If they cut social security and medicare

[frugal-one]

The last thing I heard on SS going away, was some time ago. It involved cutting for those that don't have income, but live on investments.

That said, should we be taking odd on this site, who leaves the country first and who stays and complains?

Not as easy to leave the country as you may think…

[iris lilies]

The day means testing for social security starts is the day social security becomes just another welfare program that can eventually be destroyed by the republicans.

Of course the Republicans the government can destroy Social Security, it is a government program. How many Presidents have raided it? Any of them Democrats?

And it is already means tested. There isn’t a straight percentage paid out based on income. SS pays out 42% of a $60,000 salary but only 26% of a $120,000 salary. Obviously it is taking income into consideration vis a vis life needs. It also pays reduced benefits if you are working a job (i.e. have other forms of income) at certain times of benefit eligibility.

[iris lilies]

Not as easy to leave the country as you may think…

I don’t think it is easy, I think y’all are not sufficiently motivated.

[Tybee]

Of course the Republicans the government can destroy Social Security, it is a government program. How many Presidents have raided it? Any of them Democrats?

And it is already means tested. There isn’t a straight percentage paid out based on income. SS pays out 42% of a $60,000 salary but only 26% of a $120,000 salary. Obviously it is taking income into consideration vis a vis life needs. It also pays reduced benefits if you are working a job (i.e. have other forms of income) at certain times of benefit eligibility.

You're kidding, right?

[iris lilies]

You're kidding, right?

no not at all. What do you mean?

Are any of you at all concerned about the Social Security system running out of money? This is the site I’ve been skimming but there are thousands of similar doom and gloom projections


https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/soci...too-optimistic


I won’t even ask about your concern for children and grandchildren and social security. I will ask about people —today—who depend to an extraordinary degree on it.

Wouldn’t you rather see me, with my generous household income of $95,000 annually cut back than a person who relies on her $18,000 SS payments for everything? It just seems logical to me.

[bae]

Not as easy to leave the country as you may think…

It’s pretty simple for me:

- I can kayak to Canada in moments, my house is right on the border.

- I can walk down to the dock and catch the seaplane to either Seattle or Vancouver, and from there be in London in 9 hours or so. A bit longer if I stop off in Iceland.

- if you have more time, you can leisurely sail from here to just about anywhere.

[jp1]

Of course the Republicans the government can destroy Social Security, it is a government program. How many Presidents have raided it? Any of them Democrats?

And it is already means tested. There isn’t a straight percentage paid out based on income. SS pays out 42% of a $60,000 salary but only 26% of a $120,000 salary. Obviously it is taking income into consideration vis a vis life needs. It also pays reduced benefits if you are working a job (i.e. have other forms of income) at certain times of benefit eligibility.

Stop trying to pretend that the democrats are interested in destroying social security. Only one of our main political parties is interested in doing that. and it aint the democrats. I'll never forget the sad day when W Bush pulled a bunch of paper out of a file cabinet and said "see this? This is the social security trust fund. It's just worthless paper." eff him and the shitty party still he belongs to. I stand by my previous statement. Social security is a DRAMATICALLY popular government program. Making it a means tested program will make it dramatically easier for the chitty republicans to destroy and send lots of old folks into poverty. That's their goal and they should own it and be proud of it. And you should too even if it screws you over. Or do you have some other pension so you have no skin in this game?

[Tybee]

Stop trying to pretend that the democrats are interested in destroying social security. Only one of our main political parties is interested in doing that. and it aint the democrats. I'll never forget the sad day when W Bush pulled a bunch of paper out of a file cabinet and said "see this? This is the social security trust fund. It's just worthless paper." eff him and the shitty party still he belongs to. I stand by my previous statement. Social security is a DRAMATICALLY popular government program. Making it a means tested program will make it dramatically easier for the chitty republicans to destroy and send lots of old folks into poverty. That's their goal and they should own it and be proud of it. And you should too even if it screws you over. Or do you have some other pension so you have no skin in this game?

I think that is their point, to kill off the old people as we are useless eaters to them, and we have long memories, so are less easily manipulated.

[iris lilies]

Stop trying to pretend that the democrats are interested in destroying social security. Only one of our main political parties is interested in doing that. and it aint the democrats. I'll never forget the sad day when W Bush pulled a bunch of paper out of a file cabinet and said "see this? This is the social security trust fund. It's just worthless paper." eff him and the shitty party still he belongs to. I stand by my previous statement. Social security is a DRAMATICALLY popular government program. Making it a means tested program will make it dramatically easier for the chitty republicans to destroy and send lots of old folks into poverty. That's their goal and they should own it and be proud of it. And you should too even if it screws you over. Or do you have some other pension so you have no skin in this game?

Of course it is a DRAMATICALLY popular program. Is water wet?

We have been told the SS trust fund runs out of money at some point within the next ten years. Do you believe that? If not, why not? If so, do ya have any plan to save it? Why aren't you worried about people who rely solely on SS as their income? Doesn't seem very kind or caring to me.

[iris lilies]

About the government’s ability and intent to change and cut Social Security:

There are always tweaks being made to the SS system. Sometimes those tweaks (most often?) result in people losing benefits or money. Examples off the top of my head that I personally have seen:

*percentages of SS income taxed …changes were made
* how much you can draw has changed with full retirement age going from 65 to 66 to 67…and beyond…personally affected me
* deletion of the “file and suspend” option which hurt our household pocketbook

Those examples just scratch the surface of changes which could be termed “cutbacks.” They are just the few I know about, there are many I do not know about.

My point is the rules and regulations of the Social Security system are set by the government and whichever regime is in power can and will change it.