Republicans Are All Talk...Again!

[whell]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Just a couple of points;

SS funds itself, it was the pols who stole the money and left IOUs

Self funding is a trend that is in the process if reversing itself. We're close right now to having 2 workers' payroll taxes funding one SS retiree. Within the next 10 -15 years that is expected to become a 1:1 ratio. By the mid-2030's, the fund is expected to have more liabilities than income.

Originally Posted by merrylander

Medicare probably comes close to funding itself, I am sure that I am not the only one who pays over $1100 a year for a flu shot. They have raised the level of contribution since I joined. Funny part is that it was a Republican administration that insisted I take SS at 65 although I would have preferred to wait until I retired at 73 simply because they got most all of it back in taxes.

I doubt you'll find many "righties" staffing your average SS office.

Originally Posted by merrylander

In case no one noticed a goodly number of the countries where we have military bases would just as soon we went home, Okinawa for example. The idea that we are the world's police force is a legend in our own minds.

There has been a history of Japanese protests in Okinawa, but I certainly doubt the Japanese government would be in favor of the US closing down the facilities there.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by whell

I doubt you'll find many "righties" staffing your average SS office.


.

of course not you have to pass a test

besides it is clear that the GOP would throw them in the street so big business could profit from paying someone else half and pocket the difference.

only the radical right votes against their own best interest

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by whell

There has been a history of Japanese protests in Okinawa, but I certainly doubt the Japanese government would be in favor of the US closing down the facilities there.

Actually it is the Marine Corps that refuses to close it.

[whell]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Actually it is the Marine Corps that refuses to close it.

No, that's not what I mean. There is resistance by the US Military to move the base. The Okinawan locals just don't want the base in their backyard. They want it moved. The US and Japan have had an agreement in place since the mid 2000's to keep the base where it is, so there's a contractual issue as well.

My point was that the Japanese leadership doesn't want an absence of a US military presence in the region - more to your prior point of the US being a "world police force."

[whell]

Originally Posted by noonereal

of course not you have to pass a test

I guess no one on the right could score low enough!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by noonereal

of course not you have to pass a test

besides it is clear that the GOP would throw them in the street so big business could profit from paying someone else half and pocket the difference.

only the radical right votes against their own best interest

As to this test, are the instructions written on the bottom of the heel?

Chas

[Charles]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Just a couple of points;

SS funds itself, it was the pols who stole the money and left IOUs

Medicare probably comes close to funding itself, I am sure that I am not the only one who pays over $1100 a year for a flu shot. They have raised the level of contribution since I joined. Funny part is that it was a Republican administration that insisted I take SS at 65 although I would have preferred to wait until I retired at 73 simply because they got most all of it back in taxes..

In case no one noticed a goodly number of the countries where we have military bases would just as soon we went home, Okinawa for example. The idea that we are the world's police force is a legend in our own minds.

Don't feel bad, we're paying around 16K per year and I don't even get the flu shot. And if I do get sick I take Fish Mox.

To be fair, my wife does use it, but her tab is nowhere close to 16K.

Blood suckers.

Chas

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by whell

I doubt you'll find many "righties" staffing your average SS office.

Because a "rightie" would still see SS as a "hammock" for deadweights rather than a benefit for those who have worked their entire lives. Until he finds himself drawing from it, of course. Then, it's his money and he'd better damn well see that check right on time. Isn't that how it works?

There has been a history of Japanese protests in Okinawa, but I certainly doubt the Japanese government would be in favor of the US closing down the facilities there.

Right. Because then they would have to pay to defend themselves. Right now, they have people like you duped into thinking it's our patriotic duty to pay for it. Buff chested militaristic pride in being a "superpower" and all of that childish nonsense.

Dave

[piece-itpete]

The first place I'd look is at actual government payroll outlay.

Staff cuts, pay cuts, benefit cuts, unneccessary divisions....

Like a business.

Pete

[whell]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Right. Because then they would have to pay to defend themselves. Right now, they have people like you duped into thinking it's our patriotic duty to pay for it. Buff chested militaristic pride in being a "superpower" and all of that childish nonsense.

Dave

So, you don't think its in the USA's interests to have a military presence so that we're capable of managing our interests in the region, support Taiwan (as we're bound to do by treaty) in case of attack by China? Do you think Japan could defend themselves against China it push came to shove (not an unrealistic scenario given the history of these two countries)?