As we head into midterm elections, we at RLTV have been shining a spotlight on the concerns of senior voters. Not surprisingly, Social Security payments are at the top of the list.
This year will be the first time that Social Security pays more out in benefits than the government takes in from tax revenues. Not only that, but over the next few years, as the workforce shrinks, the number of Social Security recipients will balloon from 58 million to 100 million.
How will our government make good on the looming obligations of Social Security? I don't think the math works any longer. And that's scary to me and other seniors.
We're concerned that entitlement programs, defense costs, and debt have used the real capacity of our country. We're living in a mortgaged nation. And what irks us most about the situation is this: In our lifetimes, we've been paying things down, conserving, living with less, and saving while the government has managed to spend it all and borrow even more.
We feel as if we're hanging on with white knuckles, waiting for a sustainable solution.
It certainly looks as if any sustainable solution will call for senior America to make a sacrifice -- and we're a generation that understands sacrifice better than anyone. We've sacrificed time and again for wars, for nation-building, for recessions, for our own retirement savings. Now, once again, these same Americans will be put in the giant crosshairs of sacrifice. And you know what? We'll be up for it. We'll stand up to the needs of the nation.
But we'll need strong leadership to get there.
Every time a president has opened his mouth on the issue of Social Security, it has generated nothing but partisan bickering. Too bad. This is one issue that should be nonpartisan. Is it going to take a genuine crisis to force our politicians to stop sidestepping and get to work?
Seniors are willing to sacrifice, but only if leaders stand up and make us believe in the cause. Forget short-term fixes that make it easy for politicians to be re-elected over the next 10 years. Any sacrifice we carry on our backs will need to serve future generations, long after we're gone.
So, what I'm asking for is leadership. In times of crisis or catastrophe, strong leaders have always stepped forward to voice bold solutions, so we could unite around them. And Americans have always dug deep to find the courage to make sacrifices.
Senior Americans haven't forgotten how to sacrifice. Let's ask our leaders to not wait for a crisis in order to confront reality and get this done.
After all, there are priorities in government as anywhere else.
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In a democracy the people get the government we elect / deserve. The Seniors are most politically savvy and an active bloc of voters. So how come we have elected such pathetic leadership in and from both political parties, over the last two decades?
If seniors are serious about saving SS; and helping those in really difficult situations, they should at least be willing to consider "means testing". For too long, including right now, we want to have our cake and eat it too. Short of implementing some "means testing" seniors are not only "talking the talk, without walking the talk" about responsibility and sacrifice.
Wonderful! Finally they're acting like real Americans!
There is a great amount of fraud going on and we need to stop it NOW.
You want to vote for the disolution of SS, Medicare, Medicaid and minimum wage (from which you are supposed to save for retirement) - vote Republican and become homeless.
If you want to have SS, Medicare, Medicaid and Minimu Wage protection to continue - VOTE DEMOCRAT.
Republicans only care about what is in their wallet.
The Democrats are about caring for the general public.
So you choose !!
We are NOT our grandparents. WE will NOT be taken advantage of. WE will DEMAND accountability and what is due. WE KNOW who wants US to be 'good little folk' and 'sacrifice for the good of all' ~ bullshit.
Fool US twice, shame on US.
Alternatively, the government can raise taxes enough on the wealthy (as President Clinton did, resulting in a flourishing economy) and reduce WAR SPENDING to provide a steadily growing budget surplus. It should be quite easy to pay off all our indebtedness within 10 years with no cutbacks in either Social Security or Medicare/Medicaid.
The 'DEBT CRISIS' is a propaganda device of the Billionaire Bullies that is being used to convince the public that cuts in programs that are already paid for can be cut to allow them to continue their self indulgent extravagant lifestyles. As a nation, we need to dramatically raise taxes on our wealthiest citizens to destroy the Salivating Lust of RAVENOUS GREED that is consuming us and destroying our Republic.
drjay79: The senior drug program is not anything I can use. I only take one pill a day and that prescription costs me $10 for 3 months so $40 a year doesn't break me.. I also take 1 vitamin a day. It may be a good program for those who take a hand full of pills but a waste of money for me.
Anyway, jumping on the seniors is a popular stand right now for many politicians during a heavy election year, 2011-2012 won't be any different. Don't let people scare you, keep e-mailing your Senator or Congressman, they would be stupid to go against the "Grey Panthers" as we used to be called.
Get what done Mr Erickson? Is this what the voters signed on for ? Did we elect politicians to squander our retirement and survival mechanisms? I have practiced conservation, living within my means and sacrificing since the 70's oil crisis. I can't tighten up my belt any further. Americans need to demand that our leaders lead us to a better life not a life going backwards that erases all gains made.
I think Americans NOW need to be asking our leaders / politicians to personally make the sacrifice! Not by giving up cost of living raises, but by reducing "their" salaries, reducing "their" standard of living. Politicians and leaders need to LEAD BY EXAMPLE!!! Lets ask the leaders who have profited obscenely for decades to reverse those gains just as we American citizens are being asked to do.