And, well, that's how single payer works: it has premiums, which sometimes go up.

The SS thing at least sounds like the same accounting trick they did a few years ago where they shuffle bonds around among the trust funds.

As far as I can tell the SSDI cut is an actual cut, which is a problem.

How about Obama negotiating out the highly prized want of the RW they had added also to the vetoed Military bill: $80 billion for a ridiculous "Emergency War Fund"?

"The new agreement also would prevent a 20 percent cut in benefits next year to the 11 million Americans enrolled in the Social Security Disability Insurance program. The cut would be avoided by diverting some of the incoming payroll tax money from Social Security's much bigger retirement insurance program for six years, something Republicans previously said they wouldn't do without cuts to benefits."

This is a direct paste from the article.....

to look like they are compromising on something when they are really not.

What it does is prevent cuts by changing the angle of the mirrors and adding an extra smoke machine but the end result for now at least is they don't get a reduction at this time.

If they can make it last long enough maybe we can get someone in there that actually cares about the lower income and disabled portion of the population as apposed to wall street darlings...

Until we get the House out of Republican control, they are going to constantly be chipping away at SS and Medicare.
Get a grip and vote for yourselves, people.

Give me death with dignity and send me 100 ml of Pentobarbital.