs The Government.

The people in charge are happy to watch The People vs The People, while they shit on our fucking heads.

310 MILLION US citizens vs less than 600 politicians in DC, and we're all fucking losing.

Why? Because we fight each other, instead of the few corrupt fuckers at the top.

The United States of Israel and The Elites is starting to stink really bad these days, and 310 million of us just sit around and watch it all happen, like fucking lemmings.

[BFT3K]

No healthcare for you. No jobs for you. No space exploration, no education, no fucking nothing. The central bankers aren't happy with Iran right now, so your money is needed to start another idiotic war instead. And all for the benefit of whom?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert...m_hp_ref=world

[Captain Kawaii]

The gov will hatchet social security before Israel gift packs. AIPAC is preparing a bill that will guarantee blind support of any military or political move Israel makes. Was briefly reported this evening.

[BFT3K]

Originally Posted by Captain Kawaii

The gov will hatchet social security before Israel gift packs. AIPAC is preparing a bill that will guarantee blind support of any military or political move Israel makes. Was briefly reported this evening.

[DTK]

Originally Posted by BFT3K

The people in charge are happy to watch The People vs The People, while they shit on our fucking heads.
....and 310 million of us just sit around and watch it all happen, like fucking lemmings.

All true, but good luck getting partisan dupes (or lemmings, as you put it) to see that easily discoverable truth

It's all Obama's fault. No, it's all the Repubes fault. Blah blah blah. Meanwhile, behind the curtain, the systematic bi-partisan raping of this once-great country continues unabated.

[epitome]

LOL people were saying this needs to be done.

Now he's talking about having to do it and they're STILL bitching.

[2012]

[BFT3K]

How Your Social Security Money Was Stolen ? Where Did the $2.5 Trillion Surplus Go?

An interesting article - Click Here

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by BFT3K

How Your Social Security Money Was Stolen ? Where Did the $2.5 Trillion Surplus Go?

An interesting article - Click Here

It's been known about the IOU's for a long time. Wonder where money from ObamaCare will end up?

Trust funds at present rates for SSN will end in 2037 at present rate as of 2010, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...d-away-in-wva/

[bronco67]

Originally Posted by BFT3K

How Your Social Security Money Was Stolen ? Where Did the $2.5 Trillion Surplus Go?

An interesting article - Click Here

the attack on the Twin Towers has been slowly doing it job over the past few years.

[GregE]

Originally Posted by Vendzilla

Leadership isn?t about blaming others, but realizing any blame levied should rest solely upon the leader. The best leaders will only point the finger at one person ? themselves. The truth of the matter is no victories are won by participating in the blame game. It?s been said, ?the only thing that happens when you throw dirt is that you lose ground.? Blame doesn?t inspire, it breeds malcontent and discord. If trust is the cornerstone of leadership, then blame can only be viewed as the corrosive behavior that eats away at the foundation. Don?t be the ?Teflon? leader who worries about what might stick ? be the mature leader who takes the hit, deals with the issue, and moves forward with character. Lead ? don?t blame?

Ever consider that the problem just might be with the current congressional leadership?

Obama might not be a Clinton, but Boehner makes Gingrich look like a statesman in retrospect.

[BFT3K]

Originally Posted by GregE

Ever consider that the problem just might be with the current congressional leadership?

Obama might not be a Clinton, but Boehner makes Gingrich look like a statesman in retrospect.

Congress needs to fall into a gigantic sinkhole.

[DTK]

Originally Posted by GregE

Ever consider that the problem just might be with the current congressional leadership?

Of course not. Haven't you heard? It's all Obama's fault

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by BFT3K

Congress needs to fall into a gigantic sinkhole.

that would be an acceptable start

Originally Posted by DTK

Of course not. Haven't you heard? It's all Obama's fault

When instead working with congress is out telling the public how bad it is, YES!

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by GregE

Ever consider that the problem just might be with the current congressional leadership?

Yes I have and agree that congress is out to lunch

Obama might not be a Clinton, but Boehner makes Gingrich look like a statesman in retrospect.

Gingrich worked with Clinton to have a balanced budget and overhaul welfare, So yes I agree

[DTK]

Originally Posted by Vendzilla

When instead working with congress is out telling the public how bad it is, YES!

You're comical, dude. Blind spots the size of McMansions.

You obviously haven't noticed that congress has been unwilling to work with him from the day he walked into office. Not that the right wing media would ever tell you that.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by DTK

You obviously haven't noticed that congress has been unwilling to work with him from the day he walked into office. Not that the right wing media would ever tell you that.

Did you miss the House Republicans offering to pass a bill to give Obama the personal power to change the "cuts" (which actually means slightly less GROWTH by the way) to make them more "smart" (as Obama kept saying the last couple of weeks needed to be done)

The President instantly replied that he would VETO that bill!

He is scared SHITLESS to touch anything that will "cut" ANY part of what the Feds spend! He doesn't want to piss off anybody that is getting that money. And neither does the Democrat Senate.

This whole thing is a bunch of political horseshit. The "sequester" doesn't even "cut" anything (we will still spend MORE this year than last year). It only decreases the rate of GROWTH.

I don't know what's gonna end up happening within the next couple of decades...but sooner or later EVERYTHING is gonna really be CUT. Social Security, medicare, all of it.

Because sooner or later the U.S. isn't gonna be able to borrow any more money. It's inevitable. And then we will start printing useless money (hell, we are already well onto that path).

And that doesn't even count the cost of ObamaCare to our country.

The CBO released new numbers on ObamaCare recently...but of course the media didn't really report it very much. Check this out:
http://news.investors.com/020513-643...re.aspx?p=full

Didn't Obama claim this wasn't gonna cost us anything and was actually gonna SAVE us all kind of money?

[DTK]

Robbie, good points. I'll remind you that so-called 'obamacare' is actually the baby of the right-wing Heritage Foundation, and every proponent of that plan has claimed it would save us all kinds of money. But in fact, it has been a sloppy wet kiss to Big Pharma and Big "Health" from the get-go.

Point being, the lying regarding this plan has been a two-decade, bipartisan bullshit fest.

This is yet another reason that actual progressives and liberals are pissed off at Obama: a real progressive would have fought tooth-and-nail for single payer. Instead, just like the last half-dozen or so presidents, he's governed as just another right-center corporate whore.

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by DTK

Robbie, good points. I'll remind you that so-called 'obamacare' is actually the baby of the right-wing Heritage Foundation, and every proponent of that plan has claimed it would save us all kinds of money. But in fact, it has been a sloppy wet kiss to Big Pharma and Big "Health" from the get-go.

Point being, the lying regarding this plan has been a two-decade, bipartisan bullshit fest.

This is yet another reason that actual progressives and liberals are pissed off at Obama: a real progressive would have fought tooth-and-nail for single payer. Instead, just like the last half-dozen or so presidents, he's governed as just another right-center corporate whore.

Anyway you slice it, as it has passed, it's going to fuck over the healthcare system in the US.

As far as the Heritage Foundation, who gives a fuck?

And as far as the right wing unwilling to work with him, you have a very short memory.
When Barry took office, he had to jump thru hoops to get his own party to side with him, Hard to have respect for a leader that doesn't lead, he just blames

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by DTK

Robbie, good points. I'll remind you that so-called 'obamacare' is actually the baby of the right-wing Heritage Foundation,.

Could care less if The Heritage Foundation once discussed it. I'm almost 100% positive that Obama NEVER reads anything from The Heritage Foundation. lol
He definitely didn't get the idea from The Heritage Foundation...no matter how much Rachel Maddow wishes it were so.

And this whole national health care idea has been around for a long time, a lot longer that The Heritage Foundation. There were proponents of it in the late 1800's in this country (the Heritage Foundation was started in 1973 by the way)

So to say it's "the baby of The Heritage Foundation" is just incorrect.
And the only time it's ever really almost had traction was "Hillary Care" which was such an unpopular thing with the American people that it had to be dropped.

Obama's version is a joke and looks like it's going to cost us dearly. Nothing related to The Heritage Foundation in that bloated piece of legislation that nobody can even read.
I hope I'm wrong, but man...it sure seems that everything about it is shady.

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by DTK

You're comical, dude. Blind spots the size of McMansions.

You obviously haven't noticed that congress has been unwilling to work with him from the day he walked into office. Not that the right wing media would ever tell you that.

MSNBC won't report on anything negative about Obama

The Very Liberal Jon Stewart is calling out the President for all the drone attacks

Maybe you should climb out from under the rock you are living under and realize that refusing to work for a leader that constantly blames you for the shit this country is in and taking the blame, moving on and dealing with it, not going on a rock tour that cost the country 2 million plus dollars to explain how bad things are, but working on the problem, is the right thing to do?

He has not offered any plan yet for Sequestration, no one has seen it! But he never can get a budget out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/us...anted=all&_r=0



Quit quoting the liberal media, I read them too, then research

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by Robbie

And this whole national health care idea has been around for a long time, a lot longer that The Heritage Foundation. There were proponents of it in the late 1800's in this country (the Heritage Foundation was started in 1973 by the way)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=114045132

Here's a good read about how healthcare in this country evolved, it was all about money, and with the pass of ObamaCare, still is

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by Vendzilla

it was all about money, and with the pass of ObamaCare, still is

Sad but true.

I'm just shocked that so many people in 2013 actually believe that politicians really care about their well being.

[DTK]

Originally Posted by Robbie

Could care less if The Heritage Foundation once discussed it.

No Robbie, they wrote it. This is exactly what i mean when i say Obama's just another corporate whore. Forget ideology and the Dem vs Rep stage show. That's just window dressing for the masses.

It's all about the money, and the president and 99% of congress are nothing but business agents for the big money interests which paid for their elections.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by DTK

No Robbie, they wrote it. This is exactly what i mean when i say Obama's just another corporate whore. Forget ideology and the Dem vs Rep stage show. That's just window dressing for the masses.

It's all about the money, and the president and 99% of congress are nothing but business agents for the big money interests which paid for their elections.

No they didn't!!! Neither you and I (nor the Heritage Foundation) and half of Congress even know what's IN it.

And yes, I agree 100% that they are ALL just thieving politicians. But this is Congressional Democrat's baby all the way (Obama didn't even help write "ObamaCare" lol...not sure if he's ever done ANYTHING come to think of it), not The Heritage Foundations attempt at some kind of alternative to "Hillary Care" in the 1990's.

As I said...no Democrat or liberal is going to do anything that The Heritage Foundation suggests.

If they came up with the same ideas so be it...but I'm not even sure it that's the case because nobody really knows what's in that piece of legislation because it's got more pages than "War And Peace" lol

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by DTK

No Robbie, they wrote it. .

The Senate bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, bore similarities to prior healthcare reform proposals introduced by Republicans. In 1993 Senator John Chafee introduced the Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act which contained a "Universal Coverage" requirement with a penalty for non-compliance.[161][162] Advocates for the 1993 bill which contained the "individual mandate" included prominent Republicans who today oppose the mandate, namely Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Robert Bennett (R-UT), and Christopher Bond (R-MO).[163] In 1994 Senator Don Nickles introduced the Consumer Choice Health Security Act which also contained an individual mandate with a penalty provision.[164] However, Nickles removed the mandate from the act shortly after introduction, stating that they had decided "that government should not compel people to buy health insurance."[165] Many experts of healthcare policy have pointed out that the "individual mandate" requirement to buy health insurance was contained in many previous Republican/conservative proposals for healthcare legislation, going back as far as 1989.[166] Other experts have pointed out that the healthcare legislation that emerged from Congress in 2009 and 2010 is patterned, largely, after former Republican Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney's state healthcare plan which also contains the individual mandate


nothing about the Heritage House writing it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient...dable_Care_Act

[Vendzilla]

Taranto points out that the Heritage mandate was less onerous than the Obamacare one, as it focused on coverage for catastrophic illness, rather than the comprehensive health plans that Obamacare requires

Read this http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/201...idual-mandate/

[Robbie]

I have a great new plan!

Have the govt. STOP Big Pharma, Hospitals, and doctors from price gouging the American people.

Then we could all just PAY for our own goddamn "health care" without needing insurance when you stub your toe. You would only need insurance coverage for a major catastrophe.

You know...like the way it worked for decades.

[DTK]

Originally Posted by Robbie

No they didn't!!!

Yes they did!!! (couldnt' resist ) This is not a big effing secret. We can quibble about this or that, but the framework is the same.

http://www.heritage.org/research/rep...em-for-america.

and from the WSJ, a debunking of the HF's recent attempts to rewrite history http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...144786448.html

IMO you and I agree on far, far more things than we disagree, but for whatever reason, we seem to end up kind of adversarial. IDK if we just got off on the wrong foot or something, but it's too bad.

Originally Posted by Robbie

I have a great new plan!

Have the govt. STOP Big Pharma, Hospitals, and doctors from price gouging the American people.

See? Yet another thing we agree on Remember the Libertarian Party's dual mandate: protect people from force and fraud. That's dead-on what you just said

The greedy fucks who long since wiped their asses with the Hippocratic Oath need to be reined in (aka regulated) by govt. It's just near-impossible these days due to the overwhelming influence these huge money interests have on the laws and how they're enforced.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by DTK

Yes they did!!! (couldnt' resist ) This is not a big effing secret. We can quibble about this or that, but the framework is the same.

http://www.heritage.org/research/rep...em-for-america.

I just scanned over that...and mostly read the "framework" (their SUGGESTIONS)...doesn't read like ObamaCare to me. It talks a lot about govt. creating incentives for the market to drive costs down.

Anyway...that's all built on ideas that were first presented in the late 1800's (as I already told you). Pres. Theodore Roosevelt actually confronted this in the early 1900's.

Obama Care is most definitely NOT from The Heritage Foundation. And if you believe that Obama sat down and read that study by The Heritage Foundation and then commanded Pelosi and Reid to copy it...I got a bridge to sell ya.

You're basically just spouting MSNBC on this one bud. I know you like to think you are enlightened (as do I as well), but that is the same pile of bologna I"ve heard on MSNBC.

And unless The Heritage Foundation wrote that in the late 1800's...they are NOT the author of Nationalized Health Care. That's just a fact.

They are a hundred years too late.

And the REALITY is...OBAMA is the one who pushed the Democrat Congress to both write it and pass it (remember Pelosi: "We will find out what's in it after we vote for it"). NOT some conservative think tank.

[DTK]

Originally Posted by Robbie

You're basically just spouting MSNBC on this one bud. I know you like to think you are enlightened (as do I as well), but that is the same pile of bologna I"ve heard on MSNBC.

How can I "spout MSNBC" when i almost never watch that channel? I must have a psychic link to Rachel Maddow or something. Dude, I give. Last word is all yours.

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by Robbie

I just scanned over that...and mostly read the "framework" (their SUGGESTIONS)...doesn't read like ObamaCare to me. It talks a lot about govt. creating incentives for the market to drive costs down.

Anyway...that's all built on ideas that were first presented in the late 1800's (as I already told you). Pres. Theodore Roosevelt actually confronted this in the early 1900's.

Obama Care is most definitely NOT from The Heritage Foundation. And if you believe that Obama sat down and read that study by The Heritage Foundation and then commanded Pelosi and Reid to copy it...I got a bridge to sell ya.

You're basically just spouting MSNBC on this one bud. I know you like to think you are enlightened (as do I as well), but that is the same pile of bologna I"ve heard on MSNBC.

And unless The Heritage Foundation wrote that in the late 1800's...they are NOT the author of Nationalized Health Care. That's just a fact.

They are a hundred years too late.

And the REALITY is...OBAMA is the one who pushed the Democrat Congress to both write it and pass it (remember Pelosi: "We will find out what's in it after we vote for it"). NOT some conservative think tank.

I read it
Heritage suggested the end of employer paid medical so employee's would shop for better deals.
I just don't see what difference it makes, Reagan even wanted healthcare reform, Kerr-Mills Act