October 20, 2009
Seniors and the Magical $250 Bribe
Gregory D. Lee
The government just announced that, based on zero inflation, Social Security recipients most likely will not receive a cost-of-living allowance next year. This would be the first time since President Nixon signed into law an annual increase in Social Security payments according to the Consumer Price Index.
Bribe's on the way, Gramps.
This should be good news for everyone. Inflation is down and the government doesn’t have to borrow more money to spend additional billions on this already-bankrupted Ponzi scheme.
Despite zero inflation, President Obama still wants to send seniors $250 just before the mid-term elections next year, costing an estimated $13 billion dollars. Republicans are also in favor of the idea if Congress will cut an equal amount elsewhere.
That’s the fundamental difference between the two parties. But I predict the Republicans will roll over and vote for the increase even though it means increasing the deficit. They don’t want Democrats airing commercials saying they wanted to cut Social Security.
What’s so magical about $250 a year, or $20.84 a month? Will that stimulate the economy and bring it out of recession? Why not $500? Better yet, $1,000? The idea of bribing seniors for their votes next year is revolting. How about making Social Security wages income tax exempt next year instead?
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said, “Any senior living in the real world knows that the cost of living has gone up over the last year.” Says whom? As reported by the Associated Press, the Labor Department says that over the past 12 months, gasoline prices have fallen 29.7 percent, and overall energy costs have decreased 21.6 percent. In general, consumer prices have declined 2.1 percent since the third quarter of 2008.
“Without relief, millions of older Americans will be unable to afford skyrocketing health care and prescription drug costs, as well as other basic necessities,” said Tom Nelson, chief operating officer of AARP. What makes him think that just because you are older, you can’t afford “basic necessities” and prescription drugs? Doesn’t he know seniors 65 and older enjoy the lowest rate of poverty among any other group of U.S. citizens? Seniors have had a lifetime to prepare for retirement, and in many cases, Social Security is only a portion of their portfolios.
Yet politicians assume the elderly, disabled, immigrants, minority members, women, college students or all of the above need to be on the government dole. They want these people dependent on government programs, which they love to expand.
When California had to make major cuts this year in its budget, Democrats sent e-mails to constituents asking their help in convincing Gov. Schwarzenegger not to cut a giveaway program called “Cal-Grants” used for college education. In his e-mail, my state assemblyman attached a YouTube clip featuring several high school aged minority members, one of whom said that if he had to pay for his own education, it would be “inconvenient” for him. Another kid said she and all her friends were relying on the money. Then the clip showed another legislator who said she would not vote to cut a program that would “destroy the dreams of young people.” Please give me a break.
I replied to my assemblyman’s e-mail that these kids could fund their college education through getting a job, or by applying for a variety of federal programs, including Pell grants, student loans, and the G.I. bill. I guess he wasn’t interested because I never heard from him. He wants to keep young Californians dependent on a state that can no longer afford anything except the “basic necessities.”
Members of Congress need to forego any increase in Social Security next year because of zero inflation. They should also agree not to attack each other for being fiscally responsible, for a change.
I can't wait to get mine and write "VOID" on it and send it back.
posted by: Buzz Gunning
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 10:53 AM
It would be great if all seniors could write "VOID" on the $250 bribe check; however, if this is a "ponzi scheme", it's not working for the seniors who are living on a fixed income. What do seniors spend their money on? Houses, appliances, new cars, TVs, stereos? NO... for the majority of fixed-income seniors, they spend their money on items that aren't even included in the "inflation index" i.e., food, prescriptions, gasoline, and utilities. Because food and gasoline are attacked to the rising and falling and rising cost of oil (and the cost of oil is attached to the sinking dollar), these items have risen at a rate much higher than the inflation index because they aren't included in this figure. With the possibility of Medicare cuts of $500 billion, there are going to be a lot of seniors who won't need to worry about death panels deciding whether they should live or die, they just won't be able to afford to eat or see a doctor... Perhaps it's time to rethink what you believe are people who are sponging off the government for no reason at all. These people have paid their social security "dues", yet they receive very little for what they paid. I hope you have planned your retirement better or you will be working until you drop as most of the seniors I know are having to do.
posted by: dore
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 01:53 AM
WHAT CAN A FAMILY OF TWO DO WITH $1009.00A MONTH, WHEN YOURE MONTHLY RENT TAKES A THIRD OF THAT AMOUNT, YOU SUFFER FROM PROSTATE CANCER, DIABETES, PARKINSON. YOU NEED TO GET ANYTHING THAT COMES YOUR WAY.
posted by: MANUEL L SOLIS
Friday, January 8, 2010 at 09:11 PM
