Thank you Lawrence O'Donnell for tonights Rewrite.

[jaysunb]

Emotions are running high about SS and these supposed cuts to the program, but as a recipient and strong supporter, I urge others to take a look at the facts as they were presented in this segment.

I don't remember who said it, but I remember a quote about trying to fit a man in a boys coat. Four Presidents since FDR (Francis Perkins) created SS , have made cuts/adjustments to the program. (Nixon,Carter,Reagan and Clinton) In every case there was either a Democratic controlled Congress or voted for by a majority of Democrats. The sky is not falling.

And btw, I got 0 cola the first three years I drew SS. The $21 bucks a month don't make too big a difference in real life. I'm still poor.....

I'll try to post the entire segment before the flames get too hot. LOL

[graham4anything]

1. Plus a zillion

[Control-Z]

2. Ditto (nt)

[Hoyt]

3. +1 No flames here. Not excited about CCPI, but I can see big picture.

And I get why some are upset/ticked. I think if they looked at gains from budget, and protections built in they would see it's not the end of SS. In fact, with gains in Medicare in last few years, and other Obama achievements, we are still to the good.

[graham4anything]

7. After the health care kicks in for all, the amount of money saved will far offset any perceived loss

and FDR never intended for SS to be the end all. It was suppose to be on top of other things.

I find it very coincidental that all this hatred against the President is coming on the same day/week that the vote for gun control is happening.

I would bet that it is not a coincidence.

[elleng]

12. There's ALWAYS hatred against President Obama here,, graham4,

nothing new, and no coincidences.

[graham4anything]

19. NO coincidences indeed.Tearing down Elijah Cummings & Sheila Jackson Lee is the last straw.

[freshwest]

81. I had to put up with a poster mocking the Reverend Jesse Jackson, too.

[1StrongBlackMan]

46. This ain't the DU ...

I knew and loved.

I don't envy the site administrators; but I think they should take note (action).

[hollysmom]

69. You can disagree with something the president backs without hating him

Using offensive words does not allow for discussion, they are dismissive. If this continues I can see where people leave the democratic party as quickly as they are leaving the republican party. No one here wants us all to walk in lock step, disagreement makes for good discussion if people mind their manners.

[elleng]

74. Right, people should know how to disagree without being disagreeable,

but there's not as much of that here as there should be, imo. There's no reason to leave the democratic party.

[Hoyt]

15. Yes. Heck just the improvement in prescription drug donut hole more than offsets.

And there is more good to be counted.

[jaysunb]

22. I spend almost $1000 in the dounut hole

which represent 5x the cola. Fix the doughnut hole and lots of us will be ok....for starters.

[Hoyt]

26. Thank you for first hand account. I'm not saying things are great, but Obama has not abandoned

seniors.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

44. "FDR never intended for SS to be the end all."

At the time there was NOTHING.

You worked until you DIED.

Most companies didn't offer pensions. Hell, they didn't even believe in minimum wage. Many had been using slave labor.

[slouching]

47. And now there' nothing again.

The three legged stool of retirement have been cut off. No more pensions. No more savings. Foreclosed homes or underwater mortgages. Social Security should not be touched except to increase benefits during these bad economic times.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

54. People stopped saving when banks stopped paying interest....

I'm old enough to remember walking into a bank with a ten year old passbook I had forgotten about and having them add interest payments.

These days they would have closed the account from lack of activity and if someone showed up they would have said they had sucked up the money in fees.

As far as homes,...despite the crap you hear a home is NOT and "investment". It's a HOME. It's also an EXPENSE as you maintain it. If you make more than you put into it than, okay, you made some money but that money traditionally is supposed to go into the next place to fix it up. Also, the tradition is that you move from a smaller place into a bigger one as you go through life and have kids. Homes were never meant to be a "buy low sell high" thing for the public. It was supposed to be a place you live in.

[hrmjustin]

84. Welcome to DU slouching!

[HiPointDem]

57. LIE

[graham4anything]

82. Thanks to Pres.Obama, I was able to switch companies even with pre-existing conditions.

That was only this year.
Went from Aetna who wanted $3100 a month to Horizon $1600.a month.

self employed family plan with NO exclusions, NO lifetime cap and a better deductible, and a better split
70%/30% instead of 50/50.
So it comes out to right this second w/ $1600 a month savings

Just one years savings here is more than a decade or two of SS even if there is an increase in a number that has been increased many times before

The # was never constant
And someone in their 20s and 30s and 40s never should expect that the # remain constant.

Try using some actual examples instead of your Wilson in the SOTU tractic of yelling out nasty soundbyte word.

But we all know, it's about the gun isn't it?

Shameful on the ones who are putting down Elijah Cummings and Sheila. Shame Shame Shame
Tsk Tsk Tsk

It is all perfectly clear.

It is all black and white.

[Union Scribe]

4. I see "it's not a big deal" is the new black.

It's in fashion all over DU today! My favorite iteration was "most will be able to adjust."

[DJ13]

5. +1

The excuses are looking thin.

[SugarShack]

9. Indeed...the MSM propaganda machine will be running at full speed any day now!

[salib]

33. Yeah, and if you do "adjust"

You get less still. That is the Chained CPI.

Imagine. You say OK, I only get 10 posts on DU a month, then I will only do 9.

Oh, you only do 9? Well, then, that is all you need now.

OK, then I will only do 8.

Yep, apply, rinse, repeat.

[Babel_17]

43. Can't have breakfast without Spam ... or cuts to SS

SS should not be the bone thrown to look fair, or whatever.

And if cuts to SS are never going to happen because the budget is DOA then neither are the wonderful things in that budget going to happen.

What remains is the legacy that SS was put on the table by us.

[JDPriestly]

53. No. Most will not be able to adjust.

And as they attempt to adjust, as they cut back what they spend, hairdressers, the guy that serves coffee down the block, the cable company, lots of little people with little jobs will start losing them. There are a lot of seniors in this country, and if each of them cuts back $50 or so per month, it will be felt by people, especially those in service industries -- like a lady who cleans the house of a very elderly person for just a little extra cash.

[HiPointDem]

58. +1. liars.

[freshwest]

6. Is this going to be the one with the woman who helped set up a lot of New Deal programs?

I'll take a peek at V & MM later. Thanks.

[SunSeeker]

77. Yes-excellent history on Frances Perkins.

She was an amazing woman. As Lawrence said, SS and Medicare were her idea-she did all the groundwork. But FDR had the good sense to pick her in the first place.

[elleng]

8. Right, jaysunb, but

you MAY be interested in this (or maybe not!)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2658289

[jaysunb]

21. It was THAT post that inspired this one. :) nt

[Cha]

28. Oh wow.. I just went to that link.. thank you for being

so Inspired, Jay!

[babylonsister]

10. Thanks. I'm waiting myself, before the sky actually does fall. nt

[salib]

34. So, if the "sky does not fall"

Its just fine, right?

[babylonsister]

39. No. But get realistic. nt

[patrice]

11. I hope you do post the entire segment. I lost control of the tv to someone else, so I may miss

this LO'D otherwise.

[still_one]

13. Thank you sir may I have another, not this guy. I am tired of the bs. SS has nothing to do with

Deficit

Keep your eye on the ball not the distraction

Why again wasn't the public option part of the ACA?

If Bernie sanders, Elizabeth warren say this is not a good deal I will believe them before the president, DNC, or dlc any day

[Hoyt]

17. It's all interelated. You cant just look at this like a fund accountant.

[hollysmom]

73. how is a self funded program related to the deficit ?

Only that the government has to pay it back - the whole SSI tax break was just a scam to make people think the SSI had to do with the deficit - The thing is all this money in the program was accumulated to pay for the lump of baby boomers going through the program - there will be fewer people in the future as we die off.

This whole scam is to keep from paying the SS money back from the government bonds - The politicians want to spend the savings to give more tax breaks to the rich, sorry, not playing that game - raise the taxes if you can't pay the government bills, don't rob a self paying system.

Accountants, Yes, I took some accounting in my years and worked on financial systems in major corporations (you have no idea what a pain it is to account for all the miles of phone lines to the foot in a report - way over max computer numbers). SO I can tell a credit from a debit and a scam from the truth.

[Hoyt]

76. I wish you the best.

[hollysmom]

79. ?

I am not a person locked into the past, I would not object to changes if they helped the system. this does not.
I would love to get into a reasoned disagreement, I came here to talk to people with open minds - Actually, I find some pretty reasoned disagreements in PMs. Don't know why it can't be in posts as well.

[madamesilverspurs]

14. I'm in your boat.

And it's astounding to see the flames when I state that I'm not panicking. Hell, I can barely afford to pay attention; panic is a luxury I'm happy to leave to others!

[jaysunb]

20. Heh Heh

Very well said.

[still_one]

16. I guess Elizabeth warren and Bernie sanders do not know anything

[Hoyt]

18. I guess Obama doesn't either.

[JDPriestly]

55. Actually, when it comes to economics, I seriously don't think Obama knows

anything at all. When it comes to foreign policy, I think Obama knows a lot. Obama relies on advice from people suggested by the Clintons when it comes to economic questions. That's his mistake. That's my opinion.

[Hoyt]

59. Can you name a perfect Prez?

[JDPriestly]

62. No. Obama isn't bad, but he does not understand economics.

[Hoyt]

65. I think he understands being poor better than any Prez, and what it takes

to make things best for everyone during his Presidency. Chained-CPI is not Obama's Iraq.

[JDPriestly]

78. Actually, Abraham Lincoln understood what it was to be poor better

than any other president we've had.

Chained CPI is absolutely an abomination. Obama's Iraq? I don't know.

[frylock]

93. can you name a perfect red herring?

[Hoyt]

94. See a bunch of them around here.

[frylock]

95. yep..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2659005

[Samantha]

23. I thought it was incredibly interesting

and I look forward to the next installments. It is important to note that each of these Presidents had a different set of circumstances. Take a look at Nixon's:

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/13/obama-nixon-debt-ceiling-social-security/

"But the protests miss a key piece of Social Security's history: the cost-of-living formula that enshrined automatic benefit hikes pegged to inflation is a relatively recent addition to the program. It was signed into law by Richard Nixon in 1972, having caught a ride to his desk in a bill that -- wait for it -- raised the debt limit."

About Reagan, one thing Lawrence forgot to mention before the agreement with Tip O'Neill, and others:

http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Ronald_Reagan_Social_Security.htm

"Suggested in 1975 to make social security voluntary

In 1975, Reagan suggested ways to make social security voluntary. The demography of Florida made that as dangerous a position as Reagan could adopt on domestic matters. [Based on that issue], Ford beat Reagan [in the Florida primary in 1976] with 53% of the general vote, but with a crushing 60% of voters over sixty-five."

This article also suggests Reagan had really wanted to privatize Social Security but never got the chance.

Carter had 17 percent unemployment and stagflation, and he acted to preserve the program. He was regarded as having a lot of integrity and most people did not question his motivations (except Republicans, of course).

Clinton did want to make changes in Social Security, but due to a series of explosive problems coupled with some unexpected huge surpluses to surface, ended his term with "Save Social Security First." That is one of the reasons he is referred to as The Natural.

I do not believe any of these three addressed changing Social Security in the context of a Grand Bargain, and that practice is definitely part of the objection to the current reform. Changes to the program should be done independently of budget items since Social Security is self-financed.

President Obama ... stay tuned.

Sam

[jaysunb]

30. Thanks Sam

Your post is reasonable and balanced...this is what I'd hope others may cool off and take a look at.
The sky is NOT falling,

[Cha]

24. Thanks Jay.. I'll be looking forward to it..

I just saw this one from the night before.. excellent!

h/t She http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022657086

[rhett o rick]

25. Strange OP. You say we should view this segment. What segment?

What economists support cutting SS benefits?

[Progressive dog]

27. The President claimed he would not do this

That is a fact and there is video. O'Donnell cannot rewrite that.

[Egalitarian Thug]

29. Are you better off than you would have been without those cuts?

Is the fact that they were made possible by the Democratic Party some stamp of necessity, or a grant of absolution?

Yours is the most obviously obtuse, unaware apology I've read on DU today. You claim to be poor, but $21 a month is no big deal.

[jaysunb]

31. Obtuse ? unaware? apology ?

Wow !

See post # 22, and get back to me.

[Egalitarian Thug]

35. I have and it only reinforces what I wrote above. Obtuse and unaware, indeed.

You seem to believe that this atrocity must be excused because it's no big deal to you. You claim to be poor, yet have $1000 to spend in that donut hole and you write that $21 bucks is no big deal. Obtuse is the apparent lack of understanding that millions of other seniors have it so much worse than you do that many of them are dying, right now tonight, because the pittance they do get is already far from enough.

Unaware that which team is killing them is of exactly zero concern for those that are suffering, right now tonight.

And the whole apologetic/excusing this is very offensive in that it discounts those lives as meaningless to you because you're fine.

[jaysunb]

38. You must not understand what I said about the "trade off."

I'd be willing to skip the tiny cola increases if I'd save nearly $800 while in the doughnut hole.
Why is that so hard to understand or do you really know what that particular part of the budget plan is?

[Egalitarian Thug]

41. And in what world is that an option? You're the one that wrote a thank you to Larry

for "explaining" why stealing more money from the people that earned it is really no big deal. Why don't you answer any of the questions put to you? Why aren't you able to make a cogent argument supporting the content of your OP?

There is no option to trade the donut hole for the money that doesn't make any difference to you.

The point is that that money is vitally important to millions of other people that are not you.

[jaysunb]

51. sigh

ok....

[Egalitarian Thug]

52. And still no answers, nor any forthcoming.

How typically, uniquely American.

[HiPointDem]

60. He claims he got no cola the first three years he was on SS too, but SS has had a cola every

year but three since 1975, and they weren't three consecutive years. The only consecutive zero cola years were the two under Obama, the other was in the 80s.

Ergo, his memory is failing or he's over 100 years old.

Or...he just made it up.

[salib]

32. Yep. The catfood argument

It isn't like you won't be able to eat anything.

This is not the end of SS. The sky is not falling.

You are just getting squeezed a little bit.

Look at the BIG PICTURE.

Just like that frog in the beaker? Right?

Give it up, jaysunb. This sucks. This Sucks. THIS SUCKS.

BTW, "supposed cuts" is BS, and EVERYONE KNOWS IT. At least tell it straight.

[veganlush]

36. thank you!

Im so tired of the lunacy here over ccpi.

[wiggs]

37. How many people would agree that it's easier and more fair for you to

absorb a 252 dollar loss the first year (going by your numbers), a $504 loss/difference the second year, a $756 difference the third, etc...than for someone else who has been blessed enough to prosper in our system to contribute to FICA at the same rate for his/her SECOND 100,000 of ADJUSTED income as he/she paid for the first? Or...is your loss more fair than taxing a minute amount on stock transactions of speculators who want to skim millions of dollars off investing/gambling on the hundreds of thousands of stock trades made in fractions of seconds?

Or....How about an increase in minimum wage, or not destroying unions, or helping the middle class through education? SS would be fine if middle class wages hadn't stagnated over the last 30 years...no one could have predicted that. Instead income gains and growth have been at the top...WHICH IS NOT TAXED FOR SS AFTER 106K. If all the new income growth is there, OF COURSE SS will eventually experience a shortfall.

You're agreeing that the minor adjustments needed to ensure full funding of SS in 50 years' time should come at the expense of the most vulnerable and needy?

Cutting your earned benefits (not 'entitlements') is the worst solution out of a stack of better solutions.

[jaysunb]

40. Thank you for your response.

I agree with much of what you've said, but as a recipient that would be immediately impacted should this become law, I stand by my refusal to panic.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

42. People I know on SS said COLAs are a joke already.

It's REQUIRED that you apply for some kind of poverty aid on SS just to be able to afford the occasional pair of shoes.

[HiPointDem]

63. They are? I guess you get a 4% average bump in your salary every year?

Automatic Cost-Of-Living Adjustments

July 1975 -- 8.0%
July 1976 -- 6.4%
July 1977 -- 5.9%
July 1978 -- 6.5%
July 1979 -- 9.9%
July 1980 -- 14.3%
July 1981 -- 11.2%
July 1982 -- 7.4%
July 1983 -- 0%
January 1984 -- 3.5%
January 1985 -- 3.5%
January 1986 -- 3.1%
January 1987 -- 1.3%
January 1988 -- 4.2%
January 1989 -- 4.0%
January 1990 -- 4.7%
January 1991 -- 5.4%
January 1992 -- 3.7%
January 1993 -- 3.0%
January 1994 -- 2.6%
January 1995 -- 2.8%
January 1996 -- 2.6%
January 1997 -- 2.9%
January 1998 -- 2.1%
January 1999 -- 1.3%
January 2000 -- 2.5%(1)
January 2001 -- 3.5%
January 2002 -- 2.6%
January 2003 -- 1.4%
January 2004 -- 2.1%
January 2005 -- 2.7%
January 2006 -- 4.1%
January 2007 -- 3.3%
January 2008 -- 2.3%
January 2009 -- 5.8%
January 2010 -- 0.0%
January 2011 -- 0.0%
January 2012 -- 3.6%

http://www.ssa.gov/cola/automatic-cola.htm

[Spitfire of ATJ]

66. Your own chart shows the times recently when they gave NOTHING.

[HiPointDem]

68. Three years out of 39 had no cola, and two of them were during the Obama administration, the same

administration that's currently trying to sell shit as shinola.

I haven't done the calculations but it looks like it averages at least 3%.

Correction: average is 3.997% or basically 4%.

Over the last 10 years, even counting those two 'zero' years, the average yearly bump has been 2.56%.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

85. Are you really saying SS benefits have been more generous than wages?

[Mnpaul]

100. and in 2010 and 2011

we all know that every day costs remained flat. /sarcasm

[Spitfire of ATJ]

101. They don't count things like bread and eggs. They count EVERYTHING....

So if commercial property drops in value it means overall prices have dropped.

[Mnpaul]

102. In 1983

They changed it to use rent prices instead of housing prices. If it was still tied to housing prices we would have had 100% inflation during the Bush years and the seniors would have been doing a happy dance.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

103. I guess they figured people on SS shouldn't own homes.

[Mnpaul]

106. No it was Reagan's way of fixing everything

Fix the inflation problem by changing the way it was calculated
Fix the unemployment problem by changing the way unemployment was calculate
all other problems, ignore completely and pretend they don't exist

[Spitfire of ATJ]

107. Indeed, he loved to divert by telling stories.

[cliffordu]

45. Plus a brazillion.

and a couple of bucks on top of that.

[delrem]

48. Totally! I can't wait for next year's grand bargain!

and next year's "crises" requiring "bipartisanship".

Like you and Laurence, I LIKE IT!!

[mick063]

49. The big picture my ass

.01 percent of the people own 40% of the money.

Don't even attempt to give me any other "picture."

Don't even attempt to sell me the "it isn't a big deal" meme.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Sounds like a few bites have been taken.

Small incremental changes over time until one day we wake up and collectively ask, "What happened?". FDR is rolling over in his grave.

Not only should CPI be stopped in it's tracks, but the past "Democratic" changes should be reversed as well. Lower the age, increase the benefit, and guarantee it maintains pace with inflation through COLAs. Segregate the fund from the general fund as it was originally intended. Raise the cap. Now, more than ever, SS needs strengthened, not weakened. Any other talk is an argument for a little austerity. A failed argument.

How do we pay for it? Annex the Cayman Islands. So what if the owners of MSNBC have to take a haircut because of it?

[tokenlib]

75. Annex the Cayman Islands?? Declare the stashing illegal and seize the funds..

I like the idea...

I also agree with your comments..

[Fearless]

50. I wonder who will go without medications or food because of this

If it passes.

Not "just" $21 to them.

[phleshdef]

91. Go without medications? Are you forgetting about the closing of the donut hole?

[HiPointDem]

56. Let me refresh your memory. Since 1975 there have been COLAs every year but three. And they

weren't all in a row. So unless you started drawing SS before 1975, your memory is failing you.

And if you started drawing SS before 1975, let me congratulate you on your longevity, because I figure you must be about 100 at the youngest.


Automatic Cost-Of-Living Adjustments

July 1975 -- 8.0%
July 1976 -- 6.4%
July 1977 -- 5.9%
July 1978 -- 6.5%
July 1979 -- 9.9%
July 1980 -- 14.3%
July 1981 -- 11.2%
July 1982 -- 7.4%
July 1983 -- 0%
January 1984 -- 3.5%
January 1985 -- 3.5%
January 1986 -- 3.1%
January 1987 -- 1.3%
January 1988 -- 4.2%
January 1989 -- 4.0%
January 1990 -- 4.7%
January 1991 -- 5.4%
January 1992 -- 3.7%
January 1993 -- 3.0%
January 1994 -- 2.6%
January 1995 -- 2.8%
January 1996 -- 2.6%
January 1997 -- 2.9%
January 1998 -- 2.1%
January 1999 -- 1.3%
January 2000 -- 2.5%(1)
January 2001 -- 3.5%
January 2002 -- 2.6%
January 2003 -- 1.4%
January 2004 -- 2.1%
January 2005 -- 2.7%
January 2006 -- 4.1%
January 2007 -- 3.3%
January 2008 -- 2.3%
January 2009 -- 5.8%
January 2010 -- 0.0%
January 2011 -- 0.0%
January 2012 -- 3.6%

http://www.ssa.gov/cola/automatic-cola.htm

[mick063]

71. Oh nice!

Gas has gone up over 200%. Prescription drugs have gone up exponentially. Grandparents are raising grandkids because their children's jobs have gone over seas. Grown children moving back home as student debt has taken their lives.

Nevertheless, we should just be thankful that the overlords have allowed payments from the sacred trust fund (now part of the general fund) to increase about 3% a year. Meanwhile, the recent "recovery" has been largely realized by only the wealthiest people. They have reaped 120% of this so called "recovery".

.01% of the folks are getting 120% of the recovery while Grandpa takes a little less.

You can't explain this away for me. You can't make it sound reasonable to me. You just can't.

[HiPointDem]

72. I'm not trying to explain it to you, I'm trying to explain it to the guy who claims he got zero cola

3 years in a row and colas don't matter anyway.

[jaysunb]

86. I started SS in 2009

This year was the first time to get a cola.

Implying that I'm either lying of forgetful is unnecessary.

[HiPointDem]

88. that was two years, not three. so which is it?

January 2008 -- 2.3%
January 2009 -- 5.8%
January 2010 -- 0.0%
January 2011 -- 0.0%
January 2012 -- 3.6%
January 2013 -- 1.7%

http://www.ssa.gov/cola/automatic-cola.htm

[jaysunb]

89. One last fucking time !

I started in 09...got nothing but the standard amount, Got nothing in 10, or 11. got 21 bucks in 2012 And fyi I could give a fuck less if they chain it or bomb it. It won't make a difference in mine or most others lives. Things change. Life changes. Try to live long enough to realize that.

[HiPointDem]

92. there was a 5.8% cola in '09 & you got it.

[Raine1967]

97. Actually, if was his first year on SS, then NO -- they didn't get a COLA increase.

they got Social security. If the person had started receiving SS in 2008, then one could say they got a COLA increase in 2009.

If this person had been on SSI in 2008 then yes, they got it.

AS an example: I can't claim I got a raise the year I start a job. I can say I got one (or not) AFTER a year.

[HiPointDem]

99. He got the cola increase. What he got included the jan 2009 cola increase. To say he didn't get

a cola increase, he just got 'social security,' is abuse of the language.

There was a 5.8% cola in 2009. His payment included that cola. He got the cola.

[Raine1967]

98. I understand perfectly what you are saying.

I tried to explain at post #97.

It made perfect sense to me.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

61. You say "supposed cuts." You're not very convincing. The cuts were offered purportedly to get

Republicans to go along with an increase in taxes (however small) on the rich and the super-rich.

Didn't you know that?

[The Second Stone]

64. How about no. Just no.

No cuts to social security which is inadequate as it is. None at all. How about the promise breaker in the White House takes his lying ass and resigns. Biden would made a terrific president.

I'm tired of this promise breaking liar who will not protect this country against the bank fraudsters. I voted for him twice because he was the lesser of two evils. Biden would be better.

[hollysmom]

67. they are not supposed cuts - they are real cuts.

please don't use weasel words in describing the issue, Even Obama acknowledges they are cuts in his own words. So lets be real here.
I have a senior friend who counts the pennies, so a single buck can make a difference in someone's life.

[Heathen57]

70. The past two years

since my wife got her disability (after a 10 year fight) the COLA increase just covered the increase in our rent on the storage and the increase in our lot rent.

As close as we live, we were lucky it came through.

[Number23]

80. K&R!

[bowens43]

83. O'Donnell just another obamapologist.....

[Cleita]

87. Thank you and because of those previous cuts and adjustments seniors are

poorer for it. We know the real reason for the chained CPI is to destroy Social Security altogether, the primary goal of the business class since the beginning. It's a privatization scheme all along. LO isn't very far to the left. I seldom watch him anymore. I did enjoy the segments he wrote for "The West Wing" and his insider's knowledge of Washington.

[jaysunb]

90. You should watch the segments on Francis Perkins

they're very informative.

Hope you're well.

[snappyturtle]

104. You're so right...priviatization is the goal. Let the SS recipients suffer now

and the young will become more agreeable to privitizing in the future.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

96. Interesting... LO'D vs. Maddow, Hayes, Reich, Krugman, and Sanders

Did LO'D say anything about the fact that Obama's Grand Stunt (remember, it's brilliant because it's a stunt!) negatively impacts veterans benefits?

[HiPointDem]

105. it was bullshit. "Frances Perkins said SS would change so of course she would support chained

CPI".

Horseshit.