Bush Says Wants Ideas on Fixing Social Security (radio address)

[Rose Siding]

snip>
"I will work with members of Congress and listen to any good idea that does not include raising payroll taxes," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

"But we cannot pretend that the problem does not exist," he said, as he repeated his warning that Social Security was headed for bankruptcy.
...
Rather than offer proposals of his own to curtail Social Security's costs, Bush has listed ideas that have been raised in the past that he suggested could serve as a starting point for a discussion.

"In recent years, many people have offered suggestions, such as limiting benefits for wealthy retirees; indexing benefits to prices, instead of wages; increasing the retirement age; or changing the benefit formulas and creating disincentives for early collection of Social Security benefits," Bush said. "All these ideas are on the table."

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7609949&src=rss/ElectionCoverage

[SHRED]

2. Note to shrub:

Your "ideas" suck and so do you.

[Massachusetts]

14. Ditto!

[babylonsister]

3. After looting the SS fund, now he wants to fix it?

Too little, too late, asshat.

[cthrumatrix]

4. exactly....quit looting the Soc Sec surplus!

[Botany]

5. Idea to *

Do not touch it!
3 failed businesses
Texas surplus to deficit
U.S. govt. surplus to deficit
9/11
Iraq

Keep you hand off it shithead.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. ** likes other peoples' monies.

He likes to steal it that is. Why work hard and earn it himself when he can just steal it? It's the BFEE's way of financing their very high standard of living. And I agree with you, 'Keep your hands off it shithead.'

[davhill]

6. It's obvious

Collect FICA on all the jobs we have outsourced overseas.

[meti57b]

7. "how to fix SS" is a false argument. It's not broke.

http://www.thereisnocrisis.com/node/2469

[Mountainman]

9. Here you go bushieboy , reverse the tax cuts, pay back what was

borrowed, raise the cap to over 100,000, end the war and build up the trust fund.

Oh my! this wouldn't help out any of bush's contributors!

[nodictators]

10. Bush's scam will DESTROY Social Security, not "reform" it

The private accounts gambit will run up huge, run-away, unending, multi-trillion dollar debts. These debts could destroy both Social Security and the country economically, while Bush laughingly smirks.

It would be much safer and cheaper to DO NOTHING! Doing Nothing would also have lower benefit cuts for retirees than any of Bush's scams.

Thus, Bush's scams are morally and fiscally bankrupt.

BTW, I don't think that Doing Nothing is the best plan. The Social Security Trustees' report has "cooked" numbers that favor Bush's phony claims. For instance, they predict low rates of economic growth and high rates of return for stock market investment profits.

That's a huge contradiction, which shows their bias toward Bush.

Small tweaks, such as a small increase in the FICA tax, would almost certainly solve the problems with SS.

[Canuckistanian]

11. Right. Just like he wanted ideas before the Iraq invasion

Never in my life seen a man so burdened with blinders when he gets what he thinks is a good idea.

[LiberallyInclined]

12. how about a 2 to 5% FICA tax on capital gains?

after all, the program is called "SOCIAL" Security- in the end, it benefits everyone to have a stable societal structure.

[Wright Patman]

13. *: "I will work with

members of Congress and listen to any good idea that does not include raising payroll taxes."

Two-thirds of Americans favor what he has just taken off the table.

And what they favor is not even an increase in the payroll tax rate, but lifting the limitations so that all wages and salaries will be taxed instead of the current situation where only the first $90,000 is subject to FICA.

So * has once again taken the opportunity in his "Saturday morning confusion" to state to the people in yet another way, "Who cares what you think?"

[Mich Otter]

15. "Fixing SS?" Start by firing every Republican who supports Bush...

that means pretty much every damn one of them!

[jazzjunkysue]

25. Let's fix republicans so they can't have any little republicans

or steal my retirement.

[VegasWolf]

16. Easy! Repeal the tax rebates for the uber wealthy. Duh. n/t

[w4rma]

17. "Lockbox" + "eliminate payroll tax caps" = fixed (nt)

[havocmom]

18. Raise taxes on the rich, especially since most of their $$ comes from

the efforts of underpaid workers. Since the so much wealth is created via the route of exploiting cheap labor, that wealth needs to kick in to take care of the elders in need of help after a lifetime of work creating the wealth for the top.

[True_Blue]

19. Bush warns of harsh choices if Social Security plan not approved

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush warned Saturday that if Congress does not act now to overhaul Social Security, the choices ahead will be harsh and painful. He repeated his call to add private accounts to the system.

As he has in visits to eight states, Bush emphasized in his weekly radio address that the system will soon run short of money, with more going out to pay benefits than is collected in taxes.

"If we do not act now to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be dramatically higher taxes, massive new borrowing or sudden and severe cuts in Social Security benefits or other government programs," he said.

more....
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-02-12-bush-social-security_x.htm

[mommajo65]

just joined ...

because i enjoyed the bush bashing so much, it's good to vent especially when you're in the middle of red:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Welcome to DU!

The more the merrier!

[True_Blue]

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[mommajo65]

thanks

thanks:kick:

[Botany]

28. Welcome to the home of the ........

.... "EVIL LIBERAL BLOGGER"

:beer:

[DUgosh]

"sudden, severe cuts" = "shock and awe"

Me thinks that * should establish a color coded system to warn us older folks when we are in danger of having OUR benefits suddently and severely cut.

[rodeodance]

Fear is his primary strategy--Sadding many listen!

[Dancer]

Privatization of Social Security

In addition to the regular cash infusions by The Fed into the open market- delivered to what are called primary dealers (sometimes called the gang of 22), the additional infusions delivered via social security privatization deductions from paychecks could lift the stock market (which is especially vulnerable right now)and increase profits for a favored class. This would basically be a gift to this class, and, depending on accounting procedures, the day of reckoning would not come until actual retirements begin to kick in. Before they kick in, there will be a constant flow of fees to collect and the profits from churning and short term trading. There would be increased market volatility, which would enhance short term profits. Imagine attempting to coordinate such roller coaster market moves with retirement pay-out dates!

The Gang Of 22, whose proprietary trading desks and favored clients will reap the real rewards from privatization of social security:

ABN AMRO Bank, N.V., New York Branch
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Banc of America Securities LLC
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
Barclays Capital Inc.
Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc.
CIBC World Markets Corp.
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Daiwa Securities America Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
J. P. Morgan Securities, Inc.
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc.
Mizuho Securities USA Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Nomura Securities International, Inc.
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
UBS Warburg LLC.

[globalvillage]

Hey!

I already owe some of these guys money.
:cry:
They're not getting any more!

[cthrumatrix]

Think People - "harsh choices" WAS the plan the Whole Time !!!

All this crap of "private accounts" was a non-starter. You even had people within the rethug squad "openly disagreeing"...that does not happen (like Denny Hastert just did)

The plan is for a "larger tax increase" to "fix" Soc Sec - which is not broken....the govt needs CASH to fund the banrupt US.

Watch for a VAT Tax (Value Added Tax) or other --- this was the plan.

Was the Iraq war about WMD???? Thin about it.

[globalvillage]

How about

you quit stealing my money and using it for your own purposes, jackass? No where on my pay stub is there a deduction labeled "GWB's mistakes".

[catmandu57]

Are you threatening me?

Christ even cornholio could see through this bullshit. All this idiot has is fear and lies the public needs to be reminded daily of this.

[1monster]

Reminds me of baby brother Jebbie. When he didn't get his way over

the smaller class size amendment (ballot initiative), he told us what our harsh consequenses would be. He sold off the Florida State Library...

[Bryn]

Dear Bush, Please Keep Your Hands Out of SS Cookie Jar

Bush, you sound so desperate. That's what you get for getting into SS Cookie Jar way too often. Please grow up!

PAY BACK, BUSTER! Tax the Rich, too and stop giving them tax breaks and also STOP being so predatory to the poor/middle class people of America!

Angry Eagle

[Enraged_Ape]

Welcome to DU, Bryn!

:toast:

[pdurod1]

Seems like desparation and he's loosing traction

SS reform will fail, $700 Billion medicare reform will fail, people are starting to see the pattern.

[Purrfessor]

Massive new borrowing....ha ha

He needs massive new borrowing to fund this rip-off. Bush is a sick joke put into to office by the very people he plans to screw. There should be a term for this. GOP-Rape.

[cthrumatrix]

this was the PLAN to begin with

[Cocoa]

we don't want the choices to come

in the form of a mushroom cloud.

[mike_c]

lying pig bastard POS....

Glad I got that off my chest.

[ohkay]

LIAR!!

" with more going out to pay benefits than is collected in taxes. "

Stop using SS taxes for things OTHER than Social Security!!!

Why don't we try that for a little bit???? :mad: :mad:

[LynnTheDem]

There he goes again...LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE

LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE

LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE

LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE

LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE

LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE

LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE

Hey bush! YOUR OWN ACTUARY says your plan will MAKE SS WORSE! Or did he forget to tell YOU before he told the rest of us publicly???

[jazzjunkysue]

24. ROTFL!!!!

<snerk>

[VegasWolf]

Given the general stupidity of 50% of America, I wouldn't be surprised

if this tactic works well.

[No Exit]

TERRORIST!!!

This bastard is like a steamroller. So many (from all parts of the political spectrum) have voiced the strongest possible objections to his doings, and yet he continues on as though he were stone cold deaf!

It's like the rest of America wasn't even here! He considers this a nation of one. What in the HELL will it take to get this bastard out of power? Even an election didn't do it. Do we have to convene a shadow congress and draw up the articles of impeachment OURSELVES???

[gademocrat7]

harsh and painful??

How much more pain ans suffering can we take of shrub???? Impeach him now!!!!

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

I warn of HARSH BUSH is Social Security isn't approved-boo hoo

*warning- crying stomping kicking screaming babybee booshee if SS isn't approved and if baybee booshee can't rule the world :

Quote from secret White House recorder:
" but I wanna I wanna I wanna I wanna !!! "
" I wanna stop Social Security!!"
"my friends on wall Street will think I'm really neat!"


And I really really really really wanna rule the WORLD!!" "

"can I can I please daddy!"

"can we invade Iran?" "...please...please daddy can we?"

"Can you ask Dick if we can?"

"please daddy please...Can we?"

[wildflower]

Democratic response (Schumer):

(From Bush Says Wants Ideas on Retirement Overhaul at http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=493848 ):

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, delivering the Democratic response, called the private accounts a risky venture that will add trillions to the national debt.

"If the president wants our support and the support of the country, he should stop advocating change based on ideology," Schumer said.

"He should scrap his privatization proposal and start working in bipartisan way toward a common-sense solution," the New York Democrat added. "If he does that, Democrats in Congress will work with him, (and) he'll be able to pass a reform bill with big bipartisan majorities."

rest of article at http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=493848

[Protagoras]

Harsh Choice = Harsh treatment of anyone in need

and he's going to insure that happens regardless of any present day tinkering (undermining/destroying) of social security.

Anyone who can't see this obvious attempt into panicing people into throwing away their social security for corporate cronie profits almost (I say almost because we've allowed the education system in this country to dumb us down) deserves the pain and suffering Bush intends to inflict.

Nah, I just can't be that hard hearted. Only Bushco neocons deserve that...the rest just need lots of love, pity, and a brain.

[Old and In the Way]

Chickens coming home to roost.

He tried to steal the SS funds to hide his fiscal mess. That ain't working. There aren't enough domestic programs to impact the deficit he created.

It's tax time. So he gave the wealthiest Americans a huge benefit...now the rest of us will pay for it. Boy, did he fool the morons that think he's one of them.

Yeah, he's the kind of guy who'll have a beer with you, but heis also the kind of guy who'll steal your wallet when your not looking and leave you alone to face the consequences.

[jazzjunkysue]

26. and hit your car on the way out, the drunken freak loser son of a

war lord nazi supporter liar thief (somebody stop me)

[Mountainman]

20. Shut the fuck up you lying piece of shit!

He really means that he won't be able to keep his promice to the investment bankers and brokers that they will be able to make 9.4 million by churning the private accounts.

[flyarm]

hes in panic mode..pure panic!! i hate that lying $@#$$##@

what a fing liar...he is totally panicing..just like he did when he was afraid he wouldnt get his fing war of lies...this jerk always gets that panic going when he has the blastards who he owes breathing down his back!
this is like a gambler who owes the bookie..and knows his legs are going to be broken for overdue debt...they go into panic...well thats what * is doing ..he is in panic mode cause his legs are going to get broken!!

and we are the legs he is going to break to save his own!!

disgusted...how have americans gotten to damn stupid??

when do we take to the streets?? just when do we get mad enough??

fly

[SammyWinstonJack]

He's cried wolf so many times, who the hell believes anything he says?

:crazy:

[DemoTex]

22. Well said!

My sentiments exactly.

[Avalux]

21. FEARMONGER!!!!

harsh and painful....dramatically higher taxes.....massive new borrowing....sudden and severe cuts.....

F YOU DICKHEAD.

[cthrumatrix]

1. Nope -- He WANTS a massive tax increase.... this is a Rove "bait/switch"

[slor]

23. Is anyone really listening to that idiot...

anymore on this issue?

[bpilgrim]

46. i thought that was his solution?

""If we do not act now to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be dramatically higher taxes, massive new borrowing or sudden and severe cuts in Social Security benefits or other government programs," he said."

what the FUCK is numbnuts talking about :crazy:

peace

[Redstone]

27. Here's an idea, bushyboy...

Just. Shut. The. Fuck. Up.

Would you, please?

Thank you for listening.

Redstone

[Botany]

29. I don't think you ....

...... put a fine enough point on you argument.


LOL


:bounce:

[Redstone]

33. Dang,

I'll have to be more concise and direct next time.

I appreciate your comment; I didn't realize that I hadn't put it in words simple enough for Chimpyboy to understand.

Now I just have to figure out how to trim the words to less than one syllable each. Maybe if I read USA Today for a couple of days, I'll get the knack!

Redstone

[applegrove]

30. Dont try and flatter us - what are your assumptions ***HOLE!

What are the assumptions Mr. Bush makes about the American Economy that brings us to a date of 2042 for bankrupsy. And will the private accounts be mostly invested in World Stocks (because that is where the growth is).

Answer the questions ***hole!

[hippiechick]

31. We must reframe the argument:

He is working from the viewpoint that it IS irretrievably broken and must be completely discarded.

That is the first step the Thugs always take to their seemingly endless victories, because the Dems don't challenge them on their faulty basis for the argument, but instead they agree with the starting principle & offer differing means to the same end.

What if the Dems just start flat-out challenging the contentions that Bush is putting forth, ie - he's wrong from the get go ?

JMHO ~

[HysteryDiagnosis]

32. Shrub is funny.... funny like old bologna... I certainly hope he knows

that if he actually went after the terrorists rather than attack nations that didn't need to be, we would have almost 300 billion more than we had before.... if he had listened to the warnings prior to 911, the towers might still be standing... and our standing in the world might be worth a flip since we would not have had a convenient excuse to bomb the shit out of two sovereign nations, both former allies.

That'll teach 'em to do bidness with the GOP.

Yes, he is funny... funny in a sick sort of way.

[Rex]

34. "Wants advice" really means that their plans are in place to destroy

the system.

[Laurab]

35. Dear Shrub

Please, please, don't FIX ANYTHING ELSE. Go clear some brush, already.

[BrotherBuzz]

36. Without raising payroll taxes?

Hey idiot, how about raising the federal minimum wage? Problem sloved...

[kentuck]

37. I thought he already had all the ideas to fix it ????

Could it be that he sees this is a loser and and he's drawing his fingerprints back from the theft? Pretending he's looking for ideas from other people? yeah, sure!

[Binka]

38. Bush Is A Fucking Dork

It ain't broke buddy. Keep yer mits off.

[Disturbed]

40. Taxing the Rich...

won't work. Dumbass, Silverspoon Sociopath told his Cult.

"I'll give you one other thought. Let me just leave you with one other thought about taxing the rich. You know how that works. A lot of the rich are able to get accountants, so they don't -- they're able to dodge. You've seen it before. We're going to tax the rich, and then they figure out how not to get taxed. So guess who ends up paying? You do. And we're not going to let him do it to us. We're not going to let him wreck that economy by running up our taxes. " Dumbass

[slor]

39. Here is an idea...

Take your dumbass back to crawford and stay there.

[are_we_united_yet]

41. Oooh ooh I have one:

fire everbody in your cabinet and let DU pick the replacements.

[despairing optimist]

42. And appoint Jerry Springer as TV referee

I'd love to watch those Cabinet meetings!

[are_we_united_yet]

43. Jerry Jerry Jerry!

:)

[Blue_State_Elitist]

44. Here's an idea Bush

Kill Yourself

[zann725]

45. He's NEVER interested in other people's ideas. He debates with himself.

He's just saying he wants suggestions now, so that when he finally makes HIS decision...he'll spin it like it actually?? incorporated other people's input too.