social security (If our crispy friend sounds like the Washington Post, there's a reason)

[elephantrepublican]

SHEER COINCIDENCE: Last Monday, the Social Security and Medicare trustees released their annual depressing report. On Tuesday, congressional negotiators handed President Bush a "victory" -- his assessment -- in agreeing to extend his capital gains and dividend tax cuts. Mr. Bush and his fellow tax-cuts-above-all proponents would like you to believe that the two events are unrelated. But taken together they underscore the terrible fiscal predicament that Mr. Bush has chosen to bequeath to his successor.

According to the new estimates, the Social Security trust fund will be depleted in 2040, one year closer than last year's projection, while Medicare's will run out in 2018 -- two years sooner than last year's projection and 12 years earlier than estimated when Mr. Bush took office. These dates may still sound remote, but the problem is more imminent than the customary focus on insolvency suggests. Far earlier than the insolvency date, the programs will be spending more than they take in, in payroll taxes in the case of Social Security, in payroll taxes and premiums in the case of some parts of Medicare. Because of higher-than-anticipated hospital costs, the price of Medicare hospital benefits will exceed tax collections and other dedicated revenue this year -- a situation that will persist and worsen rapidly after 2010. And every year of procrastination makes the eventual solution more painful....

[elephantrepublican]

just something to consider.

[Prime Choice]

[decal]

"Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha!"

[Dog Gone]

[Admin Moderator]

Here, Mr. Lifelong Conservative Republican, you forgot something.

[decal]

Whee, the Mods brought this back - Let The Games Begin!

[sinclair]

The bastids wont stop untill my tax rate is 100%.

[decal]

We consider you to be a disgrace to all carbon-based life forms.

Now go back to DU and tell the other fools How You Told Us, In Your Own Words.

[The Electrician]

Did you escape from your lockbox?

[DumpsterDiver]

According to the new estimates, the Social Security trust fund will be depleted in 2040

I'll be dead by then.

Medicare's will run out in 2018

Cause of death: a lack of taxpayer funded healthcare. LOL.

[Tzimisce]

Why is it that so many people feel like they're just owed their neighbors money?

I call it "stealing".

[eyespysomething]

Are you this guy?

[Billthedrill]

Yeah, right. The Dems demagogue the SS privatization program and stonewall SS reform and it's Bush's fault? And the answer, of course, is to raise taxes. Pity the numbers don't work out.

When the Post states that Bush is "bequeathing" this to his successor they mean his Democrat successor won't be held responsible by them for the economic consequences of raising taxes. That's because they expect that successor's name to be "Clinton" and they've already been down that road before.

Make no mistake - if there is no Social Security reform it's because the Dems blocked it hoping to take credit for their version later. And the Post is ready to give it to them.

[backhoe]

Consider this...

 

[darkwing104]

Do you like kitties?

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Viking Kitty/ZOT ping list!. . . don't be shy.

[Lady Jag]

Good show, DW!

[fanfan]

He's gone.

IATZ.

:-(

[day10]

[reagan_fanatic]

Mr. Bush and his fellow tax-cuts-above-all proponents would like you to believe that the two events are unrelated.

You liberals still cannot bring yourselves to say PRESIDENT BUSH, can you?

zot

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Mr. Bush and his fellow tax-cuts-above-all proponents would like you to believe that the two events are unrelated. But taken together they underscore the terrible fiscal predicament that Mr. Bush has chosen to bequeath to his successor.

Get your facts straight you moron.

.. Bush raised tax revenue.