State of the Union Address

[AUFAN78 3,943]

15 hours ago, AU9377 said:

That points out that, with the exception of two items, his SOTU speech was mostly accurate, but delivered in a campaign like speech.  There is always context to anything. Did it upset you this much when George W Bush or DJT  gave their speeches?  I seriously doubt that it did.  You are upset because Fox & Friends encourages the angst.

You came in upset Joe looked, sounded, and acted weak and was judged appropriately. That upsets you. Let's keep it real. Typical fanboy stuff.

Edited February 9, 2023 by AUFAN78

[AUFAN78 3,943]

15 hours ago, AU9377 said:

https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/feb/08/fact-checking-sarah-huckabee-sanders-republican-re/

As usual, the other side of the aisle is more concerned with CRT and trans issues than anything that really impacts the lives of Americans.  Maybe they are too busy writing that healthcare plan they talked about for a decade and never produced.

How much time did Joe spend speaking to the issues most important the the majority of Americans? Inflation, the border, crime, and even China? So basically he skipped the important stuff yet you approve as long as he continues to spend needlessly? But then again you argue he's unfairly criticized? Just a ridiculously partisan take.  #fanboy

Edited February 9, 2023 by AUFAN78

[homersapien 11,527]

11 hours ago, Cardin Drake said:

 

You betcha!   It's going to take a lot of effort to right the 'ship of state' after Trump.

He damn near sank it.

[homersapien 11,527]

19 hours ago, wdefromtx said:

Lying, being disingenuous? I suppose, but I thought Biden was supposed to  be above all that.  

What did he "lie" about, specifically?

What was he "disingenuous" about specifically?

 

[homersapien 11,527]

16 hours ago, wdefromtx said:

And the minions will follow their cult leader. 

Says a MAGA...... 

[homersapien 11,527]

13 hours ago, jj3jordan said:

It never was our word to cut anything.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/09/fact-sheet-congressional-republicans-many-proposals-to-cut-social-security-and-medicare-and-increase-prescription-drug-prices-and-health-care-premiums/

FACT SHEET: Congressional Republicans’ Many Proposals to Cut Social Security and Medicare, and Increase Prescription Drug Prices and Health Care Premiums

Congressional Republicans’ long record of working to cut Medicare, Social Security:

• Senator Mike Lee said: “One thing that you probably haven’t ever heard from a politician: it will be my objective to phase out Social Security. To pull it up by the roots, and get rid of it.”
• In November, John Thune, the number two Senate Republican in leadership, declared that Social Security and Medicare benefits should be slashed.
• Florida Senator Rick Scott is championing a plan to put Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security on the chopping block every five years, which would put the health and economic security of 63 million Medicare beneficiaries, 69 million Medicaid beneficiaries and 65 million Social Security beneficiaries at risk. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin proposed sunsetting these laws every year.
• The Republican Study Committee – which includes a majority of House Republicans – released a formal budget that, according to Politico, included “raising the eligibility ages for each program, along with withholding payments for individuals who retire early or had a certain income, and privatized funding for Social Security to lower income taxes.”
• And in 2015, most House Republicans, including Speaker McCarthy, Rep. Scalise, and a host of others in current leadership, voted to raise the retirement age to 70, which would cut Social Security benefits for tens of millions of seniors who paid into the system for years.

Republican Members of Congress have proposed making health care and prescription drugs more expensive:

Last week, Republicans in the House proposed repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, including its health care provisions. And, just yesterday, Republicans on the House Budget Committee floated a proposal to repeal the health care provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. Here’s what that would mean for working families across the country and in Florida:

• A 62-year-old in Tampa earning $55,000 would see their premium increase by $7,000 per year.
• 14.5 million Americans nationwide will pay higher health insurance premiums and see a tax increase.
• Everyone with Medicare will see higher drug prices if Medicare cannot negotiate the price of drugs.
• Tens of billions of dollars will go right back to Big Pharma, which will increase the deficit.
• 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who use insulin will no longer have the peace of mind of knowing that their insulin is capped at $35.
• Millions of seniors will no longer be able to get recommended vaccines for free.
• Drug companies could go back to increasing drug prices faster than inflation with no accountability, which happened for 1,200 prescription drugs last year.

President Biden has called for protecting Medicare and Social Security, and lowering health care costs for working families:

In this week’s State of the Union, President Biden vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare and build on the progress we’ve made in lowering health care costs for millions of seniors and American families.

Through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act:

• Seniors are paying no more than $35 per month for an insulin prescription. If this law had been in effect in 2020, over 90,000 Floridians would have saved an average of $476.
• Seniors are able to get recommended vaccines for free, saving many seniors hundreds of dollars.
• Seniors’ out of pocket prescription drug costs will be capped at $2000 per year – benefitting over a million Medicare beneficiaries and cancer patients paying skyrocketing prices for prescription drugs each year.
• An estimated 14.5 million Americans are saving on health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act.  Over 3.2 million Floridians signed up for coverage this year.
• Drug companies will have to pay Medicare a rebate if they raise their prices faster than inflation. Today, the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing next steps for implementing this key provision of the President’s prescription drug law, which will lower drug costs for millions of Americans. 

And President Biden wants to build on this historic progress. In his State of the Union Address, the President has called on Congress to:

• Commit to taking cuts to Social Security and Medicare off the table.
• Expand the insulin cap in the Inflation Reduction Act, so all Americans can benefit from insulin being capped at $35 for a month’s supply.
• Make permanent the ACA tax credits that – thanks to President Biden’s prescription drug law –  are lowering health insurance premiums for an estimated 14.5 million people, and close the Medicaid coverage gap to benefit more than 1 million Floridians.

[homersapien 11,527]

1 hour ago, AUFAN78 said:

You came in upset Joe looked, sounded, and acted weak and was judged appropriately. That upsets you. Let's keep it real. Typical fanboy stuff.

   You see no irony in this, do you? 

And judging from your first sentence, you didn't even watch the address.

[homersapien 11,527]

1 hour ago, AUFAN78 said:

How much time did Joe spend speaking to the issues most important the the majority of Americans? Inflation, the border, crime, and even China? So basically he skipped the important stuff yet you approve as long as he continues to spend needlessly? But then again you argue he's unfairly criticized? Just a ridiculously partisan take.  #fanboy

A whole lot more time than Sarah Huckabee Sanders did.  

[AUFAN78 3,943]

1 minute ago, homersapien said:

   You see no irony in this, do you? 

And judging from your first sentence, you didn't even watch the address.

I see the truth. Why is that a problem for you homey?

[AUFAN78 3,943]

2 minutes ago, homersapien said:

A whole lot more time than Sarah Huckabee Sanders did.  

Last I checked she isn't the president.

[homersapien 11,527]

13 minutes ago, AUFAN78 said:

I see the truth. Why is that a problem for you homey?

Take a poll to discover that "truth"?  

[homersapien 11,527]

18 minutes ago, AUFAN78 said:

Last I checked she isn't the president.

No, she was chosen by Republicans to speak on the behalf of Republicans to present the Republican perspective on the "state of the union" and the Republican vision for the future.

Didn't see many details or policy proposals in her message.  Mostly whining about irrelevant culture war issues, which does summarize their ability to govern I suppose.

 

Edited February 9, 2023 by homersapien

[wdefromtx 3,159]

55 minutes ago, homersapien said:

Says a MAGA...... 

Except I did not vote for Trump in either election. 
 

But I forget, anyone that doesn’t tow the leftist line is a MAGA to you. 

[wdefromtx 3,159]

1 hour ago, homersapien said:

What did he "lie" about, specifically?

What was he "disingenuous" about specifically?

 

See my other post with provided link. 

[creed 1,670]

When it comes to Medicare it would be educational to know the real cost of Medicare paid care for the average retiree. Then compare that cost against the amount of fees paid into Medicare for the average person just to see if it is a solvent program.

Edited February 9, 2023 by creed

[jj3jordan 2,087]

7 hours ago, homersapien said:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/09/fact-sheet-congressional-republicans-many-proposals-to-cut-social-security-and-medicare-and-increase-prescription-drug-prices-and-health-care-premiums/

FACT SHEET: Congressional Republicans’ Many Proposals to Cut Social Security and Medicare, and Increase Prescription Drug Prices and Health Care Premiums

Congressional Republicans’ long record of working to cut Medicare, Social Security:

• Senator Mike Lee said: “One thing that you probably haven’t ever heard from a politician: it will be my objective to phase out Social Security. To pull it up by the roots, and get rid of it.”
• In November, John Thune, the number two Senate Republican in leadership, declared that Social Security and Medicare benefits should be slashed.
• Florida Senator Rick Scott is championing a plan to put Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security on the chopping block every five years, which would put the health and economic security of 63 million Medicare beneficiaries, 69 million Medicaid beneficiaries and 65 million Social Security beneficiaries at risk. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin proposed sunsetting these laws every year.
• The Republican Study Committee – which includes a majority of House Republicans – released a formal budget that, according to Politico, included “raising the eligibility ages for each program, along with withholding payments for individuals who retire early or had a certain income, and privatized funding for Social Security to lower income taxes.”
• And in 2015, most House Republicans, including Speaker McCarthy, Rep. Scalise, and a host of others in current leadership, voted to raise the retirement age to 70, which would cut Social Security benefits for tens of millions of seniors who paid into the system for years.

Republican Members of Congress have proposed making health care and prescription drugs more expensive:

Last week, Republicans in the House proposed repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, including its health care provisions. And, just yesterday, Republicans on the House Budget Committee floated a proposal to repeal the health care provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. Here’s what that would mean for working families across the country and in Florida:

• A 62-year-old in Tampa earning $55,000 would see their premium increase by $7,000 per year.
• 14.5 million Americans nationwide will pay higher health insurance premiums and see a tax increase.
• Everyone with Medicare will see higher drug prices if Medicare cannot negotiate the price of drugs.
• Tens of billions of dollars will go right back to Big Pharma, which will increase the deficit.
• 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who use insulin will no longer have the peace of mind of knowing that their insulin is capped at $35.
• Millions of seniors will no longer be able to get recommended vaccines for free.
• Drug companies could go back to increasing drug prices faster than inflation with no accountability, which happened for 1,200 prescription drugs last year.

President Biden has called for protecting Medicare and Social Security, and lowering health care costs for working families:

In this week’s State of the Union, President Biden vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare and build on the progress we’ve made in lowering health care costs for millions of seniors and American families.

Through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act:

• Seniors are paying no more than $35 per month for an insulin prescription. If this law had been in effect in 2020, over 90,000 Floridians would have saved an average of $476.
• Seniors are able to get recommended vaccines for free, saving many seniors hundreds of dollars.
• Seniors’ out of pocket prescription drug costs will be capped at $2000 per year – benefitting over a million Medicare beneficiaries and cancer patients paying skyrocketing prices for prescription drugs each year.
• An estimated 14.5 million Americans are saving on health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act.  Over 3.2 million Floridians signed up for coverage this year.
• Drug companies will have to pay Medicare a rebate if they raise their prices faster than inflation. Today, the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing next steps for implementing this key provision of the President’s prescription drug law, which will lower drug costs for millions of Americans. 

And President Biden wants to build on this historic progress. In his State of the Union Address, the President has called on Congress to:

• Commit to taking cuts to Social Security and Medicare off the table.
• Expand the insulin cap in the Inflation Reduction Act, so all Americans can benefit from insulin being capped at $35 for a month’s supply.
• Make permanent the ACA tax credits that – thanks to President Biden’s prescription drug law –  are lowering health insurance premiums for an estimated 14.5 million people, and close the Medicaid coverage gap to benefit more than 1 million Floridians.

Quoting the White House fact sheet.  Solid. Homer, Do you really think that republicans would cut all that stuff and lose all their voters? One proposal I like is privatizing part of ss. If you start that program it will outproduce current insolvent models. So yeah that possibly could be where democrats are saying we are cutting or abolishing it. Would not expect any truth out of Biden and from your “fact” sheet it is obvious.

[icanthearyou 4,464]

Hard to believe some of the Republicans are against Medicare being able to negotiate drug pricing.

[arein0 984]

3 hours ago, jj3jordan said:

Quoting the White House fact sheet.  Solid. Homer, Do you really think that republicans would cut all that stuff and lose all their voters? One proposal I like is privatizing part of ss. If you start that program it will outproduce current insolvent models. So yeah that possibly could be where democrats are saying we are cutting or abolishing it. Would not expect any truth out of Biden and from your “fact” sheet it is obvious.

The privatization of ss sounds interesting, but I have some questions before I think it's a good idea.

1. Would this be tax deductible and grow tax free? How would this differ from an IRA or 401k? Would you be able to manage your own vs being forced into a private company and pay a fee for the same results?

2. If you are able to opt out, wouldn't this further the issue of families unable to afford retirement? I could easily see people opting out and spending it all on random stuff.

3. What happens if the private company goes bankrupt? Would this be essentially a bank with the same regulations? 

4. I could see the starting return rates in the 9-10 range and as the smaller companies start to get bought up by the bigger ones, the rates start falling to 7-8 then 5-6. Would there be some sort of government regulation to limit the amount of fees the private company can take in? 

[jj3jordan 2,087]

9 hours ago, arein0 said:

The privatization of ss sounds interesting, but I have some questions before I think it's a good idea.

1. Would this be tax deductible and grow tax free? How would this differ from an IRA or 401k? Would you be able to manage your own vs being forced into a private company and pay a fee for the same results?

2. If you are able to opt out, wouldn't this further the issue of families unable to afford retirement? I could easily see people opting out and spending it all on random stuff.

3. What happens if the private company goes bankrupt? Would this be essentially a bank with the same regulations? 

4. I could see the starting return rates in the 9-10 range and as the smaller companies start to get bought up by the bigger ones, the rates start falling to 7-8 then 5-6. Would there be some sort of government regulation to limit the amount of fees the private company can take in? 

All good questions. I’m not a banker but I bet they could all be answered satisfactorily. Opt out would be a big issue as your assessment of human nature is spot on. Maybe CD type vehicles with guaranteed rates would be an answer. The big gains would be great if the timing is good. Right now it’s just paying in and the govt using your money for other stuff with a promise to repay you a random amount determined by then about which you have no say. 

[arein0 984]

2 hours ago, jj3jordan said:

All good questions. I’m not a banker but I bet they could all be answered satisfactorily. Opt out would be a big issue as your assessment of human nature is spot on. Maybe CD type vehicles with guaranteed rates would be an answer. The big gains would be great if the timing is good. Right now it’s just paying in and the govt using your money for other stuff with a promise to repay you a random amount determined by then about which you have no say. 

I guess the bigger question would be, why put so much effort into disbanding, putting new regulations in place, etc to privatize ss vs just reforming the current ss system to make it sustainable / better. 

[I_M4_AU 8,071]

8 minutes ago, arein0 said:

I guess the bigger question would be, why put so much effort into disbanding, putting new regulations in place, etc to privatize ss vs just reforming the current ss system to make it sustainable / better. 

Wouldn’t either be a lot of effort especially if it’s going insolvent now?

[arein0 984]

17 minutes ago, I_M4_AU said:

Wouldn’t either be a lot of effort especially if it’s going insolvent now?

I don't think reforming would be that much effort. I think the effort would be more political than actually making the change. They are already doing the hard part, getting and distributing the money. All they have to fix is what to do with it. They should be investing it in some form of way to keep it self sustaining. From the articles I've read on other nations that have a privatized system, they are getting ~9% on what they contributed. From my knowledge that the market on average increases by 10%, I can safely assume that all the private ss companies are doing is taking your income, investing in the general market and taking 1% for salaries and profit. Why can the government not do something similar but use the profits to fund other projects or pay down previous debt?

[I_M4_AU 8,071]

9 minutes ago, arein0 said:

I don't think reforming would be that much effort. I think the effort would be more political than actually making the change. They are already doing the hard part, getting and distributing the money. All they have to fix is what to do with it. They should be investing it in some form of way to keep it self sustaining. From the articles I've read on other nations that have a privatized system, they are getting ~9% on what they contributed. From my knowledge that the market on average increases by 10%, I can safely assume that all the private ss companies are doing is taking your income, investing in the general market and taking 1% for salaries and profit. Why can the government not do something similar but use the profits to fund other projects or pay down previous debt?

If *they* are getting and distributing the money then why will it become insoluble in 2035?  Something is not right and the government hasn’t figured out why or they would have done something by now.  

Here is an interesting article by Brookings about privatization:

https://www.brookings.edu/research/privatizing-social-security-the-troubling-trade-offs/

Interestingly enough this article is from 1997.  Talked about, but nothing done.  The government isn’t the one to come up with something innovative, the private sector is.

To the bold part:  do you expect any private company to do the work for free?  I know you believe the government can do the same without the middle man, but all the government will do is invest in government securities that have a fixed return as they are doing now.  By the way, securities help finance other governmental boondoggles.

To make it work the government will have to pour money into SS to make the present liabilities whole and then rely on workers to increase their contributions to SS going forward.  That would cost a ton of money and probably not feasible, but is a way to *fix* it.

 

[homersapien 11,527]

17 hours ago, jj3jordan said:

Quoting the White House fact sheet.  Solid. Homer, Do you really think that republicans would cut all that stuff and lose all their voters?

You need to tell that to the Republicans who made the suggestion, not me.

[icanthearyou 4,464]

Social Security is not insolvent.  The federal government owes the trust fund nearly $3 trillion. 

As long as we subsidize the capital class, we cannot meet our obligations to society.