First they came for social security and I said nothing because...

[roseBudd]

I am young and I fancy myself a savvy investor.

Then they came for Medicare and Medicaid and I had to pay $55,000 a year for my mother's nursing home after her assets were depleted.

I lost my kids college fund, house, my car, my 401K and ended up destitute.

[Coastie for Truth]

1. But if you were from Steve Forbes horsey set,

and were a legacy student at Choate or Exeter or Andover, and then a legacy student at Harvard or Yale or Princeton, and a legacy student at Harvard Business School, and had corporate directorships from daddy's friends, and ran with Prince Bandar, and never dealt with us working stiffs even well paid techies) - you wouldn't have to worry.

I am a PhD techie, formerly well paid, early retired, hustling "consultant jobs", colonoscopied on my pension and Medi-gap, lost $70K on my house. If it can happen to me ---it can happen to you.

I don't have a ranch in Crawford - or a cardiac surgery practice in Tennessee - or emergency rooms to close in California -- or an inherited business magazine. I am a working stiff - PhD level -but still a working stiff.

[bryant69]

2. There it is

I have a hard time talking to my friends about Social Security, cause they are mostly in college and don't think it applies to them.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Sad thing is, most people at college age

expect to be rich. SS doesn't matter, because it would be just a supplement to their enviable wealth.

And not just college kids. At 20 you have your whole life ahead to gather wealth, become a famous actor, or NASCAR driver, or basketball player, or own your own body shop, or this or that or the other.

They somehow don't realize that most will never make it.

Most will depend on SS in 50 years.

[sadiesworld]

3. This is THE issue for me.

While I would like to see Dean as DNC chair, and some filibustering of cabinet nominees would be nice, SS really is a litmus test for me.

We have the facts on our side, the sentiment of a majority of the population, and even some decent press.

If the dems do not stand united on this issue...

:evilfrown:

[gumby]

4. First they came for the Welfare Mothers.

The push against welfare was a lovely concoction of Republican greed and racism. It was obvious at the time that SS, Medicare and Medicaid would be next. Shame, shame, shame on Bill Clinton for signing that horrible bill.

However, without the racism, the destruction of SS may be a bit harder; but if you've noticed the Republicans are injecting race into the mix by explaining that black men get a bad deal from SS because they die too early. Sick.

[roseBudd]

5. There is a fundie in my office and believe me they do not approve of

Medicare and Medicaid either. It i spart of the dominionist plan.

FYI even a nice sized nest egg is gone within about 2 years after entering a nursing home. Should we euthanize the decrepit?

[gumby]

7. It's the very stupid notion that Big Government is replacing God.

And those godless Democrats want Government Programs so that the people will be dependent on the Democratic Party and then the people will worship the Democrats instead of God.

It's all very reasonable to the alternate-reality cults.

[roseBudd]

8. The fundie stated that he believes his granny will die at home...

without needing skilled nursing care.

[sarcasmo]

9. John Stewart had a great line, Die before you Retire.

It was a bit on one of Stewart's shows last week. Sad but scary/true statement. I don't want to think of having to choose cat food over medicine.