Vote Buying

[Conan71]

COLA increases are supposed to be adjusted for inflation.  Why now does Congress and our President think a one time payment of $250 is justified?  Cost of living has gone down, not up.  This is nothing more than vote buying at taxpayer expense at a time when tax reciepts are certain to be falling due to the overall economic picture.  The President does not care how it's paid for, whether or not it raises the deficit, he just wants Congress to dole it out and let our great grand-kids pay for it.

For some perspective, SSI recipients got a 5.8% increase last January due to high energy prices which have now dropped back down. 

"By law, cost of living adjustments are pegged to inflation, which is negative this year, the government said Thursday, because of lower energy costs. Social Security payments do not go down, even when prices drop."

"Obama's proposal calls for sending $250 payments to Social Security recipients as well as those receiving veterans or disability benefits, railroad retirees, and retired public employees who don't receive Social Security. Recipients would be limited to one payment, even if they qualified for more.

The White House put the cost of the payments at $13 billion. Obama didn't say how the payments should be financed, leaving that up to Congress. The president is open to borrowing the money, increasing the federal budget deficit, just like Congress did with the first round of stimulus payments.

Obama's proposal has picked up support from key members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "

Oh, and lest you think I'm liberal-bashing, some key Republicans are just as anxious to get this money out to their constituents as well.  I'm waiting for the first "It's ONLY $13 billion" comment.  We have become de-sensitized to how much of OUR money elected officials spend on office retention.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_bi_ge/us_social_security_cola

[RecycleMichael]

$250 is five times more than I usually get for selling my vote. Does he need a receipt?

[cannon_fodder]

Lisa Simpson:  Didn't you wonder why you were getting checks for no reason?

Grandpa Simpson:  I figured the Democrats were in power again.
<hr>

Pure giveaway to boost his sagging numbers with the over 65 crowd.  Nothing more too it.  Cash giveaways for no particular reason have become thing and I detest it.  "Non-earned" income tax credit.  GW stimulus checks.  Or Obamas $250 give away. 

Stupid.

[shadows]

CF: Seems you need to use a little local vision at the salaries and perks paid by you when public officials are able to set their own salaries and conditions.  A library director that can suspend ones self with pay of almost $175,000 dollars for a year and you are told it is comparable to what private industry pays.  You seem to belittle the working poor for being doled out a few pennies that the passage of the original sales taxes dedicated 50% of the tax for old age assistance.  A volunteer mayor who spends hundreds of thousand of your tax money for advise liken to the King's Court.  Oh well antiquity records centuries of such functions of self-government that no longer exist.  Even the sun sets now on the once mighty British Empire as the working poor rebelled.         

[Conan71]

CF: Seems you need to use a little local vision at the salaries and perks paid by you when public officials are able to set their own salaries and conditions.  A library director that can suspend ones self with pay of almost $175,000 dollars for a year and you are told it is comparable to what private industry pays.  You seem to belittle the working poor for being doled out a few pennies that the passage of the original sales taxes dedicated 50% of the tax for old age assistance.  A volunteer mayor who spends hundreds of thousand of your tax money for advise liken to the King's Court.  Oh well antiquity records centuries of such functions of self-government that no longer exist.  Even the sun sets now on the once mighty British Empire as the working poor rebelled.         

So, Shadows, will you deposit your $250 check when it comes?  Will it buy your vote in the next national elections?

[rwarn17588]

That seems like a little challenge to all those over-65 teabaggers: If you're truly that concerned about the deficit, then tear up the check when you get it.

[Townsend]

That seems like a little challenge to all those over-65 teabaggers: If you're truly that concerned about the deficit, then tear up the check when you get it.

Marge Simpson: Where did you get all the money?

Grandpa Simpson: The government. I didn't earn it. I don't need it. But, if they miss one payment I'm gonna raise hell!

[shadows]

That seems like a little challenge to all those over-65 teabaggers: If you're truly that concerned about the deficit, then tear up the check when you get it.

We  are in a generation change where hindsight is available but foresight is  obscured as it is hidden behind the dreams of youth.  Having seem the great depression and its effects, if I could revert our system of government as to the purpose it was established and stop our run-away inflation, the destruction of the check, assuming its passage, would be the height of my desire.

It seems that few people saw the article in the TW this past week showing over 50% of the parts used by our major industries are produced in foreign  countries and we cannot correlate such that as our unemployed increase we furnish off shore jobs to others.

I suppose if I get the promised check I'll spend it for wine as that seem to be the only thing that has grown more valuable as it ages.           

[rwarn17588]

We  are in a generation change where hindsight is available but foresight is  obscured as it is hidden behind the dreams of youth.  Having seem the great depression and its effects, if I could revert our system of government as to the purpose it was established and stop our run-away inflation, the destruction of the check, assuming its passage, would be the height of my desire.

It seems that few people saw the article in the TW this past week showing over 50% of the parts used by our major industries are produced in foreign  countries and we cannot correlate such that as our unemployed increase we furnish off shore jobs to others.

I suppose if I get the promised check I'll spend it for wine as that seem to be the only thing that has grown more valuable as it ages.           

Well, then, I guess that affirms that you're keeping the check. 

[shadows]

So, Shadows, will you deposit your $250 check when it comes?  Will it buy your vote in the next national elections?

I may deposit it in the bank if the banks are still open.  As you are aware the FDIC is now overextended.  The same clouds hang over the population that existed in the 30's.   The offshore banking is doing well exchanging the bargain dollars for euro's as it seems many golden parachutes' that are being converted is alarming the IRS.   

[rwarn17588]

I may deposit it in the bank if the banks are still open.  As you are aware the FDIC is now overextended.  The same clouds hang over the population that existed in the 30's.   

Yeah, except the FDIC didn't exist until well after the Great Depression started. Other than that, no difference. 

[shadows]

Yeah, except the FDIC didn't exist until well after the Great Depression started. Other than that, no difference. 

You are right.  The $50,000 dollar insurance cap equals $500,000 today  but  the  $250,000 cap on FDIC deposits money wise would be only ½  needed.   The meeting of the G7 which has expanded to G20 (nations closed  session ) didn't meet to discuss golf or vote buying.   Their concern is when we reach the checkout stand have we any stables to pay for the checkout.  They want something more stable than those pictures on the green notes.  They are stupid as we have already told them we are the richest nation on earth 

[Red Arrow]

If the donor countries stop supporting the US, just watch what happens to their economies if the US goes down.

[shadows]

If the donor countries stop supporting the US, just watch what happens to their economies if the US goes down.

That seems to be the problem as we have maxed out our credit cards, printing unsecured federal notes to compensate, and they are saying no more IOU's please.  It is like the employer who cannot pay the employees for the work they have done.  If we are buying green ink and paper off them and not able to pay for it, they got the same heap of trouble we have.

No one wants to believe that mobilization for WWll ended momentarily the great depression and our sixty years of continuing to start little wars has brought on another depression as all countries must go into debt to maintain wars.  The circle goes unbroken.