The Tea Party Is a Religious Movement

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please enlighten me on specific misnomers. True people pay into the system. The misnomer is the assumption is that system was rigged to be "fair" and that it is somehow not an "entitlement".

It's not fair. Those who pay the FICA tax max get a smaller percentage when they draw compared to those who pay very little into the system and get a much higher percentage when they draw.

A person can work 10 years in their "career" barely earning $1090 per quarter each quarter and satisfy social security's 40 quarter of coverage requirement and essentially entitled to draw a benefit heavily weighted in their favor. Furthermore, the will be entitled to a benefit increase through aged supplemental security income (SSI) when they reach a certain age. FYI ... SSI is funded through general tax revenue and not from FICA taxes. Despite the anemic amount they "paid into it", they are entitled to draw Medicare at age 65. But since their ongoing monthly benefit is perceived as nominal, these folks are entitled to Extra Help with their Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. Of course, in their advancing age, they will have health concerns and, as expected utilize their full Medicare entitlement.

Assuming the combined total of a person's monthly aged SSI and SSA benefits is $672 per month. Begining at age 65 the person lives to age 85 (5 years beyond US male life expectancy). That means that a person who paid $48,000 in the system will draw, through "entitlement", $161,280! That's a $113,280 return on a $48,000 investment! That doesn't factor the thousands spent in Medicare outlays or COLA adjustments. Not a bad entitlement. What a country!?

Don't even get me started on SSA disability where a 30 year old "meth head" is "entitled" to $1,200 per month for the

rest of his life and each of his 4 illegitimate children will draw $500 per month till they graduate highschool. Sure he has to be found "disabled". But is he truely disabled after you consider the agency is filled with liberal administrative law judges that, as a matter of ideology, make it a point to error on the side of caution and overturn DDS denial decisions. The classic, rationale, "self medicating as a result of mental ilness". Is that the reason he hit the pipe . . . to medicate?! Yes, that must be it. The rationale that anyone who does meth is sick in the head would be more appropriate. At least that's understandable.

You can certainly maintain a meth habit on $1200.00 per month. All you have to do is invest all of your $1200.00 to purchase a supply, then re-sell the meth at a 100% mark-up. Presto . . . you stay in meth AND your making money on the side tax free. After all, you'll get another $1200 next month, the month after that, and so on. You don't have anything going on during the day, so why not? What a deal?!

David of ID 4:09PM August 18, 2011

Senator barry’s involvement:

“The 2005 Energy Policy Act was one of the friendliest ever with over $10 billion in handouts. It lets oil giants pay federal royalties in barrels of oil and grants exemptions on some wells, subsidizes a new R & D program for ultra deep water drilling and unconventional oil and gas development, creates hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax breaks, increases what oil and gas companies can deduct on pipeline expenses, provides more liability protection besides the $75 million cap (established by the 1990 Oil Pollution Act after the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, an amount too small to matter)."

“As an Illinois senator, six months into his term, Obama supported it, an early clue to where he stood, and how he hoped to gain - the usual "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" payoff.”

“It worked hugely with BP, the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) reporting that its employees and political action committees gave more to him than to any other federal candidate in the past 20 years.”

“During his 2008 campaign, CRP reported that the oil and gas industry overall gave him $884,000, more than any to other lawmaker except John McCain, and no wonder. His Senate voting record showed what they bought:"

“the right of mining companies to strip mine everywhere, including on government lands;vast new powers and handouts to the nuclear industry; harmful biofuels production; lax regulation; and other pro-business, anti-populist measures - besides supporting the 2005 Energy Policy Act."

“Obama promised change, and delivered betrayal - evident now in the Gulf, America's greatest ever environmental disaster, fast becoming the most catastrophic in history, a shameless addition to his resume, already revealing a world class rogue and failed president less than a year and half into office. No wonder calls for his impeachment have begun, including by James Petras on May 27, on the Progressive Radio News Hour, hosted by this writer who wholeheartedly agrees.”

http://warisacrime.org/node/52692

Bill Hedges of MO 9:40AM August 18, 2011

"The Tea Party, at its roots, is anti-libertarian." Absolutely the tea party has turned out to be the corporatists, the new tea party analogous to looking out for the East India Companies interests against the rights of the Sons of the Liberty in the current scenario.

Obstructionism and the anti-government agenda has become a religion to the loons on the right. Norquist has become the high priest of the anti-tax saboteur party out to gut our government, drown it in a bathtub in his words ( we can only guess what he intends to replace it with but i'd bet he's just another greedy fascist looking to install a neo-feudalism). The plan is to kill Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, which are not entitlements but insurances paid into. Yes, the reactionary conservatives plan is to kill Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security to pay for the real problem entitlements the freeloader millionaires who don't pay any taxes at all and the corporations like GE who not only don't pay taxes but get a 'negative tax' - corporate welfare at its worst. This is what the new fangled Tea party is defending.

Larry of CT 2:57AM August 18, 2011

we just have different views as to how these programs should be administered.

i,am in complete agreement with you on the part about illegals receiving benefits.

bruce b of NV 1:42AM August 18, 2011

Now you say, "i.am glad that you have lived long enough to reap the fruits of your labors.the main thrust of my comment was that nobody is giving me,or you for that matter,anything that were not entitled to. " FYI, paying into a Insurance plan would pay more than s/s. Private s/s, few that exist, pay more. No government stealing proceeds.

As I pointed out, "Because __ barry__ said you might not receive your check if no debt ceiling agreement ???"

I did not have a "simple misunderstanding of terminology". I gave definition to give you understanding. You got definition wrong. What went wrong was allowing unqualified persons into the programs that never should have been. One Example_ Illegals.

Again, quote me, not put jumps to my conclusions. You narrow my comment SO MUCH that you respond to.

___

You now say "as to what might be done some where in the future to "tweak" these programs that still very much up for discussion".

Pelosi said she was not happy with recent agreement. but PROGRAMS WERE NOT TOUCHED !!! There is to your "tweak" idea. obama "tweak" was take $$$ 16 trillion away from hospital and Doctor pay and increase patient numbers....

Bill Hedges of MO 1:23AM August 18, 2011

i.am glad that you have lived long enough to reap the fruits of your labors.the main thrust of my comment was that nobody is giving me,or you for that matter,anything that were not entitled to.

donn;t think there needs to be a"link" to prove that point.

as to what might be done some where in the future to "tweak" these programs that still very much up for discussion.

sounds like we had a simple misunderstanding of terminology.

bruce b of NV 12:21AM August 18, 2011

brucetee_ Says 1. "there are some minor tweaks that can be done to insure that these programs are there for future generations" . What are they ? Where are they ? Off you go, into the WILD BLUE YONDER...

obamacare "minor tweaks" answer is cut $$$ 16 trillion from hospital and Doctors paid. This was a factor to try and PAY AS YOU GO. STILL CBO says America can not afford obamacare.

2. "it;s a misnomer to call these programs"entitlements"."

" Misnomer" ? WHY ???

"Definition of ENTITLEMENT

1 a : the state or condition of being entitled : right b : a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract

2 : a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group; also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program

3 : belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges "

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entitlement

Because __ barry__ said you might not receive your check if no debt ceiling agreement ???

Bill Hedges of MO 11:57PM August 17, 2011

1. "as for your view on "entitlements".

I gave definition. Do you comprehend it ??? Appears NOT.

2. "i dare say not many people share your position on the subject."

What is my position. Where are your statistics and links ?

3. "theses programs this is not a hand out"

Is that how you perceive by definition ?

4. "so this ain't no charity hand out"

Is that what definition says ?

5. "as for your stane on the subject,since your so opposed to these programs"

Do quote me where I said that.

6. "i trust that you,on principle,will decline to take part in same when you reach the age of eligibility"

Already receiving. I can't help you do not read English with understanding...

Bill Hedges of MO 11:49PM August 17, 2011

as for your view on "entitlements" i dare say not many people share your position on the subject.i repeat your off base. for people who paid in theses programs this is not a hand out.as for medicare everybody in the system pays a premium every month.i know i do,plus a seperate policy to cover what medicare does not pay.so this ain't no charity hand out.

as for your stane on the subject,since your so opposed to these programs,i trust that you,on principle,will decline to take part in same when you reach the age of eligibility.

bruce b of NV 11:26PM August 17, 2011

obamacare "minor tweaks" answer is cut $$$ 16 trillion from hospital and Doctors paid. This was a factor to try and PAY AS YOU GO. STILL CBO says America can not afford obamacare.

2. "it;s a misnomer to call these programs"entitlements"."

" Misnomer" ? WHY ???

"Definition of ENTITLEMENT

1 a : the state or condition of being entitled : right b : a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract

2 : a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group; also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program

3 : belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges "

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entitlement

Because __ barry__ said you might not receive your check if no debt ceiling agreement ???

Bill Hedges of MO 10:38PM August 17, 2011

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Scott Galupo

Scott Galupo

Scott Galupo is a Washington-based freelance writer. He formerly worked for House Republican Leader John Boehner, and was a staff writer for The Washington Times.

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