| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Michelle Malkin" |
| Date: |
03 May 2005 08:57:20 PM |
| Object: |
A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
--
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
Michelle Malkin (Mickey) aa list#1
alt.atheism atheist/agnostic list name collector
BAAWA Knight & EAC Bible thumper thumper
http://questioner.www2.50megs.com
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
04 May 2005 12:23:47 AM |
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In article <W7GdnfoSoPFptuXfRVn-1Q@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
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| User: "JTEM" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
04 May 2005 01:10:40 AM |
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"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
But... but... it's just so *Unusual* for these Republicans to do
that. I mean, what about all the middle-class tax relief under
Reagan?
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
05 May 2005 12:15:20 AM |
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In article <ypqdnWag1uzP-OXfRVn-sw@comcast.com>,
"JTEM" <gymraven@hotmail.com> wrote:
"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
But... but... it's just so *Unusual* for these Republicans to do
that. I mean, what about all the middle-class tax relief under
Reagan?
Dubya is 'relieving' the middle class of its wealth and entitlements.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
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| User: "Fred Stone" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
05 May 2005 09:21:37 AM |
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johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in news:jhachm-A0A052.22152004052005
@news.giganews.com:
In article <ypqdnWag1uzP-OXfRVn-sw@comcast.com>,
"JTEM" <gymraven@hotmail.com> wrote:
"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
But... but... it's just so *Unusual* for these Republicans to do
that. I mean, what about all the middle-class tax relief under
Reagan?
Dubya is 'relieving' the middle class of its wealth and entitlements.
Face it, it's the "entitlements" that you're complaining about.
--
Fred Stone
aa# 1369
"You know you're over the target when you start receiving flak."
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| User: "JTEM" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
05 May 2005 01:49:04 PM |
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"Fred Stone" <fstone69@earthling.com> wrote
Face it, it's the "entitlements" that you're complaining about.
When did Halliburton become an "Entitlement"????
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| User: "Liz" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
04 May 2005 04:46:48 AM |
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On Tue, 03 May 2005 22:23:47 -0700, johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> in news
message <jhachm-1C087B.22234703052005@news.giganews.com> wrote:
In article <W7GdnfoSoPFptuXfRVn-1Q@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
It's not only Social Security. My pension plan will be frozen come
the end of this fiscal year as a direct result of this administration
plans to change the funding rules. If you have a defined benefit
pension plan, be afraid, be very afraid.
Überwench #658 Now a *real* atheist!
Dame Liz the Undaunted Ath.D BAAWA
Charter Member of SMASH
and Queen of the known universe
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
05 May 2005 12:13:59 AM |
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In article <o66h71t0ohnpapjbk5nf2tgcnl71c7cij9@4ax.com>,
Liz <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote:
On Tue, 03 May 2005 22:23:47 -0700, johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> in news
message <jhachm-1C087B.22234703052005@news.giganews.com> wrote:
In article <W7GdnfoSoPFptuXfRVn-1Q@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
It's not only Social Security. My pension plan will be frozen come
the end of this fiscal year as a direct result of this administration
plans to change the funding rules. If you have a defined benefit
pension plan, be afraid, be very afraid.
I'm very concerned about what he is doing to Medicaid. Social Security
doesn't concern me as much as health care. If he takes an axe to
Medicaid, can Medicare be far behind?
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
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| User: "Fred Stone" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
05 May 2005 08:58:50 AM |
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johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in news:jhachm-C0FAC2.22135804052005
@news.giganews.com:
In article <o66h71t0ohnpapjbk5nf2tgcnl71c7cij9@4ax.com>,
Liz <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote:
On Tue, 03 May 2005 22:23:47 -0700, johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> in news
message <jhachm-1C087B.22234703052005@news.giganews.com> wrote:
In article <W7GdnfoSoPFptuXfRVn-1Q@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
It's not only Social Security. My pension plan will be frozen come
the end of this fiscal year as a direct result of this administration
plans to change the funding rules. If you have a defined benefit
pension plan, be afraid, be very afraid.
I'm very concerned about what he is doing to Medicaid. Social Security
doesn't concern me as much as health care. If he takes an axe to
Medicaid, can Medicare be far behind?
What axe? He has proposed reducing the growth of spending, not an actual
cut.
--
Fred Stone
aa# 1369
"You know you're over the target when you start receiving flak."
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
06 May 2005 12:03:30 AM |
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In article <1115301531.9c1b3b6eb0ff7e6de9214ac993be7303@teranews>,
Fred Stone <fstone69@earthling.com> wrote:
johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in news:jhachm-C0FAC2.22135804052005
@news.giganews.com:
In article <o66h71t0ohnpapjbk5nf2tgcnl71c7cij9@4ax.com>,
Liz <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote:
On Tue, 03 May 2005 22:23:47 -0700, johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> in news
message <jhachm-1C087B.22234703052005@news.giganews.com> wrote:
In article <W7GdnfoSoPFptuXfRVn-1Q@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
It's not only Social Security. My pension plan will be frozen come
the end of this fiscal year as a direct result of this administration
plans to change the funding rules. If you have a defined benefit
pension plan, be afraid, be very afraid.
I'm very concerned about what he is doing to Medicaid. Social Security
doesn't concern me as much as health care. If he takes an axe to
Medicaid, can Medicare be far behind?
What axe? He has proposed reducing the growth of spending, not an actual
cut.
Given the rising cost of health care, same thing.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
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| User: "Fred Stone" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
06 May 2005 05:07:48 PM |
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johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in
news:jhachm-C23F9F.22032905052005@news.giganews.com:
In article <1115301531.9c1b3b6eb0ff7e6de9214ac993be7303@teranews>,
Fred Stone <fstone69@earthling.com> wrote:
johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in news:jhachm-C0FAC2.22135804052005
@news.giganews.com:
In article <o66h71t0ohnpapjbk5nf2tgcnl71c7cij9@4ax.com>,
Liz <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote:
On Tue, 03 May 2005 22:23:47 -0700, johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> in
news message <jhachm-1C087B.22234703052005@news.giganews.com>
wrote:
In article <W7GdnfoSoPFptuXfRVn-1Q@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
It's not only Social Security. My pension plan will be frozen
come the end of this fiscal year as a direct result of this
administration plans to change the funding rules. If you have a
defined benefit pension plan, be afraid, be very afraid.
I'm very concerned about what he is doing to Medicaid. Social
Security doesn't concern me as much as health care. If he takes an
axe to Medicaid, can Medicare be far behind?
What axe? He has proposed reducing the growth of spending, not an
actual cut.
Given the rising cost of health care, same thing.
No, not the same thing.
--
Fred Stone
aa# 1369
"You know you're over the target when you start receiving flak."
.
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| User: "Divin Marquis" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
06 May 2005 06:18:38 PM |
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Le Fri, 06 May 2005 22:07:48 +0000, Fred Stone a écrit :
What axe? He has proposed reducing the growth of spending, not an
actual cut.
Given the rising cost of health care, same thing.
No, not the same thing.
That would require cracking down on the health industry, forcing their
price down, as we do in Europe. Ain't gonna happen.
So in the end, it's the exact same thing.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: A Gut Punch to the Middle Class |
06 May 2005 03:05:26 PM |
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On Tue, 03 May 2005 22:23:47 -0700, johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote:
In article <W7GdnfoSoPFptuXfRVn-1Q@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/opinion/02krugman.html?hp
The middle class gets kicked in the butt again. Surprise!
Published on Monday, May 2, 2005 by the New York Times
A Gut Punch to the Middle
by Paul Krugman
By now, every journalist should know that you have to carefully check
out any scheme coming from the White House. You can't just accept the
administration's version of what it's doing. Remember, these are the
people who named a big giveaway to logging interests "Healthy
Forests."
Sure enough, a close look at President Bush's proposal for
"progressive price indexing" of Social Security puts the lie to claims
that it's a plan to increase benefits for the poor and cut them for
the wealthy. In fact, it's a plan to slash middle-class benefits; the
wealthy would barely feel a thing.
Under current law, low-wage workers receive Social Security benefits
equal to 49 percent of their wages before retirement. Under the Bush
scheme, that wouldn't change. So benefits for the poor would be
maintained, not increased.
The administration and its apologists emphasize the fact that under
the Bush plan, workers earning higher wages would face cuts, and they
talk as if that makes it a plan that takes from the rich and gives to
the poor. But the rich wouldn't feel any pain, because people with
high incomes don't depend on Social Security benefits.
Cut an average worker's benefits, and you're imposing real hardship.
Cut or even eliminate ***** Cheney's benefits, and only his accountants
will notice.
I asked Jason Furman of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to
calculate the benefit cuts under the Bush scheme as a percentage of
pre-retirement income. That's a way to see who would really bear the
burden of the proposed cuts. It turns out that the middle class would
face severe cuts, but the wealthy would not.
The average worker - average pay now is $37,000 - retiring in 2075
would face a cut equal to 10 percent of pre-retirement income. Workers
earning 60 percent more than average, the equivalent of $58,000 today,
would see benefit cuts equal to almost 13 percent of their income
before retirement.
But above that level, the cuts would become less and less significant.
Workers earning three times the average wage would face cuts equal to
only 9 percent of their income before retirement. Someone earning the
equivalent of $1 million today would see benefit cuts equal to only 1
percent of pre-retirement income.
In short, this would be a gut punch to the middle class, but a
fleabite for the truly wealthy.
Beyond that, it's a good bet that benefits for the poor would
eventually be cut, too.
It's an adage that programs for the poor always turn into poor
programs. That is, once a program is defined as welfare, it becomes a
target for budget cuts.
You can see this happening right now to Medicaid, the nation's most
important means-tested program. Last week Congress agreed on a budget
that cuts funds for Medicaid (and food stamps), even while extending
tax cuts on dividends and capital gains. States are cutting back,
denying health insurance to hundreds of thousands of people with low
incomes. Missouri is poised to eliminate Medicaid completely by 2008.
If the Bush scheme goes through, the same thing will eventually happen
to Social Security. As Mr. Furman points out, the Bush plan wouldn't
just cut benefits. Workers would be encouraged to divert a large
fraction of their payroll taxes into private accounts - but this would
in effect amount to borrowing against their future benefits, which
would be reduced accordingly.
As a result, Social Security as we know it would be phased out for the
middle class.
"For millions of workers," Mr. Furman writes, "the amount of the
monthly Social Security check would be at or near zero."
So only the poor would receive Social Security checks - and regardless
of what today's politicians say, future politicians would be tempted
to reduce the size of those checks.
The important thing to understand is that the attempt to turn Social
Security into nothing but a program for the poor isn't driven by
concerns about the future budget burden of benefit payments. After
all, if Mr. Bush was worried about the budget, he would be
reconsidering his tax cuts.
No, this is about ideology: Mr. Bush comes to bury Social Security,
not to save it. His goal is to turn F.D.R.'s most durable achievement
into an unpopular welfare program, so some future president will be
able to attack it with tall tales about Social Security queens driving
Cadillacs.
© 2005 NY Times, Co.
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
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