Who has a better chance of winning with Obama?

[Ideologue]

Colbert is funny for about five minutes at a time; beyond that, his schtick grows wan and tired.

I like him.  But I only see the clips that do well and bounce around the internet.  Don't actually watch his show.

Probably for a similar reason I quite Bill O'Reilly and kind of like Glenn Beck

I liked Beck's psychotic chalk board.

[Sheilbh]

I voted for Death Panels.  Where are they?

According to the admittedly biased Dr. Emanuel (he's pretty well-respected though) the death panels have had an effect and the costs are coming down in anticipation to Obamacare coming into full efect over the next few years.  But of course it's absurdly early to try and judge that.

[DGuller]

Colbert is funny for about five minutes at a time; beyond that, his schtick grows wan and tired.

I will always watch Stewart if I remember to.  I will only watch Colbert if I have time to kill.  It's not that he can't be funny, it's just that ironically he himself developed a bit of a personality cult.

[citizen k]

I voted for Death Panels.  Where are they?

According to the admittedly biased Dr. Emanuel (he's pretty well-respected though) the death panels have had an effect and the costs are coming down in anticipation to Obamacare coming into full efect over the next few years.  But of course it's absurdly early to try and judge that.

Ide is talking about proper death panels, where citizens can anonymously nominate people* to the extermination lists.



* i.e. "Euthanization Candidates"

[DGuller]

Ide is talking about proper death panels, where citizens can anonymously nominate people to the extermination lists.

How many nominations do you get? 

[citizen k]

Ide is talking about proper death panels, where citizens can anonymously nominate people to the extermination lists.

How many nominations do you get? 

There's no limit to cutting healthcare costs.

[Admiral Yi]

Social Security represents around 37% of total income for retirement age people, the next largest is earnings at 30%.  Then private pensions and assets at 19% and 13% respectively.  Having said that over two thirds of eligible people depend on Social Security for over 50% of their income.  That was the information from 2008 released in 2010, I imagine it's probably more Social Security-skewed because of the effect the financial crisis will have had on people's pension plans.

So I think your Kinsley factoid is just a factoid rather than a contribution when thinking about this.

That is certainly enlightening.  But by the same token I'm willing to wager that doesn't include non cash consumption, such as housing (in many cases).

[Sheilbh]

That is certainly enlightening.  But by the same token I'm willing to wager that doesn't include non cash consumption, such as housing (in many cases).

I don't think it does.  What does that mean, in your view?

[Ed Anger]

LOL at the Dems in the process of losing Weiner's seat.

[Admiral Yi]

I don't think it does.  What does that mean, in your view?

That fewer people are reliant on Social Security for simple survival than your numbers would suggest.

[Sheilbh]

That fewer people are reliant on Social Security for simple survival than your numbers would suggest.

Is the goal of a state pension simple survival?

[citizen k]

That fewer people are reliant on Social Security for simple survival than your numbers would suggest.

Is the goal of a state pension simple survival?

Yes. A floor to protect the elderly from starving to death.

[DontSayBanana]

You all know what the number one problem with Social Security is?  Pundits and wannabe-intellectuals oversimplify it, especially you, Yi.  There are several different programs that have nothing to do with each other that fall under the blanket of the Social Security Administration.  You're all bickering about social security retirement when you also have two straight welfare programs (social security permanent disability, supplemental security income) and an insurance-basis program (temporary disability).

[Habbaku]

Something tells me that pundits oversimplifying SS is not, in fact, the number one problem.

[Admiral Yi]

Is the goal of a state pension simple survival?

The stated goal I think is "financial security" for retirees.  Which simple survival is an aspect of.