Let's decrease or even elminate corporate subsidies to lower government deficit.

[DaShi]

Are you this clueless? Lame political attack? Wherein lies the 'political attack'?

Tales of an out of touch old guy not a rebuttal of Obama you moron.

Lovely. It's like you're from another world.

[Jon Miller]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-sanders-social-20110214,0,1455718.story

I don't agree with everything Berny says, although I like some of what he has done.

"
According to the latest report of the Social Security Administration, the program will be able to pay all of its promised benefits for the next 26 years. After 2037, Social Security will still be able to pay about 78% of promised benefits.
"

So I would guess that if you lived the standard length of time, you will get all your SS money. According to the SSA, if nothing gets changed/nothing strange happens.

JM

[giblets]

The Army began the Iraq War with a $56 Billion equipment shortage.

Hey since you only care about gays and Don't Ask, Don't Tell is being repealed to your joy, maybe you can now understand why $56 Billion in equipment shortages following the low military spending of the late 90's would have been detrimental to these gay servicemen?

Who decided when to start that war? Maybe Bush should have waited for new equipment to be bought instead of sending people in unprepared?

[DaShi]

We should raise taxes on the wealthy and put it all into SS.

[Al B. Sure!]

I think Enema man and Snoopy Poop Dogg or whatever he said were intentional gaffes. The guy is still an idiot though because Snoop Dogg has been around for almost two decades...

The youth in 2011 do not listen to Snoop Dogg. You're about 15 years out of date, old man.

[Jon Miller]

I personally favor removing the limit on the amount that can be taxed, and increasing the age to 70. There was never a promise that SS would pay for ~20 years, at the time it was given, it payed for ~10 years.

JM

[Al B. Sure!]

Who decided when to start that war? Maybe Bush should have waited for new equipment to be bought instead of sending people in unprepared?

Not just the Iraq War. Those same equipment shortages were relevant in Afghanistan (where for example, armor kits for humvees would have saved many lives as well). And that wasn't a war that America exactly started.

[Jon Miller]

We should raise taxes on the wealthy and put it all into SS.

No, into free college for those who demonstrate merit.

JM

[DaShi]

Both!

[Al B. Sure!]

No, into free college for those who demonstrate merit.

JM

But we already do that. I paid a pittance for my college education. $5-6K over 4 years (plus $4K from an extra semester which came out of pocket but that was my fault that I had to do an extra semester) and that was in the form of government-subsidized loans. And that was with me not even digging for scholarships. Just took what the school offered, what the government offered (Pell Grant), and the government-subsidized loans for the rest.

A poor smart kid typically gets a free ride in America as is.

[Jon Miller]

But we already do that. I paid a pittance for my college education. $5-6K over 4 years (plus $4K from an extra semester which came out of pocket but that was my fault that I had to do an extra semester).

A poor smart kid typically gets a free ride in America.

So every Swedish person gets (per year):

Free tuition.
$3500 for living expenses.
Easy to get (subsidized) loans for an additional $12000 for living expenses.
Doesn't have to pay taxes on transportation/has access to cheap housing/has access to student 'clubs' with tax free booze (so booze that is 1/2 the price what everyone else pays)/etc.

JM

[Berzerker]

means testing wouldn't effect the middle class, or even the upper middle class. But elderly folk with multi-million $ estates, yes. For example, little old ladies who didn't work much if at all still getting over 12 k a year from their long deceased hubby's SS. And people could re-apply if they fall on hard times and need the money re-instated... As it is, much of this money ends up part of the estate and inherited... I'm not a fan of inheritance taxes but maybe a small estate tax (not the ~50% rip off over ~3m now) to "take back" the contributions from SS would work better, that way the very wealthy elderly wouldn't get means tested until after they're dead.

[Al B. Sure!]

So every Swedish person gets (per year):

Free tuition.
$3500 for living expenses.
Easy to get (subsidized) loans for an additional $12000 for living expenses.
Doesn't have to pay taxes on transportation/has access to cheap housing/has access to student 'clubs' with tax free booze (so booze that is 1/2 the price what everyone else pays)/etc.

JM

1/2 price booze

Regardless, a poor smart kid in America pretty much gets his education paid for and the excess is covered by subsidized loans. Maybe additional spending would be good but the current arrangements seems adequate.

Our college participation and graduation rates are up there with the rest of the developed world, I'm sure.

[rah]

means testing wouldn't effect the middle class, or even the upper middle class. But elderly folk with multi-million $ estates, yes. For example, little old ladies who didn't work much if at all still getting over 12 k a year from their long deceased hubby's SS. And people could re-apply if they fall on hard times and need the money re-instated... As it is, much of this money ends up part of the estate and inherited... I'm not a fan of inheritance taxes but maybe a small estate tax (not the ~50% rip off over ~3m now) to "take back" the contributions from SS would work better, that way the very wealthy elderly wouldn't get means tested until after they're dead.

You can't really say who it would affect until you see what means level they use.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Lovely. It's like you're from another world.

The world of reality a distant land untouched or sullied by the presence of Dashi.