If the big 3 are supposedly protected in this new deal

[sasha031]

why is this new committee going to be dealing with entitlement reform

typing error

[TheWraith]

1. Would you like to render that into English? New commenter? nt

[sasha031]

4. I was not looking for sarcasm, was trying to ask a question

[TheWraith]

24. And I'm suggesting you make the question more coherent. What "new commenter"?

What exactly are you trying to say?

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. Commenter?

Committee?

[jpak]

3. lol -beat me to it

n/t

[dmallind]

5. Could be many ways

You don't have to cut benefits to cut costs. Fraud, overhead, provider fees, transaction costs to name a few. Even started seeing some examples - direct deposit, stopping printing and mailing SS summaries, etc.

[jtown1123]

6. Fraud in SS is negligable. Admin costs are less than 1%. There is no where to cut except benefits

[dmallind]

8. Nowhere my ass. Gave you two examples already. No fraud in the other 2/3 either?

[jtown1123]

14. SS is already direct deposit and the admin costs are cut to the bone. There is no where else to cut

in SS.

There is some fraud in Medicare, which was already addressed in Health Care Reform...you really think a committee set up to cut spending is going to make tiny incisions?

[gateley]

10. Good examples. And I've heard both sides talking about negotiating

drug prices which would save wads of money, too.

I'm hopeful they'll say "give us $ in cuts" and we'll say "here you go, and use the areas you (and I) cited.

[sasha031]

12. that would be wonderful, they should run it like the VA

and only use generics any chance they can.

[jtown1123]

17. Yes, we can save money in Medicare. The poster seemed to think we could find savings

in SS. We can't.

[dmallind]

20. Can't believe I didn't think of that one thanks (my mind was on SS at the time). nt

[Unvanguard]

7. They're not protected. They're only protected from the trigger, not from the recommendations.

Neither funding generally nor benefits specifically are protected. People who say otherwise are fundamentally misunderstanding the mechanism.

[woo me with science]

22. Or misrepresenting it.

I have heard multiple Congressmen on TV saying this. They certainly know better.

[Unvanguard]

23. Agreed, but my inclination is to be generous to the non-Congresspeople who are repeating it.

Accusations of bad faith don't do anyone any good.

[MineralMan]

9. Reform does not necessarily mean benefit cuts.

Not at all. They often just require changes in how something operates. For example, with Medicare, the HMO-style providers in the Medicare Advantage program often do not deliver the health care they should deliver. What that means is that they get the money from Medicare, but pay out less through delaying procedures, refusing treatment, and other reasons. Those providers need to be looked at closely.

Other elements of Medicare can also benefit from reorganization, redirection of mission and other aspects that affect their bottom lines.

Reform does not mean benefit cuts. It means reform.

[sasha031]

11. maybe they should find another term, new and improved (lol)

there are some of us that are a little scared right now.
thank you for clearing up some of the questions that I have been wondering about.

[Big Blue Marble]

21. You need to be scared.

See my post below. Start spreading the word to everyone you know. We must build as much pressure as possible
at such a dangerous time. So many here are in denial. They apparently are confusing the restrictions in the
trigger with the instructions for the committee.

Obama said on Sunday night that he full expects the entitlements to be part of reductions that will add up to
1.4 trillion. As you say in your post, there is little else left now except entitlements and, also, the pentagon.
That is where the battle lines are being drawn.

[lumpy]

13. Thanks. Cooler heads should prevail.

v

[jtown1123]

19. Oh I had no idea they were going to increase benefits...just look at Gang of 6

and Fiscal Commission recs. This committee will use that framework. Kent Conrad said as much yesterday. They don't have time to come up with all new proposals.

[Big Blue Marble]

15. Could you show me where in the new law it says they are protected?

I will answer for you, they are not protected. With great confidence I will say, that this commission was
designed to do what the catfood commission could not do, start the whittling away of your benefits under
these programs.

Entitlement reform means that they are getting ready to steal our retirement out from under us, just like
they stole private retirement from so many. Believe it; it is the same crowd and they are on the hunt
and closing in.

Just think; they will select those members who are from safe districts and want to "reform' these programs.
We can do nothing about this. Be warned. Obama wants this; the pukes want this: many dems want this;
and most of all the powerful monied interests want this. The fix is in and they have designed it to give
themselves the cover they have never had before.

[Renew Deal]

16. Are the "big 3" the only "entitlements?

:shrug:

[Zen Democrat]

18. The key word is "supposedly."

[dtexdem]

25. Because the big three that are protected are ...

large corporations, Wall Street, and the super rich.