Food for thought

**Puckstop31** · 11-22-2011, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by pomtzu

Don't spend it all in one place.

Of course if the cost of living that really isn't rising, keeps rising, the check will no longer stretch to shop in more than one place anyway.

I can only imagine how tough it is to live on what SS provides Ellie. You have to trust me that I am not unsympathetic... But something HAS to change. It just has too.

Our Government is addicted to debt. Like any addiction, it hurts to come off it. To sustain the current level of spending with out incurring new debt, would require very oppressive levels of taxation. Levels of taxation that would make it very difficult for companies to afford to hire....

You could 'almost' make the arguement that, over the past few decades, it has almost been the goal of government to ruin the economy..... I mean politicians never lie, right?

**pomtzu** · 11-22-2011, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Puckstop31

I can only imagine how tough it is to live on what SS provides Ellie. You have to trust me that I am not unsympathetic... But something HAS to change. It just has too.

Yes, you're right Brian, something DOES have to change. But to make changes at the expense of those who need every penny that they get, then yes, that is wrong.

The folks like me who worked all their lives with the knowledge/expectation/promise??? that retirement would be something to look forward to, were certainly duped - be it intentionally or by "unforeseen" circumstance. We seniors cannot afford cuts to our benefits that we worked all of our lives to earn, now only to find that these golden years are very tarnished. Some have nice nest eggs to fall back on or draw from, others aren't that fortunate. I don't see what I receive from the government as a handout (and I'm not implying that you said that) - I worked hard all my life - thinking that I would be able to have a reasonably comfortable retirement. And when I say that I worked - I worked - from the time I was 18 until I had to retire at 62, with time out only to have a couple of kids. I never received any assistance for anything at any time, and only ever collected unemployment for a total of one whole week in all that time. I never wanted anyone to give me anything that I didn't work for, but I worked for the "benefits" I now receive, and now the government wants to cut them and increase what we pay for Medicare too. I might just as well drop dead now, because Uncle Sam sure is trying to dig my grave deeper at every curve in the road.

**Bonny** · 11-22-2011, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by pomtzu

Yes, you're right Brian, something DOES have to change. But to make changes at the expense of those who need every penny that they get, then yes, that is wrong.

The folks like me who worked all their lives with the knowledge/expectation/promise??? that retirement would be something to look forward to, were certainly duped - be it intentionally or by "unforeseen" circumstance. We seniors cannot afford cuts to our benefits that we worked all of our lives to earn, now only to find that these golden years are very tarnished. Some have nice nest eggs to fall back on or draw from, others aren't that fortunate. I don't see what I receive from the government as a handout (and I'm not implying that you said that) - I worked hard all my life - thinking that I would be able to have a reasonably comfortable retirement. And when I say that I worked - I worked - from the time I was 18 until I had to retire at 62, with time out only to have a couple of kids. I never received any assistance for anything at any time, and only ever collected unemployment for a total of one whole week in all that time. I never wanted anyone to give me anything that I didn't work for, but I worked for the "benefits" I now receive, and now the government wants to cut them and increase what we pay for Medicare too. I might just as well drop dead now, because Uncle Sam sure is trying to dig my grave deeper at every curve in the road.

The SS I receive helps pay for my not so free medicare, drugs, & back up insurance. I just received a notice from my back up insurance, a rise in the premium already.

I work part time & am paying into medicare, SS, Fed, & the State. The newest prediction is those of us that can work will be working into our 80's. That looks like I better go take my aspirins, vitamins, & calcium so I can stay in shape to keep ahead of Uncle Sam with his shovel.

**momcat** · 11-22-2011, 03:28 PM

I've heard Bernie Sanders speak a number of times and am quite impressed. His message is consistently on the side of the working middle class. I'm hoping he decides to run for president, he'd have my vote in a heartbeat. Obama is a wimp and candidates on the republicant side are pathetic with their alliance with the Koch brothers and Norquist.