A Small Fact

So, we avoided the fiscal cliff; for a few weeks. Already, the Cons are revving up to demand huge entitlement cuts, spending cuts to offset the revenue shortfalls predicted for future years.

And, they threaten now to not raise the debt ceiling, vowing as the President accurately states to not pay for the spending that they did in the past.

The pesky wars not paid for, the Medicare Prescription entitlement not paid for, Homeland Security not paid for, all added to the deficit over the past 10 years.

So, they lie, straight up, about the spending. And next they lie about another cause of overspending, taking dead aim at Social Security and Medicare.

Now remember, rich people do not really use Social Security and Medicare.   After $400,000 a year, you can afford health insurance after 65, and sure don't need a Social Security paycheck.

So, the bankrollers of the Republican Party have absolutely no interest in preserving these entitlements, in fact they would like to cut them entirely. That's right, the rich do not give a damn about you, middle class retired or soon to retire "baby boomers". And, many of you are Republicans, fooled into voting against your vital self interest.

The middle class retires on Social Security to some extent; many have other pension plans as well. But social security helps to pay, say the rent, or for a new car.  Medicare is another story. Medicare is the sole medical insurance, with inexpensive supplements, that well off middle class retirees rely on. There is no other health insurance after 65 that any middle class, and upper middle class retirees can afford.

Now, the chant from the right is that the reason for the deficits, is the large baby boom retiree group. Demographics are blamed.

At first blush, this makes some sense.  But, revenue also counts here.  A huge increase in Social Security revenue and Medicare revenue has taken place over the past forty years due to the baby boom.

Millions more have paid into the system than was paid out to the greatest generation; whose numbers were down because of the Great Depression (reduced birth rate) and WWII, war deaths.

So, for years,  Congress has raided the Social Security and Medicare fund of its surplus.

And, for years, Cons have cut taxes, cut revenue, because of this surplus.

Now, because of their extravagant ways, and cutting taxes at the same time; it is "entitlements fault".

Nonsense. The Baby Boom contributed trillions into entitlements, and deserve their benefits. The generations coming behind have fewer people, and will slowly put less stress on the systems as they retire and boomers pass on.

Reform is necessary for sure. But draconian cuts are not. This can be done without betraying the trust of millions.

And, the anti-tax craziness, that still affects rational political thought for liberal and conservative alike, must give way as it finally did a little a day or so ago. This is especially true in not extending the payroll tax cut, which added stress on the Social Security fund.

Finally, somebody has to tell the American people that you do not get something for nothing. To maintain that ruse, while running a Defense Department that spends more than all the nations in the world combined, is a fatal falsehood that quite frankly is bankrupting us.