[Venturer]

I don’t see anything here that I don’t agree with.

Frightening the old people(myself) is what the Democrats have been doing for years about Social Security. So:That’s nothing new.

Ron mentions that Social Security has plenty of funds top make the payment if Obama does not use those funds elsewhere.

Can he do that?

[Veritas_et_libertas]

Use the funds elsewhere?

Yeah.

The govt is not contractually obligated to pay Social Security, as decided, i believe, in the Supreme Court case FLEMMING V. NESTOR.

I dont know if that applies here or not, maybe someone can enlighten us.

[ImpBill]

From what I understand, and it is limited, especially since the government has not operated under a budget for over two years now, the Treasury being part of the Executive Branch can issue checks to whomever the Executive decides, within the confines of "law".

Either way if the Debt Ceiling is not raised, decisions will have to be made, again by the Executive Branch, on whom to pay, what, and when to pay them.

This all gets even murkier when one calculates into the process the deficit, already run up this year. I believe that is already over $1,000,000,000.00 for this year, to date!

It is all pure insanity and has been for longer than just Obama. But he has taken deficit spending to even new and greater heights. And our feckless Congress just sits around "debating" (fiddling while America burns!) Someone brighter than I will explain it better, I am sure.

Bottom line is that in the short term Obama can stick it to whomever he pleases.

[ImpBill]

Huge error in my first post. The deficit for this year is already over $1,000,000,000,000.00. Hard to manage all those zero’s. Sorry!