Marlene, spending $1.08 trillion on two wars has nothing to do with the COLA for Social Security, Retired Military and Federal Employees. Measurement systems put in place adjust Social Security, Retired Military and Federal Employee pensions back in 1975 are simply and effectively making those adjustments. I would contend that the measurement system be reviewed, especially for seniors born before 1945 and the ability to self fund retirement funds. Social Security was not intended to be THE Retirement Plan, but part of a retirement plan. With the advent of IRAs in the 1980's providing tax incentives to save and invest for retirement, benefits should be reviewed per beneficiary and eliminated for those of us who have the means to provide for our own retirement. I would also recommend adjusting social security based on market basket items that directly affect Seniors for example a market basket that contains medications and medical care.

Federal and military retirees market basket should be based on the current market baskit. Then as federal and military retirees qualify for Social Security, they would be eligible for combined benefits from Social Security and Government pensions based on two different market baskit. I'd like to remind you and everyone else on this thread that it is not unusual for Government Retirees (to include Military) that are over 65 to be drawing over $60,000 per year. That is based on an E-7 retiring at 20 years and drawing Social Security. An O-5 (Lt Colonel) would draw over $95,000 from Retired Military Pay and just a lowball estimate of $19,000 Social Security ($1,585/month social security) and eurika! You have a 6 figure retirement income. Most Americans do not have anywhere near that level of security that government retirees have with combined governemtn pensions and Social Security Benefits. I won't get into whether it is earned or not, but it was an enticement to get people to volunteer to serve a particular need for our country, therefore it is a mandatory budget obligation. I just suggest we review the program.

For example, for the last two years, Congress approved a 3.4 and 3.9% pay COLA raise for active Federal Employees and Adtive, Reserve, and Military members. Yet the market baskit was not the drive for the pay increase, it was political. If the market basket had been the justification, then Federal and Military employees would NOT have recieved the COLA's. The irony about the COLA's for Federal and Military is there was no change in performance even while the rest of the economy contracted and civilian wages decreased over the same period. The Military COLA rasises was approved simply because if they had not then politicians would harp the opposing side was soft on recognizing the sacrifices of our military members at war. Bull hockey - none of us were drafted...like in Vietnam, or WWII, Each and every military member decides to enlist or apply for commission for personal, patroitic, reasons - and decides to stay for those same reasons. Granted some members were prevented from leaving through "Stop Loss" programs, but that program has been largely completed.

Bottom line, If the justification does not support Social Security COLA raises, I'd have to question any Federal Employee and Military COLA for FY2011 - our Federal Budget should not be a means of enrichment when market baskit surveys do not support COLA's. The dollars saved in the budget in 2011 are compounded on following year Fiscal Year Budgets.

This is infuriating. Based on the original intention of SSA, IF politicians were not allowed to tap the fund to finance their porkbarrel schemes/ scams, promising to restore them "later"............

There should be an obscene amount of money in the SSA fund, given contributions and interest over how many years ??

I'm certain that if left absolutely alone by thieving vermin politicians, the SSA fund could recover in relatively short order.

Vote pork-barrelers out of office, establish some laws to protect the fund from such pilfering, having consequences with real teeth..........long prison terms at hard labor, and barring from future office.

Rant over..........for now.

if congress was not so greedy wanting to finance their own porkbarrel projects and to line their own pockets, leave ss alone and it can take care of itself.

I bet congress gets a COLA this yr.

Marine24 - Congress voted against the automatic FY2011 pay increase for itself back in May 2010. See "No Pay Increase for Congress" (Yeager, Jordy. May 15, 2010). President Obama signed the bill into law.

So if you really made that bet...you lost. I'd bet you could do a better job checking the facts next time instead of just stating an unfounded opinion.

The simple truth is we can't afford either - and at the very least, we can't afford one because of the other.

If the Yankees can wind the World Series twenty times, the Cubs should be able to win it just once - but they haven't. Your kind of non sequitur comparisons are exactly the kind of head-in-the-sand denial that's preventing elected officials from being forced to do anything to change - and you're only inviting the sky to crash down sooner and harder.

Of course, they can't extend a COLA to us while they are much too busy giving themselves one! (This is really reminiscent of what the Big Boys in the financial industry did for themselves when they were given the 'keys to the castle' by our leaders.)

Reform SS so that it benefits those that depend on it, or extend tax cuts to the rich?

What do the Republicans/teabaggers hold dear?

The election is a foregone conclusion.....or is it?

do awaay with it would make more sense

The GOBP, Party of No is responsible for this phenomena, over the last 30 years.

The COLA for Social Security is based on economic indicators such as inflation, which we are not experiencing, bur regardless it is not determined by either Party.

"How is a COLA calculated?
The Social Security Act specifies a formula for determining each COLA. In general, a COLA is equal to the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. If there is no increase, there is no COLA." - http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/latestCOLA.html

And even if Dems could give more than $250 to compensate (as they did last year), I assure you the GOP would filibuster it. Ultimately the Republican/Tea Party want to dismantle Social Security all together.

So, why do the elderly support Republicans? My mother is on SS and complains about not getting a COLA. I explain to her about how this is determined. She almost understand for almost a minute.

Then she rants about how Social Security is not freeloading because my father paid into it all his working life, and how Medicare is not for free because she pays a premium along with gap insurance.

Okay, so why not expand Medicare for more folks since it is a fee-for-service program? Oh no, that "Obamacare" stuff is something bad. Unlike Access or something she may need to use.

Then she promptly goes to the polls and votes for Republicans.

Maybe improved education is what we need in this country. I don't know how else to explain the conservative phenomenon of voting against their own best interests. Definitely it explains why people can't find Afghanistan on a map. Too bad they can vote--scary.

true What a laugh..."It is not determined by either party". The socialist dems are in the white house and in control of the congress.....Give them another freebie...they cant be responsible for anything....It is ridiculous to say that there has been no inflation in the cost of living. Dems in congress certainly will get another raise that they will vote for themselves and so will gov employees...Dems are for the little people??? What a lie...You are lying to your own mother and she doesnt believe you. Why would anyone???

Get your heads out of the sand...Congress voted not to give themselves a raise both last year and this year.

AF Chief

Get your head out of the sand! There health care insurance did not go up 1 cent ours did. Their staff budgets increased both years even though no inflation etc. So where did the left overs go?? Also they benefited from numerous other bills they passed.

The government has it dicked

They have a job don't they? Many don't

They have Healthcare coverage don't they? Many don't

They will have a nice retirement won't they? Most of us won't

Who is paying thier salaries, health care, retirement....US

I am personally so sick and tired of our government, its corrupt and we are going down the tubes because of their incompetence. They will take away money from those who founded the governments income but then give it to other countries while people here are suffering

Whats wrong with this picture??

bobyoung, do you have proof the Congressional Insurance program did not go up one cent? I can vouch for my Tri-Care Medical - it did not go up one cent, but my Delta Dental did go up by $36 annually.

MIMAmericanMom...please enlighten us with proof of government corruption. You know, if you can prove corruption, you could receive an award as a whistleblower under the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Prevention measures.

It is so easy to complain and make wild accusations. And yes, Congressman Rangle (D) NY is being investigated before the House Ethics Committe for improperly taking money. Another Congresswoman from Texas is being investigated for inappropriately awarding scholarships for the needy to her nieces and nephews. These are two examples of corruption that the House Ethics Committee is investigating to determine if there will be action against the Representatives.

But by-and-large our elected officials in both parties are pretty professional. It has to be pretty hard to keep your head about you and know when and what is ok and what is not ok to take when faced with so many private special interest. Some cannot resist lucrative offers that their elected power enables them to exploit. But that is hardly an indictment against the whole Congress and government.

Pretty amusing AF Chief, You ask me to cite corruption and then you list 2 elected officials under investigation and lend the excuse:

"It has to be pretty hard to keep your head about you and know when and what is ok and what is not ok to take when faced with so many private special interest. Some cannot resist lucrative offers that their elected power enables them to exploit"

They are supposed to be a representation of the the people for the people. I highly doubt that the majority of Americans feel they have done even an adequate job. I personally am tired of the 2 parties. Their objective is to make each other look bad and it does not matter what the outcome is for the people as long as the party is victorious.

I think it is disgusting that this country can provide bail outs to corrupt banks, allow its citizens to be monetarily raped by insurance companies which by the way appear to be running his country and making health-care nearly impossible for Americans, tell people that it is their obligation to give up their cost of living increase when they worked 20+ years for their retirement but understand that we are sending millions of dollars of your hard earned money in aid to another country and allow families to be without any health-care coverage.

We are in a recession and the Americans are suffering. Why don't they provide the same health-care coverage they themselves have. What is the message here, you cant afford it but pay for ours? They tell everyone they need to buy health-care coverage but exempt McDonald's the largest wealthiest franchise in this country by allowing them to have a waiver so they don't have to get health-care for their employees. Where is the waiver for the family who is unemployed and cant afford it? Oh ya the Americans who paid into the system and provided the money that elected officials are spending. The ones who are at the bottom of the list.

I am completely and thouroghly unimpressed. If the government were run like a responsible business, represented the people as the first and foremost importance without special interest groups and political favors then maybe the people in our country would have half a chance. It is time to stop spending the money elsewhere and fix he problems at home.

The reality is that the money for a SS COLA is being used BY CONGRESS to set up a computer system to keep track of THEIR healtcare system, NOT the one foisted on the American public.

You see, our congress has seen fit to give THEMSELVES a raise (3%), deny a COLA to our seinors, and use THE SENIORS money to fund yet another benefit for themselves.

Thanks Ol'Bummer!

This is one of the results of the new "transperancy" we were LIED to about in November 2008.

It's time to vote these SOB's out of office. Every last one of them.

So then how many of you still think "Free Health-care for All" won't get cut for seniors because they get too expensive to keep around.

Remember Red Pill or Blue Pill? Well do ya?

On no Big Brother would never ever get involved in quality of life decisions for seniors.

Or would they???

Pretty scary stuff.

those politicians in Washington are so out of touch, they dont have a clue what is going on with the average American receiving social security. They should take a trip to the gas station or to the grocery store a couple times, and maybe they will understand. What a shame we live in America, and all the politicians want to do is kill off the elderly.

It's time to look into getting rid of those in congress who don't give a damn about the people, only themselves. I see prices for gas, some food items, taxes, and many other areas going up that effect us directly. Who figures that there is no inflation?

The 'Baby Boomers' have a lot of clout. Let's get the Republicans and their buddies out of Congress (and some greedy Democrats too) and find Representatives who really care about the citizens of our country.

AF Chief - I admire your rational efforts to school the huge pool of ignorance that dominates right-wing regressives among these posts but they are lemmings that I guarantee you are getting their boneheaded ideas about Congressional pay raises, computer systems funded by Social Security benefit cuts etc. from totally false, erroneous e-mails that circulate wildly among these types and they are stupid enough to BELIEVE IT! An e-mail written by a total stranger and forwarded to them by a friend is taken as FACT! These people are too lazy to check anything out before repeating it like a parrot.

At St. Andrews Estates North, a Boca Raton retirement community, seniors largely took the news in stride, saying they don't blame Washington for the lack of an increase. Most are also collecting pensions or other income, but even so, they prepared to tighten their belts.

These are the people that we call snowbirds. They own 2 homes (free and clear) and travel back and forth between the 2 depending on the weather. They frequent restaurants, casinos and cruise ships. So WHY do they need social security at all?

More than 58.7 million people rely on Social Security checks that average $1,072 monthly. It was the primary source of income for 64 percent of retirees who got benefits in 2008; one-third relied on Social Security for at least 90 percent of their income.

These are the people that didn’t plan for their future.

Anger follows news that Social Security again won't have cost-of-living hike

Not having the increase makes her worry even more....

..and I bet she voted for Obama!

MN American Mom...if you believe you could balance the spectrum of interest in this country or even your own district better than the current elected official, then you should run for office. I personally do not believe I could balance the special interest with my own open minded political views...which seem conservate to some and liberal to others.

I posted the indictments about the two representatives to support your claim that there are representatives that are corrupt. But apparently you did not recognize that the professional body is sanctioning those individuals. But a few bad apples does not spoil the who lot of 538 Congressional members. I welcome their ideology, passion and committment. The diverse opinions in Congress pretty much meld the cross section of the US population so that all facets of an argument are available to be presented during legislation and debate.

Anyway - you just won't get it that it takes considerable skills to successfully run and hold Congressional office. Just becuase you get the title - doesn't mean you get your way...

Talk to some seniors and learn. They have paid into SS their whole working lives.

Most have worked with no cost of living raises while the businesses that they have worked for have enjoyed historical profits. Min. wage was kept low most of their working lives (which "trickled up" and kept all wages low in proportion to the cost of living) and provided wages that just barely, if at all got them by. Some worked 2-3 jobs. Many were single parents and not by choice. Social security was their only hope of savings. SS is not welfare and it is unfair to call it as such.

There are people of different circumstances and abilities that change throughout their lives. If you have been fortunate not to be hit with any of life disasters or if you are not as able or lucky to become rich, it does not mean that you are less of a human being. Many of the comments here reflect attitudes which prove that some people in our country rather judge others harshly to make up for their own lack of emotional and intellectual abilities. When you have to put others down to hide your own ignorance or to make yourself think more highly of yourself, it is time for some emotional honesty and professional evaluation. Walk a mile in someone else's shoes before getting so self-righteously judgmental.

So why is it that seniors get screwed all of the time and nobody cares?

AF chief...re your post that congress did not get a raise in 2009 and 2010....I just looked up several sources that says that they did....Why would you lie?? Since 1989 they passed legislation that guarantees the yearly raises unless they vote against it....They have not voted against it...Are you just saying stuff to protect them and hiding the truth from the public??? Why would you do that??? Not exactly honest....

They got their raise(congress) for 2009 and 2010 but voted for no congressional raise for 2011....15 dem congressmen voted to give themselves the 2011 raise...no one else did..

Wow J.A-522495! - For someone who claims to have "looked up several sources" you've got nothing to show for it on your post or would your sources embarass you if everyone knew or...... maybe you're the liar! Here's a source for you regarding that supposed pay raise Congress voted themselves? - totally bogus! The Democratic majority voted to eliminate any pay raise for themselves in 2010 - I have a link to Fact check below if you like facts or the truth etc.

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/09/a-zero-pay-raise-for-congress-too/

The last bill passed the House and died again in the Senate by all the Republicans along with 12 Democrats, like most bill's that have to do with helping small business, repealing the tax deduction corporations get for off shoring jobs, like the bill that would put a import fee on goods brought back from these outsourced jobs, that compete with goods made in this nation by Americans. By the way when has a Republican administration created any jobs above a 2.04% , or increased the middle class standard of living, try like Nixon or Eisenhower, and they couldn't get elected in the present day Republican party.

I noted that so far 24% think the Democrats killed the bill, that's scary to think there is so much ignorance out here, I guess that explains how these Tea Bag simpletons got through the primaries.

For those here who called Social Security recipients "Welfare recipients", I have to assume you have been living in a cave or a hole in the ground, or just flat out stupid. Social Security has been paid for by these people every working day of their life, it is not deficit spending, the fund come out of the monies paid in.

Palco - What you fail to realize is that the last few bills that failed "due to Republicans" (which is ridiculous because the Dems have a super majority and in these cases had Democrats joining the GOP in their disapproval), it was because there are additions to them that have nothing to do with the bills in question, be it DREAM Act or starts to Amnesty, attached to the bills.

Also, SSI is paid out to many people who have never paid into the system. One of the most popular examples is Obama's Aunt in Massachusetts who receives an SSI check and paid housing. Not to mention many people who put small amounts in and take out much more than that.

MytJoe2134

First of all the "Dream Act was in the Defense bill, I was not referring to that bill in particular, Majority means nothing anymore except the republicans vote in majority against any bill brought forth by the Democrats, including the bills they have been previous for, there are 420 bills that have been passed in the house, many dealing with repealing tax exemptions for corporations cost in outsourcing plants and business's, The Repubs have threatened or have filibustered them all, there have been more filibusters (in the senate) and threats of filibusters in the last 20 months, than in the last 30 years...all by Republicans, and if anyone believes it has been done for any other reason than starving the recovery and protecting corporations ability to continue to out source jobs, then I say you are incredible naive, a propagandist, or 9 cents short of a dime.

On the bills that have been filibustered the quote majority have been shy by 2-4, votes in their own party, but they still had over fifty votes. This last bill was 12, I believe, and their comprised of the same group that has poisoned every bill that has been brought forth. And additions to the bills have nothing to do with their vote.

The house had a 911 responders vote with no amendments allowed, the Republicans killed it because they wanted to add a amendment that would exclude illegals, purely a political amendment, and besides that if a illegal jumped into the buildings trying to help people, or helped search for bodies and do cleanup....I could care less, in fact I would want that person eligible for help if they were sick, because when it counted they showed up, a lot more then what I can say for many in a certain political party in this crisis.

So you saying that if some, meaning a fraction of people get SS who haven't paid in much over the years, that SS is welfare ? give me a break, you want welfare look no further than Wall Street and corporate America. In November of 2009 we paid the last bill on the S & L scandal from the eighties, add up the trillions we have given Wall Street since 2000 alone for fraud, embezzlement, incompetence, and the pensions fund that have been dumped on the government by Corporate America and Wall Street.

Followers of this phony free enterprise, and phony capitalist economic system, that manipulates markets, makes hostel take overs because they can't compete or just to eliminate competition, risks the nation and its peoples money and economic security, because they are to gutless and greedy to risk their own, and come crawling for bailouts and use patriotism, or as one poet said "patriotism is the last refuge that scoundrels often cling". Like I started to say...followers of this corrupt system are like slaves who worship their masters, believing their masters will give them something .....that their masters will never give.

Mytjoe...You made a good point about Obamas aunt getting SSI and never having paid into it. There are many such situations and this is another way that gov has raided SS. SS should have only been for the workers retirement and not used for welfare. Of course some of the people in that category should be helped but it should have been with assistance rather than SS. If you want to break a program, just keep adding benefits after benefits and at some point the money will run out. The government is good at this....

Thank you, J.A.

Palco - That House Bill passed and the Senate decided to hold off on voting until after the elections.

The Republicans voted against the 9/11 bill for a few intelligent (albeit, still immoral) reasons:

1. The GOP wanted to prevent another government-run entitlement.

2. There is a lawsuit against the city, which plaintiffs eventually could have been award more that the amount provided in the bill (a provision in the bill prevents double dipping). People were supposed to declare if they wanted to get on the lawsuit or wait for the bill by September or they'd miss out.

3. The bill is scheduled to be paid for by closing a tax loophole for overseas companies, and many domestics that work overseas. The only problem is that this is envisioned to cause the loss of jobs and eventually revenue, becasue if there's no break to operate here, why would a company stay here? Then what happens to the funding for this bill? Is it still good when these people don't actually get any money because the bill is unfunded?

It seems that you're getting caught up in the whole "Party of No" thing without realizing that the Dems have been trying to run wild and that they have also laid land mines in many items to make sure they can still claim the GOP was holding them back when they voted down on items. Still many other items could have been voted on a simple majority, but the Dems (many of whom didn't support the crap they were peddling) made the bills un-passable in order to put the onus on the GOP. It happens in the government, just not like this, because the Dems have the Super Majority (in the House still, if not the Senate, after Scott Brown's election).

At some point you need to hold back the spending and make the party in power realize that these aren't blank checks they're writing. It happens on both sides and in particular this year, this government has tossed around a $1.3 TRILLION deficit... That's more than 9 years of Iraq war.

Someday, you'll realize the Capitalist system is the only one that works and allows people to be their own "master"... you couldn't do that in many other countries in the world with the opportunity for growth that you get here.

So Mike, you are saying that it is Obama's fault that these rules were put in place in the 70's? Is so, that is a very stupid remark. Obama has nothing to do with this. If inflation is down, the COLA will not not increase. But you knew that already didn't you? Just wanted to bash Obama.

For your info, last year all the Republicans (except one) voted against a one time $250 payment to assist our seniors and disabled vets. Even John McCain (the so called champion of veterans rights) voted "NO" stating; "it would increase the national deficit". This from a guy who own seven mansions and collects a huge government salary each year..

I want to know where my $250 is ? we did not get a thin dime and to those who say it was never meant to live on, when wall street stole my retirement money, what the hell am i to live on? Now i see why people are so damnewd mad, now Im voting against all politicians and as to th Social Security administration they all need cement shoes and start a very long walk eastward until thet reach the bottom, as thats where wer are now, those people have not a clue about inflation

Richard Cameron, what $250 are you referring to?

According to irs.gov web site, October 15, 2008 was the deadline for Stimulus application. Now, even the site to check the status of the Stimulus check is shut down.

For the Government Retiree Credit ($250 for single/$500 for married filing jointly and both you and your spouse received a qualifying pension or annuity). You need to file a Form 1040A or 1040 with a Schedule M. Include your credit on Form 1040 Line 63 or Form 1040A line 40.

Bottom line - you might need to file a Tax Return properly to get the $250 Government Retiree Credit or Making Work Pay Credit or Earned Income Credit. I'd suggest you talk with a tax professional to see if you are eligible for the $250 you assert you are eliglble for. If you are eligible, then find out why you haven't received it.

mike---the Prez has nothing to do with it. You haters need to get your stories straight.

Verno...You and this president will never take responsibility for anything....Mike is right...this guy is a lame duck...

J.A. Seems like you like to bash the President. Can you explain how this is in any way his fault. Hell, have you Republican congressmen vote to approve a raise, I am sure the Dems will go for it. And lame duck has nothing to do with it. By the way, 2012 is still a long way off.

Verno - Too bad you haven't a clue. The truth, as much as you will hate it, is that the COLA dissapeared due to the selfishness and avarice of of THIS congress. And yes Ol'Bummer is tied into it. Remember his promises to make healthcare debate "transparent"? But he didn't did he? The money was stolen by congress to set up a computer tracking system for the congressional members own health plan (AFTER they voted themselves a nice little 3% pay increase). IF Ol'Bummer had had the BALLS to fulfil this promise they wouldn't have even tried this as the public outrage would have scared them out of it.

Oh! Wait! I'll bet that's all the fault of Bush! Let's face it, as long as the word "bush" exists Ol'Bummer will NEVER take responsibility for ANYTHING, including his own broken promises. Worthless and weak!

Hey Steve Rutherford - Sounds like you're a sore loser still smarting over the transparent way the President publicly took the Republicans to the woodshed during the opening round of the healthcare debate!! Dems were laughing all the way home while guys like you had their tails tucked between their legs! You know why sooo many people blame George W. Dummy (and his cowardly supporters - that started calling themselves "independent" after having their butts beaten in the last two elections?) because he DESERVES IT! - still the LOWEST RATED PRESIDENT - EVER! Ha! Ha! Ha! I'm laughing AT you not with you!!

the problem is, most have alzheimers and "think" its the republicans fault so they keep voting to hurt themselves

And just look at the increases for August 2010 that really affect us seniors compared with the rest of the items in the CPI Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers chart (which is what our COLA is based upon.) SSA and Congress need to pass a bill that sets an index specifically for seniors, not urban workers. Download the table from this site.....scroll down to CPI Databases and click on "tables" icon for UWECW.

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/#tables

Meats, poultry, fish and eggs up 2.9% over the past year
Dairy and related products up 3.3%
Tenants' and household insurance up 3.8%
Fuels and utilities up average of 3.3% (depending on fuels used as much as 10.8%)
Transportation up overall 4.9% with public transportation (something many seniors rely upon) up 6.6%
Medical care up overall 3.2% (hospital and related services up 6.3%)
These are all areas that especially hit fixed income households. I'm not sure where they got the negative % for cereals and bakery products from, because the price of bread sure has increased in the last year. A lot of the negative items that helped keep the overall CPI down to where we get no COLA are NOT items normally consumed by seniors.

I haven't seen the price of ANY foods I normally buy go DOWN for the last four years....they all keep rising (and I'm a lacto/ovo vegetarian.)

Anyone who depends only on ss to live didn't plan. It wasn't ment to be your only income. Quit crying. Now the idiots out there want to have us depend on the 401 investments for a retirement. Thats a wall street boon and individuals lose. Big business has decided its workers should not have a retirement. Only the big boys deserve it. YOU on the other hand should expect to work untill you drop and die in the streets.

Not all of us seniors were lucky enough to have jobs that provided incomes great enough to invest in IRA's or 401K's (or they were wiped out in each of the stock market "crashes" during the last 20 years and took a long time to build back up if we did.) Not all of us had jobs that paid six or seven figure incomes each year, or even over $50K per year. Many of us had jobs that barely kept up with inflation. Wait until you reach retirement age and see how well you planned for it.....or were you meaning your comments to be sarcastic of the system???

The only safe retirement investment is in US Savings Bonds and Treasury Bonds, even though they don't return as much as other "investments." Forget about Life Insurance plans.....they really are nothing but a rip-off, just like Blue Chips.

tactical45, Who do you think you are, you have no right to tell seniors what they should have done, or to stop whining. We supported you, made sure you had a roof over your head, was fed ( even when there wasn't enough for us to eat as well),worked very hard for little money to make sure our children had it better than we did. We paid our dues, we didn't have 401's and pensions on some of our jobs.

We believed in our Government and what the did to us is a crime. They continually raided the Lock Box and used the money and now all thats left is IOU's, maybe what the Government should do is stop sending money to foreign Countries and start paying back the money they owe us!! :(

Sorry but that lie has been debunked in the prior passages. Obviously you didn't want to check your facts. No COLA for Congress.

Congress didn't need COLA to give themselves a raise. It was part of new ammendments added to other legislation.

I did the "research". Apparently Congress did go ahead and allow the payraise and it was the Senate that blocked it. Congress still did approve of the payraise even though they did not support it for Social Security recipients.

Unfortunately, we're all having to sleep on it...for now.

Vote Democratic and thank the President for saving our country. The shrub should be in jail. The war mongers and war criminals did this

Looks like the Democrats are making the tough decisions and being more fiscally responsible. It will be hard for Republicans to twist the no COLA and additional spending to their favor even though many Seniors misguidedly vote Republican.

THIS bed was made during the EIGHT years Bush was in!! No one can fix this big domino effect in 2 years! Get REAL!!

Andy Your comments are stupid. The Dems had no more resonsibility than the Repubs.

danceman go back to your room and play with your blocks

Come November, there will be the storming of DC ... district of corruption,, and fast becoming the District of Communism.

R Johnson, how will the storming come to DC...would that be through a free election where citizens cast votes for the candidate and party of their individual choice? Hmm... I can't see your argument of the District of Corruption or District of Communism applying to this thread. Unless you are talking about how hanging chads were miscounted in 2000...or maybe you're thinking about if people do not chose the party and candidate of your choice THEN it is corrupt and communist. But as long as we have a vote and the will to vote for our individual choice without fear of persecution, or even death...then I think your argument is based on too much fear and not getting your way all the time. Grow up!

AF...I dont know what that stands for....but if it stands for Air Force you should remember that many service mens vote did not count in the 2000 election because the dems didnt allow them....Perhaps you are the one that needs to grow up....

madashell-2494172 This bed has been in the making for as many years as the COLA has been in affect. Every government offical in office has bennifited from "borrowing" from SS since the begining.

Check out www.faircampaignreform.us for the Popular Amendment measures posted there. The election/campaign finance reform amendment does ban all lobbyists from any relationship with Congress.

Give the President line-item veto power to control the earmarks/pork.

Only a stronger executive branch can limit the corruption in Congress!

DC can't handle the power it has they need no more do away with DC altogether

And replace it with what....Does that mean you want us to do away with the US Constitution? Sounds just like the Tea Party at work.

Then vote for JOE!!

And that is like putting Bush/Cheney back in office, hehe. We don't need more of those eight years.

Harry Ried would give it to the illegals.

Keep spreading the Tea Party/corporate lies Daniel.

save the money DC steals from your check you don't need them for your retirement use your own brain for your own future I hate that they take my money that I could make grow. you will never get back what you payed in they use it for their own purposes the Rep are right to let you keep your money use your head with that money make it grow for yourself and quite relying on the government

Show me any "retirement" plan that has any more security and growth to it that SS. IRA's and 401K's sure haven't been so great since the economic collapse caused by previous administrations' mistakes (and those "retirement" plans weren't just destroyed by the last "crash". Mine were wiped out several times until I got smarter and put all of it into Treasuries. Then, I had to use that money to cover some major expenditures and that wiped out what I had been able to rebuild. Younger workers think they have all the time in the world to "plan" for their futures and that they are making wise choices (IF they are doing any planning at all.) Believe me, you NEVER know whether your choices were right until it is too late to change them.

BTW, I'd venture that your local and state governments are "stealing" just as much of your income as the feds.....but then again, maybe you want to eliminate all forms of government and go to total anarchy with NO infrastructure, no police/fire protection or EMS service, private schools only for those making enough money to send their kids to them, etc.

I would love to see government go away "anti-trust proponent". Who needs them? Personal security would be Smith and Wesson. Fire? A risk we all live with, and as you saw last week, if you don't pay your tax, it burns. Self responsibility a term the "soft" people of America know nothing about.

Not true. You must listen to beck and limbaugh...

Gotta have the Bush blamers on here! You would think by now people would stop blamming Bush!!! Just be greatfull you have your buddy obama in office! Even after obama is gone people like you will always continue to blame Bush!

And Obama will be a rock star, like Clinton. Where is the shrub?

YOU are one stupid jerk... and you just can't fix stupid!!!!

Lynn-350504

thanks, there are always 2 or 3 posters who add nothing to the blog except their inane comments.

lynn - You must be one of those posters to with insane comments! Least I spelled insane correctly! Because liberals like you can only spell one thing correctly. That is trouble!!!

ljbad: Wow, you're quite a moron. Inane is a word.

in·ane

/ɪˈneɪn/ Show Spelled[ih-neyn] Show IPA

–adjective
1.
lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly: inane questions.

2.
empty; void.

–noun
3.
something that is empty or void, esp. the void of infinite space.

On display, right here. The intelligence of the average tea bagger. Good job ljbad

realist..."unfunded wars" That phrase shows only ignorance....Can you point out a funded war? All wars are not funded....they happen. Is the Afghanistan war (Obamas war) funded??? Why dont you post against that?? It is always true that once a lib has said something stupid, the rest adopt the same stupid saying and it will be heard a million times....No matter how stupid it is..

JA:

Um, please explain in what fantasy world Afghanistan is "Obama's war". It happens to be one of the longest (or THE longest if I am not mistaken) war in American history. It was not started by Obama.

acid...It is all very simple, but I will try to type very slowly so that you can understand....The people that we went to war against are not there anymore. Bin Laden is not there any more. We have less cause to fight a war there than we did in Iraq(which was questionable). There will be no end to the conflict in Afghanistan, it is a war without end and the killing will continue as it will in Pakistan and several other mid eastern countries. We had scaled down the war until Obama blundered his way back into it without understanding anything...If we gear up that war, they will continue sending in idiot terrorists from other countries. Ask yourself what goals of accomplishment does Obama have there??? Obama doesnt know. It will not be over next year to accommodate Obamas withdrawal timetable...and then what would he do??? This is his war and your war for being his supporter....Have you noticed the increase in the number of Americans killed in Afghanistan since Obama?? Have you heard that our soldiers are not allowed to fire at the enemy except with permission and special circumstances....?

Ok, allow me to be equally dick-ish in my retort. I'll type it very slowly, so you can read it very slowly since you are a moron with a tiny brain.

Bush started the war, and we have been there since Bush started the war. Bush's war.

Just say I love you Obama a thousand times.....

Are you changing the subject becasue you have no logical argument to stand on?

Pathetic.

acid...read post 10.9 again...and again if you dont understand it. That is called logical argument...Keep reading it until you understand it...

No, I've read it enough and I understand it, and I can point out the places where you act like a know-it-all-jackass. You are very condescending in your responses, but you come off as a know-nothing conservative twirp.

Obama didn't "Blunder his way back into it". We never left. The war was escalating, because Bush couldn't finish the job. It was Bush's war in 2002, and it's still Bush's war now. Another conservative failure.

Remember, they exclude utility costs and everything else that goes up. My utilities went up 28% but my cost of living didn't increase? Propane price has gone through the roof but my col hasn't gone up?

Just think about the 336,000 job losses that weren't counted, or recognized, until this week, almost a year later and tell me my costs haven't gone up Mr. Government. I must be homosexual because I'm male and the gov't just keeps screwing me.

I don't know where you live that prices haven't gone up, but here food prices, electricity, some prescription drugs, rent, have all risen over the last year or two. This "Formula" that was devised back in the 70s needs to be changed. But I'm sure if Congress has anything to do with it, we'll just wind up getting screwed even more than we are now!

See my post above. SSA and CONGRESS need to set a new formula specifically designed for seniors, not urban workers and clerical workers. My family had to put my mother into a senior assisted living facility at a cost of over $3500/month. I hate to see what it will cost us if and when she would have to be moved to full nursing home care. Her teacher's pension and widow's SS benefits don't begin to cover the cost, so we four "kids" will now have to dip into OUR meager SS incomes to help cover the costs.

Because the formula that is being used is not a"real" reflection of the economy. Untility costs, prescription costs, co pay increases, life insurance, food, etc, etc. have not been reduced. They climb ever so subtally and we seniors, who worked all of our lives, contributed to the economy, paid our taxes, paid the governments salary, paid for all of the illegals who get free everything, have to absorb these costs. I have worked very hard to raise a family, send kids to college, pay back the student and parent loans, pay my bills on time, keep an excellent credit rating. My home value has gone into the toilet. If our government can afford to give raises to themselves, they need to look at the rest of us who are trying very hard to keep the economy going.

Very dissappointed in our leaders. I cannot blame Obama. He had this when he walked in. The rest of you are going to be voted out in November.

Sorry, not true, must watch beck...

Actually Congress, led by the Democrats, have voted to reject the "automatic" increases for themselves the past two fiscal years. Now their staff has been something else. I guess they don't think we would be angered by that.

Gramma-2493948, First, Social Security was not intended to be the total retirement plan, second congress did not vote themselves a raise in for 2010 or 2011. See the article No pay raise for Congress in 2011, (Yeager, Jordy. May 15, 2010. Third, not only did they vote no for an automatic pay raise, a Democrat led Congress initiated the bill, and President Obama signed the bill into law for two years in a row. Looks like the fiscally responsible party is able to make tough decisions and curb run away spending. By the way - no cola also affects my retired military pay as well. So I will not get a COLA either - but I'm not whinning. I expect fiscal responsibility.

Gramma, you are exactly right. I contacted my two senators here in Wyoming. I asked them how could they vote themselves raises ranging from $4700 to $5300? The response I got from one (1) was that it had been voted on previously otherwise he would have voted no...I sent back an email saying he certainly didn't need the money why didn't he refuse the raise and SET A PRECIDENT? I never received a reply. Remember, Republican or Democrat.....535 of them control what over 3 hundred million of us do. Seems a little lop-sided doesn't it?

Remember, if you do work a little to help out, you'll pay taxes on your SS which were paid with taxes in the first place.

Why is there a cap on the SS earnings? Just so the rich don't have to pay!!!

Make over $110,000? You only pay up to that amount and then you're free; while joe blow pays on every cent he makes.

Jack, I'll agree with you that COLA's for Social Security need to be reviewed. Especially the market baskit. The market baskit for seniors is significantly different than the market baskit for the median American. The significant difference lies with health care cost and personal assistance as age increases and mobility declines.

Those two items are not normally included in "market basket." Market basket items are normally food/staples bought at the grocery. You are mixing MB with CPI (Consumer Price Index.)

They want to take the country down so they can blame the poor people and bust the unions. ORGANIZE, VOTE DEMOCRATIC and Support the Unions. Oh, and Buy American!

FYI people they will start killing the poor off,wait and see,We are over populated by at least several million people,I know this for a FACT that they were supose to have us killed off by 2000.No more than 1 million people werte to be left.They will start with the week and the old.Then others.If you trust the goverment do not belive me,but watch and see,me I will NOT be taking the PUSHED flu shots,Why they pushing them hummm I know why kill us off,you wait n see,

Do you really need DC saving you money for you I don't because I know it want be there later you are weak if you need them to help you with your retirement grow up and do it yourself and get rid of DC you have a State government use it

And what is your state government supposed to do for you? Create a retirement plan for you? Oh, wait, they do that for the state employees, don't they. I'm glad to hear that you think people who don't have enough income after all of the federal/state/local taxes are too weak to plan for their retirement on their own. You must have a high paying job? I wonder how, though, with your lack of grammar and punctuation. I doubt that I would hire you if you applied for a job at my business.

Or go to the website and post your comments. I do that on a regular basis.....I even get "boilerplate" responses to many of my comments.