Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   Buteye Help Me or Martini Help Me Date:   2/14/2018 12:57:03 PM

I have no real problem with cutting down on some of the entitlement programs - for me, it's more about how they do it.  The tendency is to salami slice it, rather than if it makes sense to cut one area over another.  And don't forget that people paid into social security and medicare (even I paid into medicare), so I am not sure that doing away with these programs that people paid into and counted on.  They would have to start with people early enough that they would realize that these programs won't be there - but then they are what is paying into social security and Medicare benefits that are currently being paid out.  I just don't think you can pull the rug out from under people.  I don't know if you saw it, but there was a recent case where the court found that "promised" pension benefits are not guarenteed under the law.  The case involved state workers whose pensions were being slashed and they sued  

I have no vested interest in SS, because I never paid in enough quarters to get anything, but I see so many people that are counting on it for their retirement.  Should they have saved? yes, but if you pull it from under them, you'll see your public assistance numbers swell.  No good politics in seeing a lot of elderly people suddenly homeless and living on the street. 

I personally think that we need to go back to what Kennedy/LBJ had in mind with public assistance and Medicare/Medicaid.  The rules have been changed over a period of time to make it easier to fraud the systems.  Unwed mother's that pop out babies and then say they can't work because they have no one to watch the children and can't afford daycare - well, why couldn't the govenrment build or support day cares for these children and make these people work?  With the money we're about to pour into infrastructure - make them work and learn a skill.  

For me, the debt question goes back to it depending what we are getting from borrowing the money and really doesn't have anything to do with political parties.