Efforts to Curb Social Spending Face Resistance

NYSlimes ^ | 11/26/2012 | Robert Pear

[mojito]

President Obama’s re-election and Democratic gains in Congress were supposed to make it easier for the party to strike a deal with Republicans to resolve the year-end fiscal crisis by providing new leverage. But they could also make it harder as empowered Democrats, including some elected on liberal platforms, resist significant changes in entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.

As Congress returned Monday, the debate over those programs, which many Democrats see as the core of the party’s identity, was shaping up as the Democratic version of the higher-profile struggle among Republicans over taxes.

[....]

Republicans insist that changes in the major entitlement programs be on the table in exchange for their willingness to accept increases in tax revenue. But Democrats have given no indication that they are willing to consider policy changes or savings of the magnitude demanded by Republicans. The underlying dispute highlights a reason the politics of the deficit are so thorny: even as many voters say they want Washington to reduce the budget deficit, they oppose many of the benefit cuts and tax increases that could help achieve that goal.

[mojito]

Another elephant and pony show.

By now, we all know how this show ends, don't we?

[concerned about politics]

How about getting rid of the free cell phones, free Internet access, and free cable? If the freeloaders want more than shelter, canned foods, and thrift store clothing, they can get their own jobs.

Cut the freeloaders back to only those things they need and if they want more than the basics, they can get a job.

If we were to do this, we'd be pleasantly surprised how fast these people would find work, and the entire world would prosper because of it.

Never mind sharing the wealth. That produces nothing but sloth. Share the WORK instead, and the wealth would automatically share itself!

[sickoflibs]

RE :”President Obama’s re-election and Democratic gains in Congress were supposed to make it easier for the party to strike a deal with Republicans to resolve the year-end fiscal crisis by providing new leverage. But they could also make it harder as empowered Democrats, including some elected on liberal platforms, resist significant changes in entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.
[....]
Republicans insist that changes in the major entitlement programs be on the table in exchange for their willingness to accept increases in tax revenue. But Democrats have given no indication that they are willing to consider policy changes or savings of the magnitude demanded by Republicans. The underlying dispute highlights a reason the politics of the deficit are so thorny: even as many voters say they want Washington to reduce the budget deficit, they oppose many of the benefit cuts and tax increases that could help achieve that goal.”

Lets be real.

Republicans dont want spending cuts now, meaning to 'reduce the budget'. They want to restore the spending (automatic cuts) and extend tax cuts and cut those entitlements many years from now. Its not like they would do the right thing and propose cutting those now. And they want O to give them cover on it.

And they wont admit that SS and Medicare are adding to the national debt now

I hope they do fail in this, screw them.

[Sacajaweau]

Interesting...These are the entitlements that are paid for BY WORKING PEOPLE. And they are entitled to the benefits. Medicaid ruined the system and should have been totally funded separately.

Then there's disability.

DEFUND NON PRODUCTIVE PROGRAMS LIKE HEADSTART....SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS....FREE BABYSITTING

[Gilbo_3]

I hope they do fail in this, screw them.

heheheh, they did you first...

kabuki is, as kabuki does...

I finally figgured out why you read political tea leaves so well sick...you are a fan of WWE, soap operas and reality tv, and simply substitute *congress* for the players written on those shows...

yer secrect is now out...

[lurk]

Like drunkards who just can’t quit, we’re going to just have to hit the concrete wall going 70 mph before we get a clue, as Iceland discovered, and now the PIIGS countries are finding out.

[AU72]

I’ve already seen this play several times and it always has the same ending.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”I finally figgured out why you read political tea leaves so well sick...you are a fan of WWE, soap operas and reality tv, and simply substitute *congress* for the players written on those shows...”

WWF seems appropriate. Made-up drama when we should all know what the outcome will be ahead of time. Even many of the audiences seem like plated actors :'The polls are all lies. We are winning.."

[annieokie]

They can do all that easily, the one I want included is FOREIGN AID TO OUR ENEMIES.............that is a lot of money.

[traditional1]

Standard bullshipt Progressive argument on Entitlements:Social Security and Medicare....

How about ALL Entitlements that are pure handouts, and NOT funded by contributions specifically for them?

EVERY Handout to a non-paying member of society should be stopped....

Let's also immediately review ALL SSDI payouts, SS Payouts, and Medicare payouts for identification of TRUELY QUALIFIED RECIPIENTS, INCLUDING THEIR U.S. Citizenship.

ALL taxpayer-funded handouts for Cities, including Block Grants should stop immediately.

ANY Program not specifically authorized by the U.S. Constitution's PLAIN LANGUAGE should be immediately stopped, and reviewed by Independent Citizens' Groups.

[concerned about politics]

Interesting...These are the entitlements that are paid for BY WORKING PEOPLE.

Yep. The working class is used and considered nothing but slave labor by the political elites. The freeloaders sacrifice nothing. Nothing at all, because they keep the elites living in luxury and power with their votes (both RINO Republicans and democrats).
Today, the freeloaders receive anywhere from $40,000 - $60,000 a year in benefits, and most of them have never worked as much as one day of their lazy, miserable lives.

Starve the beast. Buy nothing, especially if it has an attached tax.
We can live without big governments money, but big government can't live without ours (and nether can the politically obedient freeloaders).

[stephenjohnbanker]

” .you are a fan of WWE, soap operas and reality tv, and simply substitute *congress* for the players written on those shows...”

I honestly don’t see any difference either : )

[concerned about politics]

How about ALL Entitlements that are pure handouts, and NOT funded by contributions specifically for them?

Give the safety net back to the charities. Those who are in NEED will get all the help they need and then some. Those in WANT will just have to get their own jobs.
THAT would be the social justice the world has been searching for. The world has simply forgotten what true freedom really is.

No man should be used as another mans slave. It's time the social scrounges got out of bed.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Free stuff wins the day every time.

We’re just going to continue down the path to Greek Socialism until the ChiComs call our note (which frankly I don’t expect them to ever do, because we are their best customer, and if they have to stop shipping to Walmart the lid is gonna blow)

[GeronL]

The chance that meaningful spendin cuts will happen, enough to assure the investors that we might be able to get a handle on an out of control spending binge..... hovers somewhere around 0%.... possibly underneath it....

[GeronL]

Today, the freeloaders receive anywhere from $40,000 - $60,000 a year in benefits, and most of them have never worked as much as one day of their lazy, miserable lives.

Well, sort of. The US government spends about $60,000 per family on welfare.... we both know more than half of that is the cost of bureaucracy, which possibly exceeds 70% of that.

[trebb]

How about getting rid of the free cell phones, free Internet access, and free cable? If the freeloaders want more than shelter, canned foods, and thrift store clothing, they can get their own jobs. Cut the freeloaders back to only those things they need and if they want more than the basics, they can get a job. If we were to do this, we'd be pleasantly surprised how fast these people would find work, and the entire world would prosper because of it. Never mind sharing the wealth. That produces nothing but sloth. Share the WORK instead, and the wealth would automatically share itself!

Exactly! Those who can work but refuse to do so should only be allowed to subsist, not to enjoy all the conveniences that the folks who pay for them have to work for. The "safety net" should only be deployed to preserve life, not to provide luxuries that past generations couldn't afford even while working their tails off. There should also be strict time limits for one to be on the dole then it should revert to "Mexican prison style" where if no relatives or friends provide what they need, they don't get it. Until the leech lifestyle becomes painful, the leeches will bleed us all dry.

I have no problems helping to support those that really cannot support themselves due to physical or mental infirmities, but to support a bunch of healthy breeders is too much.

[Gilbo_3]

WWF seems appropriate. Made-up drama when we should all know what the outcome will be ahead of time.

thats the prism im using for all things politik in the future...its all there, good guys, bad guys, adoring/worshipping fans, t&a, easily duped or complicit referees and even color commentation from ringside thats better than the actual *show* at times...

and just like with soaps too, you never really can write a charachter completely outta the script...so cool !!!

yep, im going to be able to prognosticate the manueveres of DC pretty well from here on out...

[from occupied ga]

What you will see is immediate tax increases (probably RETROACTIVE to 1/1/12) and promised miniscule spending cuts for future years. These spending cuts will NEVER materialize, but it will give the spineless liberal Republicans an excuse to pass tax increases that the current arrogant narcissistic ignorant filth occupying the president's mansion wants.

0 wants to level the score board, He wants everyone to have the same life rewards, work or not, dumb as a stump, or not, usless parasite or not. He believes if you have something more than some bloated human tick because you worked for a living, then you don't deserve it. And the bloated human ticks who relected him agree.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” yep, im going to be able to prognosticate the manueveres of DC pretty well from here on out... “

Republicans in D.C.

1) draw cards

2) ante up

3) fold