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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 09:35 AM Apr 2013

Progressives Push Back Against Obama's Social Security, Medicare Austerity

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/04/06-0



***SNIP


Additionally, the president is reported to be prepared to propose some means testing for Medicare.

This is not Paul Ryan privatization. But it is a classic austerity cut.

It is wrong economically, and politically.

“Social Security is not driving the deficit; therefore it should not be part of reforms aimed at cutting the deficit. The chained CPI, deceptively portrayed as a reasonable cost of living adjustment, is a cut to Social Security that would hurt seniors,” says former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. “There are several sensible reforms to Social Security that should be considered to help make it sustainable, including lifting the ceiling on income subject to Social Security from $113,700 to $200,000 or more, as well as instituting a 1 percent raise in the payroll tax rate, a rate that hasn't changed in over 20 years.”
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Progressives Push Back Against Obama's Social Security, Medicare Austerity (Original Post) xchrom Apr 2013 OP
I like the idea of raising the income level caps, but Vinnie From Indy Apr 2013 #1
Raising the payroll tax for everyone is a truly terrible idea BeyondGeography Apr 2013 #2
Don't raise the rate, raise the ceiling. It's progressive, low/mid earners won't notice it. xtraxritical Apr 2013 #13
If you made all income including capital gains over a certain amount JDPriestly Apr 2013 #19
As I see it there are two ways to deal with Republicans. gordianot Apr 2013 #3
Unfortunately this is true. AnnieK401 Apr 2013 #9
Way acceptable. xtraxritical Apr 2013 #14
They should means test nineteen50 Apr 2013 #4
+10 SHRED Apr 2013 #5
I see no upside politically for Obama on this SHRED Apr 2013 #6
Hard to see how there is one. AnnieK401 Apr 2013 #10
Write Obama and all Democratic Pols UCmeNdc Apr 2013 #7
I don't get the headline... pangaia Apr 2013 #8
Equal Protection bl968 Apr 2013 #11
Progressive taxes make sense. Regressive ones don't. JDPriestly Apr 2013 #20
Remove the cap. 99Forever Apr 2013 #12
"ALL income should be subject to this tax, INCLUDING capital gains. ALL income." THIS! SomeGuyInEagan Apr 2013 #27
Raise the cap sylvi Apr 2013 #15
I'll quit voting if President Obama does this. Conium Apr 2013 #16
If they raise the cap madville Apr 2013 #17
Why? Conium Apr 2013 #18
I don't agree with it madville Apr 2013 #26
Drastically raise taxes on the rich and jail the crooks duffyduff Apr 2013 #21
+1000 Cleita Apr 2013 #22
Where's austerity for Wall Street and the banksters? jsr Apr 2013 #23
If you support Raising-theCap, you should have voted for THIS guy: bvar22 Apr 2013 #24
Yeah where did that guy go? unapatriciated Apr 2013 #25

BeyondGeography

(39,284 posts)
2. Raising the payroll tax for everyone is a truly terrible idea
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 09:49 AM
Apr 2013

Last edited Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:27 AM - Edit history (1)

It is the one of the most regressive taxes there is; a flat 1% increase would warehouse money that people need right now. Agree with the rest, but Reich needs a much better reason than "it hasn't been raised in 20 years." Neither have most incomes, in real terms, as the Professor surely knows.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
19. If you made all income including capital gains over a certain amount
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 12:23 PM
Apr 2013

per year subject to the Social Security tax, you might be able to lower the rate a bit.

gordianot

(15,226 posts)
3. As I see it there are two ways to deal with Republicans.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 09:51 AM
Apr 2013

1. You can use a baseball bat since reasoning with them is not an option. Generally not acceptable.

2. You can appeal to their greed which defines them. Problem is like most terrorist they are difficult to deal with, appeasement only encourages them.

AnnieK401

(541 posts)
10. Hard to see how there is one.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:10 AM
Apr 2013

He is the only one who seems to be behind this. I know he's somehow thinking this will make the R's look bad. Granted he is a master strategist. Much better than any of us could hope to be. But I'm thinking he might have overplayed his hand here. We'll see.

pangaia

(24,324 posts)
8. I don't get the headline...
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:03 AM
Apr 2013

"Progressives Push Back Against Obama's Social Security, Medicare Austerity"

Progressive? Why does that have to be called 'progressive?" That's just common sense, normal human beings taking care of each other.
Maybe the headline should read something like.. "FASCISTS CALLED ON THEIR GREED BY CITIZENS"

Sort of like in Iceland, and Cyprus (to an extent)

bl968

(360 posts)
11. Equal Protection
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:25 AM
Apr 2013

The social security income caps should be removed they violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution. If people making under $113,700 are required to pay into social security, then people making over $113,700 a year cannot be excluded.

99Forever

(14,524 posts)
12. Remove the cap.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:28 AM
Apr 2013

No need to raise the rate on those that can afford it least.

ALL income should be subject to this tax, INCLUDING capital gains. ALL income.

SomeGuyInEagan

(1,515 posts)
27. "ALL income should be subject to this tax, INCLUDING capital gains. ALL income." THIS!
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:27 PM
Apr 2013

And ALL income - including capital gains - should be taxed as income, with a progressive income tax at the same rates as they were pre-Reagan.

Combine that with fixing the games played with CEO and Wall Street bonuses and suddenly a lot of problems are solved.

Conium

(119 posts)
16. I'll quit voting if President Obama does this.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:48 AM
Apr 2013

If President Obama caves to RepUGLYcan demands, we wasted our time putting him in office. If they want to "fix" Social Security, remove the cap on maximum contributions.

madville

(7,397 posts)
17. If they raise the cap
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:48 AM
Apr 2013

They will probably raise the maximum benefit as well. Like instead of the maximum monthly benefit being $2,500 now it would have to go up to say $4,000 to match the income cap going to $200,000 a year.

They will have to give the higher income earners something in return and it will affect the paychecks of all the Congress members as well so you know they would make it have some benefit to them.

Raising the cap would probably be a wash if maximum payouts increased as well, that's te only way I see it happening in the near future.

Conium

(119 posts)
18. Why?
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:53 AM
Apr 2013

The wealthy already have their perks. With congress constantly dipping into the Social Security trust fund and using the money as if it was general revenue, the poor pay a far greater percentage of their income. It amounts to a very regressive tax. Cut the caps now!

madville

(7,397 posts)
26. I don't agree with it
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 03:18 PM
Apr 2013

That's just the only way raising the cap will get through Congress. They aren't going to vote a $4,000 SS tax hike on themselves without getting something for it like an increased benefit when they collect.

 

duffyduff

(3,251 posts)
21. Drastically raise taxes on the rich and jail the crooks
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 12:25 PM
Apr 2013

who destroyed the American economy. Seize those crooks' assets.

Reverse ALL the trade agreements from the past thirty years.

Problem solved.

bvar22

(39,909 posts)
24. If you support Raising-theCap, you should have voted for THIS guy:
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 12:52 PM
Apr 2013


That guy would have been a Great President.

unapatriciated

(5,390 posts)
25. Yeah where did that guy go?
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 01:08 PM
Apr 2013

Seems to prove politicians bow to the top 6% once they win their election.
They care only when our vote is needed, once in office they realize they no longer care or want to listen to we the people.

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