Obama calls for $250 payments to seniors

[CountDeMoney]

Are old people really the poorest segment of the population, as the media and Congress's actions seem to often suggest?

Lowest poverty rate of any age group.

Highest mortality rate of any age group.

[Admiral Yi]

Highest mortality rate of any age group.

Don't need the money if you're dead.

We're seeing the flip side of the social security privatization debate in action here.

[Caliga]

No, but they're the segment of the population which votes in greatest number.

I was trying to provoke someone else into saying this.

[Tamas]

Just FYI, if you give them $250 this year, they will want more next year or they will hate you. Trust me.

They're geriatrics, not gypsies.

Yeah I know.

Here, over-the-top pension raises were followed by the "13th month" payment, and the following election campaign  had the issue of wether there is need for a 15th month payment, or 14th month is enough.

[CountDeMoney]

Highest mortality rate of any age group.

Don't need the money if you're dead.

We're seeing the flip side of the social security privatization debate in action here.

No we're not.  We're seeing your typical GOP dismissal of the helpless.

[Savonarola]

No, but they're the segment of the population which votes in greatest number.

I was trying to provoke someone else into saying this.

I was provoked.   

[Caliga]

No we're not.  We're seeing your typical GOP dismissal of the helpless.

The GOP cares about the helpless, just as long as they've not yet been born. 

[DontSayBanana]

Are old people really the poorest segment of the population, as the media and Congress's actions seem to often suggest?

Not necessarily; many seniors supplement their income with something like ownership rights, investments, or rentals.

Living on social security as sole source of income, however, is poverty.  It's probably about comparable to unemployment during the first ten years of working life; utilities aren't even covered and are usually paid for through relief programs offered by utility companies themselves (partial-pay or waiver programs for heating, no-disconnect programs offered by telephone and electric companies, etc.).

[CountDeMoney]

many seniors supplement their income with something like ownership rights, investments, or rentals.

And many don't.

[Valmy]

Smells like a bribe for health care reform.

Yeah because it is the Seniors who really need to get on board with that.

I have to say that now that the stock market is above 10,000 again and prices are starting to go up the government needs to hold back now.   If they keep pouring money into the economy inflation will result.  Now is the time to think about how we are going to pay back the money we borrowed and  get ready for the next time we need to intervene.

[DontSayBanana]

many seniors supplement their income with something like ownership rights, investments, or rentals.

And many don't.

Did you read the second half of my post before quoting?

[CountDeMoney]

many seniors supplement their income with something like ownership rights, investments, or rentals.

And many don't.

Did you read the second half of my post before quoting?

Yes, but it doesn't make my post as effective.  Duh.

[Caliga]

Now is the time to think about how we are going to pay back the money we borrowed

Dude, it's Congress. 

[Valmy]

Dude, it's Congress. 

I still like to give my opinion on what we should be doing even though it is futile

[Neil]

Highest mortality rate of any age group.

Don't need the money if you're dead.

We're seeing the flip side of the social security privatization debate in action here.

The recession pretty much devastated any chance of social security being privatized for the next decade or two, didn't it?  I mean, I'm sure that there are a few free market ideologues who think it's a good idea, but the general population must be unconvinced at this point.