The GOP Wants to Cut Social Security and Medicare

[Frank Underwood]

Trump campaigned on the promise of protecting Social Security and Medicare. But like the wall and his promise to "drain the swamp," that could turn out to be a load of crap.

Bernie Sanders had this to say about Trump's secretary of health and human services pick:

"During the campaign, Mr. Trump said time and time again that he would not cut Medicare. And yet his pick for secretary of health and human services, Tom Price, proposed the deepest cuts to Medicare in the past decade of House budgets. Trump must keep his word. This is a life and death issue for millions of people."

Late Thursday, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Social Security subcommittee, introduced a bill to cut Social Security. On that issue, Bernie Sanders said this:

"Republicans want to cut Social Security. At a time when millions of seniors, disabled vets and people with disabilities are unable to get by on $11,000 or less in Social Security checks, our job is to expand Social Security, not cut it. Mr. Trump, you promised to be different from Republicans and protect Social Security. Either reject this plan or tell America's seniors and workers you were lying."

I'm glad to see Sanders is holding Trump's feet to the fire. However, it makes me all the more disappointed that he won't be our next president. Bernie genuinely gets the issues of the American people like few politicians do.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the rest of the Democratic establishment can all hang as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

 

[McGarrett]

His picks aside.. They mean nothing as Trump has the final word...

You said you would guve him a chance but are uninspired by his choices... For all you know they evolved to play by his rules.. Social Security is a priority.. But but sure why it is fair to have some fund others.. I have paid mine..

We have too many people not contributing that are collecting.. An insane number of combat vets want it which is hard to argue.. But over the last decade people get it for being bipolar.. Which to me is absurd..

This to me is a very interesting topic.. And a heavy influence on my vote.. Regular working people are going to depend on it to supplement their 401ks and pensions.. If he is truly for the working class it will be saved..,

 

[Frank Underwood]

His picks aside.. They mean nothing as Trump has the final word...

You said you would guve him a chance but are uninspired by his choices... For all you know they evolved to play by his rules.. Social Security is a priority.. But but sure why it is fair to have some fund others.. I have paid mine..

We have too many people not contributing that are collecting.. An insane number of combat vets want it which is hard to argue.. But over the last decade people get it for being bipolar.. Which to me is absurd..

This to me is a very interesting topic.. And a heavy influence on my vote.. Regular working people are going to depend on it to supplement their 401ks and pensions.. If he is truly for the working class it will be saved..,

I won't pass judgement until I see how it all unfolds, but I will remain cautiously skeptical in the mean time. I certainly hope he opposes his fellow Republicans who want to cut these vital programs.

One of the things you're talking about is SSI, which provides cash and Medicaid to disabled people who didn't earn enough for Social Security disability. It is my understanding that the guidelines to qualify for SSI have become much more strict in the last few years. I understand why people are frustrated over funding people that didn't pay into the system, but the onset and severity of the disability are factors to consider as well.

Reforming the system is fine, so long as it doesn't hurt seniors, vets, the disabled, or anybody else in legitimate need of it.

 

[SueEllenRules!]

To the 45% of seniors who voted for Hillary Clinton: My sincere condolences.

To the 53% of seniors dumb enough to vote for Trump: Enjoy. I just hope you suffer as badly as the 45% you dragged into hell with you.

 

[Frank Underwood]

To the 45% of seniors who voted for Hillary Clinton: My sincere condolences.

To the 53% of seniors dumb enough to vote for Trump: Enjoy. I just hope you suffer as badly as the 45% you dragged into hell with you.

In their defense, Trump promised not to cut Social Security and Medicare. What matters now is whether or not he uses the veto on any bill calling for cuts.

I voted for Obama because he said he would end the wars and NSA surveillance, and would include the public option. Was I dumb for voting for him, or did I just get duped by a well spoken liar?

 

[SueEllenRules!]

In their defense, Trump promised not to cut Social Security and Medicare.

And they believed him? I suppose they still believe in Santa Claus, too. Either way, a vote for Trump under any circumstance is nothing short of colossal idiocy.

What matters now is whether or not he uses the veto on any bill calling for cuts.

It all depends on whether or not there's anything in it for him.

I voted for Obama because he said he would end the wars and NSA surveillance, and would include the public option. Was I dumb for voting for him, or did I just get duped by a well spoken liar?

Trump, on the other hand, is indeed a liar and a lot of other things, but well spoken isn't one of them. A xenophobe? Clearly. A racist? Obviously. A misogynist? Undoubtedly. And, most importantly, a joke? Inarguably. That made 4 excellent reasons to reject him outright if saving the republic wasn't compelling enough. They can't claim Trump duped them because he campaigned on those exact tenets every day for a year and a half. It's probably why they voted for him. And now it's come back to bite them on the ass.

 

[Frank Underwood]

And they believed him? I suppose they still believe in Santa Claus, too. Either way, a vote for Trump under any circumstance is nothing short of colossal idiocy.

Not campaigning hard enough on those issues is also idiocy, especially if you're a Democrat.

It all depends on whether or not there's anything in it for him.

I don't like Trump, but if he upholds the campaign promises I agree with, I'll give him credit regardless of his reasons. Now we'll just have to wait and see if he does.

Trump, on the other hand, is indeed a liar and a lot of other things, but well spoken isn't one of them. A xenophobe? Clearly. A racist? Obviously. A misogynist? Undoubtedly. And, most importantly, a joke? Inarguably. That made 4 excellent reasons to reject him outright if saving the republic wasn't compelling enough. They can't claim Trump duped them because he campaigned on those exact tenets every day for a year and a half. It's probably why they voted for him. And now it's come back to bite them on the ass.

Trump may not be well spoken like Obama, but he knew where Hillary's weaknesses were and used them to his advantage. He campaigned in the rust belt, he bashed the TPP, and he said he would not cut Social Security and Medicare. Meanwhile, his opponent referred to the 2010 Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan as "the right framework," which would have raised the Medicare and Social Security eligibility ages, and would have cut the growth of future benefits. If Trump goes along with Republicans plan to cut these programs, the people who voted for him based on his promise will have been duped. Everything else he campaigned on is irrelevant.

Your criticisms of Trump are certainly true, but sometimes people look past a candidates flaws if they believe their promises to help them.

Many Hillary voters were pragmatists as well. I'm not trying to equate the two, but many of the policies Hillary supported in the past are far from pleasant.

 

[SueEllenRules!]

Not campaigning hard enough on those issues is also idiocy, especially if you're a Democrat.

Not nearly as idiotic as voting against your own interests.

I don't like Trump, but if he upholds the campaign promises I agree with, I'll give him credit regardless of his reasons. Now we'll just have to wait and see if he does.

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

Trump may not be well spoken like Obama, but he knew where Hillary's weaknesses were and used them to his advantage.

Yes, and thanks to 77,744 nimrods in 3 states, the votes of 65,844,954 people don't count for anything. Blame Hillary...blame Trump...I blame the fact that you just can't fix stupid.

If Trump goes along with Republicans plan to cut these programs, the people who voted for him based on his promise will have been duped. Everything else he campaigned on is irrelevant.

Including, apparently, "build the wall," "ban all Muslims," and "lock her up."

Your criticisms of Trump are certainly true, but sometimes people look past a candidates flaws if they believe their promises to help them.

I'll bet the Germans said the same thing in 1933.

Many Hillary voters were pragmatists as well. I'm not trying to equate the two, but many of the policies Hillary supported in the past are far from pleasant.

Trump makes Hillary look like Mary Poppins.

 

[Frank Underwood]

Not nearly as idiotic as voting against your own interests.

Being against TPP, and promising not to cut Social Security and Medicare is in the best interests of a lot of people. Why are the voters to blame if Trump doesn't follow through with his promises?

I didn't vote for more war, more surveillance, and tax cuts for the wealthy when I voted for Obama, but that's what I got.

Yes, and thanks to 77,744 nimrods in 3 states, the votes of 65,844,954 people don't count for anything. Blame Hillary...blame Trump...I blame the fact that you just can't fix stupid.

If blue collar workers were hurt by NAFTA and hear the Democratic candidate refer to the TPP as "the gold standard," why are they stupid for choosing the candidate who came out against those trade deals?

Including, apparently, "build the wall," "ban all Muslims," and "lock her up."

In contrast, there's "Super predators — no conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but first, we have to bring them to heel," "we came, we saw, he died," and "I do not think we should have pushed for an election in the Palestinian territories. I think that was a big mistake. And if we were going to push for an election, then we should have made sure that we did something to determine who was going to win.”

I'll bet the Germans said the same thing in 1933.

Life under Trump may not be great, but I don't think he'll be sending people to the gas chamber.

Trump makes Hillary look like Mary Poppins.

His vile public persona does, yes.

 

[SueEllenRules!]

Being against TPP, and promising not to cut Social Security and Medicare is in the best interests of a lot of people. Why are the voters to blame if Trump doesn't follow through with his promises?

The same reason they're to blame for buying something from any other snake oil salesman.

I didn't vote for more war, more surveillance, and tax cuts for the wealthy when I voted for Obama, but that's what I got.

Are there any shades of gray in your world?

If blue collar workers were hurt by NAFTA and hear the Democratic candidate refer to the TPP as "the gold standard," why are they stupid for choosing the candidate who came out against those trade deals?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe because he's a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic joke?

In contrast, there's "Super predators — no conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but first, we have to bring them to heel," "we came, we saw, he died," and "I do not think we should have pushed for an election in the Palestinian territories. I think that was a big mistake. And if we were going to push for an election, then we should have made sure that we did something to determine who was going to win.”

Somehow, I don't remember Hillary campaigning on any of that, but whatever. You're obviously determined to despise the woman and it's pointless for anyone to even attempt reasoning with you on that. If only your contempt for Trump were half as intense.

Life under Trump may not be great, but I don't think he'll be sending people to the gas chamber.

Yes, we may get lucky and he'll only destroy the republic.

His vile public persona does, yes.

Yes, otherwise it's just like they're identical twins. Except for Hillary being an adult and qualified for the presidency and all.

 

[Frank Underwood]

The same reason they're to blame for buying something from any other snake oil salesman.

If you're a Democrat running for President, and Trump is saying he's in favor of policies that are typically in your platform, wouldn't you try to out campaign him on those issues?

If you seem milquetoast about it, that snake oil salesman is going to come across more convincingly.

Are there any shades of gray in your world?

Let's see: I made a thread giving credit to Obama for reducing the deficit, improving our health care system, supporting gay marriage, and I believe his commuting of Chelsea Manning's sentence was also positive.

With Trump, I've attacked him for his racist, xenophobic, and sexist comments, as well as his foreign policy and Muslim policy. At the same time, I said I agree with his stance on TPP, Social Security, and Medicare.

I even gave Hillary credit for taking on some of Bernie's proposals, though it felt like it was too little, too late by then.

So yeah, I'd say there are shades of gray in my world. You're the one who opposes Trump on everything, including policies traditionally supported by Democrats. I know it's because you don't believe he will follow through with them. Maybe he won't. Why do you think I pointed out that Obama didn't follow through with all of his promises? That's why I'm withholding judgement regarding Social Security and Medicare until I see what he does.

Oh, I don't know. Maybe because he's a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic joke?

All of that is true, but it has nothing to do with coming out against trade deals Hillary Clinton was in favor of.

I'm looking at it from the point of view of workers. They could vote for a candidate who supported NAFTA and referred to the TPP as "the gold standard," or they could vote for Trump who said he opposed both. If you look hard enough, you'll find a segment of Trump voters who are just as opposed to the vitriol he spews. However, they believed his promise to protect their jobs and social safety nets. Pragmatists don't only vote Democratic.

Somehow, I don't remember Hillary campaigning on any of that, but whatever. You're obviously determined to despise the woman and it's pointless for anyone to even attempt reasoning with you on that. If only your contempt for Trump were half as intense.

The racist "super predators" line was used as justification for exploding the prison population during her husband's first term in office. "We came, we saw, he died" was the cavalier response to the killing of a foreign leader. And advocating election tampering in Palestine speaks for itself. I swear, you act like my disdain for Hillary Clinton is some sort of irrational hatred I pulled out of thin air. In reality, It is based on over a quarter century support for neocon policies such as anti gay legislation, the gutting of welfare, supporting Wall Street, being a war hawk, and so on. I despise those policies whether they come from a Republican or a Democrat.

However, had Hillary become president and actually worked on implementing some of Bernie's policies, I would have given her credit for it. Just like I'll give Trump credit if he actually ends up supporting the things I believe in. At the end of the day, I'm not a partisan hack. I'm not a fan of Hillary or Trump, but I focus on each individual policy rather than opposing them outright. I'll judge Trump's decisions in office as they happen.

I've been a vocal critic of Trump's proposals regarding immigrants, Muslims, and the family members of terrorists. I've condemned his cabinet picks, his petulance, his narcissism, as well as his his derogatory remarks against women and the disabled. Sorry if that is not "intense" enough for you. If you want to know why I also bring up Hillary's flaws, it's because I feel there is too much voter bashing going on here. Whenever I introduce reasons why some people voted for Trump, it always goes back to them being idiots, racists, and sexists. I participated in eight years worth of discussions bashing Bush and the Republicans for the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, and their views towards gay people and the poor. Bush was public enemy number one during that time, but when I point out that Hillary often supported those policies as well, it's treated with indifference.

I'm not concerned with playing for a team, I'm concerned with policy.

Yes, we may get lucky and he'll only destroy the republic.

We survived Bush, so I'm sure we'll survive Trump too.

Yes, otherwise it's just like they're identical twins. Except for Hillary being an adult and qualified for the presidency and all.

I never said they were twins, but I'm not going to pretend that her policy record is squeaky clean either.

When your "qualifications" include supporting everything the neocons do, you might want to check your Democratic credentials.