Obama calls for $250 payments to seniors

[DontSayBanana]

But the money won't be coming from the boys down on Wall Street, it will be coming from us.

In fact, what it really means is that a group of people who are probably more well off than the average will be getting money for no particular reason, since in fact their costs of living have not risen.

The "cost of living" increase is tied to inflation and inflation only.  Nobody's claimed that "their costs of living have not risen."

[Berkut]

But the runaway spending has to stop-- that most certainly IS a priority for my side.

it's funny, but sad.

The GOPs claim to being the party of fiscal responsibility used to be such a joke. Now it has credibility again, but not because they actually became fiscally conservative, but because the Dems just increased fiscal irresponsibility by an order of magnitude.

Look at this example - $13 billion more, and we have no way to pay for it, and the response is "Hey, no big deal! Why the fuck not, we are talking about spending trillions that we don't have, who gives a shit about $13 billion!"

True enough.  The GOP is the party of being slightly less fiscally irresponsible. 

There is nothing "slight" about it.

The Dems, as soon as they got into power, took spending that was already insanely high, and made it look downright pauper-like with their complete contempt for anything that even vaguely looks like restraint.

[Berkut]

But the money won't be coming from the boys down on Wall Street, it will be coming from us.

In fact, what it really means is that a group of people who are probably more well off than the average will be getting money for no particular reason, since in fact their costs of living have not risen.

The "cost of living" increase is tied to inflation and inflation only.  Nobody's claimed that "their costs of living have not risen."

Isn't that what the Consumer Price Index, which this stuff is tied to (which artifically overstates cost of living increases by a large amount) is intended to measure?

[DontSayBanana]

But the money won't be coming from the boys down on Wall Street, it will be coming from us.

In fact, what it really means is that a group of people who are probably more well off than the average will be getting money for no particular reason, since in fact their costs of living have not risen.

The "cost of living" increase is tied to inflation and inflation only.  Nobody's claimed that "their costs of living have not risen."

Isn't that what the Consumer Price Index, which this stuff is tied to (which artifically overstates cost of living increases by a large amount) is intended to measure?

CPI isn't the only measure of inflation, and is, in fact, on the rise.

From CNN today:

The Consumer Price index (CPI) rose 0.2% in September, after rising 0.4% in August. The rise was in line with a consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com.

The so-called core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy, rose 0.2% after rising 0.1% in August. Economists thought it would rise 0.1%.

[Admiral Yi]

I just find it hilarious that, of all the budgetary shenanigans our GOPtards could get worked up about, frothing over giving each senior citizen a month's worth of groceries during these shitty economic times gives us an idea as to where their priorities actually are.

This is the kind of argument that would get rave reviews from the Michael Moore fan club.  These shitty economic times are affecting seniors how exactly?  By driving down the cost of their food, their gas, and their Power Chairs.  By driving their unemployment rate from 0% to 0%.  You could of course introduce the devastating argument that everyone (including seniors) have seen the value of their retirement savings drop recently (although most of those gains have been made back) but then you would have to face the fact that the great majority of seniors *have* retirement savings and don't live on just their Social Security checks.  And even for those that do, 2 grand a month in a house with a paid off mortgage is not exactly a recipe for dumpster diving.

The road to hyperinflation is paved with good intentions.  Giving seniors more money would be a nice thing to do.  Giving everyone who bought much more house than they could afford a free house would be a nice thing to do.  Giving every member of the Democratic leadership a couple billion more in pork would be a nice thing to do.  Giving GM and Chrysler a couple billion more so they can double UAW salaries would be a nice thing to do.  Doubling the salaries of state and municipal workers would be a nice thing to do.  Free insulation for everyone.  Free wind turbines and solar panels for everyone.  Let's increase farm subsidies.  A trip to Disney and Universal Studios for every member of the Nobel committee, except the mean ones who said they were opposed to Obama.  These are all such nice things, you'd have to be a terrible person to be against them.

[DGuller]

Giving seniors more money would be a nice thing to do.  Giving everyone who bought much more house than they could afford a free house would be a nice thing to do.  Giving every member of the Democratic leadership a couple billion more in pork would be a nice thing to do.  Giving GM and Chrysler a couple billion more so they can double UAW salaries would be a nice thing to do.  Doubling the salaries of state and municipal workers would be a nice thing to do.  Free insulation for everyone.  Free wind turbines and solar panels for everyone.  Let's increase farm subsidies.  A trip to Disney and Universal Studios for every member of the Nobel committee, except the mean ones who said they were opposed to Obama.  These are all such nice things, you'd have to be a terrible person to be against them.

I agree with pretty much everything you said.  I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[CountDeMoney]

The road to hyperinflation is paved with good intentions.  Giving seniors more money would be a nice thing to do.  Giving everyone who bought much more house than they could afford a free house would be a nice thing to do.  Giving every member of the Democratic leadership a couple billion more in pork would be a nice thing to do.  Giving GM and Chrysler a couple billion more so they can double UAW salaries would be a nice thing to do.  Doubling the salaries of state and municipal workers would be a nice thing to do.  Free insulation for everyone.  Free wind turbines and solar panels for everyone.  Let's increase farm subsidies.  A trip to Disney and Universal Studios for every member of the Nobel committee, except the mean ones who said they were opposed to Obama.  These are all such nice things, you'd have to be a terrible person to be against them.

[Hansmeister]

I thought that I only pretend to be black?

No, you were only pretending to be gay.

[garbon]

No, you were only pretending to be gay.

I'm Martinus?

[DontSayBanana]

This is the kind of argument that would get rave reviews from the Michael Moore fan club.  These shitty economic times are affecting seniors how exactly?  By driving down the cost of their food, their gas, and their Power Chairs.  By driving their unemployment rate from 0% to 0%.  You could of course introduce the devastating argument that everyone (including seniors) have seen the value of their retirement savings drop recently (although most of those gains have been made back) but then you would have to face the fact that the great majority of seniors *have* retirement savings and don't live on just their Social Security checks.  And even for those that do, 2 grand a month in a house with a paid off mortgage is not exactly a recipe for dumpster diving.

The road to hyperinflation is paved with good intentions.  Giving seniors more money would be a nice thing to do.  Giving everyone who bought much more house than they could afford a free house would be a nice thing to do.  Giving every member of the Democratic leadership a couple billion more in pork would be a nice thing to do.  Giving GM and Chrysler a couple billion more so they can double UAW salaries would be a nice thing to do.  Doubling the salaries of state and municipal workers would be a nice thing to do.  Free insulation for everyone.  Free wind turbines and solar panels for everyone.  Let's increase farm subsidies.  A trip to Disney and Universal Studios for every member of the Nobel committee, except the mean ones who said they were opposed to Obama.  These are all such nice things, you'd have to be a terrible person to be against them.

How about replacing those weasel words with some actual statistics, chief?  As of 2008, 22.4% of seniors 65 or older made less than 150% of the poverty line (that benchmark would be $14503.50 for a single earner, $18,279 for a couple).

I'm also currently looking for a percentage of Social Security retirees collecting from IRAs.

[garbon]

How about replacing those weasel words with some actual statistics, chief?  As of 2008, 22.4% of seniors 65 or older made less than 150% of the poverty line (that benchmark would be $14503.50 for a single earner, $18,279 for a couple).

I'm also currently looking for a percentage of Social Security retirees collecting from IRAs.

So you've established that there is somewhere upwards of at least 60% who probably don't need cash infusions.

[Admiral Yi]

How about replacing those weasel words with some actual statistics, chief?  As of 2008, 22.4% of seniors 65 or older made less than 150% of the poverty line (that benchmark would be $14503.50 for a single earner, $18,279 for a couple).

I'm also currently looking for a percentage of Social Security retirees collecting from IRAs.

Which weasel words would those be slick? 

I already gave one statistic: 65+ has the lowest poverty rate of any age group.  Here's another one: the average estate at inheritance is $160,000.

[DontSayBanana]

Also, how many of those mortgages really are paid off?  How much medication or medical equipment does the senior need?  Is the senior housebound and requires personal assistance?  If the senior is not housebound, what are their transportation options (if they're forced to continue driving, insurance is an iffy proposition for a senior)?

Basically, you can't just compare cost of living for a young worker living alone and a housebound senior living alone; travel and medical assistance also have to be factored in much of the time.  In addition, I think you'll find with the recent housing bubble, not as many of those mortgages are paid as you think.

[Admiral Yi]

Also, how many of those mortgages really are paid off?  How much medication or medical equipment does the senior need?  Is the senior housebound and requires personal assistance?  If the senior is not housebound, what are their transportation options (if they're forced to continue driving, insurance is an iffy proposition for a senior)?

Basically, you can't just compare cost of living for a young worker living alone and a housebound senior living alone; travel and medical assistance also have to be factored in much of the time.  In addition, I think you'll find with the recent housing bubble, not as many of those mortgages are paid as you think.

Of course you can't compare cost of living for a young worker and a housebound senior.  The young worker has student loans to pay off, payroll taxes deducted from his pay check, down payment on a house to save for, commuting costs, and the likelihood of paying to rear children.

Why would the housing bubble affect the number of seniors with mortgages? 

And I ask you again: what weasel words?

[DontSayBanana]

Also, how many of those mortgages really are paid off?  How much medication or medical equipment does the senior need?  Is the senior housebound and requires personal assistance?  If the senior is not housebound, what are their transportation options (if they're forced to continue driving, insurance is an iffy proposition for a senior)?

Basically, you can't just compare cost of living for a young worker living alone and a housebound senior living alone; travel and medical assistance also have to be factored in much of the time.  In addition, I think you'll find with the recent housing bubble, not as many of those mortgages are paid as you think.

Of course you can't compare cost of living for a young worker and a housebound senior.  The young worker has student loans to pay off, payroll taxes deducted from his pay check, down payment on a house to save for, commuting costs, and the likelihood of paying to rear children.

Why would the housing bubble affect the number of seniors with mortgages? 

And I ask you again: what weasel words?

First off, a little mythbusting on "tax-free Social Security:" http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179091,00.html

You make over the base amount, you pay income tax, Social Security or work.  The percentage of Americans choosing to stay in the workforce past retirement age because they'd be financially insecure is also rising, as is the percentage of senior citizens attending college or vocational training programs.  Also, take it from a guy who dealt with loads of transit agency dispatchers, NO transit company offers free transportation for seniors; reduced fare, yes, but never free.