Moochers Against Welfare

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It is interesting to see just how many people do not consider government programs, subsidies or flat out socialistic programs as government involvement. Of course – we've all heard the stories of people who say "Don't let government touch my Medicare" or something to that affect.

And the Republican party has tried very, very hard to talk about spending cuts in generalities. In one moment – they attack Democrats for "cutting $500 billion out of Medicare" which isn't true actually…and in the same moment – they talk about needing to cut Medicare and Social Security. Government programs like Social Security and Medicare are of HUGE importance to Seniors – both present day and future. The Republican strategy is to convince present day seniors (who vote in large numbers) that their coverage will not change at all….and at the same time – they'll be trying to convince everyone pre-55 years of age that the programs need to be privatized.

Here's the rub – if a Senior Citizen won't be able to make it with the new and improved plan that would only affect future seniors…why should anyone who plans on living beyond 65 be willing to accept such a bad proposition? Republicans are trying to convince the average person that Social Security isn't going to be there for them…and creating this doubt will make it easier for them to privatize the program and put your savings in the hands of the financial services industry.

After all – what could go wrong with putting your entire nest egg into the stock market?

Cornell University's Suzanne Mettler points out that many beneficiaries of government programs seem confused about their own place in the system. She tells us that 44 percent of Social Security recipients, 43 percent of those receiving unemployment benefits, and 40 percent of those on Medicare say that they "have not used a government program."

Presumably, then, voters imagine that pledges to slash government spending mean cutting programs for the idle poor, not things they themselves count on. And this is a confusion politicians deliberately encourage. For example, when Mr. Romney responded to the new Obama budget, he condemned Mr. Obama for not taking on entitlement spending — and, in the very next breath, attacked him for cutting Medicare.

via Moochers Against Welfare – NYTimes.com.

[james&olya 1,121]

The level of understanding the average voter has as to what is really going on is appalling! The GOP actively perpetuates the mis-information out there and FOX news enthusiastically assists in dumbing down the electorate. How else could the current republicans stand a chance of being elected?!! The one thing that really puzzles me is why has it taken so long for the progressives (no longer the same thing as the Democrats) to begin to educate the general public on a few basic facts relative to their economic security. Specifically the different treatment of wage income compared to passive (capital gain) income, the cap on earnings subject to social security tax, and many other things that should be well-known to every voter but which many voters seem almost totally unaware of! There is a class war going on but it is the plutocrats who have been on offense and the working class is only beginning to realize something is wrong. The republicans have distracted the middle class by convincing them it is the poor that threaten their secure way of life when it is the 1% that are taking away their financial security! I hope that Obama will get back into that bully pulpit and demonstrate some real leadership on behalf of his progressive supporters!

[luckytxn 2,265]

The level of understanding the average voter has as to what is really going on is appalling! The GOP actively perpetuates the mis-information out there and FOX news enthusiastically assists in dumbing down the electorate. How else could the current republicans stand a chance of being elected?!! The one thing that really puzzles me is why has it taken so long for the progressives (no longer the same thing as the Democrats) to begin to educate the general public on a few basic facts relative to their economic security. Specifically the different treatment of wage income compared to passive (capital gain) income, the cap on earnings subject to social security tax, and many other things that should be well-known to every voter but which many voters seem almost totally unaware of! There is a class war going on but it is the plutocrats who have been on offense and the working class is only beginning to realize something is wrong. The republicans have distracted the middle class by convincing them it is the poor that threaten their secure way of life when it is the 1% that are taking away their financial security! I hope that Obama will get back into that bully pulpit and demonstrate some real leadership on behalf of his progressive supporters!

Obama the Socialist is weak. He is no leader. An empty suit so to speak. He will allow whatever congress tells him to do. He was ill prepared for the job and the worst part is so many said he was and nobody listened. Just imagine how McCain feels, he lost to this loser. Has to be worse than how Kerry felt losing to Bush Jr.

We will have the status quo.

[MyLittlePony 340]

The illegals from Mexico who come to USA needs top be cut off and maybe the welfare programs can be save for the people who are in need and not abuse the system.

[mawilson 2,133]

It is interesting to see just how many people do not consider government programs, subsidies or flat out socialistic programs as government involvement.

That's because they believe it was their money to begin with. If the government hadn't taken it away in the form of taxes, they wouldn't have to rely on "government programs" to get it back.