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I started out and voted for Carter.
I do remember voting for Reagan.
I find the democrats are just too liberal. I remember in 1980 or so someone said that the
majority of voters were close to being unproductive and that would shift the
voting power in the country to those who were not actually working to make a
living. That sure came true.
For me the democrats try to promise free everything and we'll fix everything for
all the splinter groups within the umbrella of "democrat" to get them to vote
their way.
The real problem is the Pravda-like media which refuses to publish anything
negative or investigative about democrats Obama/Clinton. But they spent 12
years whining and repeating every rumor about republicans. Add to that mocking.
If the MSM does
report something negative about democrats, it is couched as being "according
to republican sources" or "republicans claim." Then they say, "We covered that."
I remember Iran-Contra and Oliver North. Nonstop repetition and coverage by the
MSM media.
Oh, I also voted for Hillary. My voice analysis and body language analysis of the other
guy found him to be not trustworthy.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I remember CNN actually "fact checked" a Saturday Night Live sketch that had the temerity to poke fun at Obama's record of accomplishments...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
"remember voting for Reagan"
I voted for McGovern in 72, Carter in 76, Anderson in 80 (third party) and Reagan in 84. Something changed over time.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Odd that you mock Fox News. Even your own party's President Clinton (Bill, not Hillary :grin) says not to cede the control to these other people claiming sincereity. The other parties are wanting the ability to shut down "inconvenient places on the internet" with their control of the naming. In other words, Pravda again. He made his statement Saturday if I've got the dates right.
This just makes the point for me however. I get input from various sources. I even listened to Air America's radicals to see what points they had that the other talk radio was leaving out. I said earlier, it's not what ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, MSNBC, etc., say that is as important as what news they leave out. I try to put together all the data I can.
There are times these past years when I've asked why Fox News covers negatives about the republicans.
Same for cars. I see continual negatives against GM. Can't be all bad. I just found another GM product that is great for my needs. I see the cars dichotomy just like the political scene has become now; divided with some people not willing to evaluate each car on the current merits. I expected the Malibu to drive like a newer version of the Generation 7 Malibu I had driven. It's a big step different. I drove an Accord and spent seat time in many other cars while shopping. Expected to like a Cruze or Verano and take one home or order one. Ended up in a Malibu.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
In the past, I've said lots of bad things about GM (was burned once big time). IMO they have turned a corner and are making some nice vehicles. We love our 12 LaCrosse and will most likely replace it with an Enclave in the fall. I'd also buy a Verano, Malibu, Impala, or XTS in a minute.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
TJC you may not want to buy a new Silverado until they find out what the problem is:
A brand new 2014 Chevy Silverado truck catches fire and the owner shot cell phone video of the blaze
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
imid, it is the logical, well thought out posts and insights like yours that keep me on this forum.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Just remember that half of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at.
As for watches and bicycles they hold my interest (I have a small collection of pocket watches and I do a hell of a lot of biking although I am probably more knowledgeable on the technical aspect of riding a bike), the book I just happened to read once several years ago and it stuck in my mind. I also watch a lot of documentaries on TV.
Some of those occupations I would agree with however I do not see how being liberal would make one more likely to go into journalism or acting (it used to be that most actors were more conservative).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It's apparent you have never handled a 19th century bicycle. They were heavy, bulky and rode somewhat rough.
Few people used them to commute to work, and like today they are rather poor for delivering anything to a business that isn't very small.
Bicycles were mainly recreational.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I'm not so sure about your comment regarding teachers and other professionals as having liberal leanings. We need to be careful about blanket observations and stereotypes. I was a teacher and personnel director with conservative leanings, but I tried to never let my political views show. When you are an instructor of impressionable young people or a hiring agent of young educators, you must be very careful that these young people be led to making their own decisions regarding such things. As a former English, history, and psychology teacher, I was always conscious of sharing both sides of an issue in order to solicit discussion and debate. When my students would make the comment that they weren't sure which side I was on, I always expressed to them that I wanted them to feel exactly that way. To do otherwise would have been an injustice to them all. Regardless of one's profession, people are individuals. Their opinions and perspectives are based on with whom and how they were reared, their educational experiences, their peer groups, their reading and viewing materials, and a host of other factors. It can be dangerous to lump people into special boxes because it can breed bias and prejudice which is unjustified to so many.
Richard
I think you got that backwards While mountain bikes are modified bicycles of the era they can be dated back to around 1890 when the Army tested it with infantry across the great plains (that didn't go over to well as the US Army, if I recall correctly, never had much of a bicycle brigade.Fat tire bikes are a more recent and are modified mountain bikes designed for snow.
The "huge wooded wheels" that are so heavy were used on wagons that were designed for carrying heavy cargo. Horse drawn buggies had lighter wooden wheels and even wire wheels that a engine of the day could handle. Cars were open in those days more because the difficulty in creating a stable body, remember most horse drawn carriages were open.
Here is a picture of the "double pivit steering" that Benz created it's on a 1890's car, note the wooden wheels.
Here is a 1901 Benz that many consider the first modern car.
More early Benz's with wooden wheels.
Again you haven't handled many really old bikes.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Anyone ever try riding a unicycle?
I tried once and got dumped on my rear so hard it ached for a week!
Mike, you and I are on the exact same page politically. I'm a moderate and I vote for the person. I agree that we need to move on to other topics, especially when even a host is taking part in the discussions. Interesting.
Richard
"I'm not so sure about your comment regarding teachers and other professionals as having liberal leanings."
Whenever we make generalizations, Richard, mistakes are always made about political leanings of those included in the generalization - that teachers and educators are left-leaning.
The goal of an educator is to teach students "strategies" for solving problems, such as researching the available data on a subject and compiling that data in order to formulate a hypothesis. To teach students the differences between fact and opinion - and how opinions are arrived at my people.
Too often, in recent years, educators have begun to preach to students what the correct side of a debate is - and a majority of those preachings has been left leaning. I am not saying that the entire educational system is liberal, but more than one half are.
You and I know that we are dedicated to teach strategy, not opinions or to prostilatize what we think is true or righteous. But that has not been happening in education today.
Influencing the way students think is criminal - but the Teacher's unions are the most left leaning unions in this country.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Either that or we become more realistic.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Yes with the old OWTT (One Wheel Touring Team) back in high school, motto: two wheels are for whimps".
I met Mr. Floor more than once trying to get the hang of it. It does take time.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Once...in high school....after about 4 hours of getting on...falling off...getting on...falling off. Was able to get my balance finally...forward/back/forward/back....in quick succession. Steering? Different matter. I always ended up on the ground after 25 feet or so.
Funny you should say you can't catalogue professions such as teaching as being liberal or conservative. I used to listen to O'Reilly a fair bit and that's where I first caught on to the idea. He complained about the liberal press (most newspapers), universities, and actors (think Jane Fonda types) and of course unions. You could probably add social workers and you can certainly add women who also tend to be more liberal. Possibly even most older people who like to keep their social benefits.
If you google topics such as "who tends to be more liberal" you will come up with lots of articles about who tends to be liberal...usually teachers.
This is just one article from the NYTimes that tries to explain why this is so;
Professor Is a Label That Leans to the Left
One telling paragraph:
In the 1960s college campuses, swelled by the large baby-boom generation, became a staging ground for radical leftist social and political movements, further moving the academy away from conservatism.
Another article:
Well naturally We are Liberal - Professor
It is too easy to try to be neutral and say we shouldn't categorize certain professions.....the facts are facts and certain professions tend to lean a particular way....let's face it, most business people are conservatives.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Agreed....from what I have experienced. (See above)
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I learned when I was 15. My dad learned the same summer. Once you get past the first turn of the pedal, it's all the same :-) I was able to ride it to a friends house about a mile or two away.
My dad got another unicycle when my son was a teen - and he still has it. I tried it on a visit to CA a couple years ago. I'm a bit more top heavy now, and it affected my ability to stay upright. A couple of nasty spills and I decided that I needed to retire.
But, it's a fun skill to have.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
My dad got another unicycle when my son was a teen - and he still has it. I tried it on a visit to CA a couple years ago. I'm a bit more top heavy now, and it affected my ability to stay upright. A couple of nasty spills and I decided that I needed to retire.
But, it's a fun skill to have.
Michaell...in all frankness, I wouldn't even attempt to get on a unicycle now. That would be a sure trip to the hospital for me.
I'm curious what you think of the new electronic safety technologies, including auto braking to avoid rear ending someone in front of you, the lane departure warning/correction, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert? I've historically been a proponent of keeping things simple, but the more I think about these safety technologies the more I want them. This video may have me convinced:
IIHS crash avoidance
The Subaru really knocked it out of the park in that test, and others would have lessened the impact and subsequent injuries/damage.
The rear cross traffic alert is particularly interesting given that most near misses in a parking lot occur when I'm backing out of a spot and another driver races past me before I can see them beyond the car parked next to me.
So, what do you think? Are they worth the premium cost?
I bought a car that had them and finding one in the colors I wanted and with the advanced safety package was difficult. The cross traffic alert was the one I wanted most because of the idiots in the parking lots. It also has forward warning of approaching another car. I dont' think it applies the brakes. And the car beeps all the time with the lane wandering I do. The beep can be turned off and just the light warns of wandering to the lane lines. The side alerts about traffic on either side in the blind spot is also neat: a light on the mirror on that side warns.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"So, what do you think? Are they worth the premium cost?"
My answer is YES and NO! The blind spot monitors are worth their weight in gold. At least once a week I put my directional on while on the highway and it gives me visual and audible feedback that a car is in the lane I want to move to, even though I looked in my side and rear mirrors and saw nothing. It saves me from making a lane change mistake at least once a week.
The lane tracking monitors are not worth the cost unless you drive long distances on a freeway frequently. It works by vibrating the steering wheel when you are about to leave a marked lane unless you have your correct directional signal on.
As for fist tonic plus (braking itself), I rarely have a need since I don't tailgate and keep a long interval between me and the car in front of me.
Accident avoidance system is excellent. It alerts me audibly and visually when a car or obstruction enters my lane in front of me without sufficient spacing.
The safety options I use the most are the front, side and rear sensors and my back-up camera (audible and visual alerts for each) when pulling out of a parking space or pulling into one.
Thus, the blind spot monitors, parking sensors and rear view camera are a must In any car I buy.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
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Definitely....you won't be sorry you got them, and you will wonder how you ever got by without them.
Unfortunately I didn't get the lane warnings on my 535, but my wife's A4 has them - came with Premium Package - and it is a great feature.
Remember too...you get some of the money back when you trade the car in, and your trade-in will be more desireable.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Well I am all for safety so in that respect I like them, but I also wonder if we are becoming more and more reliant on technology to do what we should be doing in the first place.
Depends on the cost, I think that we are putting so much stuff on a car that it is pricing cars beyond the means of many people.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Have you thought about adjusting your side mirrors? I have mine adjusted so that a car as it leaves my rear view mirror it is entering my side mirror so that for a moment the front of the car is in my side mirror and the rear of the car is in my rear view mirror. Then by the time only the rear of the vehicle is in my side mirror the front of the car is easily visible in my field of vision.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
"the car beeps all the time"
Don't like the sound of that! Seems that the more we engineer safety features into cars the worse drivers become. Maybe if cars were less safe the more attention we'd pay to driving.
I remember watching a show on safety long ago where the narrator said just that. He said we should tie dynamite to our bumpers and attach bayonets to the steering wheel so that any crash would be fatal. He said that would insure our undivided attention to our driving.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"Have you thought about adjusting your side mirrors? "
Yes, of course. However, the CLS 550 has some nasty blind spots - side and rear. Impossible to cover all of them with mirrors. Next time you pass near a Mercedes Dealer, check out the CLS 550 - you'll see firsthand what I mean.
It is obvious that their body styling produces some dangerous situations, and that is why these safety features are essential on that car.
I cannot see the end of my hood nor the back of my car. The addition of the side sensors have made a big differences.
The CLS 550 isn't for everyone - but with the safety features I added to the car, it is much easier and safer to drive.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Let me be clear. It only beeps when the camera sees I'm on one of the lines. I tend to be a little sloppy when no cars are around, and I was getting a lot of beeping through downtown Columbus and on the interstate to and from when we drove the car the day after picking it up. It became a joke with my wife and son.
If I used my turn signal or turned the steering wheel slightly to indicate I meant to cross the line, no beeps.
Haven't tested out the forward warning! Saleslady said it really wakes you up with the warning.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Just drove BMW i3 during their intro event. Interesting machine. VERY quick off the line. Handles like BMW. Interior feels like cheaper lines from 3 series, but not worse. One thing missing is power seats, for obvious reasons can be forgiven. Range is less than 100 miles, if you drive it like its gas cousins, it will drop to 70 or so. Good third vehicle if you live in Manhattan and need to go somewhere subway doesn't. Or perhaps some charity benefit, but wit more informal dress code.
Anyway, it still has a way to go, but nice try. A bit strange experience was the survey. Contructed in such a way that would not even ask the question about the range. Series of feel good questions withou asking the most important one. Typical corpo doing a survey that is to confirm whatever execs want, not to learn anything.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Thanks for the review and the insight. Interesting, and I agree, execs just wanted to ask the right questions to try and keep it positive - probably so they can keep their jobs for another year.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
In regard to your post about professional groups and their political leanings, allow me to say this. Not 100% of any group leans toward one position. While it is true, as Mike pointed out, the NEA is historically Democratic and liberal, there were plenty who were Republican and conservative. As a former NEA local president of 3,000 members, a former NEA regional president of 15,000 members, and an NEA state board member, I observed the following over a period of ten years: (1) Some members were Republican and conservative. (2) Most members were mainly interested in legal protection to maintain their tenure, increases to a decent pay scale, and protection of their continuing health plan. (3) Many members wanted the continuing education workshops and publications which could enhance their classroom capabilities. Though NEA certainly had a large PAC (political action committee) arm, most members gave it little notice. Their political leanings and political activities were mainly of a personal nature. That is why I don't think that it is a good idea to lump all professional people into specific categories.
Labels lead to misconceptions and misunderstandings. Labels can be hurtful and become a breeding ground for prejudices. Leaving out teachers altogether, church is another example. I belong to a church and a denomination. I chose my particular sect because of the overall good that I believe that it does. That doesn't mean that I agree with all of its doctrines and practices. It simply means that I selected that particular church and denomination because of the value that I felt that it had toward my fellowman and myself.
One last point. You mentioned that we could probably add most old people to the liberal list because they want to keep their social benefits. I don't know any old people who collect "social" benefits. If you mean Social Security, that is not a social benefit. I paid in to Social Security for 40 years. That is MY money. The government is simply returning it to me on a monthly basis until I die. If any is left, they get to keep it. It's the same with Medicare. I paid for it just like any other insurance policy. It's not a social benefit. Since you lived under a socialized government, I just wanted to be sure that you understood how it works for the elderly population in the United States.
Thanks for listening.
Richard
Excellent post, especially those facts about social security and medicare. Like most retirees that I know, I would classify myself as a right leaning moderate constitutional conservative...certainly not a liberal.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
The members of organizations where the people have multiple college degrees are not homogenous like the left-leaning members who get themselves elected to leadership for state and national positions and activist positions within the top positions want the world to think. It's the loudmouths who get themselves into the starring positions whether it's NEA or UAW or SEIU. The difference is that in some cases the people in the organization are low information folks who don't think about what's happening and how their information is being manipulated. In the teaching world, my wife's friends are about 50/50 as to their political leanings. The ones who are hungry for information about what their government is doing and what the truth is from the mainstream media folks are the ones who are conservative.
If someone wants to think about how the MSM is presenting news, take a look at the morning shows which pretend to be delivering news with some cute Hollywoodesque personalities laughing and giggling their way through stories that have nothing to do with Russia's threat to Poland today invoking Poland's calling up their reserve or about Russia and China working to weaken the dollar by not using it in trade. They never question the current administration saying one thing and doing another, such as campaigning to be the most open administration and totally restricting photos and even questions during news conferences. Instead we hve news on those shows about Hollywood personalities and Ophrah's moving her empire to Hollywood.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Another thing that will never happen in the land of entitlements is for Social Security to keep track of when the benefit payout exceeds the amount paid into the system (plus a nominal rate of interest, even). From that point forward, it is an entitlement, like it or not. Up until then, as has been stated, you're simply getting back the money that was paid in.
Same goes for medicare.
As if. . .
You can tell that to yourself to make you feel better, but it is simply not true. Your money went out long ago to pay others, while my money is probably going to pay some of your benefit. The problem with that scheme is that over time with current demographic trends, more people collect and fewer contribute. By the time I reach my age of collection, either my benefits will have to slashed, or younger people will have to be saddled with impossible tax burden, which in turn will hurt the outcome even more. This is even more true with Medicare. I actually read how much I contributed so far, i.e. in 12 years since I started my job. The amount is laughable when compared with cost of a hip replacement, free scooter, or any decent treatment for a serious illness. Tripple that and it's still good for just one or two things, not a typical "all you can eat" buffet current seniors experience and think they are entitled to get, because, as you put it, they think they paid for it during their lifetime. BTW, my income is quite decent, i.e. average senior would have contribute even less than me.
The truth is brutal - seniors are collecting about quadruple of what they put in, trend that was possible when the nation was young and life expectancy limited. So yes, Medicare especially is a social welfare promise that should have not ever been made in its current form and cannot be kept. If anything, it is one of the biggest generational Ponzi schemes the world has ever seen. The first step to fix anything, is to admit there is a problem. As long as we pretend that Medicare or to lesser extend Social Security, can be maintained in their current form, we will descend to more and more trouble.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Several years back somewhere it was published that the average recipient was withdrawing their payments in 2-3 years. If a moderate rate of interest were applied to those payments through the years, it was on the order of 5-8 years before we had withdrawn all that was paid in to Social Security.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
These studies are all dangerous (regardless of which side of the argument) because of assumptions and applications of statistics (often craftily chosen). SS and Medicare individual payments and returns should be based on investment of the payments and ROI. It's not the contributor's fault that Congress and the White House over the years have frittered those payments away (frequently on other spending lines) instead of investing them. Personally, while SS may be an "entitlement" in the technical language of government budgeting, I don't think it's an entitlement on a practical basis like a welfare payment or mortgage subsidy.
Agreed. But a majority of teaching professionals are liberal, and I can find all kinds of articles to back that up. I doubt if you can find one that has information that most teachers are conservatives. I am sure, there are many fine teachers - yourself included - who are neutral in these matters in the classroom. Like it or not, some states always vote one way or the other, women tend to vote liberal, union members and social workers - it's in their DNA. Farmers tend to vote conservative, they work hard for what they get and are responsible for their own destiny, business people and especially owners of businesses tend to be conservative for the same reason.
I don't think it should be hurtful. I am just saying MOST teachers tend to be liberal. It is no more hurtful than saying a certain state always goes liberal or conservative...a fact is a fact. You shouldn't take it personally, and we should all respect each other, but I just stated what many respected authorities have observed. btw........18 states have voted Democratic in six consecutive elections with 242 electoral votes, that's not labelling...that is a fact.
Read Dino's post, he said it far better than I could. What about unemployment benefits and workman's compensation....those are in most cases social benefits. Anyway, we shouldn't get too hung up on one word.
We Canadians do not live under a socialized government at all. Our Federal Government has been Conservative for some time now. We do have a healthcare plan that has been pretty good so far. Nice to know you won't lose your house because you had a heart attack. But, other than that we have about the same way of life as you do...but without guns. We do have a socialist party called The New Democratic Party but they have not won a National Election, thank goodness!
Richard, I repect your opinions and viewpoints and look forward to your contributions to the site. I would rather state what I believe to be true and let the chips fall where they may.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Here are a couple of facts and things you guys did not mention on the ssn front.
In 2012, 61.9 million people received benefits from the SSA. (That's about 20% of the entire U.S. population.)
Fifty-five percent of adult Social Security recipients are women. This makes sense, as women generally live longer. (Women in the U.S. recently averaged a lifespan of 81 years, versus 76 for men.)
For most elderly Social Security recipients, Social Security benefits make up the majority of their income. (As of 2011, that was so for 64% of aged beneficiaries.)
Employee income is taxed at 6.2% for Social Security. You may not realize it, but your employer coughs up a corresponding 6.2%. Those who are self-employed get hit with a whopping 12.4% tax rate, paying both the employer and employee portions.
That Social Security tax rate only applies to the first $113,700 of your income. If you make $1,113,700, the million dollars extra don't get taxed. Many reformers would like to see this cap eliminated, as it has most Americans being taxed on their full income, while wealthy folks are only taxed on a portion of their income.
The maximum monthly benefit that Social Security offered in 2012 to those who retired at their full retirement age was $2,533, offering an annual benefit of $30,396. Those who started collecting Social Security earlier or later than their full retirement age would collect smaller or larger sums, respectively.
We're used to thinking of Social Security as providing income in retirement. But it has a few other functions, too. In 2012, of the 5.7 million folks who began collecting Social Security benefits, 48% were retired workers, 17% were disabled workers, and 35% were survivors and dependents of deceased workers. Not all survivors, dependents, and disabled workers qualify for these benefits, but some do.
Those who worry about Social Security running out are focusing on data such as this: In 1955, there were more than eight workers paying into the Social Security system for every beneficiary. Today, that number is a bit less than three workers paying in, and it's projected to be close to two workers by 2031. (Those less worried about Social Security running out note that many changes to the system could strengthen it, such as eliminating the taxable income cap.)
It's projected that the Social Security trust fund will run out in 2033 – but that means we have 20 years in which to change and improve the system.
Hope you younger guys see this money...
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
ENTITLEMENTS, TAXES, BENEFITS, ETC!
I've read, with interest, the responses to driver's original post (which I totally disagree with because the older you are, the more conservative you become - that's a statistic by the way)!
Originally, Social Security was intended to SUPPLEMENT an individual's retirement income in a very limited way. It was passed by Congress to ensure people who retire have a small pension, a few bucks, to keep them from going on welfare or starving to death or becoming homeless! It was never intended to keep older folks in the lap of luxury - or even at a level they were accustomed to prior to retirement.
There are many hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Social Security annuitants (as the gov't likes to call them) who are receiving in excess of $2500 a month. Think about that - $2500 a month! That's still more than what over 50% of Americans live on month to month. I have already received everything I've put into Social Security in the 35 years I contributed to the fund including interest. I received $1376 a month - an amount that would keep me off the streets and put food in my mouth, but not much more. That is what was originally intended by the Act.
Now, let's look at Medicare. This is a true Entitlement because we put in almost nothing over 35-50 years, but receive it back in spades after age 65. Originally, this was not intended to pay for an individual's total health care - just 70% - so it won't bankrupt elderly retirees in case of a catastrophic illness or disease. Also, when the Act was passed, people didn't live to an average age of the mid 80's - they lived to their low to mid 70's.
I will be paying $400+ per month for my supplemental insurance coverage starting next January. That's quite a bit of money - but that was how it was intended originally. To provide just enough assistance so you can manage a little better for contingencies. Then came prescription benefits without raising medicare taxes during the Bush administration.
Let's look at Social Security Disability. It was intended to assist truly disabled people with their expenses since they could not work and were not entitled to unemployment insurance. But now, there are ads on TV hundreds of times a week from legal firms begging you to apply for SS Disability - in the passed 6 years, SS disability has risen 70% (to over 50 million people) since the financial disaster of 2007/2008. You mean to tell me there are 50 million disabled people who are incapable of working under the age of 65 in tis country? It's downright fraud, and the gov't created it by making more and more people eligible for Disability.
So, in conclusion, Social Security HAS BECOME an entitlement, Medicare HAS BECOME an entitlement, Disability IS BECOMING an entitlement (unless something is done to reverse the trend) and Food Stamps are issued to over 50 million people - and they say the economic recovery has been in gear for 5 years. Sure wish I knew who THEY were!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I don't disagree that SS Disability is an entitlement. But I think base SS is different. As Brian pointed out, your employer also contributes to SS with each paycheck. Since compound interest is exponential, rather than linear, that means that the individual's contribution is more than doubled by the employer contribution. Using Ima's 5-8 year individual payback figure, which is stated based on modest interest, if you double that to reflect inclusion of employer contributions you are now in the 10 - 16 year range or actually a bit more due to compounding. The average person dies around age 80 I believe, add 10 -16 years to age 65 and most people are right in the range of breakeven. The complication to this is cost of living. SS has been getting a couple of percent COLA each year on top of initial payout figures. However, if the payments had been invested much of it is unused initially and during the first half of payout, still drawing a decent return which should offset much of the cola differential over the recipients lifetime. On a government budget basis there is another way of looking at this I think. Congress pulling SS contribution payments for other budget needs offsets that amount of the total government annual budget revenue needs, so the government doesn't have to borrow as much. You can apply something like the 10 year treasury rate compounded, in lieu of investment return, to calculate an equivalent value of those contributions invested I think. Either way, I think some of these SS studies are not fully reflective of reality and perhaps performed by lobbyist and special interest groups with an inherent factual sway and selective variable inputs.
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In the last Federal election the pundits thought Florida could go Democrat, because the older population would like more healthcare. That could have been the tipping point, because the state did go to the Democrats, and that is what I was thinking of when I said that.
Traditionally, older voters have voted Republican. However, more and more older voters are now switching to the Democrats....in pretty big numbers actually;
Are seiors souring on the Republican Party
Similar to you houdini, I like a government that is fiscally responsible and protests me and my rights.
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News is driven by ratings and I suppose those are the stories most people want to hear. It is very difficult to get real news with unbiased analysis. The best is probably the BBC. Their newscast are very low key....not a lot of hype, and they really cover the world.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That's because the BBC is funded by the TV Tax in the UK, so they are more like PBS than a for-profit news/entertainment organization.
I like listening to BBC on Sirius in my car. In depth articles from around the world.
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Mike,
Those $2500 payouts are probably OK for those who contributed full amount for most of their life. Social Security is in trouble, but it is fixable for at least another 100 years wuth just a few moves. It is Medicare that's a true budget buster. It is not even close to work. It works like an insurance, but without a sound actuary. Basically, a lottery with winning tickets far exceeding total revenue. It came from misguided notion that today's contributions will secure treatment that have not been even invented yet and everybody who survives will be entitled to receive them.
BTW, the SS disability statistics are simply devastating. In short, we have to assume America became a land of cripples, or frauds, or both. I know, it is not politically correct to say cripple, but I don't care in this context.
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abacomike said
ENTITLEMENTS, TAXES, BENEFITS, ETC!
I've read, with interest, the responses to driver's original post (which I totally disagree with because the older you are, the more conservative you become - that's a statistic by the way)
You are so right on that statement. I for one am dead against democractic/ liberalism of today. I think over the years how they ruined and are ruining this great country our for- fathers set up. Democrates have no idea what they stand for anymore with republicans not much better. Liberalism drives me crazy today.
When you see the word “liberalism,” what comes to mind?
Is it George Washington crossing the Delaware, or is it President Barack Obama taking the stage at the Democratic National Convention?
With his election, Americans are bombarded with political rhetoric, philosophy and statistics. At the heart of America’s political issues is the concept of American liberalism.
Liberalism in America has shaped the political landscape in our country today. It has transformed the government’s role in social issues, economic issues and even foreign affair
We have already seen, in six years, what Obama — a president who has embraced this philosophy — has accomplished (or destroyed, depending on how you look at it) within our economy.
Today’s liberalism, the belief that government is responsible for the individual, has done many disservices to America during its relatively short historical tenure. It has resulted in massive deficit spending that, most recently, has put America in debt $18 trillion. 47% of americans living off our dime.. This has got to stop. Its only going to get worse.
It has killed economic growth time and time again.
Liberalism has expanded the federal government’s role in social issues with the creation of programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and food stamps
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Enough is enough.
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You are correct Mike, you will see I corrected that in my reply to houdini. I mentioned older voters in Florida voting liberal in the last election because of the health benefits - as the election predictictions were forecasting. But generally, yes, older voters, do vote Republican, though as I pointed out...this is rapidly changing.
Excellent posts by you, Brian and Berry...thanks for your opinions!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250