Cutting Medicare, Social Security Produces Heated Responses

The recent failure of the U.S. Congress’ so-called “Super Committee” to come to an agreement of cutting trillions of dollars from the U.S. budget is generally seen as a missed opportunity and something that will haunt the U.S. economy for months if not years to come.

One of the main sticking points in the committee’s discussion, and in general discussions past and present in Washington D.C. and throughout the country is what to do about so-called entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security.  There seems to be some agreement that action needs to be taken to rein in the spiraling costs of both programs, but little agreement on how to accomplish it.

Exclusive Poll

Now, in an exclusive poll conducted via Toluna.com, the average citizen was given a chance to weigh in with their opinions about what ought to be done.  If you are interested in voicing your opinion you can do so by clicking here (there’s no cost or obligation for expressing your opinion in the poll).

On one end of the spectrum are respondents such as “Ifritz” who says “they should never cut medicare or social security it makes no sense to take away from the ones that have nothing.  I feel that they should tax the rich much more. They could get rid of the deficit completely that way without hurting the poor any more the they are already hurt … I was working all of my life paying in the max to social security every year. Now I live on social security disability. If it was not for that we would be homeless.”

On the other end there is “chefjay” who seems resigned (or maybe is taking a tongue-in-cheek view) to cutting or changing the programs: “Quite frankly It is gonna happen one day anyway. So lets just do it now and forget about it in the future.”

In between those views are a lot of heartfelt thoughts.  Here is a selection of them.

• Susanne Stibrik says “Social security is the only income for some people and they don’t even get that much each month.”
• “These plans are needed for basic human necessities and health. Many workers have paid into these much of their lives expecting it to be there when they need it.” – From MissMe19670
• From “abaconw48026” comes “it is not a good idea at all because the idea of Medicare and Social Security goes back years and to change that now would be the same as any pyramid scheme where people are convinced to invest money only to find themselves robbed when it comes time to get the return on their money. The U.S. budget can be balanced in too many other ways such as cutting salaries of those who have been receiving both a government paycheck and civil service pay at the same time or those who are presently being paid more than the budget can afford to pay them, as in the case of those elected officials who are already millionaires.”
• “Bob L” says, “as one soon to be eligible for Social Security and Medicare I’m willing to give it up for the good of my country. My generation has been too greedy over the years and it’s time we give back by sacrificing for a change.”
• “Our safety nets should be left alone and a more useless project that is harmful to our environment should be cut from the budget. I can not stand watching firefighters beg for money donations in the middle of the road during rush hour because the state can not fund their precincts our routes.” – From “Signs3”
• “Entitlements MUST be cut drastically if this country is going to survive,” says “Ocalaman.” “The proposals I have seen will not affect those currently under either system, nor those within five years of going into either system…. The systems will be cut over time so that younger people can prepare and plan appropriately. Later ages of qualifying, gradually implemented, along with gradually rising costs and/or gradually lower benefits.”
• “I can’t understand why a young person (even someone my age) whose life expectancy is currently 78 and will be more than 80 by 2050 can’t accept moving the retirement age for social security to 68 years old,” says JonathanPurple” . . . As far as Medicare, I think any honest person should realize that the wonderful program needs changes so that it remains sustainable for future generations … first, get rid of the fraud … second more means testing … and finally, tell the politicians to stop using scare tactics for short term political gain.”
• From “Kneadafix” comes this: “I think it’s sick that the people that have put the most into our economy, are the ones our government is willing to take from first. You can receive social security after you’ve paid a certain amount into it, the more you pay in, the more you get back… How is it possible that a promise, that our citizens have PAID into all their lives, by our government can be broken so easily?”

The poll generated one of the largest numbers of responses in the history of this writer’s conducting polls via Toluna.com.  Clearly the subject is one that many people are passionate about.  If only that passion would be the same among the members of Congress who are being urged – not to mention paid – to do something about it.

If you’d like to express your opinion on the subject, go to http://us.toluna.com/opinions/1082011/What-think-idea-cutting-medicare-social-security.htm?so=RECENT&p=3

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