Those who know me here and through other blogs have found me to be a rather quiet man when it comes to current events and I busy myself with painting, photography and writing. Seldom do I voice an opinion on political views or news. Today I am pissed off because of the freeze in Social Security cost of living allowances and just don't get it when rents rise, food costs rise, fuel cost rise, utility costs increase, medical costs increase and on and on. One works hard all of their working life and during that working life pays into the Social Security trust expecting compensation upon retirement. Not a lot of money each month but enough to get by and one would think that the cost of living allowance would increase yearly as costs increase. Yet for the past two years they have not.
Yet $80+billion has been paid to bail out the auto industry and unless one is employed by the big three or in the oil-fuel business. What have these corporations ever done for you?
How about the 4.72 trillion dollars spent on the bank-Wall Street bail out? Then it has been recently reported that the recipients of the 4.72 trillion dollars are paying out record bonuses this year. What have those blood sucking profiteers ever given you? Foreclosures, law suits, headaches, homelessness, starvation and in some cases suicide. The fuckers don't even take you to lunch or ask you if you want grease before shoving it up your.......
Then we can spend $737,964,960,000 on the war in Iraq looking for WMD that did not exist and kill and be killed for what? Nation building? When was the last time money was spent from Iraq to America? No answer.
Also there is a great deal of money being spent in Afghanistan, approx $355,425,000,000 to date and rising. Lining the pockets of officials there, that are laughing their asses off at us as they re finance the Taliban and make deals with contractors as brave soldiers shed their blood because they are following orders from the commander in chief. What does Afghanistan provide the USA and the world, a very high quality opium crop. Does Afghanistan pay any money to the USA? Gimme a break.
Yeah, I know that commander in chief was not typed with caps because to my knowledge the President Of The United States Of America did not serve in any of the Armed Forces. Oh well.
I don't pretend to know and am sure that I don't know but it seems to me that all of these expenditures are spent on ventures that gain no return for the American people or improve the betterment of the world. Every day it seems that the news reports cuts in state and local welfare programs for the needy and disabled. Cities and towns have to cut back on police, first responders and other essential services here at home because of lack of funds. It really makes one wonder what is going on and why.
In conclusion, those who have worked and paid into the Social Security Trust should expect timely cost of living allowances regardless of where other monies are spent or why.
As ever be well, Stephen Craig Rowe
12 comments:
Excellent post Stephen! I agree with you 100%. I am so sick of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the needless loss of life of our troops and the troops of other allies that are fighting wiht us. I am to the point that I turn off the news when talk of the war comes on. Either that or sit here with tears on my cheeks.
The seniors in this country are the forgtten ones!
Two years in a row?! They based it on things like juice have gone down in price-whut! Rent and taxes have gone up big time even for us in HUD housing :(
My mom is expected to live on $700 a month.-OH! they are talking about giving us $200 to make up for it.
Frightening.
As you know, Stephen, I didn't make it to 65 or 68 or 94 or whatever the current age is to collect Social Security. My accident in '05 left me permanently disabled and I stated receiving Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)in '08 at the ripe old age of 54 after working full time since I was 16 and paying into the fund for 38 years.
Surviving on my $1198 a month SSDI check would be just about impossible, even here in the heart of Appalachia, if my wife wasn't working. Even so, we just scrape by at times and there is no room for luxuries such as going out to dinner.....at McDonald's.
I got a cost of living raise in '09 (about $13 a month). Meanwhile our electricity rates have increased 73% in 5 years. Oh, well, maybe we can cut a few expenses.....like a meal or two a day.
Yes, my friend, you're pissed and have a right to be. You're also not alone.
You are absolutely right, Stephen.
After raiding the social security trust fund for years the Feds will only have to borrow thirty seven cents for every dollar they spend this year. What is the next fund they can raid? Well it looks like our mutual fund accounts are a pretty fat target.
Retirement? Not an option. Work till you drop dead is the only way to go.
Thanks for nothing pro politicians and your brain dead constituents. We voted for you and bellied up to the pork bar! Whose ass needs kicking anyway?
Elections have consequences.
ya.. try living on 675 a month.. that is what I get on Social Security.. would like to see them live on it.. and with no increase in the future.. oh ya.. times are so bloody good..
anyway.. great post Stephen..
have a nice day.
---hit the wrong key and poof it is gone--- That is pretty much social security...... poof it's gone.
When it was started by FDR it was to help with retirement and we were to trust the government to make the right decisions for us. Instead they have made greedy decisions and essentially stolen out money. How can we trust somebody when they keep taking our money and spending it some other place then say we can't have it.
You hit on the key aspect, it was money we earned and give it to the government for keeping until old age.... now we can't get it back.
Social Security keeps a person at about 60% of poverty wage or less.
Consider the retirement package of government workers, which is tax supported, SSI should equal that.
You have every right to be pissed off.
One thing to keep in mind, there is a certain sector of society that wants to be the controllers and to control society is to keep them poor and begging from the government. Orwell pointed this out very clearly in his books.
thanks for the comments and visits.
Painter,
Wow..... I applaud you for stepping up, and speak about how you feel! Finally! Never thought I would live to see this day!
You wonder why I have lost faith in the system all those years. I have seen many people working two sometime even three jobs which is very sad. It is pretty screwed up that government are so downright greedy that they go after people who works at home with their small businesses or small businesses, while the fucking rich businesses keep growing... WTF? Oh, right... my bad.. rich people keeps on getting away with the murder, while us good people getting screwed over... Well, don't worry, painter, have faith in the good Lord, and God has heard every tears running down our cheeks.... This is the prayer I do every night... I suggest you do the same...
Dear Lord,
In this time of uncertainty,
Be my rock in a world built on sand;
Be my oasis of grace and peace in a world of tension and turmoil;
Help me to carry my cross gracefully, as you did in Your Passion;
Help me to follow Your beam of light in the midst of this darkness;
Help me to see Your will in all things
And show others Your comfort and strength.
Keep me calm when tempers flare up;
Keep me sane in a crazy world;
Keep me focused on the houses in Heaven
rather than the houses of cards collapsing around me;
Keep my eyes focused on the prize of Heaven
and not lose hope in You in this world or in the world to come;
Make me compassionate in dealing with others;
Let me see my travails as carrying my cross and sharing in Your Passion, for the love of You and for the salvation of souls, including mine.
And may all my difficulties be ultimately for my good and Your glory. Amen.
Love you painter! God bless you always
Way to tell it Stephen. I have never trusted the goverment for taking care of us later. One has to become independant now of them. Young people coming up can not trust in putting their money in the system and expect it to be there when they retire. I know everyone can't, but there are many who waste their money on frivilas things instead of planing for the future. Just like our goverment always throwing money in the wrong direction. Its not far when one is already barely making it and they are expected to cut back when they see the goverment wasteing money. Its a bad situation and it's a long way from getting better. Take Care Stephen and be well Hugs Carrie
Hopefully, our country's voting populace will get more engaged and speak with a strong, decisive and corrective voice. Take care and be well my friend, b
Dear Stephen,
It has been a long time no seem,
As you know all changing from WLS
to Blogspot & WP and I started find comefortable in blogspor with help from my blog family friends:-)
Your post is so truth and in here we all disagreed with our governments, we need to acting government NOT just an annoucements
But it seems going the way and never had change yet,we have had enough the war that we are really looking forward to more peaceful in ourlives day by days.
Sorry I just can't sign in here
I use as Anonymous.
Have a great day,
Michiko
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