Prices are dropping; inflation is going down

[League Champion 1,593]

12 minutes ago, seafoam1 said:

If we have a little less slavery here than in Africa, then we are doing great. 

We may be broke but at least Kids can get their genitals mutilated. PRIORITIES! 

[seafoam1 1,932]

1 minute ago, League Champion said:

We may be broke but at least Kids can get their genitals mutilated. PRIORITIES! 

Priorities is right. Cut off their balls. That should make this country a stronger place damnit.

[League Champion 1,593]

3 minutes ago, seafoam1 said:

Priorities is right. Cut off their balls. That should make this country a stronger place damnit.

No comment from Biden. His administration favors it. Why? Because it's the Party of Pedophiles. 

[League Champion 1,593]

 

[Cdub100 3,474]

Talked to a buddy who voted for Biden. He thinks everything is better. I asked him what's better and he said didn't want to talk politics

[League Champion 1,593]

Just now, Cdub100 said:

Talked to a buddy who voted for Biden. He thinks everything is better. I asked him what's better and he said didn't want to talk politics

More people are back at work. Whoopdie F'ing Do. And they still can't afford to feed their family, housing, fuel, insurances, etc. 

NOTHING IS BETTER 

[Cdub100 3,474]

3 minutes ago, League Champion said:

More people are back at work. Whoopdie F'ing Do. And they still can't afford to feed their family, housing, fuel, insurances, etc. 

NOTHING IS BETTER 

The TV tells them it's better that's all that matters.

[seafoam1 1,932]

2 minutes ago, Cdub100 said:

The TV tells them it's better that's all that matters.

And liberal hate mongers parrot it ad nauseum. 

[RLLD 3,588]

What bothers me about all of this is that the WH is either actively aware of the harm they have caused, and is lying liberally to hold on to power.....to then harm MORE people.....OR..... they are so inept that they cannot actually read economic messages. 

[Ultra Max Power 214]

Social Security COLA is only estimated to go up 3% this year.  It was 8.7% last year to combat inflation.  

The government and economists have ways to tame the inflation number that don't represent the true impact to middle class Americans.  

A recent examination of the numbers show the true costs to Americans to just stay home and rarely their homes is a 13% increase (Food, shelter and Energy) over the last year.  It jumps to 26% when medical is added into the equation. 

So now we're basically telling the elderly who survive on SS payments that they need to figure out how to make due with a 10% buying power reduction.  How can anyone support this?  

[Ultra Max Power 214]

Poor Americans Tap Debt, Buy Less Food as Consumer Cracks Widen - Bloomberg

• Share of SNAP users who skipped meals, ate less doubled in Aug
• 67% carrying debt in poll of households on food benefits
• An increasing share of low-income Americans are behind on rent and struggling to afford food, adding to signs of growing financial distress in the economy.
• Among households using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s boosted pandemic benefits, 42% skipped meals in August and 55% ate less because they couldn’t afford food.
• The data also highlight that households were worse off in August from just a month ago. Since July, an increasing share of low-income households had utilities shut off, couldn’t afford the prior month’s utility bill or couldn’t afford rent.
• The US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey showed that more than one-third of respondents in August found it very or somewhat difficult to afford the basics, an increase from the July reading. Overall consumer sentiment declined to a three-month low in August 

[The Real timschochet 3,331]

On 8/21/2023 at 3:28 PM, Ultra Max Power said:

Social Security COLA is only estimated to go up 3% this year.  It was 8.7% last year to combat inflation.  

The government and economists have ways to tame the inflation number that don't represent the true impact to middle class Americans.  

A recent examination of the numbers show the true costs to Americans to just stay home and rarely their homes is a 13% increase (Food, shelter and Energy) over the last year.  It jumps to 26% when medical is added into the equation. 

So now we're basically telling the elderly who survive on SS payments that they need to figure out how to make do with a 10% buying power reduction.  How can anyone support this?  

I would support increasing SS increases to a proper level. Would you? So far as I know most Republicans oppose such proposals because they would add to the deficit. 

[Ultra Max Power 214]

2 minutes ago, The Real timschochet said:

I would support increasing SS increases to a proper level. Would you? So far as I know most Republicans oppose such proposals because they would add to the deficit. 

Absolutely.  Social security isn't keeping pace with inflation and it really fails to keep pace with the areas where seniors spend most of their money (medical, shelter, food, energy).  Those are vulnerable people who need the assistance. The proposed increases need to be smart, and the whole program needs to be remodeled. 

[seafoam1 1,932]

5 hours ago, Ultra Max Power said:

Absolutely.  Social security isn't keeping pace with inflation and it really fails to keep pace with the areas where seniors spend most of their money (medical, shelter, food, energy).  Those are vulnerable people who need the assistance. The proposed increases need to be smart, and the whole program needs to be remodeled. 

How about if we stop sending hundreds of billions of dollars and equipment to support a European war that even many nearby European countries aren't spending on?

[RLLD 3,588]

7 hours ago, The Real timschochet said:

I would support increasing SS increases to a proper level. Would you? So far as I know most Republicans oppose such proposals because they would add to the deficit. 

I am actually supportive of the social security solution, which is rather contradictory to my position on the dillution of government, notably where socialist policies are in play.

Increasing the amount given seems to be a suitable approach, and perhaps should be commensurate with "normal" inflation.  But what we have right now should be temporary. Despite the many issues I have with the Fed I will acquiesce that they have done a good job fighting inflation. They are fighting a pitched battle against some extravagantly bad policies that are just ruinous for the lower classes.

The people at the bottom appear to have had their fill of it as well, if recent polling is to be believed....and perhaps we should not trust the polling....

[Hardcore troubadour 13,033]

7 hours ago, The Real timschochet said:

I would support increasing SS increases to a proper level. Would you? So far as I know most Republicans oppose such proposals because they would add to the deficit. 

 

7 hours ago, The Real timschochet said:

I would support increasing SS increases to a proper level. Would you? So far as I know most Republicans oppose such proposals because they would add to the deficit. 

So much ignorance. COLA increases are based on a formula. You think the 8 pct increase last year was voted on? 

[Dizkneelande 859]

SS should be means tested. If you have a massive retirement account you forfeit your payments. Also, cap should be lifted over 400k. A younger self would have liked an opt out but now I want monthly stipend after 35 years of deductions. 

[Dizkneelande 859]

These people are evil. I don’t know how they wake up every morning and not be ashamed of themselves. 

https://x.com/tomselliott/status/1696619643257954504?s=46&t=Fib7p2nPeGXuJiuDfFsfmA

[thegeneral 1,594]

32 minutes ago, Dizkneelande said:

SS should be means tested. If you have a massive retirement account you forfeit your payments. Also, cap should be lifted over 400k. A younger self would have liked an opt out but now I want monthly stipend after 35 years of deductions. 

I’d be curious who is for this in here and by our lawmakers.

[RLLD 3,588]

51 minutes ago, Dizkneelande said:

SS should be means tested. If you have a massive retirement account you forfeit your payments. Also, cap should be lifted over 400k. A younger self would have liked an opt out but now I want monthly stipend after 35 years of deductions. 

But those people participated in funding it, so I presume they should expect to be able to draw on it.

I get your point, I see the logic in it, but I am not sure it is plausible in practice.  The people who succeed, by and large, earn that success.  America is a true meritocracy and when you do well you get to have more, plain and simple.  We should not penalize people who made good choices in life to pay those who made bad ones. 

[The Real timschochet 3,331]

I think many of the suggestions here, particularly increasing the COLA rates and having some kind of means testing, makes a lot of sense and if presented correctly would be supported by the vast majority of Americans. Unfortunately neither party ever seems willing to address this issue, 

[Dizkneelande 859]

1 hour ago, RLLD said:

But those people participated in funding it, so I presume they should expect to be able to draw on it.

I get your point, I see the logic in it, but I am not sure it is plausible in practice.  The people who succeed, by and large, earn that success.  America is a true meritocracy and when you do well you get to have more, plain and simple.  We should not penalize people who made good choices in life to pay those who made bad ones. 

The people affected by means testing SSI specifically boomers benefited from a time where this country saw the greatest level of economic prosperity that no other generation will ever experience. They are also about to transfer 53 trillion to their children over the next decade. Cry me a river. 

[KSB2424 3,088]

On 8/3/2023 at 7:28 PM, GutterBoy said:

I believe Gingrich and Clinton were the last ones to care.

Ron and Rand Paul cared; but they were squashed by the political “machine”.

[KSB2424 3,088]

9 minutes ago, Dizkneelande said:

The people affected by means testing SSI specifically boomers benefited from a time where this country saw the greatest level of economic prosperity that no other generation will ever experience. They are also about to transfer 53 trillion to their children over the next decade. Cry me a river. 

I don’t think he’s crying a river, it’s just that means testing is one more form of wealth redistribution. It may be the best solution, but some of us immediately have a gag reflex to large government wealth distribution plans.  They normally only snowball.  

[Horseman 1,593]

3 hours ago, Dizkneelande said:

SS should be means tested. If you have a massive retirement account you forfeit your payments.

 

2 hours ago, thegeneral said:

I’d be curious who is for this in here and by our lawmakers.

Fok that. SS is my retirement play money. 

[Horseman 1,593]

2 hours ago, RLLD said:

But those people participated in funding it, so I presume they should expect to be able to draw on it.

I get your point, I see the logic in it, but I am not sure it is plausible in practice.  The people who succeed, by and large, earn that success.  America is a true meritocracy and when you do well you get to have more, plain and simple.  We should not penalize people who made good choices in life to pay those who made bad ones. 

[Dizkneelande 859]

11 minutes ago, KSB2424 said:

I don’t think he’s crying a river, it’s just that means testing is one more form of wealth redistribution. It may be the best solution, but some of us immediately have a gag reflex to large government wealth distribution plans.  They normally only snowball.  

How do else would you support the system without impacting the most vulnerable and trapping them into an endless work cycle until they are 75? It’s not distributing wealth if they haven’t received it yet. So yes cry me a River about fairness. 

[RLLD 3,588]

The big problem we face, and we face it rather soon, is that the Biden spending plan is exclusively beneficial to large corporations, while it ignores the small business owners....and they make up a rather large component of jobs and taxes...... Biden is just killing these folks....bridge loans are so expensive right now, his recklessness is going to show in a rather palpable way as small businesses start to fold

[Horseman 1,593]

$5.20 gas.    Inflation isn't going down any time soon around here, if ever.  

[avoiding injuries 1,238]

1 hour ago, Dizkneelande said:

How do else would you support the system without impacting the most vulnerable and trapping them into an endless work cycle until they are 75? It’s not distributing wealth if they haven’t received it yet. So yes cry me a River about fairness. 

People should have planned better. I was forced to pay in, give me my money. 
 

Cry ME a river  

[seafoam1 1,932]

21 minutes ago, avoiding injuries said:

People should have planned better. I was forced to pay in, give me my money. 
 

Cry ME a river  

 No two ways about it. 

[Dizkneelande 859]

49 minutes ago, avoiding injuries said:

People should have planned better. I was forced to pay in, give me my money. 
 

Cry ME a river  

We are forced to pay into a lot of programs we don’t benefit from. At what level of wealth would you feel differently about the concept; 10 million, 25 million, 100 million? 

[seafoam1 1,932]

31 minutes ago, Dizkneelande said:

We are forced to pay into a lot of programs we don’t benefit from. At what level of wealth would you feel differently about the concept; 10 million, 25 million, 100 million? 

Who cares? Take it from us, send it to Ukraine. Because PUTIN!!!! 

[KSB2424 3,088]

40 minutes ago, Dizkneelande said:

We are forced to pay into a lot of programs we don’t benefit from. At what level of wealth would you feel differently about the concept; 10 million, 25 million, 100 million? 

SS has a max pay in and payout.  I’m also fairly certain SS payouts are based on a sliding scale that benefits low wage earners.  Sort of like a progressive tax code. 

For example:  person A averages 50k over their lifetime, they will be paid out 130% of their contribution.  That is because the person B who averaged over the max, let’s say 300k a year is only due 70% of what he/she contributed to the fund.  

I may be wrong but fairly certain it’s scaled that way already. 

[Dizkneelande 859]

3 minutes ago, seafoam1 said:

Who cares? Take it from us, send it to Ukraine. Because PUTIN!!!! 

I’m not talking about you I’m talking about not forcing people to work until lunch on the day of their funeral so Jeff Bezos can receive his 3k per month SSI distribution.

[Dizkneelande 859]

Just now, KSB2424 said:

SS has a max pay in and payout.  I’m also fairly certain SS payouts are based on a sliding scale that benefits low wage earners.  Sort of like a progressive tax code. 

Ok what does that have to do with means testing multi millionaires? 

[Strike 4,133]

36 minutes ago, Dizkneelande said:

We are forced to pay into a lot of programs we don’t benefit from. At what level of wealth would you feel differently about the concept; 10 million, 25 million, 100 million? 

If you want to talk about specific programs, let's go for it.  But that's no excuse for STEALING money we were all promised throughout out lives.  Because that's what it is when someone tells you "give me $500/month for 30 years.  And then 30 years roll by and they say "PSYCHE!!!  Fock you.  We're keeping the money we promised you." 

[Strike 4,133]

1 minute ago, Dizkneelande said:

Ok what does that have to do with means testing multi millionaires? 

So what?  Maybe those "multi millionaires" want to have an extravagant lifestyle once they retire and did their financial planning based on having additional income via SS.  They worked their whole life with that goal in mind but hey, fock em.  I'll pass. 

[Horseman 1,593]

39 minutes ago, Dizkneelande said:

We are forced to pay into a lot of programs we don’t benefit from. At what level of wealth would you feel differently about the concept; 10 million, 25 million, 100 million? 

None.  If I decide to give my money to the poors then I will decide, not the government.  

[Dizkneelande 859]

9 minutes ago, Strike said:

If you want to talk about specific programs, let's go for it.  But that's no excuse for STEALING money we were all promised throughout out lives.  Because that's what it is when someone tells you "give me $500/month for 30 years.  And then 30 years roll by and they say "PSYCHE!!!  Fock you.  We're keeping the money we promised you." 

My mother worked her whole life and died at 63. What benefit did she receive from paying into the system?