Social Security Update

 I sure am happy that I will not be highly reliant on SS dollars.

https://www.yahoo.com/.../social-security-6-years-left...

https://www.ssa.gov/.../will-social-security-be-there-for...

Gop Plan Lacks Details

As noted here. Yes people want less crime, lower inflation, stable social security / medicare, etc.

I actually watched this interview and I wanted Shannon to ask about deficits and the national debt when Rep. Stefanik mentioned more tax cuts and fewer IRS employees?

It is so disappointing that the GOP refuses to be the party of fiscal responsibility. :-(

Trump etal handed out trillions of dollars to people and companies that did not need it, and cut taxes while increasing spending.  And they try to blame others for inflation?

I assume there are still people who will vote for them and mortgage their kids further so they personally can pay less in taxes.  I hope I am never that selfish. 

The Current State of America

 National Debt Out of Control, Social Security / Medicare Trust Funds Heading to $0 Balance, Climate Warming While Populations and Fossil Fuel Reliance Grows, etc.  And us Americans keep denying, blaming, distracting, etc.  Oh well our kids will get what us adults deserve, :-(

Rationalization of Free Loading

 This is Jerry's last of many responses to why Baby Boomers did not create the National Debt problem.  One would think he may be starting to feel guilty? :-) 

Moose seem to be in favor of a law repealing the fundamental laws of economics, as well as of human nature. People do not work for free, and want to be rich. Tax them heavily enough, in ways they cannot avoid, and they will simply stop working, investing, whatever. Government can NOT spend money more wisely than the millions of people who individually earn it. It isn't possible. Remember that if government can command what you do with your money, like paying more than people are worth, it's the same as a tax and people will find ways to avoid it and NOT pay it. How many McDonald's kiosks have you walked past without noticing? Remember the yacht tax? How about the "voluntary" tax in Massachusetts, that brought in less than 1% of what millionaires, including John Kerry, "could have" paid in? Remember what Bill Gates and Warren Buffet contributed billions to, avoiding taxes or "voluntary" payments to government? Apparently they believed they could do more "good" with the money than government could, and they have been proven correct.

As for taxes, let us remember that "inflation is the cruelest tax of all" and all this deficit spending is building up a MASSIVE increase in the money supply-- an inevitable avalanche of inflation if ever released into the economy. My thought is that since most of it is simply "on the books" at the Fed, this "imaginary money" could be erased by simply declaring it so, and nobody is hurt.

The Fed was set up in 1913. Since then it has had numerous benefits in stabilizing the banking system (after 1929), but since then has had one singular flaw. While the Constitution gives Congress sole authority "To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;" the Fed can, by purchase of US Treasuries that nobody wants, at an interest rate THEY set, "coin money" out the wazoo, and they have. The way it is SUPPOSED to work, as the wizards of German monetary policy figured out after the failed Weimar Republic, is that the government can go into debt so long as they sell their paper to the public-- that is, sell bonds on the open market. Of course, if they try to spend and sell more than the market wants, interest rates climb sharply, following the law of supply and demand, and the high interest rates create a public backlash to stop the reckless spending and bring them down again. We would be wise to adopt that policy. Simply pass a law that the Fed cannot buy unsold US Treasuries and voila! Interest rates would rise to torches and pitchforks level quickly.

As for giving up the Social Security that /I/ paid into, I not only refuse to give up what I was promised, but there is no need to do so. Simple SS reform would let me and all future recipients get what they were promised, and future generations to get MORE, but would also actually pay down the national debt over time rather than adding to it. Think outside the box a bit.

For FOX Viewers

A Reminder.   After watching FOX on and off for 2 weeks, no wonder these folks are so delusional.  The Five Hosts were obsessed with bashing DEM shutdowns, down playing the death rates, etc.  It was so sad.

My only thought is that they are working to save Social Security and Medicaid single handedly by killing off their viewers.

For Health Care workers, I am so sorry that so many Americans are so STUPID... :-( Stay safe out there and THANK YOU for your efforts to save people from themselves...

Background info.

ND and SD are #1 and #3 for Death Rate.  There must be a LOT of FOX viewers there. :-( 

GOP Recycle 2016 Platform

And swears to support Trump Agenda. (below)
GOP 2016 & now 2020 Platform

Yes it is official...  The GOP is DEAD, it is now the party of Trump...  May it Rest in Peace and be buried in November...

I thought about going through all of the points, but decided it was a waste of time.  It is for the most part Trump saying everything that he thinks will get him votes. Even though unless some miracle occurs and the GOP takes the House back, he does not have a snow balls chance in hell of getting anything passed except spending increases that will bloat the National Debt even more.

JOBS

• Create 10 Million New Jobs in 10 Months
• Create 1 Million New Small Businesses
• Cut Taxes to Boost Take-Home Pay and Keep Jobs in America
• Enact Fair Trade Deals that Protect American Jobs
• "Made in America" Tax Credits
• Expand Opportunity Zones
• Continue Deregulatory Agenda for Energy Independence

ERADICATE COVID-19

• Develop a Vaccine by The End Of 2020
• Return to Normal in 2021
• Make All Critical Medicines and Supplies for Healthcare Workers in The United States
• Refill Stockpiles and Prepare for Future Pandemics

END OUR RELIANCE ON CHINA

• Bring Back 1 Million Manufacturing Jobs from China
• Tax Credits for Companies that Bring Back Jobs from China
• Allow 100% Expensing Deductions for Essential Industries like Pharmaceuticals and Robotics who Bring Back their Manufacturing to the United States
• No Federal Contracts for Companies who Outsource to China
• Hold China Fully Accountable for Allowing the Virus to Spread around the World

HEALTHCARE

• Cut Prescription Drug Prices
• Put Patients and Doctors Back in Charge of our Healthcare System
• Lower Healthcare Insurance Premiums
• End Surprise Billing
• Cover All Pre-Existing Conditions
• Protect Social Security and Medicare
• Protect Our Veterans and Provide World-Class Healthcare and Services

EDUCATION

• Provide School Choice to Every Child in America
• Teach American Exceptionalism

DRAIN THE SWAMP

• Pass Congressional Term Limits
• End Bureaucratic Government Bullying of U.S. Citizens and Small Businesses
• Expose Washington’s Money Trail and Delegate Powers Back to People and States
• Drain the Globalist Swamp by Taking on International Organizations That Hurt American Citizens

DEFEND OUR POLICE

• Fully Fund and Hire More Police and Law Enforcement Officers
• Increase Criminal Penalties for Assaults on Law Enforcement Officers
• Prosecute Drive-By Shootings as Acts of Domestic Terrorism
• Bring Violent Extremist Groups Like ANTIFA to Justice
• End Cashless Bail and Keep Dangerous Criminals Locked Up until Trial

END ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND PROTECT AMERICAN WORKERS

• Block Illegal Immigrants from Becoming Eligible for Taxpayer-Funded Welfare, Healthcare, and Free College Tuition
• Mandatory Deportation for Non-Citizen Gang Members
• Dismantle Human Trafficking Networks
• End Sanctuary Cities to Restore our Neighborhoods and Protect our Families
• Prohibit American Companies from Replacing United States Citizens with Lower-Cost Foreign Workers
• Require New Immigrants to Be Able to Support Themselves Financially

INNOVATE FOR THE FUTURE

• Launch Space Force, Establish Permanent Manned Presence on The Moon and Send the First Manned Mission to Mars
• Build the World’s Greatest Infrastructure System
• Win the Race to 5G and Establish a National High-Speed Wireless Internet Network
• Continue to Lead the World in Access to the Cleanest Drinking Water and Cleanest Air
• Partner with Other Nations to Clean Up our Planet’s Oceans

AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY

• Stop Endless Wars and Bring Our Troops Home
• Get Allies to Pay their Fair Share
• Maintain and Expand America’s Unrivaled Military Strength
• Wipe Out Global Terrorists Who Threaten to Harm Americans
• Build a Great Cybersecurity Defense System and Missile Defense System

Fun with COVID Numbers :-(

An "older than me" FB Friend posted a list of questions that a Grandma has before her Grand kids go back to school. Like if one child or teacher gets sick, what happens?  A COVID denier jumped in and said that it was a hoax.  So I did some math with the MN COVID Case / Death Numbers.

So due to my curiosity, I changed the MN data into more understandable numbers. 

With respect to questions above, most working age Teachers should be fine, though early retirement may be a good idea if they have any pre-existing health conditions. 

Almost all the kids will be fine, however you may want to keep them away from Grandma and Grandpa during the schools year. 

Of course if you are between 70 - 79.... 85 of you will make it but 15 of you will die... Sorry... 

Now since I am 54 and healthy... Should I wear my my mask when I can not social distance in an effort to stop the spread and protect you older folks? 

Or just say.... They are old anyway.... Maybe if they die earlier I can save the social security and medicare trust funds for me? 🙂 

By the way, the lives of you and my 80 year old Parents are worth the minor inconvenience of wearing a mask. 🙂

Whiner in Chief

The Press is SO Mean to me...  (boo hoo hoo...)

Here is a man who lies, exaggerates and/or changes his story often whining that real professional journalists call him out on it.  Unlike many of the Far Right opinion folk who let him get away with it.  My other name for Trump was going to be "Victim in Chief".

Here are more of his thoughts and feelings.  One that frustrates me is his continued call for more spending and a payroll tax holiday.  Doesn't he know that social security and medicare are headed for the rocks?  And he wants to reduce there funding?

"Trump said that while he thought common ground could be found with Democrats over an infrastructure package, “we’re not doing anything unless we get a payroll tax cut. That is so important to the success of our country.”

Here is AP's Fact check of recent Trump Admin comments and claims.  And CNN's Factcheck.  And I would give you FOX's Factcheck, but they simply do not do them on Trump. :-( 

HOAX to NEED Government Bailout

In record time...  It is hard to believe that only 2 weeks ago Trump was calling COVID19 a HOAX.

And now he wants to:

• have people stop funding Social Security and Medicare.(ie payroll taxes)
• start giving away billions we don't have to people, businesses, etc.
• both of course will increase deficits and the national debt

Where are the Republicans who were against government intervention, bailouts, over spending, etc during the Obama administrations years?

Apparently this time it is Trump who wants to "give away free stuff" to win the election.

Social Security Report

Brookings: Why Everyone Should Care About These Trustee Reports

Annual Trustees Reports provide estimates of the financial status of Social Security's Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Funds under current law. Recent Reports call for informed discussion, creative thinking, and timely legislation to address expected future deficits. Many policy makers have developed proposals and options to address this long-range solvency problem. Listed below is a broad range of policy options that would address Trust Fund solvency and other issues related to Social Security benefits and financing. Many of these options are part of comprehensive proposals intended to restore Trust Fund solvency.
We group the options into categories, as shown below. We also provide a summary list of all options (PDF version).

No More Poor Immigrants?

NYT Trump Immigration Plan Offers a Ticket to the American Dream. The Poor Need Not Apply.


This is an interesting and disturbing piece.  It makes perfect sense that we do not want to bring a bunch of welfare recipients into the country.  I mean we have enough of them without importing more. :-)


And yet it does seem Un-American to not welcome some of the world's struggling masses. 


I assume most of us would not be here if these standards were in place when our family members came here with nothing.  On the other hand there was no Medicaid, food stamps, social security, Medicare, education grants, etc for them to receive.  Just some land out in the middle of no where...


Thoughts?

What is "Socialism"?

MinnPost What programs constitute socialism? Dems’ and Republicans’ answers differ

This was somewhat interesting especially since my favorite Far Right folks love to use that word to describe almost everyone including myself...  I especially liked Eric's summary:

"My conclusion, based on the poll results: Republicans think things that use tax dollars to help people like them are NOT socialism. Programs that use tax dollars to help the poor or the non-white ARE socialism.

• For example, is Medicare socialism? 44 percent of Democrats said yes, but only 29 percent of Republicans agreed.
• Would free health care for all be socialism? Republicans said yes by 77 percent; but only 55 percent of Democrats agreed.
• Is Social Security “socialism?” 42 percent of Democrats said yes, but only 27 percent of Republicans agreed."

I mean we all know that Social Security Retirement, Medicare and Social Security Disability are just welfare for the old, disabled and/or young.  And yet I do not see any old Conservatives refusing their Government provided Checks or Services. :-) 

Busting Social Security Myths

From Laurie:  Here is an article that might interest you:
Real World Economics: Busting the Social Security myths we choose to believe


Laurie, Yes I thought it was excellent!!!  Especially the point that the systems are already very progressive.  And that a lot of people who think they "earned it", are probably getting a LOT MORE than they paid for. :-)

The Real Impact of Trump

Now the Trump True Believers keep telling me that he has accomplished SO MUCH and that things are MUCH BETTER / DIFFERENT than when Obama was President. Here are some graphs that define reality. Most are from the 2019 CBO Report

The biggest things I note here is that spending keeps going up, however revenues dropped under Trump due to the tax cut. Therefore the yearly deficit that was shrinking under Obama started to grow again under Trump. Our economy is being stimulated by "borrowed money" and the National Debt is growing at a faster rate under Trump.

Also, mandatory expenditures like Social Security, Medicare, etc are still a HUGE problem. The recipients are receiving more benefits than they paid for.

For all of Trump's talk of big GDP changes... I don't see it. The government is spending more, borrowing more and people have more money due to lower taxes. They are borrowing to stimulate a booming economy.  Unfortunately that additional debt will be a problem for our kids to deal with.

And as for the border crisis...  Things look about the same...

And as for unemployment, I see no big change when Trump entered the picture...  Do you?

Trump Breaks Entitlement Promise?

VOX Trump said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare.

His 2020 budget cuts all 3.Trump said he wouldn’t be like

“every other Republican.” He is.

Now I am okay with doing whatever it takes to bring the "benefits" into alignment with the "premiums".  This could either be:

• Reducing benefits
• Increasing the payroll tax Rate

The  current situation is not sustainable..


However it is interesting that Trump went after them after all his promises to not touch them.

What Should Happen at The Border?

MPR Two Minnesota attorneys' trip to the border captures 18-hour standoff with officials

A FB friend posted the above link.

"This is a big part of the problem. USCIS regulations state that asylum seekers can request asylum when they reach US soil or a port of entry. If we don’t want them to come here first, then seek asylum, we should change the law, not break it."

And the following quote.

“Pottratz Acosta said she finds it frustrating that, on the one hand, the Department of Homeland Security says people should apply for asylum the right way, at a port of entry, instead of crossing illegally. But on the other hand, it prevents certain people from doing so."

So I linked to the Asylum page and the Asylum Process page. And posted this quote from the Asylum page.

"Every year people come to the United States seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear that they will suffer persecution due to: Race, Religion, Nationality, Membership in a particular social group, Political opinion, If you are eligible for asylum you may be permitted to remain in the United States."

Here are my thoughts and questions:

• What do Liberals think should happen at the border?
• Is their idea that a person or group would show up, be finger printed, fill out some paperwork and be allowed to cross into the USA immediately? How long of a wait is acceptable?
• At which time they would be free to go where they want and do what they want in the USA until their court hearing?
• Are their any limits to how many they think should be processed each day?
• Why is it deemed "unacceptable" for these people to stay in Mexico while their asylum application is being reviewed?
• Do they deem Mexico to be an unsafe place for asylum seekers?  Is the USA that much better?
• Should we set up even more "safe holding" capacity at the US / Mexico border , so the asylum seekers can be safe and contained during the process?  In essence refugee camps?

And ultimately I wonder:

• How many of the billions of people in the world who live in more disruptive unfair and unsafe communities than ours do you want to accept into ours each year?
• Do you want them to go to our consulates, apply and await permission?
• Or do you want them to sell everything, pack up their kids, start walking through crime invested areas just be told their issues are not bad enough when they arrive?

What is McConnel Thinking?

Newsweek Mitch McConnell Calls to Cut Social Security, Medicare

"After instituting a $1.5 trillion tax cut and signing off on a $675 billion budget for the Department of Defense, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the only way to lower the record-high federal deficit would be to cut entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

"It’s disappointing but it’s not a Republican problem," McConnell said of the deficit, which grew 17 percent to $779 billion in fiscal year 2018. McConnell explained to Bloomberg that "it’s a bipartisan problem: Unwillingness to address the real drivers of the debt by doing anything to adjust those programs to the demographics of America in the future." The deficit has increased 77 percent since McConnell became majority leader in 2015.

New Treasury Department analysis on Monday revealed that corporate tax cuts had a significant impact on the deficit this year. Federal revenue rose by 0.04 percent in 2018, a nearly 100 percent decrease last year’s 1.5 percent. In fiscal year 2018, tax receipts on corporate income fell to $205 billion from $297 billion in 2017."

Maybe he has decided to start supporting the DEMs in this years election? I can already hear the attack ads...

"Don't vote for Senator ??? because he will support the Republican agenda of cutting your benefits and kicking you out of your home!!!"

Thoughts?

Where is G2A (ie John)

Sean and Laurie have been busy calling me partisan again.  So I promised to re-visit my "world map". It is a simple tool called a Nolan diagram, and it may not be perfect however I think it is very useful.

Since I am for reducing the total cost of government (% of GDP) slightly, I am to the right of the vertical line. Whereas many of the Tea Party folks want to reduce that expenditure greatly. (ie privatized social security, medicare, etc) And the Liberals and Progressives want to increase that greatly. (ie universal healthcare, free college, etc)  So yes I see myself just Right of Center compared to all the citizens in the USA.

In the vertical direction, I am for less government rules in many areas. If I were King I would legalize physician assisted suicide, let Religious people say no to LGBT people, legalize prostitution, subsidize abortions until 14 weeks and long acting reversible contraception so poor women would be a s free as wealthy women, etc. Why many Democrats and Republicans want to tell others how to live their lives is beyond me.

I am not going to make it as an Anarchist or Libertarian because I am somewhat against making more drugs legal, I want to deport people who are in the country illegally and I want to stop irresponsible and incapable baby mamas and daddas from screwing up more generations of Americans. I guess I see all 3 of them as simply enforcing our countries current laws and/or protecting innocent Americans. (ie unlucky kids)

I added the PEW Polarization matrix to this version of the G2A Nolan Diagram.  And it seems to indicate that I am just left of the median Republican, which also seems about correct.

All of this probably explains why Liberals call me a Conservative...  And Conservatives call a Liberal...

Finally, yes I usually vote Republican. I don't like a lot of what they support, however they at least talk about constraining government spending and control in our lives.  Where as the Democrats only talk about more spending and government. I could happily vote for a Democratic politician if they were more fiscally moderate, unfortunately they do not seem to exist.  However I will be looking into Phillips and Klobuchar before I vote.

Federal Spend and Revenue

From Laurie

"I saw this graph and thought it might interest John, as he could revise his belief that federal spending is out of control.  Chart of the Day: A Taxpayer’s Guide to Skyrocketing Federal Spending"

Now remember that Laurie trusts Kevin Drum and Mother Jones, so what he says / shows is very important to her.  Here is a similar chart from the CBO, and it is pretty well aligned with Kevin's. Though it clearly shows that spending is higher than revenues and planned to grow, even if we miraculously do not have a recession.

Now here are CBO charts of a longer term nature. I mean the charts above don't seem to show when the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds go broke.

So yes the federal government and we citizens do have a spending and/or revenue problem. Thoughts?

Here is a late addition for your consideration. Forbes The Federal Deficit: It's A Spending Problem It is a little dated and the spend trend line is a little flatter now, however in general it is still good information.



Democrats Blocking Immigration Bill

CNN The depressing predictability of the immigration debate. Apparently the DEMs will block the GOP Moderate's bill over border security funding... It is very odd that DEMs are against government spending in this case... I mean they have no problem spending hundreds of billions each year on social programs, however they won't make a one time payment to protect the Dreamers and to put the immigration topic behind us.

"What's more: Even if, by hook or by crook, the House manages to pass this compromise bill, it's virtually certain to be dead on arrival in the Senate. Even if all 50 Republican senators voted for it -- John McCain remains in Arizona battling brain cancer -- the bill would need 10 votes from Democrats to bring it to the floor for debate. And unless you have been living on another planet for the last few years, you know that 10 Democrats ain't voting for legislation that provides $25 billion in funding for a southern border wall."

It is interesting how the DEMs seemed to have no more desire to solve this immigration issue than the GOP folks. Maybe they are the ones wanting to use the Dreamers in the election.

Sean said the following in the previous post's comments. "The Democratic Party or "liberals" aren't generally supporting open borders, no control, no limits, or any of the other nonsense you've tried to attribute to them in this thread. You can see what they voted for in 2013. You can see the sort of proposals brought forward earlier this year (like McCain-Coons or Graham-Durbin)."

Since they are reluctant to compromise now, I am thinking this is more about DEM politics than helping people. Over there I posted the following comment and questions:

"Ultimately this comes down to what is the purpose of the American Immigration policy? 

1. To help 1+ million people a year enter the "American Lifeboat".
2. To help America succeed by bringing in people who can help our country thrive. 

Or just assuming 1 million per year...What mix of the above? 

I think 200,000 "Life Boaters" and 800,00 "Make America Greaters" sounds much wiser than our current mix. 

That way we can afford to keep helping people in their home countries.

We apparently let ~1.6 million people immigrate her in 2016, and we are near a record rate...  So:  

• How many immigrants per year is the correct amount?
• What should be the characteristics of people we allow in?