This used to be the third rail in politics, but everyone seems to be willing to touch it.

they're pissing on it.

I think that the Rethugs will try to gut Medicare on top of killing Obamacare. They think they're bullet-proof, and after last week, where the bellowing white males with the "Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed frequently" bumper-stickers on the back of their cars gave their Tea-publican politicians automatic free passes and sent them back to Congress and their state houses, I fear they've got reason to feel that way.

You think they won't all go with Ryan? They all hate Social Security and Mecidare. And their constant threats to shut down the government could sway enough dems to do something terrible. That's my fear.

I'm 53 and have no idea what I'll do when the time comes. Social work doesn't pay enough to keep you alive very long after retirement.

They are going to rob us of everything then remove laws and regulations so they can kill us.

My beloved just came in and said that maybe we're the generation that will sacrifice for the future, by freezing and starving.

I don't want to do that.

I can not believe we have reached this low point in our country.
Sad. Very sad.

I keep telling myself that they can't take ours away, but I am scared to death for my kids and grandkids!

Remember, though. The good news is that we are getting a COLA in 2017!! Whoopie, that means I can get that beachfront villa in Belize, right? Wait. Say what? It is only 0.3%? Ummm... that is a whole $0.30/$100. Darn, guess I'll have to finance it after all.

The changes in Medicare that I have read about would not affect those of us already on it,
if we can believe what we are told.
As for S/S, I don't know what they'd do.

I was speaking with my ex the other night and we thought that with our age and health issues we
may not live long enough to see how this 'story' plays out.

Paul Ryan is an addle-brained Ayn Rand cultist asshole.

He is NOT the entire Republican Party.

Mark my words, he won't get away with it.

even Republicans don't want to lose those programs.

It's a little hard to feel optimistic right now.

He's the voice of the establishment. The "bomb-throwers" just got bigger bombs.

He ain't alone by any means.

I just wonder if Dems will really stand up for us or if they will look to "compromise"?
I have no real confidence in them right now.

At least we know Sanders, Warren and Ellison are on our side.

they'll create a "graduated" system where anyone over a certain age will retain all their benefits and then others will gradually move to a different system.

The "greatest generation" will be pacified and the rest of us will be screwed.

This is exactly what they'll do. They'll divide the population up like walker did in WI with the unions (we'll go after the teachers, but not the cops or firefighters). They'll tell those already on SS/Medicare that theirs will stay the same. They'll go after those who aren't on it yet. (most of) Those who won't be affected will breathe a sigh a relief and won't fight them, since they won't be affected.

Because there will be less money coming in. It will be going to Wall Street instead because they need the commission money more.

I don't think they have the balls to go after the 65+ crowd. Those folks vote.

That is just ridiculous. They are also interested in re-election, and they would literally commit career suicide.

There is NO movement by the public to privatize it or Medicare.

Ryan is full of shit.

I hope I'm wrong.

Gingrich and Dole came out jubilantly that same day and BOTH made repeated public comments -- separately and together -- about how maybe they'd repeal Social Security.

We're talking in the first hour or so here. The internet wasn't what it is now, and that was the last I heard of that, so I assumed the response was not promising. But what they revealed was a real wakeup call to me.

They're passionate to destroy both if they can. First will be a major campaign to finish convincing most conservatives that both programs really are on the point of a failure that will be disastrous to millions of they don't act to protect us. Maybe by "privatizing."

Itm, I'm worried about our magnificent, and often even noble, USPS, established by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 (!) with only one purpose: to serve us. Yet every one of the conservatives I've discussed it with have absolutely no problem with further destroying the fabric of American life by just giving it away to the 0.01%. And paying lots more themselves for far poorer service.

WTF are you talking about "the greatest generation"? That generation has practically died out or they are in their nineties.

My father, father-in-law, aunt, and uncle are alive. They all voted for Trump. Do you think Ryan will pull the rug out from under them? Neither do they.

A deal for infrastructure spending.

What political advantage would be served by doing as you suggest?
Yeah, they're crazy and haters, but they are all essentially career politicians and they don't want to lose their jobs. So, why would they ameliorate a generation that nearly no longer exists?

Like the "tea party" in previous years, we need to be invading the town call meetings and holding the members' feet to the fire. Here's what I think that we can do go get the congreeecritter flustered and the other attendees riled up.

Ryan's plan calls for existing beneficiaries to keep Medicare while individuals who would have come into the system instead get a voucher.

- Call the voucher a "discount coupon"
- Ask why the plan calls for existing beneficiaries to keep Medicare as it currently is
- Ask why, if the plan is so good, existing beneficiaries aren't getting the great changes (or insert however the congresscritter described it) immediately
- (if the explanation is current seniors didn't plan for additional medical costs) Use an right-wing talking point: it isn't my fault they didn't plan for their retirement properly. Why do I have to pay for their poor planning?

Call your Senator and Congress and tell them not to let them dismantle SS and Medicare

strapping young man. Mental illness does not show. I am terrified he is the type the deplorables will go after. The disabled are not good at defending themselves. Especially the mentally disabled.

Although he is still working part-time, he will likely need to fully retire before long.

We thought we were in pretty good shape to be able to maintain our lifestyle--with less travel and eating out--
when that day comes thanks to his Federal pension, our social security, withdrawals from IRA's and Medicare.
If they mess with SS and Medicare--and it looks like they will--we will probably have to sell our house to get
the equity out for living expenses. Huh. Then you still need to pay for a place to live, which currently, is mortgage free.

And we're among the lucky to even have a home with equity. A$$hole Republicans.

my mom, who is 74 also did a reverse mortgage and it really helped her with some huge costs she incurred. She's able to stay in her home until she dies with no house payment or anything. The money really came in handy as she didn't know what else to do when some unexpected developments happened. I was nervous about it, but it's worked out well in her situation. She really wanted to stay in her home and was able to tap into it for money.

Our problem is the huge property taxes on this place because we live in a very desirable public school district and walking distance
to the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. It takes almost $11 K to pay the property taxes each year. I've been thinking just this morning
of converting a room in our house (with an outside entrance and its own bath) to a rental for a student. Been looking at rents on-line
and think we could get $5-600/mo for it if we put a small kitchenette in it. We already rent a studio apartment above our garage for $725/mo
that has a full kitchen, bath, w/d and probably can push to $750 when the current tenant vacates in May. If we were renting both spaces
we could probably cover the property taxes (valuation due for reassessment next year) and have a little left over for repairs/maintenance.
We had to replace the garage roof two years ago, the water heater last year, and the ac/heat pump this year for the garage apt. It eats up money
available to pay our property taxes! And I suspect that either the apt dishwasher or fridge will need replacement before long because they are
15 years old. Ugh.

Who did your mom go with for her reverse mortgage? What kind of fees did she pay?

But please look very carefully at reverse mortgage before you do it. It's not a good deal IMO. If I'm not mistaken Suzy Ormon strongly advises against them.

But do your own research. I'm not a professional.

I'd probably be more inclined to sell--if the market doesn't collapse--which it probably will do within a year or two of Trump's regime.
But when the time comes for my husband to be fully retired, we are dependent upon our combined ss and his federal pension for income
and required withdrawals from IRA's (he already has to take a minimum amount and I've avoided it until I have to in another 5 years).
If the Republicans significantly reduce ss payments--or they are eaten up by much higher deductions for Medicare premiums--then we're in the position
of having to support really high property taxes in order to stay in our home (which is mortgage free) with significantly reduced income. It could
get difficult pretty fast.

because they'll prob never make it to that age anyway.

Last edited Sun Nov 20, 2016, 02:55 AM - Edit history (1)

Trump is god emperor and he will win

A Democrat pulling this shit would get away with it and it would happen. Look what Clinton did with AFDC. Look what Obama pulled with public education.

No Republican would EVER get away with this shit.

The GOP will commit party suicide if they try this shit.

a lot of people said that about a Trump presidency

I can't see retiring. I lost everything in 08 and now rent a room.

I see arranging my final exit before I push a shopping cart under a bridge to live.

No guns, maybe a Belushi. How damn depressing!

I dont think so. Just Trump bashing .

I guess you never looked at her platform?

She also talked about letting younger people, 55 and up, buy into Medicare.

No chance of that happening now.

Paul Ryan is not the entire Republican Party. There are more than a few in the GOP who are far more intelligent than he is and will not go along with this notion.

It would be the death of the GOP. Really and truly.

They may be corrupt, but they aren't about to commit suicide.

They *have* voted on it. And will again. The house gop has gone all "Unity" with Trump this week.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-tool-kit-for-sleuthing-out-medicare-phaseout

And I'm 60 years old.

May God have mercy on me because I know Ryan and the death loving republican cult will have none.

Moral equivalency

But they all do it!

NO THEY DON"T!

(okay, I screamed and swore) with someone I considered a friend who I just learned voted for Trump. He's a veteran no less. It makes you want to hit your head on a brick wall.

to self-destruction.

Is not just income redistribution to the 0.1%, but to force the Federal Government so far into debt, that they have "No choice" but to cut back payments and once again "Repeal and replace".

Oh, and they will blame Obama.

and this time they will really starve it to the point that they will claim "national security" is in danger.

The propaganda on this one will be quite putrid.

by the bad guys.

Give them hell. They're the occupiers, we're the guerillas.

will fight back? I mean pharmaceutical companies need customers who can afford their drugs and seniors on Medicare are probably doctors and hospitals' biggest clients.

I think they will probably avoid cutting retirement. The scenario that I think is actually possible- maybe even likely, is one where they go after disability and try to force states to absorb the damage with medicaid vouchers.

Maybe Collins..and 2 others, ..Alaskan senator.(lady)....then one more....then, if we all the Democrats stick together,,,it can't happen no matter what the rest of them say..or trump,,or Mc..shithead...51 no change..what do you think????

A few may talk as if they care, but when the time for a vote comes they are usually more than willing to give their vote away. Then they will cover it with some bullshit talking points later on.

Remember that the lobbyists will be filling their pockets with money and that talks louder than anything we can say.

If there were one or two planning to quit, they might be able to withstand the lobbyists cash.

Heartless bastards.

Now Ryan/Trump get to pull off the greatest scam in our history.

Tiny House, here we come.

millions will lose a lifetime of savings and will die. But Republicans will make it all legal.

The only thing that will change is that they will outsource the administrative part of managing it to private insurers, which they already do with Medicare Advantage. While that is a terrible idea that will cost taxpayers significantly more money (like most Repube ideas), people utilizing Medicare actually probably won't see much difference.

Social Security on the other hand will have a much more harmful impact on individuals, as the people the Govt is using to manage these investments are significantly better than leaving this up to the American people to choose themselves. So they'll give us 30 funds to choose from to put our Social Security funds, but what happens when someone chooses one that significantly underperforms the market? The govt will have to intervene and give those people more money, so the whole idea behind it is flawed.

for social security disability. I'm 60 was denied once already, due to my not filling out the paperwork in a timely manner. I've been paying SS since I was 16, my first job. So for 44 years I've paid into it with the promise that it will be there for me. If I receive SS disability I will be able to stay on medical assistance until 65, which as of today makes me eligible for medicare.

We will need a nationwide strike, and soon.