The fear of losing my social security is overwhelming, and the trauma they’re causing to millions of Americans is too much to bear. I’m glad you’re here to talk me off the cliff - so I’ll keep reading your posts. Burying my head sounds good but not an option. At least for me. Thanks, again and again and again.
I will do whatever I can do but I’m not an optimist. We all have our strengths. I thought I would be able to bury my political songs but now they are more relevant than ever. I will be going into a recording studio to professionally record them then try and promote them. I’m not in it for the money.
I don’t have faith in court pronouncements. Remember Andrew Jackson’s statement, “John Marshall has made his pronouncement. Now let him enforce it.” Trump aspires to be like Jackson. I believe Trump or his VP will attempt to end elections and turn the executive into a dictatorship. As I early said, better to have had the good generals stop the election then to allow it. A no good option but better to have prevented this monster from ruling.
Amen. Well stated. We need a project 2025 and not depend on a favorable turn around election in 2026. Trump must stop a 2026 election because he knows his coup has failed if we do get to vote in 2026. I support Joyce’s encouragement to be as proactive as possible now, but at the same time hope and pray that the new DNC officers will realize that they need to act with urgency now, in 2025. We can do our part now as Joyce suggests, but the DNC has to launch an all out attack now and not waste time.
Tomorrow is Presidents Day so all who get the day off need to be at a local courthouse, a state capitol or in DC protesting! Move and make noise. Don’t forget your Representative or senator’s offices as well. All good targets.
It seems a bit discouraging to me to think that all we can muster by way of endurance is a one day boycott, and about a week to stay off Amazon. Seriously? I quit buying from Amazon and it was awkward at first but that's all. Just a bit more effort to get set up with other places. As to a one day boycott, I normally go days without buying anything so I'll hardly notice. I know the point isn't for Me to notice but for the banks and businesses and somehow the administration to notice, but I'm more than a bit disappointed in our collective wimpiness in that regard.
I don't expect to ever have another fair election with the winner chosen by We the People. I do expect that our votes in 26 and 28 will be compromised and Congress will stay red, he will remain in power as long as he wants or is told to. I don't know what power we really do have that could make a difference.
Agreed. Elections at best may be similar to those in Russia. Additionally, gerrymandering has rendered most House seats solid blue or red, with a very small percent considered toss ups. As for the Senate, '26 is a tier 2 election. Of the 33 that are up for re-election, 20 are R and 13 are D. Of the 20 R seats, 19 are in strong to very strong red states. The one possible switch is Collins in Maine. Of the 13 D seats, 12 are in strong to very strong blue states, with Ossoff in GA as the most likely contested seat. Citizens United changed everything and now musk will primary any R not strongly supporting trump (it will only be a small percent of his $300M 2024 investment) and do full frontal assaults on Ds, blaming any of the issues that will be widespread and pervasive leading into 2026 on Ds who will have prevented trump from successfully completely dismantling the "deep state". The only hope by then is his supporters are feeling the depth of cuts and overturning democracy, but with SM algorithms and people not paying attention, will it really matter?
There was no voter cheating found. Use of social media and our ignorant over use of cell devices to spit out lies did it along with Biden’s inability to understand optics after spending a life in a business where optics is the difference between success and failure.
there was massive voter suppression and removal from the rolls especially in key swing states. Reported by Galant, see Thom Hartmann interview. This guy is not a conspiracist. 4.6 million taken off rolls. And "vigilantes" in those states trained by GQP to challenge voters of color so their votes would not be counted. And see what occurred with the early vote in Clark county NV - so strange that Harris never cracked 45% in any precinct.
Yes. There was massive voter suppression efforts made across all the states that hold more importance in elections than the people. Also, keep a wary eye on the North Carolina Supreme Court seat that was won by the Democrat but the republican snake running against her STILL HAS IT TIES UP IN COURT AND WANTING TO THROW OUT 60,000VOTES PRIMARILY IN BLUE COUNTIES. The republican legislature has also voted to turn the head of the state election board over to republican control.
This is the current power play by republicans in North Carolina that they plan to implement nationwide. Just watch.
As told by Thom Hartmann on substack, Greg Palast via his Palast Investigative Fund and also carried on Greg Palast.org has done an extensive report on the extent of voter suppression in the 2024 election. Voter suppression has been rampant and sanctioned in states for years and the little creeps are still avidly at it. Palast’s report has found several million Harris votes simply trashed due to various state voter suppression laws or rules. I was stunned when I read his report and just as stunned that it was not made public.
The D's did not address all voters, and those left out voted for the one that did. No discussion for me. President Biden did understand optics. He has too much direct experience and intelligence not to. He was in no way the one making such decisions. That was not the only huge mistake someone on his team made.
In 2020, ~158,600,000 people voted. Of that amount, ~81,200,000 people voted for Biden. ~74,225,000 voted for DA commonly known as Trump. ~3 million voted for "Others."
In 2024. ~155,522,000 people voted. Of that amount, ~77,300,000 people voted for the DA commonly known as Trump. ~75,019,000 people voted for Kamala. Again, ~3 million voted for "Others."
Right off the bat (high in the left field [oops, wrong picture]), did we have fewer voters who left the country or died, etc. or did ~3 million not vote? And again, looking at voting for "Others?" ~3 million voted for "Others" just like 2020.
The issue here is the ~3 million who did not vote (155 million in 2024 as compared to 158 million in 2020. There was a huge selection of Others in 2024. Moreso than 2020.
Now everyone else may have a different perspective, I am looking at the numbers as taken from Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections. Google it and you can find it.
There will be a test on this next week, so all of you should study the numbers.
If you don't want to an optimist, please don't share your negative thoughts online. Words are powerful because they can create actions either positive or negative. We need positive actions. Just cheer the rest of us on in your private thoughts. We will win this fight. Thanks!
My deceased husband was from MASS. He did a lot of family research. It seems there were brothers who immigrated together but went their separate ways once here. If I recall right he has documentation going back to 1600s. I am living in Minnesota If you want to discuss this please email me at sharonhaskell2021@gmail.com. In the meantime enjoy your nice warm weather! it is 2 degrees and headed down,
“ Just because it doesn’t feel like we’re in the middle of a constitutional crisis—Trump isn’t dramatically crossing out broad swaths of the Constitution with his sharpie marker in a made-for-television moment—doesn’t mean we aren’t there.”
I would say his attack on the 14th Amendment and his impoundment of parts of the federal budget. Article I clearly defines the Congressional “Power of The Purse,” and Trump ran into a buzz saw when he tried to redirect money to build his stupid Wall. That was back when Congress had some semblance of a backbone. It fought, they lost.
There is a huge collapse coming at us as many people lose their jobs due to a too-old-president who really can not think or get it right. He is in it for himself. Biden was the far better choice.
You have to get angry about all of this. Pen a letter to your congressional representative and your senators. Get angry with them but be articulate in detailing what you are angry about. Don't let them off the hook. Democrats need to listen to your anger too. Where the hell are they?
We are sitting here listening to an illiterate president and a South African who has no political or legal foundation for what he is doing. His being there shows us just how weak Trump is today.
Jan and I are on SS also. We worked until we were 71. We can live off of it. Too lose it would mean we would have to live off of our saving. It was not planned to be this way. Somehow this will work out if we all push on our political representatives and senators.
Then there is us . . .
Do you recall what happened when one plane was hijacked by terrorists? The passengers rebelled. They took a serving cart and rammed the terrorists and got into the pilots area. The plane did crash but not into the Capitol or another building in D.C. It does show you when people have the courage to fight back.
This old Marine Sergeant is not ready to give in to an illiterate president and a South African. Do not let circumstance cause you to give up. Fight back. I will be with you too.
Thank you for your kind words - it really helps. I suspect many of my representatives (I’m in Queen Creek now - ugh) are tired of hearing from me. I’ve been in their ears since 2010. But I’m still involved and spend a bit of time at the Capitol. They roll their eyes at me. I call that a success. My son is a Marine, too - served in Fallujah.
I served on the Constitution and reincarnated in time for the Vietnam conflict. I could part your hair at 500 yards with metal sights. My Scoutmaster taught me well.
The Corp trained me to be a crypto tech instead. Left in 71 and married a young woman of 20. 54 years later, I think she is finally, finally adhering to what I say . . . maybe? It is give and take.
As you must know by now, there were tough times in the sixties and seventies. We survived that and Nixon too. Keep your eye on the goal and move towards it. Women are stronger than men. Stay focused.
I am in Maricopa. We bid om homes in Queen Creek, $10 thousand over and we were still out bid. I am happy where we are. We are grandparents to the people around us. A Mexican family takes us in and regards us (Italians) as family.
My scoutmaster taught me how to shoot using M1s. I liked the M14, They were betting on me at Ebsen range. Made me nervous and I kind of let them down and did not break the range record. Those few weeks were fun while it lasted.
With your background, we need YOU to help us organize. Many left of center professionals/white collar/blue collar workers and retirees without that skillset, but who are terrified and pissed off and ready to act, to protest, to boycott, to strike.
I work with these systems (Treasury)so for right now, because some of the largest finance centers are dialed into payroll taxes and the Social Security Trust has your money, my money everyone’s money invested at 8%- all Muskrat and 45 can do is borrow against the Trust up to 6 Trillion. But I don’t want it to get to that point. It is past the point.
Speaking of, I decided to become a day trader to take advantage of ups and downs and finally I’m reaching my financial goals which I should reach within a month. Then I will pare back to protect it. I wish I had taken this direction years ago. Right now, the big money is betting on more money but I anticipate a change coming at some point soon. Inflation and a likely major recession which is very over due. I sense that my legal protests will eventually get me arrested but that another story.
What government did to Social Security from the beginning is unconscionable….I realize you hate Musk and the other one but they walked into a set of books laid out this way for decades….8% is pretty good….but the problem is we are paying the 8% as well right….we are paying ourselves that interest how crazy a freaking system is that when we are sending 2 billion to Somalia…? Right or no? Once we stop giving to Somalia that’s 2 billion more we get to use to pay down something….no? Or what’s your logic of what to do besides …….
Nope- how are we paying ourselves the interest? What did government do to Social Security? Please explain - I want to make sure there is not any misinformation here.
Ok but you have to do some of this homework on your own …..look at Daniel Solomons post with a video..it’s quite good…if you’ve looked at the SS set up…Every American has paid in and every employer has paid in on our behalf …small businesses pay in as well. The easiest way to understand it is the government get the money we pay into Social Security from our paychecks they get the other half from our employers our employers are paying another half into the government for our Social Security. That money sent to the government then that money is used to buy treasury bonds. When the government buys the treasury bonds, guess where your money and my money and our employer money that was sent in on our behalf goes that money goes into the treasury. They may call it another name whatever they call it and I love this a trust fund. You’re essentially a trust fund baby right and now that money is used for government spending to fund various programs, including, but not limited to defense. Education infrastructure all the programs.From an accounting perspective it looks like the treasury is not directly using the Social Security money for these programs instead, it’s using the authority to borrow from Social Security, as well as other sources to fund government operations and what they call the Social Security trust fund is it is that stack of treasury securities that they invested in and a promise to repay that money with interest. So if you think what I’m saying is everyone from our parents grandparents now us have paid into Social Security to the government who then holds it on our behalf and what they call the Social Security trust fund. Think of it as your rich friends have trust funds the heck of a lot more money than your Social Security trust fund, but it’s the same thing they’re holding it for you so that when you turn a particular age, they’re gonna start giving you some of that money to live on. In the meantime, they are borrowing that money for all of what government spending needs they have that’s one piece of what the government uses every single day our money from our Social Security and they’ve convoluted it and manipulated the language to Social Security trust fund and they never really directly tell you that what they’re doing is using our money as government spending every year for their budget. That’s what they’re doing. They’re borrowing the money we gave them I can’t say this enough in as many clear terms as I can possibly tell you and then they’ve turned around and used it and used it so much that basically they’ve been using more money than what’s been put in so that their bankrupting it they have them bankrupt it yet but all of them every administration across the board that’s the structure that they gave Social Security. I used to call a government’s own/fund some people call a Ponzi scheme right but it made off too. He took your money. He invested it and then when he got other money, he took that money and paid you and eventually that game wears out. It was mismanaged. It’s been mismanaged ever since it started. I’m gonna say it again just because I have to, it’s so annoying we put the money in the government takes it buys their own treasuries, which means that money goes into the treasury budget. We get a promissory note that sitting in a Social Security fund that’s supposed to be paying interest and they go ahead and use the cash for government spending. And the government has been spending money like drunken sailors sending it to everyone and anyone whether it’s Ukraine Somalia got 2 billion the list goes on and on and that is what is being discovered right now. Do you understand that how much more clear do I have to be please tell me how much more clear do I have to be we are national debt is $36 trillion And the budget is in debt or what we call a deficit of like $7 trillion so they’ve been borrowing our money your your money and my money plus money from anywhere they can manage to get it to understand. Is that clear? Where is the misinformation in this? Please tell me I’m sorry that I’ve repeated myself but I’ve had to repeat myself for myself and hopefully for you to get what I’m trying to say. The one thing unfairly sure of is that in short order we won’t be taxed on Social Security any longer. There could be nothing more than that but take a look at Daniel Solomon‘s conversation he has a video from a guy who spent a long time at the Social Security division so again. Again, forgive me for repeating myself, but that’s about as clear as it gets. I used to call it a slush fund. it’s the government our Social Security is the government/fund and I find it reprehensible so I am hoping they find as much corruption and waste in the government’s budget that can possibly be found and route it all out. We have to get our own books in order first. And then we can start handing out money to the world, but we’ve handed out so much money to the world that we are $36 trillion in national debt with a yearly budget that is called a deficit of $7 trillion part of that money being spent every year comes out of our Social Security being paid in I would really like to know if this makes you as angry as it makes me this whole Social Security process. I don’t care who you hate. I wish you didn’t take people. I can’t control that. I don’t care who you blame but I do care who you blamebecause if you’re gonna blame someone at least blame the people that are contributing to the problem. Does that make sense? I don’t want you to be miserable. I don’t want any of us not to get what we are due and I sure as heck I’m not gonna sit by and let that happen if I can do anything about it, but I wanna know what I’m doing and I wanna know if what I’m doing is correct so please correct me if you think I am wrong I am totally open to it.
Government took the amount of Social Security that we pay into and they take the amount of Social Security our employers pay into and they purchase treasury notes they put those treasury notes security trust fund, and the money they took to buy those treasury notes they put in the government’s budget to use for spending so the question becomes. How is the government not us but how is the government paying those IOU to us with interest from the treasury notes they bought with our money, right. Some people have called it a Ponzi scheme because unless they’re taking the money from other treasury revenues to pay those notes that they’ve collected in the Social Security fund trust fund they’re paying those notes with the additional cash that they get from our checks and from our employers. so unless they had designated a particular revenue stream, which in general, the only revenue stream the government has or our taxes. Yes there’s fees, and there’s fees and other revenue streams, but in large part, the government functions based on our taxes. They used to get their revenues from tariffs in the late 19 early 20th century then when Woodrow Wilson cleverly came up with the income tax, he discontinued foreign countries from paying tariffs and exchange the revenue stream to government with our income tax. The important thing to note is, and you make this interesting point when you say, how are we paying ourselves the interest well any interest the government is paying on those notes those IOU’s are paid with our tax dollars does that make sense to you? I didn’t see anywhere in your question you were asking for a formula. You asked two very specific questions.
I hear you. In the last 3 weeks, my 401k has gone down and the price of eggs and gas has gone up. I was going to retire in 3 years. Not sure what that will look like now.
Look at Vanguard and State Street-I am up 22% over last Quarter. I have to hold my nose because I don’t like all my company choices for my 401K but I keep rebalancing to manage it.
Yeah, crazy how there seems to be a disconnect there. How can these Mump jamokes be trashing the foundations of the economy (seemingly) and the Market seems blase? Where's the other shoe?
The market loves the lack of regulations. There will be another 2008 melt-down because these guys are greedy and not as smart as they think. However, we will all suffer in the collapse.
The market is like an engine- an engine of a bus- as long as the workerbees go to work ( McDonalds works, buses pick up passengers, Stock market opens etc we are good. ). In 2008, the tip that kicked off Tim Geitner, the 75th Secretary of the Treasury was that McDonald’s could not make payroll and complete operating expenses. Right now the economy is growing above average. That being said we are at a tipping point globally with Indonesia joining the BRICS- goal is to reduce dependence on western dominated institutions. We need to keep an eye on the BRICS.
US asked to be a pariah nation and the other nations will respond accordingly. Clearly US cannot be trusted on any front so others ought to ice us out. BRICS is one way to do that. Other alliances will strengthen-- see what's happening in Canada, Europe just in 3 weeks. They know that we are now the enemy, not an ally.
In 2008 Obama bailed out Wall Street not all those who lost their 401k’s and he bailed them out with our money…Remember ANY money government has is from our taxes ….that may change somewhat with the tariffs like the government was run before the government decided to cut tariffs from foreign countries and charge the American People an income tax….The income tax was a 20th Century initiative.
Hate it all as so many folks are complicit. That includes me but I have little choice. The Atlantic mag had a good but frightening article on all of Hitlers financiers- Thyssen, Krupp, Siemens, IG Farben- sickening. 35 years in finance and all I want to do now is sell calendars to get away from Wall Street. Just have to be patient. I wish also that Navalny had escaped to the US rather than going back to Russia. He was our only hope as far managing Russia.
The adjudicated rapist must have memorized every step that Hitler took. But times have changed, communication has galloped ahead. The felon is not half as bright as Hitler and can't reason from point A to point B. Also, Germany, at that point, had no understanding of what a democracy was. We do. We can't give an inch, not one.
Right before 47 was inaugurated I moved my 401k$ to a money market account. I am glad I did. I am not a finance professional so I cannot give advice. However I did save what I had from losing value. So far.
Someone gave me 2 tips Zangi- encrypted messaging, calling and file sharing used AES - GCM 256 algorithm - ( ween yourself off of Meta- takes 30 days); start experimenting with holding some money in various currencies with “WISE” app.
Oh my God think about how morally wrong what you’re saying is….Penalize the people with more money than you….Why? Why? Because they have more than you? Why? If they earned it why should they pay more? Why? I am all ears for that answer. You want to legislate charity? Our tax system already does that…But please don’t tell me because they have more than you…that is morally questionable….Wouldn’t it be more fair is it were a Flat Tax …Paying the same percentage across the board…by definition the “rich” will pay more than you….why wouldn’t that be a fair and just way ….what is your rational. It sounds like you want to privilege of spending other people’s money…is that what your saying…
Flat tax- let’s assume 20%. On an income of $50,000 that would leave 40,000. On an income of 500,000 that would leave 400,000. If the cost of living for the average family is, say 40,000, low income taxpayers would be broke at the end of the year. High income taxpayers would have 360,000. How is that fair?
Taxes on high earners were very high during the Eisenhower years, as I recall, and the economy did quite well, and yachts were still sold.
High earners would love a flat tax, and low earners would be harmed.
The figures I gave were hypothetical, but the point is valid. And I did not factor in the cost of emergencies, like illnesses or layoffs.
You're not alone, SweetieP. I'm in the same boat and terrified of what may come around the bend. Even if I don't lose my SS, with the costs going up and up it'll make life very hard. I have no savings (well, $75 at the moment), no 401k, or any other benefits except Medicare. It's a scary world.
You will not lose your social security which….you will probably not have to pay taxes on it which gives you more money…but who ever is telling you they are taking away your social security has NO FACTS that is the case ….in fact all Documents show the exact opposite
Start a business- you can write off so much- cell phone; most utilities; car expenses- you need to maintain the accounting part but the thinking you have to have in place is “growth mindset” not “scarcity”- from the universe perspective you must fight against this tendency- thinking positive, and having a growth mindset puts you in a position to have more. I fight against this “small thinking” all the time- “ I feel comfortable with being small” but the times where I thought bigger- I mean immediately- everything started to clique- it was like the universe connected and helped me along in my journey with whatever I set out to. It is hard but it works.
We did something right! Our home is in a trust already. We rely on social security. It pisses me off that I have to worry about whether it will show up every month.
It is a very common process- Rockefeller used it. It is used by the wealthy all the time. Will come back to you in a bit to show you and provide references. If there is one lesson we all should take from what is happening right now is how to use the structures of law ( but staying in the rule of law) and finance to be secure financially. Good time to read about the Vanderbilts, Fords etc- you may have to hold your nose but there are some good road maps. Example: I tell folks all the time if you get a bonus or a gift of cash- lock it in and borrow against it - a lot of wealthy families did this before the IRS code came into being. They never touched the “principal” ever.
Get a lawyer. May depend on whether your state has "homestead" protection. Sometmes a court acts as a hypothetical lien creditor" if there is fraud in creating the trust and can disqualify it.
I too am afraid of us losing our SS. My husband gets a small pension. It won't cover the bills by itself. We need both of our SS to live.
Also it makes my blood boil when politicians call it entitlement, No it isn't it's our money we put into every payday. None of them seem to realize that.
It’s heartbreaking to read about your fear and I can not anywhere find in the records that that will happen in fact everything points to the fact that you will not have to pay taxes on your social security….I don’t know whose telling you that you will lose it but in fact that is one of several accounts being protected! Except for the billions of dead people who the Treasury has been sending Social Security checks to….we want that to stop right? Why are dead people getting checks that are being cashed?????? Don’t we want that to STOP?
I wish there was more I could do to help others, too. On top of all this I had my identity stolen in 2018, and I was notified by the SBA that someone opened a company in my name in 2020 and took out an EIDL loan. I still have no idea what’s going on with that - lol. When it rains it pours.
Please please get AURA- for encryption and monitoring. I will gather more info and post to help everyone. The CFPB was particularly good at telling you how to put alerts on your SSN number when it has been compromised.
Aren’t they going after CFPB employees right now? I saw an interview yesterday with someone who had just received her notice. Thanks for any info you can provide - I’ll keep an eye on this thread. Funny thing that after all the reports I had to file with the feds, local police, SBA, etc., not one of them offered any help regarding how to protect myself in the future. Sad
Well the long version of how to help yourself when you have had identity theft is to start a business and just use your EIN AFTER you lock down your Social Security Number. It could be sharing knitting techniques or offering advice as a coach the main thing is to get away from using your SSN to get credit etc. Using your EIN adds some protection. EIN is not linked or associated with your SSN. Then I would apply an LLC / Trust to that. I will do a post on structure and managing your identity in light of the DJT mess next week.
Yes, that is my fear too, Karen, along with my federal pension, which did arrive but was several days later than it has ever been in the ten years I’ve been retired from the federal courts. Social Security arrived on time. I have no confidence either will happen next month. Joyce’s writing, especially since I did work in the US District Court myself and had daily contact with our US Attorney’s office (not Joyce’s district though) is particularly meaningful and very helpful to staying off the ledge of the ledge. We are in this together.
I can find NO evidence that Social Security will not be paid in fact I believe that taxes on Social Security will stop which is a good thing…However discovering Billions of social security still going to dead people is nuts…..right we want that to stop …we can agree with them on that right?
My wife and I get several fed payments...she just qualified via the Fairness Act as a CSRS person under my SS earnings record. We'll see next month. SS usually pays 3rd wed each month.
2 trust funds. If no tax on tips, no tax on SS, it will accelerate the default date, now 2033. There is also the threat of privitization.
IMHO people on SSI may have to kiss their asses goodbye.
This used to be my subject. I've posted this several times.
For starters, the Republicans have tried to "sunset" all benefits. That "all" includes stuff like Medicare, VA, Black Lung, food stamps, etc
SS is not part of the budget. You have to understand SS is NOT a retirement program although there is a retirement trust fund that will "default" in 2033 according to the trustees. Ever wage earner who is fully and currently insured also has disability coverage that is on average worth about $ 1 MM. If the programs were sunsetted, they'd have to be renewed on an annual basis, and given politics, would die .
In a 2000 book he co-wrote called “The America We Deserve,” Trump called Social Security a “huge Ponzi scheme” that American workers are forced to pay into. He added that for future retirees under 40 at the time, “we can also raise the age for receipt of full Social Security benefits to seventy,” because “we’re living longer.”
In December 2004, just before a Republican push to partially privatize the program, Trump was asked on MSNBC’s “Hardball” whether he’d support individual retirement accounts and answered: “I sort of think I would. Something has to be done. Social Security is a huge problem right now, funding it.”
In 2012, Trump praised proposals by Ryan, then the Republican vice presidential nominee, to convert Medicare into a “premium support” system that would cap spending for future retirees and give them vouchers to buy insurance plans.
“I think Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney will save Medicare. I know they will. And people are starting to understand it. They’re going to be very happy with what’s going on, but they’re going to be very, very unhappy if Obama gets in,” Trump told Fox News at the time, reflecting on the 2012 presidential race. “I think actually if Obama gets in and if Obamacare isn’t ended, I really think Medicare will be a thing of the past.” (President Barack Obama ran against the Ryan plan and won re-election; seven years after he left office, Obamacare and Medicare still exist.)
By 2015, when Trump ran for president, he sought to position himself in the Republican field as the rare candidate who wouldn’t cut those programs. “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican, and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid,” he said as he was launching his campaign.
By 2020, it was clear Trump was trying to break the system. He offered a "payroll tax cut" designed to result in significant revenue losses for Social Security, but also to eliminate employee payroll taxes for good. That would kill both the retirement and disability programs.
Trump’s fiscal 2021 budget endorsed Social Security cuts to the tune of billions of dollars for disabled seniors. His budget would have made changes to Social Security Disability Insurance, slashing the maximum amount of retroactive benefits for disabled workers from 12 months to six. According to the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, that could lead to a $7,500 average cut for a worker injured in a car crash. The budget also called for reducing Supplemental Security Income benefits for those who live with other SSI recipients.
Trump wanted to kill the child's portion of SSI, which comes from the general funds, i.e. the budget. As president, Trump tried and failed to cut benefits drastically. Some Republicans wanted to replace the entire system. See. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Trump, House Republican Cuts to SSI Would Harm Children With Disabilities, Sept. 18, 2017, Kathleen Romig and Guillermo Herrera. https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/trump-house-republican-cuts-to-ssi-would-harm-children-with-disabilities
“The Trump proposal would cut SSI by more than $8 billion over the next decade, shrinking benefits for roughly a quarter of a million children with disabilities by between 38 and 66 percent. It would also increase SSI’s administrative costs and improper payments”.
The next year, they asked CBO to score a program "Eliminate Supplemental Security Income Benefits for Disabled Children." https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/54742 (2018)
Background
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides cash assistance to people who are disabled, aged, or both and who have low income and few assets. In 2018, 15 percent of SSI recipients, or 1.2 million people, are projected to be disabled children under age 18, receiving an average monthly benefit of $686. To receive benefits, those children must have marked, severe functional limitations and usually must live in a household with low income and few assets.
Option
This option would eliminate SSI benefits for disabled children.
Why do they have to make everything so complicated?
What would happen if EVERYONE, with no "income caps" paid the same % of their income into SS AND, upon retirement, received the same % of benefits with the following exception: The "wealthy," who don't "need" the additional income, would receive ONLY the amount they had paid into the Trust Fund -- after that, nothing. Wouldn't that be "common sense" "fairness?"
Is it a lie if Musk and his rats have access to all payments, and they decide to stop them? I dunno. Seems like they are working out how to do exactly that.
Or they move it all somewhere? or just make it "disappear" in some fashion? Seriously. They have stolen all of our personal data and are in the bank with our money and guns to our heads. Looks like a robbery to me? Why are they not in jail?
Was Musk a "rat" when he was a democrat who voted for Hillary and Joe Biden? So far, they have only "stopped payment" on corruption and misallocated funds. I certainly don't want to have to pay for those. Do our enemies have access to this information? Thankfully, I don't have anything to hide.
If Trump and Co. misuse this authority, we will know they are the enemy and charge them with Treason!
Well James what proof do you have for your claims…bring the receipts …all I’ve seen are documents proving payments to dead people, to Somalia 2 billion, and the list goes on…they can’t create these documents out of thin air…where are you documents..i mean im just asking
Because, all they have to do is keep printing more money and then, because of "true" inflation, your Social Security will be worthless. The reason for that is because they have already stolen the Trust Fund and spent it on their "pet projects." I am not interested in paying it back, so that they can continue their corrupt practices.
Readers are probably receiving Social Security benefits or will apply soon. Threats of “bankruptcy” of the two Social Security Trust funds abound in the media, and Trump Administration budgets have cut operational funding. There is reason to worry.
If Social Security is sliding toward a "default" it is because Congress and a succession of presidents would sell their families for a few votes. The default of Trust Funds is supposed to apex in 2034 due to the increase of birth rates of baby boomers. After 2034, birth rates of later generations flatten and the funds can be solvent.
Social Security protects workers, widow(er)s, orphans and disabled people and is a major investment for many of us.
Please donate to create an endowment to slow down the rate. If everyone who donates to say, universities, which aren't really charities, the trust funds would be secure.
Thank you Tim ….My heart is broken listen to the fear ….I believe the only thing that will happen to Social Security is folks won’t have to pay taxes on it soon …i hope And all the dead people still getting checks will stop…that’s billions i think right?
Ha ha, I worry, too, and console myself that all three of our kids have basements with electricity, heat and running water. Better a life underground than a life under tyranny, sez this old lady.
I don’t know a lot but I do know you will not be losing your social security …that’s for sure …what I can say is soon you may not have to pay taxes on your social security which is a good thing….I’ve researched this subject from every vantage point…you do not have to live in fear of losing your social security!
Britt and Tuberville have one great concern they share. It trumps all their supposed patriotism and their fealty to the Constitution. It is: will Musk and Trump fund a primary opponent to me if I don't do exactly as desired?
Very true, however, if they continue to vote for disqualified and unqualified nominees to head up our governmental departments, as well as damaging, unpopular legislation, their CONSTITUENTS will vote them out. So, they have a choice, and the choice is, vote for the good of the country and get primaried out, or get voted out in their next election. Either way, they lose. But better to lose with honor and service to our country, IMHO.
Whatever happened to Character? It seems like no Republican has any sense of character. Look at those Department of Justice lawyers that stood up to the Assistant Attorney General. I could not be more proud of them. How do we get that kind of leadership. They should all run for office. This is the kind of character we need in our government.
What I don’t understand Lori is that they are doing exactly what they said they were going to do…But ..as Judge Vargas just said “do you have to do it so quickly” in other words yes you told us this is what you were going to do but now your doing it so quickly…can’t you slow down? Well 4 years goes by quickly…2 years even quicker
They stuck their hand in a monkey trap. The hunter is coming with his club to knock them on the head and they just can't let go of that sweet, sweet banana.
Please pay ATTENTION to Court cases that compel the "Trump Administration" to agree or "stipulate" in a specific federal case to "Keep Hands OFF" such as 25-cv-458-ABA!
Here is the email headline is just received from Democracy Forward exactly:
➡️"BREAKING: In Response to Emergency, Trump Administration Agrees to Keep Hands off CFPB Funding".
➡️The Plaintiffs are the City of Baltimore & Economic Action Maryland Fund. Good Work!
Some federal litigation victories are much better than a "TRO". Getting "Funding" restored means human beings get back jobs & income!
Note that syntax & caps in my quotes above are per Democracy Forward verbatim.
******************
Since I love Senator Warren's CFPB statutory creation that has recovered, yes, BILLIONS, of dollars of money for consumers with an-going recovery being handled by an Administrator as I type this post. Results.
Anyway, IF I want information about a federal agency, I just call them or email the Agency.
The CFPB home page is down but, Senator Warren's baby is open (8AM to 8 PM)
but, of course NOT on Federal Holidays such as 2/17/25 -- this coming Monday.
Since I am looking for more information about my successful CFPB complaint against a national bad actor bank & the CFPB transferred my complaint to another federal agency for civil enforcement, I am going to send an email to FOI@cfpb.gov.
If want to use old tech [which can be useful] you can reach the CFPB Freedom of Information folks at (855) 444-3642. I am going to scrutinize my FOIA data for the bank's admissions against the bank's interest. This ain't over yet.
Thanks Marlene, tomorrow I encourage all of us to take at those Judges at the head of the Calvary that are being targeted now by the Trump-Musk-House R's.
Then I click on "Sunday's Top Stories" to quickly get to Andrews' post from 14 hours ago now titled "Republican move to impeach judges who blocked Trump".
or just click on the 2nd report on the right-side of the webpage when you arrive ...
Hey Bryan, I’m glad you posted all this info ….though I do have to chuckle that it’s Baltimore/Maryland whose documented history of corruption on Baltimore’s political scene is the highest across the country The cases entertaining to read ie “Healthy Holly’ etc….The next I’m sure will be Chicago…..being the second among federal public U.S. judicial districts for corruption….I wonder if New York or Cali will come in third….What folks have to keep in mind is these are still temporary holds for that particular jurisdiction which buys the folks involved on both sides time…for example if Elizabeth Warren like others who make common federal salaries but have huge net worth’s come under scrutiny who knows what will happen…
I hope they find out that primaries are not elections. You'd think, with much of the idiocy that are voting for, that they should actually worry about winning in November 2026.
Primaries are elections. If you lose the primary, you’re not on the ballot in November, and thus cannot be voted for. This is why they worry about primaries. They could, however (depending on the state) change parties and run as an independent in the general election in November. But that means no longer being a Republican and then they will lose the GOP voters, who probably voted for their primary opponent, which is why they lost the primary. Independents almost never win the general election. Thus, winning the primary as a Republican (in the case of Britt and Tuberville) is crucial.
Winning the primary is only the first step. After they win that, then they have to win in November. None of them seem concerned about winning that election. I really hope all of those who caved to trump so they wouldn't get primaried get voted out in their next general election. In some places there isn't much chance of that, but there should be enough places where the trump toadies could face a real challenge.
And in most red states, the general election is meaningless, as the Democratic party is very weak due to gerrymandering and consecutive losses down the line. Like my own state of Ohio.
REDMAP in 2010 was one of the great, if malign, bit of gerrymandering that influenced states across the country, making them essentially one party states. Ohio is a great, if unfortunate example of this. Look what happened to Sherrod Brown and look at JD Vance as two current examples. Wisconsin and even Texas fall into the same example set.
Yes, legislators could get primaried. If they've voted regularly for things that protect their constituents, though, they shouldnt be afraid of primaries. They could contrast their constituent advocacy to an unknown challenger who is only in that race because he put there. I think legislators worry more about their family's security with all the right-wing trump/musk "supporters" roaming around, plus those 1600 released from jail.
Well, I’m sure they are…but don’t you remember this is exactly what they told voters they were going to do….so where’s all this surprise coming from ….even Judge Vargas admitted it.
I also received a form letter from my senator, Sen. Cassidy..a physician who voted FOR RFK jr...I am so demoralized by his kowtowing to maggots. Here is what I fear...if I protest, will my name go on a maggot list? Will I then lose my military pension? Will maggots send me evil texts?
I am not a veteran, but I too worry. Yesterday I thought about emailing the White House to voice my concerns, then decided against it. (Even if the administration cared what I think, which they don’t.) Will DOGE use my data to flag my tax return? Withhold my refund? Put me on an enemies list?
I wrote messages demanding that my senators and House Rep expel DOGE from my government. I had a lot of trouble letting go of the worry that that put me on a list. I really haven't been able to yet. Still, I haven't gotten an answer, even the BS one I expect and I'm about ready to do it again and start calling. Putin scared Russians out of politics. We are not Russians. We were raised on freedom and democracy our entire lives. I'm 67 (two thirds of a century) and this is not just for me any more. I get the fear. I have the fear. We can only be as brave as we can be. That might be enough.
Right….I don’t think Tulsi ever dreamed she’s be put on a “Quiet Skies” list….it’s a real concern…like the Selective Enforcements list I think there’s even a list called IRS Audits of Political Opponents….but I think they just cut the workforce of the IRS so that shouldn’t be a concern…but imagine being on a NO Fly list ugh
Could be this is a way AI will be bad. It can digest vast amounts of data. Still now is the time to decide which fork one might take. Easy to say, I know. I saw Zelenskyy's response to the despicable US performance in Munich. He seems to have chosen. I will let him be my model and hero. I ask my God to give me the strength to follow.
Not to be harsh, but when it comes to that, they won't be so precise. It'll be: Republicans can pay no taxes, Democrats get audits. So eventually, everyone will be a Republican. At which point, much to their amazement, the original Party Members will find they have no special place among the rest of us serfs. In short: please don't obey in advance.
I switched from Democrat to Republican last spring so I could vote for Nikki Haley in the primary. After she dropped out, and I saw which way the wind was blowing in my red state, I decided to keep the R by my name so as not to “accidentally” get purged from the voter rolls before November. Now I’m still keeping the R by my name to avoid a mass attack on registered Democrats. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to vote Republican, and, at least so far, “they” don’t know how I vote once I’m in the booth.
I should have said "Republican", by analogy to WWII Germany, or Stalin's Russia -- you couldn't *not* be a Party member (to function above a certain menial level), no matter your actual beliefs. (Note Winston Smith in 1984: he was a Party member -- he had to be simply to be employed at MiniTruth -- but when he encountered O'Broen, then he learned what the Inner Party was).
Their next project is the IRS, and I read they’ve already fired 300 there, although I haven’t been able to confirm that . There very well may not be enough employees to process returns this year.
That’s exactly what they want you to be thinking. First rule of opposing fascism: don’t obey in advance. It takes courage to be a real Christian, and to be a citizen.
Cassidy is my senator, too. For a very brief moment I thought he would do the right thing and vote against RFK jr., but, unfortunately, he is just as weak and gutless as the others. I know why you have those fears. I won't even put out a yard sign for fear of retribution from those obnoxious idiots.
Here’s what House Representative Clay Higgins (R, La) posted on social media after Cassidy roasted RFK Jr at his confirmation hearing:
"RFK is going to run HHS whether you like it or not," Higgins wrote. "The Senate is ours, and the moment Trump decides he’s had enough of random Senators delaying our mission, JD is walking in and taking the gavel as President of the Senate. There’s zero you can do about that. We the People will not be stopped. We’re saving the country and RFK is part of the formula. So, vote your conscience Senator, or don’t. Either way, We’re watching."
This is the kind of scary 💩 I really worry about. I wonder how many other threats have been made to the Republicans in congress that we don't hear about. I hope Higgins burns in He11.
I ask our Canadian and European allies to support the 75% of us who want nothing to do with Tramp and his Muskrats or MAGATS. We have an infestation and it will die out in time, but any thing our Canadian, Mexican, and European allies can do to speed along the demise of King Tramp and his billionaire supporters and misguided cult followers is much appreciated. May god help us in our hour of need.
My personal knowledge of "God" comes from innumerable personal experiences of growing-up totally alone, with two very traumatized parents and no other family nearby, and plunked down in a rural Ohio school system. I have known loneliness as few have. I became adapted to being alone and live alone today at 79yo, a Long COVID and prostate cancer (including the mandatory chemical castration), as well as childhood sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse survivor. So, I suppose, my intimate knowledge of the creator of the universe, Mother Earth, and my Better Angels is "a gift of desperation", as well as my recovery from multiple addictions, including alcohol/pot/tranquilizers/sex/material possessions/excitement/cults/money/etc.,etc. I would have loved to have known your mother, and, perhaps, she and I will meet-up somewhere along the path. If you wish to know about my journey/life as a physician/psychiatrist, Google "Stress R Us", and download the PDF at Stanford. Have a blessed day.
Considering myself to be a "victim" is a choice I choose not to make. I would not have the tangible, palpable relationship with my Creator, my Better Angels, or my dear Mother Earth were it not for all the gifts of desperation I have been guided by.
California..West Coast and .Blue States and the EU with Ukraine plus Canada to form the super democratic state
Blue States and Canada could form a combined force to take on the Red nazi states that have been brainwashed by the Orange/South African Fuheurs to start a civil war
Where are the Obamas, Clinton's, and Bush family and former officials and generals who all swore allegiance to the Constitution? Where are the leaders who have agency in this arena? Why are you suggesting me with my magic marker and cardboard has any sway in this chaos? We need a leader. Come out of hiding and give us a center around which we can coalesce.
Instead of pointing an accusing finger at our own side, can we keep the focus on the people who are fleecing American taxpayers by rummaging around in our treasury? Each one of us has a role to play. If we refuse to do our part, why should we expect someone else to step up to save us? Join your local Indivisible group or other action-oriented grassroots group. Let’s lean into community and get to work.
We need a huge fundraising effort for our new DNC Chairman, Ken Martin. She and her husband, Doug Emhoff have huge contacts. Doug is an attorney working with entertainers. I am writing her an email to request that she start raising money for the DNC through her contacts, such as Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, etc. I will post my email on Hopium Chronicles here on Substack.
I've been getting daily fundraising e-mails from Kamala and others. To all of them I have replied: "When you write to tell me that T**** is in handcuffs, being led off by a phalanx of US Marshals, then I'll send you a donation. If you can't do that, then there will be no further funds from this donor." What was that line - oh, yeah "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this any more!"
I want to know the same thing? Why in the world are none of them speaking out. I don't understand it. It doesn't make any sense. I thought these leaders had character. Where are they? Come out and lead. That means you Obama's, Clinton's, Christopher Wray, Merrick Garland. Open your dang mouth. Now is the time when the people need you.
Sen Chris Murphy from Connecticut has been very vocal. Sen. Whitehouse from Rhode Island, ditto.
My husband made a point this evening about this country having been built on racism. When Obama became president, that was more than the far right could take!
How about short, selective small strikes. Fast food workers call in for the day sick. Airlines baggage handlers, at major hubs slow down their work for a day; this could be rotational across the network.
I also heard about not spending anything on President's Day -- this coming Monday.
(below from Diana -- thanks Diana!) The group "Indivisible" is holding a National Day of Protest on Monday, Feb. 17. They are calling it #NotMyPresidentsDay.
Check your local chapter of Indivisible to see if there is a protest planned near your location. Here is a link to the organization's main page: https://indivisible.org/
The group "Indivisible" is holding a National Day of Protest on Monday, Feb. 17. They are calling it #NotMyPresidentsDay.
Check your local chapter of Indivisible to see if there is a protest planned near your location. Here is a link to the organization's main page: https://indivisible.org/
Protests are nice, do them. Compliment them with acts that gum up systems. Forget to put your ID number on a government form, or send in a form missing a signature. Drove slower on your way to work. Be creative. Be a tiny pain to someone's day.
Terry, I agree that we need to be creative, but some of those ideas seem self-defeating. We are ALL going to rue the day DT was re-elected and allowed Musk to eviscerate our government. For example, when we are unable to access those agencies we desperately need (IRS refunds, passports, etc.). Also, I'm not one to advocate pain to others in order to make a point -- like gumming up roadways, unless the protest has a legitimate permit. People need to get to work or the airport, and it's unfair to target them. We need to target those who are doing this, by protesting in front of GOP elected officials' offices, making it known to business leaders that we will not buy from them, and so on.
In addition, I respect those serving in government. By and large, they do a heck of a lot of work and are often treated rudely by us, the folks needing their help.
I'm hoping those who organized the HUGE protests the first time around start working together and promote several days of protests, when permits for peacefully protesting are secured and we can make ourselves loud and clear that we will NOT stand idly by while Trump tears up our government.
We can stick together in this, and make the point to those who are harming us and our government without harming bystanders.
I think the biggest short-term problem is Trump and his MAGA cronies having enough power to substantially interfere with the mid-term election process or stop it altogether in some of the battleground states. At that point, it seems like a heavy dose of "Good Trouble" may be the only recourse.
We’re not going to have another opportunity to vote for quite awhile. I see no other guard rails at work other than the courts. Yes, we can protest. In the meantime, though, the Trump S**t Show continues.
Swing Left is a great group to join! I was able to help with letters to various swing states- very organized, great zooms, helping at phone banks, and loads of camaraderie! Thanks, Joyce, as ALWAYS! We are going to get through this to the other side!!!!
Midterms are coming up and there are millions of people who never vote. And there will also be some disappointed Trump voters. If we could get some of these people to vote Democratic and just get a few more Democrats in Congress, it could make an enormous difference- even though Trump will have two more years. People, please look for what we CAN do - don't look for reasons to do nothing. We're all scared and discouraged but that's no excuse to just sit idly by
The DNC was a massive a failure on GOTV. Our new DNC chair,Ken Martin must do much better on this. All those rallies Kamala did were entertaining but they were failures on GOTV. Who even had the time to watch them - Not me.
Last night I made a list of names and phone numbers of members of the house and senate budget committees. I forwarded the list to friends and family and called them all today about preserving medicaid. If you call at nite or on weekends you can leave a message to all of them. It felt great to be doing something! I suggest this to all of you
Doing it! Donating to special elections as I can. Writing postcards for Tony the Democrat when there’s a special election. Paying dues and whatever might come up that I can help with in our county and city Dem organizations. Also getting out helpful information to friends in our local immigrant communities about their rights (do those still exist?) and where to find shelter and help if they are deported.
This might be a bit off topic. LIke you, I donate whenever, however much, I can to worthy candidates. Unfortunately, when I use ActBlue, I often end up receiving a receipt for twice the amount I intended to donate. The site has a way (trick?) of cycling the user back to the beginning as if the transaction hadn't been completed yet and the amount needs to be entered again. This has soured me on donating to any politician who utilizes ActBlue (and I think all Democrats are using it). It's a shame because I won't be helping them again.
I send checks via the US Postal Service. Not as great as it was, but still (mostly) delivers, no thanks to DeJoy. No annoying email, and I recycle the snail mail.
Read your transaction carefully. ActBlue does an okay job with your account but be aware when using it! Have never had a problem but know one can if you check or fill in the wrong box ! ! Do not be in a hurry!
Unfortunately I think you have a valid point. I have noticed similar oddities happening when I donate to someone or an organization that uses Act Blue. I try to avoid it for that reason. I am prompted to log into my Act Blue account - I just skip that step. BTW the best way to make sure your donations are most effective is to donate through OATH - Google "Oath voting."
They identify which races will make the biggest difference and which candidates are underfunded- meaning they don't already have plenty of money, ie we would be wasting to donate
Shaina, we need to organize and vote and educate. Maybe, as Joyce said, they will stop some of the excesses, but for now the status quo is holding. No hearings have taken place. And if there are cases that go all the way to SCOTUS, we really cannot guess what they will do. Who would have expected that the Justices would have invented total criminal immunity for a president. They did not get that from the Constitution.
If you read many of the voices writing today, they all say it is up to us! Scary but true
In case you have not been paying attention courts enforce their judgments through the willing or grudging compliance of the parties. If a party will not abide by a judgment, then the courts use the executive branch's forces (marshals, police the military) to enforce the judgment through seizure, arrest, forced sale, &c. So yeah it is up to Y-O-U to bring that about because I just do not see Trump complying willingly and very unlikely to have himself arrested. So the great mass of the People must be willing to do it at the risk of their " ... lives, fortunes and sacred honor."
Our entire country has always moved forward based on the good-faith intentions of its citizens, but we got complacent in the last 40 or so years and let the bad-faith actors in, who are just so good at lying, cheating, and manipulating.
Not all of us are in a position to do that, be it health, age, jobs that do not allow political activity. Yes, it sounds good, educate and vote, but most people get their news from fox and even less credible sources. Reality bites. Pundits make resistance sound easy. Its not.
Indivisible is doing great things . They are focused on identifying Republican Senators who are up for reelection soon and encouraging people in red and purple states to fight like heck to make sure that they lose their seats. Please sign up for indivisible's emails, they have a very motivating Zoom call every Thursday afternoon with specific action steps
The fear of losing my social security is overwhelming, and the trauma they’re causing to millions of Americans is too much to bear. I’m glad you’re here to talk me off the cliff - so I’ll keep reading your posts. Burying my head sounds good but not an option. At least for me. Thanks, again and again and again.
I think you’ve nailed what so many of us are thinking.
I will do whatever I can do but I’m not an optimist. We all have our strengths. I thought I would be able to bury my political songs but now they are more relevant than ever. I will be going into a recording studio to professionally record them then try and promote them. I’m not in it for the money.
I don’t have faith in court pronouncements. Remember Andrew Jackson’s statement, “John Marshall has made his pronouncement. Now let him enforce it.” Trump aspires to be like Jackson. I believe Trump or his VP will attempt to end elections and turn the executive into a dictatorship. As I early said, better to have had the good generals stop the election then to allow it. A no good option but better to have prevented this monster from ruling.
Amen. Well stated. We need a project 2025 and not depend on a favorable turn around election in 2026. Trump must stop a 2026 election because he knows his coup has failed if we do get to vote in 2026. I support Joyce’s encouragement to be as proactive as possible now, but at the same time hope and pray that the new DNC officers will realize that they need to act with urgency now, in 2025. We can do our part now as Joyce suggests, but the DNC has to launch an all out attack now and not waste time.
Yes! Joyce is a great guide. As I donate to DNC I emplore them to attack hard and often
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/754857/
Tomorrow is Presidents Day so all who get the day off need to be at a local courthouse, a state capitol or in DC protesting! Move and make noise. Don’t forget your Representative or senator’s offices as well. All good targets.
I contacted them but this isn’t a good season for outside performances. We’ll see. Thanks.
National Boycott
Feb17-28
https://jointhepeoplesunion.com/
It seems a bit discouraging to me to think that all we can muster by way of endurance is a one day boycott, and about a week to stay off Amazon. Seriously? I quit buying from Amazon and it was awkward at first but that's all. Just a bit more effort to get set up with other places. As to a one day boycott, I normally go days without buying anything so I'll hardly notice. I know the point isn't for Me to notice but for the banks and businesses and somehow the administration to notice, but I'm more than a bit disappointed in our collective wimpiness in that regard.
I don't expect to ever have another fair election with the winner chosen by We the People. I do expect that our votes in 26 and 28 will be compromised and Congress will stay red, he will remain in power as long as he wants or is told to. I don't know what power we really do have that could make a difference.
Agreed. Elections at best may be similar to those in Russia. Additionally, gerrymandering has rendered most House seats solid blue or red, with a very small percent considered toss ups. As for the Senate, '26 is a tier 2 election. Of the 33 that are up for re-election, 20 are R and 13 are D. Of the 20 R seats, 19 are in strong to very strong red states. The one possible switch is Collins in Maine. Of the 13 D seats, 12 are in strong to very strong blue states, with Ossoff in GA as the most likely contested seat. Citizens United changed everything and now musk will primary any R not strongly supporting trump (it will only be a small percent of his $300M 2024 investment) and do full frontal assaults on Ds, blaming any of the issues that will be widespread and pervasive leading into 2026 on Ds who will have prevented trump from successfully completely dismantling the "deep state". The only hope by then is his supporters are feeling the depth of cuts and overturning democracy, but with SM algorithms and people not paying attention, will it really matter?
There was no voter cheating found. Use of social media and our ignorant over use of cell devices to spit out lies did it along with Biden’s inability to understand optics after spending a life in a business where optics is the difference between success and failure.
there was massive voter suppression and removal from the rolls especially in key swing states. Reported by Galant, see Thom Hartmann interview. This guy is not a conspiracist. 4.6 million taken off rolls. And "vigilantes" in those states trained by GQP to challenge voters of color so their votes would not be counted. And see what occurred with the early vote in Clark county NV - so strange that Harris never cracked 45% in any precinct.
Yes. There was massive voter suppression efforts made across all the states that hold more importance in elections than the people. Also, keep a wary eye on the North Carolina Supreme Court seat that was won by the Democrat but the republican snake running against her STILL HAS IT TIES UP IN COURT AND WANTING TO THROW OUT 60,000VOTES PRIMARILY IN BLUE COUNTIES. The republican legislature has also voted to turn the head of the state election board over to republican control.
This is the current power play by republicans in North Carolina that they plan to implement nationwide. Just watch.
As told by Thom Hartmann on substack, Greg Palast via his Palast Investigative Fund and also carried on Greg Palast.org has done an extensive report on the extent of voter suppression in the 2024 election. Voter suppression has been rampant and sanctioned in states for years and the little creeps are still avidly at it. Palast’s report has found several million Harris votes simply trashed due to various state voter suppression laws or rules. I was stunned when I read his report and just as stunned that it was not made public.
The D's did not address all voters, and those left out voted for the one that did. No discussion for me. President Biden did understand optics. He has too much direct experience and intelligence not to. He was in no way the one making such decisions. That was not the only huge mistake someone on his team made.
Kay:
A perspective between 2020 and 2024.
In 2020, ~158,600,000 people voted. Of that amount, ~81,200,000 people voted for Biden. ~74,225,000 voted for DA commonly known as Trump. ~3 million voted for "Others."
In 2024. ~155,522,000 people voted. Of that amount, ~77,300,000 people voted for the DA commonly known as Trump. ~75,019,000 people voted for Kamala. Again, ~3 million voted for "Others."
Right off the bat (high in the left field [oops, wrong picture]), did we have fewer voters who left the country or died, etc. or did ~3 million not vote? And again, looking at voting for "Others?" ~3 million voted for "Others" just like 2020.
The issue here is the ~3 million who did not vote (155 million in 2024 as compared to 158 million in 2020. There was a huge selection of Others in 2024. Moreso than 2020.
Now everyone else may have a different perspective, I am looking at the numbers as taken from Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections. Google it and you can find it.
There will be a test on this next week, so all of you should study the numbers.
If you don't want to an optimist, please don't share your negative thoughts online. Words are powerful because they can create actions either positive or negative. We need positive actions. Just cheer the rest of us on in your private thoughts. We will win this fight. Thanks!
Keep us posted regarding your Musical campaign! Great idea
Hmmm, another Haskell. Where from?
My deceased husband was from MASS. He did a lot of family research. It seems there were brothers who immigrated together but went their separate ways once here. If I recall right he has documentation going back to 1600s. I am living in Minnesota If you want to discuss this please email me at sharonhaskell2021@gmail.com. In the meantime enjoy your nice warm weather! it is 2 degrees and headed down,
“ Just because it doesn’t feel like we’re in the middle of a constitutional crisis—Trump isn’t dramatically crossing out broad swaths of the Constitution with his sharpie marker in a made-for-television moment—doesn’t mean we aren’t there.”
What of the Constitution has he crossed out?
I would say his attack on the 14th Amendment and his impoundment of parts of the federal budget. Article I clearly defines the Congressional “Power of The Purse,” and Trump ran into a buzz saw when he tried to redirect money to build his stupid Wall. That was back when Congress had some semblance of a backbone. It fought, they lost.
Sorry my question was for Joyce Bance from her expertise
Are you answering for Joyce?
Karen:
There is a huge collapse coming at us as many people lose their jobs due to a too-old-president who really can not think or get it right. He is in it for himself. Biden was the far better choice.
You have to get angry about all of this. Pen a letter to your congressional representative and your senators. Get angry with them but be articulate in detailing what you are angry about. Don't let them off the hook. Democrats need to listen to your anger too. Where the hell are they?
We are sitting here listening to an illiterate president and a South African who has no political or legal foundation for what he is doing. His being there shows us just how weak Trump is today.
Jan and I are on SS also. We worked until we were 71. We can live off of it. Too lose it would mean we would have to live off of our saving. It was not planned to be this way. Somehow this will work out if we all push on our political representatives and senators.
Then there is us . . .
Do you recall what happened when one plane was hijacked by terrorists? The passengers rebelled. They took a serving cart and rammed the terrorists and got into the pilots area. The plane did crash but not into the Capitol or another building in D.C. It does show you when people have the courage to fight back.
This old Marine Sergeant is not ready to give in to an illiterate president and a South African. Do not let circumstance cause you to give up. Fight back. I will be with you too.
Thank you for your kind words - it really helps. I suspect many of my representatives (I’m in Queen Creek now - ugh) are tired of hearing from me. I’ve been in their ears since 2010. But I’m still involved and spend a bit of time at the Capitol. They roll their eyes at me. I call that a success. My son is a Marine, too - served in Fallujah.
Karen:
I served on the Constitution and reincarnated in time for the Vietnam conflict. I could part your hair at 500 yards with metal sights. My Scoutmaster taught me well.
The Corp trained me to be a crypto tech instead. Left in 71 and married a young woman of 20. 54 years later, I think she is finally, finally adhering to what I say . . . maybe? It is give and take.
As you must know by now, there were tough times in the sixties and seventies. We survived that and Nixon too. Keep your eye on the goal and move towards it. Women are stronger than men. Stay focused.
I am in Maricopa. We bid om homes in Queen Creek, $10 thousand over and we were still out bid. I am happy where we are. We are grandparents to the people around us. A Mexican family takes us in and regards us (Italians) as family.
M-14, right, Bill? 500 yards, open sights. Head shot. Semper Fi.
James:
My scoutmaster taught me how to shoot using M1s. I liked the M14, They were betting on me at Ebsen range. Made me nervous and I kind of let them down and did not break the range record. Those few weeks were fun while it lasted.
Thank you for your persistence, Karen. Let them roll their eyes.
Karen,
Thank you for your on going effort. You’ve got their attention. Stay on them and hang in there. ♥️
With your background, we need YOU to help us organize. Many left of center professionals/white collar/blue collar workers and retirees without that skillset, but who are terrified and pissed off and ready to act, to protest, to boycott, to strike.
My senators are the placeholder Schumer and wishywashy Gillibrand. I write them every day. I’ve gotten one, ONE, form letter response from Gillibrand.
You can call the Republican senators. Patel received money from the Kremlin propagandists. He is not fit to be our FBI director!
I work with these systems (Treasury)so for right now, because some of the largest finance centers are dialed into payroll taxes and the Social Security Trust has your money, my money everyone’s money invested at 8%- all Muskrat and 45 can do is borrow against the Trust up to 6 Trillion. But I don’t want it to get to that point. It is past the point.
Thank you for this info
Speaking of, I decided to become a day trader to take advantage of ups and downs and finally I’m reaching my financial goals which I should reach within a month. Then I will pare back to protect it. I wish I had taken this direction years ago. Right now, the big money is betting on more money but I anticipate a change coming at some point soon. Inflation and a likely major recession which is very over due. I sense that my legal protests will eventually get me arrested but that another story.
What government did to Social Security from the beginning is unconscionable….I realize you hate Musk and the other one but they walked into a set of books laid out this way for decades….8% is pretty good….but the problem is we are paying the 8% as well right….we are paying ourselves that interest how crazy a freaking system is that when we are sending 2 billion to Somalia…? Right or no? Once we stop giving to Somalia that’s 2 billion more we get to use to pay down something….no? Or what’s your logic of what to do besides …….
Nope- how are we paying ourselves the interest? What did government do to Social Security? Please explain - I want to make sure there is not any misinformation here.
Ok but you have to do some of this homework on your own …..look at Daniel Solomons post with a video..it’s quite good…if you’ve looked at the SS set up…Every American has paid in and every employer has paid in on our behalf …small businesses pay in as well. The easiest way to understand it is the government get the money we pay into Social Security from our paychecks they get the other half from our employers our employers are paying another half into the government for our Social Security. That money sent to the government then that money is used to buy treasury bonds. When the government buys the treasury bonds, guess where your money and my money and our employer money that was sent in on our behalf goes that money goes into the treasury. They may call it another name whatever they call it and I love this a trust fund. You’re essentially a trust fund baby right and now that money is used for government spending to fund various programs, including, but not limited to defense. Education infrastructure all the programs.From an accounting perspective it looks like the treasury is not directly using the Social Security money for these programs instead, it’s using the authority to borrow from Social Security, as well as other sources to fund government operations and what they call the Social Security trust fund is it is that stack of treasury securities that they invested in and a promise to repay that money with interest. So if you think what I’m saying is everyone from our parents grandparents now us have paid into Social Security to the government who then holds it on our behalf and what they call the Social Security trust fund. Think of it as your rich friends have trust funds the heck of a lot more money than your Social Security trust fund, but it’s the same thing they’re holding it for you so that when you turn a particular age, they’re gonna start giving you some of that money to live on. In the meantime, they are borrowing that money for all of what government spending needs they have that’s one piece of what the government uses every single day our money from our Social Security and they’ve convoluted it and manipulated the language to Social Security trust fund and they never really directly tell you that what they’re doing is using our money as government spending every year for their budget. That’s what they’re doing. They’re borrowing the money we gave them I can’t say this enough in as many clear terms as I can possibly tell you and then they’ve turned around and used it and used it so much that basically they’ve been using more money than what’s been put in so that their bankrupting it they have them bankrupt it yet but all of them every administration across the board that’s the structure that they gave Social Security. I used to call a government’s own/fund some people call a Ponzi scheme right but it made off too. He took your money. He invested it and then when he got other money, he took that money and paid you and eventually that game wears out. It was mismanaged. It’s been mismanaged ever since it started. I’m gonna say it again just because I have to, it’s so annoying we put the money in the government takes it buys their own treasuries, which means that money goes into the treasury budget. We get a promissory note that sitting in a Social Security fund that’s supposed to be paying interest and they go ahead and use the cash for government spending. And the government has been spending money like drunken sailors sending it to everyone and anyone whether it’s Ukraine Somalia got 2 billion the list goes on and on and that is what is being discovered right now. Do you understand that how much more clear do I have to be please tell me how much more clear do I have to be we are national debt is $36 trillion And the budget is in debt or what we call a deficit of like $7 trillion so they’ve been borrowing our money your your money and my money plus money from anywhere they can manage to get it to understand. Is that clear? Where is the misinformation in this? Please tell me I’m sorry that I’ve repeated myself but I’ve had to repeat myself for myself and hopefully for you to get what I’m trying to say. The one thing unfairly sure of is that in short order we won’t be taxed on Social Security any longer. There could be nothing more than that but take a look at Daniel Solomon‘s conversation he has a video from a guy who spent a long time at the Social Security division so again. Again, forgive me for repeating myself, but that’s about as clear as it gets. I used to call it a slush fund. it’s the government our Social Security is the government/fund and I find it reprehensible so I am hoping they find as much corruption and waste in the government’s budget that can possibly be found and route it all out. We have to get our own books in order first. And then we can start handing out money to the world, but we’ve handed out so much money to the world that we are $36 trillion in national debt with a yearly budget that is called a deficit of $7 trillion part of that money being spent every year comes out of our Social Security being paid in I would really like to know if this makes you as angry as it makes me this whole Social Security process. I don’t care who you hate. I wish you didn’t take people. I can’t control that. I don’t care who you blame but I do care who you blamebecause if you’re gonna blame someone at least blame the people that are contributing to the problem. Does that make sense? I don’t want you to be miserable. I don’t want any of us not to get what we are due and I sure as heck I’m not gonna sit by and let that happen if I can do anything about it, but I wanna know what I’m doing and I wanna know if what I’m doing is correct so please correct me if you think I am wrong I am totally open to it.
I was looking for the simple formula to make we are on the same page-
The formula for an employer’s contribution to Social Security in the U.S. is:
C = W \times R
Where:
• C = Employer’s Social Security contribution
• W = Employee’s taxable wages (up to the Social Security wage base limit)
• R = Social Security tax rate for employers (currently 6.2% or 0.062)
Example Calculation:
If an employee earns $50,000 annually:
C = 50,000 \times 0.062 = 3,100
The employer would contribute $3,100 to Social Security for this employee.
This is separate from the employee’s own 6.2% Social Security tax, which is deducted from their paycheck.
So is there any misinformation in the explanations?
Your second question :
What did government do to Social Security?
Government took the amount of Social Security that we pay into and they take the amount of Social Security our employers pay into and they purchase treasury notes they put those treasury notes security trust fund, and the money they took to buy those treasury notes they put in the government’s budget to use for spending so the question becomes. How is the government not us but how is the government paying those IOU to us with interest from the treasury notes they bought with our money, right. Some people have called it a Ponzi scheme because unless they’re taking the money from other treasury revenues to pay those notes that they’ve collected in the Social Security fund trust fund they’re paying those notes with the additional cash that they get from our checks and from our employers. so unless they had designated a particular revenue stream, which in general, the only revenue stream the government has or our taxes. Yes there’s fees, and there’s fees and other revenue streams, but in large part, the government functions based on our taxes. They used to get their revenues from tariffs in the late 19 early 20th century then when Woodrow Wilson cleverly came up with the income tax, he discontinued foreign countries from paying tariffs and exchange the revenue stream to government with our income tax. The important thing to note is, and you make this interesting point when you say, how are we paying ourselves the interest well any interest the government is paying on those notes those IOU’s are paid with our tax dollars does that make sense to you? I didn’t see anywhere in your question you were asking for a formula. You asked two very specific questions.
I hear you. In the last 3 weeks, my 401k has gone down and the price of eggs and gas has gone up. I was going to retire in 3 years. Not sure what that will look like now.
Look at Vanguard and State Street-I am up 22% over last Quarter. I have to hold my nose because I don’t like all my company choices for my 401K but I keep rebalancing to manage it.
Yeah, crazy how there seems to be a disconnect there. How can these Mump jamokes be trashing the foundations of the economy (seemingly) and the Market seems blase? Where's the other shoe?
The market loves the lack of regulations. There will be another 2008 melt-down because these guys are greedy and not as smart as they think. However, we will all suffer in the collapse.
Hard for the monkeys to resist the banana in the jar. I clicked the like button but I'm none to happy about the truth of what you say, Oldandintheway.
The market is like an engine- an engine of a bus- as long as the workerbees go to work ( McDonalds works, buses pick up passengers, Stock market opens etc we are good. ). In 2008, the tip that kicked off Tim Geitner, the 75th Secretary of the Treasury was that McDonald’s could not make payroll and complete operating expenses. Right now the economy is growing above average. That being said we are at a tipping point globally with Indonesia joining the BRICS- goal is to reduce dependence on western dominated institutions. We need to keep an eye on the BRICS.
US asked to be a pariah nation and the other nations will respond accordingly. Clearly US cannot be trusted on any front so others ought to ice us out. BRICS is one way to do that. Other alliances will strengthen-- see what's happening in Canada, Europe just in 3 weeks. They know that we are now the enemy, not an ally.
In 2008 Obama bailed out Wall Street not all those who lost their 401k’s and he bailed them out with our money…Remember ANY money government has is from our taxes ….that may change somewhat with the tariffs like the government was run before the government decided to cut tariffs from foreign countries and charge the American People an income tax….The income tax was a 20th Century initiative.
Vanguard just made a whopping donation to the incumbent.
Hate it all as so many folks are complicit. That includes me but I have little choice. The Atlantic mag had a good but frightening article on all of Hitlers financiers- Thyssen, Krupp, Siemens, IG Farben- sickening. 35 years in finance and all I want to do now is sell calendars to get away from Wall Street. Just have to be patient. I wish also that Navalny had escaped to the US rather than going back to Russia. He was our only hope as far managing Russia.
Truly a hair-raising piece in The Atlantic. Everything I've read about the rise of Hitler makes me queasy with the damn near perfect fit.
The adjudicated rapist must have memorized every step that Hitler took. But times have changed, communication has galloped ahead. The felon is not half as bright as Hitler and can't reason from point A to point B. Also, Germany, at that point, had no understanding of what a democracy was. We do. We can't give an inch, not one.
To me, he seems more like a combination of Hitler and Henry VIII.
Wow and you believe it?
Right before 47 was inaugurated I moved my 401k$ to a money market account. I am glad I did. I am not a finance professional so I cannot give advice. However I did save what I had from losing value. So far.
The Trump Double-Whammy. I feel it too, friend.
Well more than likely you won’t be paying taxes on your Social Security…that’s almost 100% from the research I’ve done….
I share your worry. I add to that my fear for my daughter, son-in-law and most wonderful grandson. I prepare my mind for the street.
Someone gave me 2 tips Zangi- encrypted messaging, calling and file sharing used AES - GCM 256 algorithm - ( ween yourself off of Meta- takes 30 days); start experimenting with holding some money in various currencies with “WISE” app.
Tankee.
So don’t we want to get a handle on the books or not?
It's called TAX THE RICH, not continue to give them tax cuts and inflate the deficit
Do you realize Mr Musk pays essentially no income tax?
Oh my God think about how morally wrong what you’re saying is….Penalize the people with more money than you….Why? Why? Because they have more than you? Why? If they earned it why should they pay more? Why? I am all ears for that answer. You want to legislate charity? Our tax system already does that…But please don’t tell me because they have more than you…that is morally questionable….Wouldn’t it be more fair is it were a Flat Tax …Paying the same percentage across the board…by definition the “rich” will pay more than you….why wouldn’t that be a fair and just way ….what is your rational. It sounds like you want to privilege of spending other people’s money…is that what your saying…
Flat tax- let’s assume 20%. On an income of $50,000 that would leave 40,000. On an income of 500,000 that would leave 400,000. If the cost of living for the average family is, say 40,000, low income taxpayers would be broke at the end of the year. High income taxpayers would have 360,000. How is that fair?
Taxes on high earners were very high during the Eisenhower years, as I recall, and the economy did quite well, and yachts were still sold.
High earners would love a flat tax, and low earners would be harmed.
The figures I gave were hypothetical, but the point is valid. And I did not factor in the cost of emergencies, like illnesses or layoffs.
If I lost my social security, I would lose my home.
You're not alone, SweetieP. I'm in the same boat and terrified of what may come around the bend. Even if I don't lose my SS, with the costs going up and up it'll make life very hard. I have no savings (well, $75 at the moment), no 401k, or any other benefits except Medicare. It's a scary world.
You will not lose your social security which….you will probably not have to pay taxes on it which gives you more money…but who ever is telling you they are taking away your social security has NO FACTS that is the case ….in fact all Documents show the exact opposite
Start a business- you can write off so much- cell phone; most utilities; car expenses- you need to maintain the accounting part but the thinking you have to have in place is “growth mindset” not “scarcity”- from the universe perspective you must fight against this tendency- thinking positive, and having a growth mindset puts you in a position to have more. I fight against this “small thinking” all the time- “ I feel comfortable with being small” but the times where I thought bigger- I mean immediately- everything started to clique- it was like the universe connected and helped me along in my journey with whatever I set out to. It is hard but it works.
Be careful here.., because what your suppose to be writing off is the legitimate amount used for the business separate from personal .. right
Put your home in a trust.
We did something right! Our home is in a trust already. We rely on social security. It pisses me off that I have to worry about whether it will show up every month.
You absolutely did something right by putting your house in a trust. Bryant Quinn has an excellent book on all things, Trust, Retirement.
How do assessments work when your house is in a trust for tax purposes?
how would that work? Seriously asking.
It is a very common process- Rockefeller used it. It is used by the wealthy all the time. Will come back to you in a bit to show you and provide references. If there is one lesson we all should take from what is happening right now is how to use the structures of law ( but staying in the rule of law) and finance to be secure financially. Good time to read about the Vanderbilts, Fords etc- you may have to hold your nose but there are some good road maps. Example: I tell folks all the time if you get a bonus or a gift of cash- lock it in and borrow against it - a lot of wealthy families did this before the IRS code came into being. They never touched the “principal” ever.
Get a lawyer. May depend on whether your state has "homestead" protection. Sometmes a court acts as a hypothetical lien creditor" if there is fraud in creating the trust and can disqualify it.
Absolutely
Great idea. I think Mary needs to do this now.
I too am afraid of us losing our SS. My husband gets a small pension. It won't cover the bills by itself. We need both of our SS to live.
Also it makes my blood boil when politicians call it entitlement, No it isn't it's our money we put into every payday. None of them seem to realize that.
It’s heartbreaking to read about your fear and I can not anywhere find in the records that that will happen in fact everything points to the fact that you will not have to pay taxes on your social security….I don’t know whose telling you that you will lose it but in fact that is one of several accounts being protected! Except for the billions of dead people who the Treasury has been sending Social Security checks to….we want that to stop right? Why are dead people getting checks that are being cashed?????? Don’t we want that to STOP?
I wish there was more I could do to help others, too. On top of all this I had my identity stolen in 2018, and I was notified by the SBA that someone opened a company in my name in 2020 and took out an EIDL loan. I still have no idea what’s going on with that - lol. When it rains it pours.
Please please get AURA- for encryption and monitoring. I will gather more info and post to help everyone. The CFPB was particularly good at telling you how to put alerts on your SSN number when it has been compromised.
Aren’t they going after CFPB employees right now? I saw an interview yesterday with someone who had just received her notice. Thanks for any info you can provide - I’ll keep an eye on this thread. Funny thing that after all the reports I had to file with the feds, local police, SBA, etc., not one of them offered any help regarding how to protect myself in the future. Sad
Well the long version of how to help yourself when you have had identity theft is to start a business and just use your EIN AFTER you lock down your Social Security Number. It could be sharing knitting techniques or offering advice as a coach the main thing is to get away from using your SSN to get credit etc. Using your EIN adds some protection. EIN is not linked or associated with your SSN. Then I would apply an LLC / Trust to that. I will do a post on structure and managing your identity in light of the DJT mess next week.
THANK YOU
Yes, that is my fear too, Karen, along with my federal pension, which did arrive but was several days later than it has ever been in the ten years I’ve been retired from the federal courts. Social Security arrived on time. I have no confidence either will happen next month. Joyce’s writing, especially since I did work in the US District Court myself and had daily contact with our US Attorney’s office (not Joyce’s district though) is particularly meaningful and very helpful to staying off the ledge of the ledge. We are in this together.
I can find NO evidence that Social Security will not be paid in fact I believe that taxes on Social Security will stop which is a good thing…However discovering Billions of social security still going to dead people is nuts…..right we want that to stop …we can agree with them on that right?
You are drinking Kool Aid. It's bullshit propaganda.
My wife and I get several fed payments...she just qualified via the Fairness Act as a CSRS person under my SS earnings record. We'll see next month. SS usually pays 3rd wed each month.
Love your spirit Karen!!
I ended up with RSV. But I am still emailing and calling REPUBLICAN senators.
No one is going to lose their Social Security. THAT IS A LIE!
Tim:
It is a lie, a lie that works and scares people. What I am doing to telling people to get angry. Do not take this crap. Fight back.
Yes, if they don't straighten out this mess pretty soon, "Mr. Smith" will not be the only one "Going to Washington!"
2 trust funds. If no tax on tips, no tax on SS, it will accelerate the default date, now 2033. There is also the threat of privitization.
IMHO people on SSI may have to kiss their asses goodbye.
This used to be my subject. I've posted this several times.
For starters, the Republicans have tried to "sunset" all benefits. That "all" includes stuff like Medicare, VA, Black Lung, food stamps, etc
SS is not part of the budget. You have to understand SS is NOT a retirement program although there is a retirement trust fund that will "default" in 2033 according to the trustees. Ever wage earner who is fully and currently insured also has disability coverage that is on average worth about $ 1 MM. If the programs were sunsetted, they'd have to be renewed on an annual basis, and given politics, would die .
In a 2000 book he co-wrote called “The America We Deserve,” Trump called Social Security a “huge Ponzi scheme” that American workers are forced to pay into. He added that for future retirees under 40 at the time, “we can also raise the age for receipt of full Social Security benefits to seventy,” because “we’re living longer.”
In December 2004, just before a Republican push to partially privatize the program, Trump was asked on MSNBC’s “Hardball” whether he’d support individual retirement accounts and answered: “I sort of think I would. Something has to be done. Social Security is a huge problem right now, funding it.”
In 2012, Trump praised proposals by Ryan, then the Republican vice presidential nominee, to convert Medicare into a “premium support” system that would cap spending for future retirees and give them vouchers to buy insurance plans.
“I think Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney will save Medicare. I know they will. And people are starting to understand it. They’re going to be very happy with what’s going on, but they’re going to be very, very unhappy if Obama gets in,” Trump told Fox News at the time, reflecting on the 2012 presidential race. “I think actually if Obama gets in and if Obamacare isn’t ended, I really think Medicare will be a thing of the past.” (President Barack Obama ran against the Ryan plan and won re-election; seven years after he left office, Obamacare and Medicare still exist.)
By 2015, when Trump ran for president, he sought to position himself in the Republican field as the rare candidate who wouldn’t cut those programs. “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican, and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid,” he said as he was launching his campaign.
By 2020, it was clear Trump was trying to break the system. He offered a "payroll tax cut" designed to result in significant revenue losses for Social Security, but also to eliminate employee payroll taxes for good. That would kill both the retirement and disability programs.
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/trumps-plan-defund-social-security/
Trump’s fiscal 2021 budget endorsed Social Security cuts to the tune of billions of dollars for disabled seniors. His budget would have made changes to Social Security Disability Insurance, slashing the maximum amount of retroactive benefits for disabled workers from 12 months to six. According to the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, that could lead to a $7,500 average cut for a worker injured in a car crash. The budget also called for reducing Supplemental Security Income benefits for those who live with other SSI recipients.
Republicans encouraged slashing all benefits and the Republicans tried to kill the disability fund. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/naalj/vol36/iss1/4/
Trump wanted to kill the child's portion of SSI, which comes from the general funds, i.e. the budget. As president, Trump tried and failed to cut benefits drastically. Some Republicans wanted to replace the entire system. See. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Trump, House Republican Cuts to SSI Would Harm Children With Disabilities, Sept. 18, 2017, Kathleen Romig and Guillermo Herrera. https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/trump-house-republican-cuts-to-ssi-would-harm-children-with-disabilities
“The Trump proposal would cut SSI by more than $8 billion over the next decade, shrinking benefits for roughly a quarter of a million children with disabilities by between 38 and 66 percent. It would also increase SSI’s administrative costs and improper payments”.
The next year, they asked CBO to score a program "Eliminate Supplemental Security Income Benefits for Disabled Children." https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/54742 (2018)
Background
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides cash assistance to people who are disabled, aged, or both and who have low income and few assets. In 2018, 15 percent of SSI recipients, or 1.2 million people, are projected to be disabled children under age 18, receiving an average monthly benefit of $686. To receive benefits, those children must have marked, severe functional limitations and usually must live in a household with low income and few assets.
Option
This option would eliminate SSI benefits for disabled children.
Why do they have to make everything so complicated?
What would happen if EVERYONE, with no "income caps" paid the same % of their income into SS AND, upon retirement, received the same % of benefits with the following exception: The "wealthy," who don't "need" the additional income, would receive ONLY the amount they had paid into the Trust Fund -- after that, nothing. Wouldn't that be "common sense" "fairness?"
Republicans object.
Is it a lie if Musk and his rats have access to all payments, and they decide to stop them? I dunno. Seems like they are working out how to do exactly that.
Or they move it all somewhere? or just make it "disappear" in some fashion? Seriously. They have stolen all of our personal data and are in the bank with our money and guns to our heads. Looks like a robbery to me? Why are they not in jail?
Was Musk a "rat" when he was a democrat who voted for Hillary and Joe Biden? So far, they have only "stopped payment" on corruption and misallocated funds. I certainly don't want to have to pay for those. Do our enemies have access to this information? Thankfully, I don't have anything to hide.
If Trump and Co. misuse this authority, we will know they are the enemy and charge them with Treason!
Keep your head in the clouds, Tim. But be wary of oxygen starvation: it makes you think funny.
Well James what proof do you have for your claims…bring the receipts …all I’ve seen are documents proving payments to dead people, to Somalia 2 billion, and the list goes on…they can’t create these documents out of thin air…where are you documents..i mean im just asking
Wonder about this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVphl7XhXWw
Weir was the administrator of the largest DO in the US.
My head may be in the clouds, but my eyes and ears are on Trump. I voted for him, so I am responsible to hold him accountable.
Why?
Exactly…
How do you know that?
Because, all they have to do is keep printing more money and then, because of "true" inflation, your Social Security will be worthless. The reason for that is because they have already stolen the Trust Fund and spent it on their "pet projects." I am not interested in paying it back, so that they can continue their corrupt practices.
This is right wing baloney. An outright lie.
Our retirement checks come from the fujnd and not from the general funds that come from budget appropriations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_Trust_Fund
Then, where is the money? It is a "ponzi scheme:" For as long as the "income" pays for the "benefits."
Trust fund has been paying it doewn since 2010.
Yikes…Wiki should not be your only source, sir
Not my only source. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/fundFAQ.html
I've been following this closely for many years.https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/naalj/vol36/iss1/4/
Readers are probably receiving Social Security benefits or will apply soon. Threats of “bankruptcy” of the two Social Security Trust funds abound in the media, and Trump Administration budgets have cut operational funding. There is reason to worry.
If Social Security is sliding toward a "default" it is because Congress and a succession of presidents would sell their families for a few votes. The default of Trust Funds is supposed to apex in 2034 due to the increase of birth rates of baby boomers. After 2034, birth rates of later generations flatten and the funds can be solvent.
Social Security protects workers, widow(er)s, orphans and disabled people and is a major investment for many of us.
Please donate to create an endowment to slow down the rate. If everyone who donates to say, universities, which aren't really charities, the trust funds would be secure.
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/donations.html
Why doesn't SSA advertise that donations can flatten the curve and extend the default date beyond 2034?
My thought, too.
Thank you Tim ….My heart is broken listen to the fear ….I believe the only thing that will happen to Social Security is folks won’t have to pay taxes on it soon …i hope And all the dead people still getting checks will stop…that’s billions i think right?
Sounds right to me, but I try to remain optimistic. And I can't be grateful enough for all the Blessings I still have in this Country!
I share your sentiments and am heartbroken at the grief demonstrated in so many of these posts.
Thank you. "Hangest thou in there!"
To REPEAT that folks Social Security WILL NOT be impacted PLEASE let go of that trauma & pass the word. Not to is cruel.
Have no fear my dear you will not lose your social security only paying taxes on them
Ha ha, I worry, too, and console myself that all three of our kids have basements with electricity, heat and running water. Better a life underground than a life under tyranny, sez this old lady.
I don’t know a lot but I do know you will not be losing your social security …that’s for sure …what I can say is soon you may not have to pay taxes on your social security which is a good thing….I’ve researched this subject from every vantage point…you do not have to live in fear of losing your social security!
Britt and Tuberville have one great concern they share. It trumps all their supposed patriotism and their fealty to the Constitution. It is: will Musk and Trump fund a primary opponent to me if I don't do exactly as desired?
Very true, however, if they continue to vote for disqualified and unqualified nominees to head up our governmental departments, as well as damaging, unpopular legislation, their CONSTITUENTS will vote them out. So, they have a choice, and the choice is, vote for the good of the country and get primaried out, or get voted out in their next election. Either way, they lose. But better to lose with honor and service to our country, IMHO.
Whatever happened to Character? It seems like no Republican has any sense of character. Look at those Department of Justice lawyers that stood up to the Assistant Attorney General. I could not be more proud of them. How do we get that kind of leadership. They should all run for office. This is the kind of character we need in our government.
The character ultimately collapsed . I have been an attorney long enough to know there is always one.
So doing a line by line audit doesn’t show responsibility and character….it’s exactly what O’bama said he would do…did you see the video
What I don’t understand Lori is that they are doing exactly what they said they were going to do…But ..as Judge Vargas just said “do you have to do it so quickly” in other words yes you told us this is what you were going to do but now your doing it so quickly…can’t you slow down? Well 4 years goes by quickly…2 years even quicker
They stuck their hand in a monkey trap. The hunter is coming with his club to knock them on the head and they just can't let go of that sweet, sweet banana.
Who is the monkey?
Please pay ATTENTION to Court cases that compel the "Trump Administration" to agree or "stipulate" in a specific federal case to "Keep Hands OFF" such as 25-cv-458-ABA!
Here is the email headline is just received from Democracy Forward exactly:
➡️"BREAKING: In Response to Emergency, Trump Administration Agrees to Keep Hands off CFPB Funding".
➡️The Plaintiffs are the City of Baltimore & Economic Action Maryland Fund. Good Work!
Some federal litigation victories are much better than a "TRO". Getting "Funding" restored means human beings get back jobs & income!
Note that syntax & caps in my quotes above are per Democracy Forward verbatim.
******************
Since I love Senator Warren's CFPB statutory creation that has recovered, yes, BILLIONS, of dollars of money for consumers with an-going recovery being handled by an Administrator as I type this post. Results.
Anyway, IF I want information about a federal agency, I just call them or email the Agency.
The CFPB home page is down but, Senator Warren's baby is open (8AM to 8 PM)
but, of course NOT on Federal Holidays such as 2/17/25 -- this coming Monday.
Since I am looking for more information about my successful CFPB complaint against a national bad actor bank & the CFPB transferred my complaint to another federal agency for civil enforcement, I am going to send an email to FOI@cfpb.gov.
If want to use old tech [which can be useful] you can reach the CFPB Freedom of Information folks at (855) 444-3642. I am going to scrutinize my FOIA data for the bank's admissions against the bank's interest. This ain't over yet.
Go, Bryan, GO!!
Thanks Marlene, tomorrow I encourage all of us to take at those Judges at the head of the Calvary that are being targeted now by the Trump-Musk-House R's.
H/t Axios' ANDREW SOLENDER 2/15/25 6 hours ago.
You have a link?
I just go to: https://www.axios.com
Then I click on "Sunday's Top Stories" to quickly get to Andrews' post from 14 hours ago now titled "Republican move to impeach judges who blocked Trump".
or just click on the 2nd report on the right-side of the webpage when you arrive ...
: --- )
https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/
Hey Bryan, I’m glad you posted all this info ….though I do have to chuckle that it’s Baltimore/Maryland whose documented history of corruption on Baltimore’s political scene is the highest across the country The cases entertaining to read ie “Healthy Holly’ etc….The next I’m sure will be Chicago…..being the second among federal public U.S. judicial districts for corruption….I wonder if New York or Cali will come in third….What folks have to keep in mind is these are still temporary holds for that particular jurisdiction which buys the folks involved on both sides time…for example if Elizabeth Warren like others who make common federal salaries but have huge net worth’s come under scrutiny who knows what will happen…
Thanks ... I was wondering about that too.
I hope they find out that primaries are not elections. You'd think, with much of the idiocy that are voting for, that they should actually worry about winning in November 2026.
Primaries are elections. If you lose the primary, you’re not on the ballot in November, and thus cannot be voted for. This is why they worry about primaries. They could, however (depending on the state) change parties and run as an independent in the general election in November. But that means no longer being a Republican and then they will lose the GOP voters, who probably voted for their primary opponent, which is why they lost the primary. Independents almost never win the general election. Thus, winning the primary as a Republican (in the case of Britt and Tuberville) is crucial.
Winning the primary is only the first step. After they win that, then they have to win in November. None of them seem concerned about winning that election. I really hope all of those who caved to trump so they wouldn't get primaried get voted out in their next general election. In some places there isn't much chance of that, but there should be enough places where the trump toadies could face a real challenge.
And in most red states, the general election is meaningless, as the Democratic party is very weak due to gerrymandering and consecutive losses down the line. Like my own state of Ohio.
REDMAP in 2010 was one of the great, if malign, bit of gerrymandering that influenced states across the country, making them essentially one party states. Ohio is a great, if unfortunate example of this. Look what happened to Sherrod Brown and look at JD Vance as two current examples. Wisconsin and even Texas fall into the same example set.
We need something titled “Project 2026”
Yes, legislators could get primaried. If they've voted regularly for things that protect their constituents, though, they shouldnt be afraid of primaries. They could contrast their constituent advocacy to an unknown challenger who is only in that race because he put there. I think legislators worry more about their family's security with all the right-wing trump/musk "supporters" roaming around, plus those 1600 released from jail.
Well, I’m sure they are…but don’t you remember this is exactly what they told voters they were going to do….so where’s all this surprise coming from ….even Judge Vargas admitted it.
Their constituents need pressure to understand that they will NOT be reelected if they capitulate to Trump!
Well what happened to Tulsi when she didn’t do exactly as they desired? And she was head of the DNC…
I also received a form letter from my senator, Sen. Cassidy..a physician who voted FOR RFK jr...I am so demoralized by his kowtowing to maggots. Here is what I fear...if I protest, will my name go on a maggot list? Will I then lose my military pension? Will maggots send me evil texts?
I am not a veteran, but I too worry. Yesterday I thought about emailing the White House to voice my concerns, then decided against it. (Even if the administration cared what I think, which they don’t.) Will DOGE use my data to flag my tax return? Withhold my refund? Put me on an enemies list?
I wrote messages demanding that my senators and House Rep expel DOGE from my government. I had a lot of trouble letting go of the worry that that put me on a list. I really haven't been able to yet. Still, I haven't gotten an answer, even the BS one I expect and I'm about ready to do it again and start calling. Putin scared Russians out of politics. We are not Russians. We were raised on freedom and democracy our entire lives. I'm 67 (two thirds of a century) and this is not just for me any more. I get the fear. I have the fear. We can only be as brave as we can be. That might be enough.
Right….I don’t think Tulsi ever dreamed she’s be put on a “Quiet Skies” list….it’s a real concern…like the Selective Enforcements list I think there’s even a list called IRS Audits of Political Opponents….but I think they just cut the workforce of the IRS so that shouldn’t be a concern…but imagine being on a NO Fly list ugh
I'm even wondering if the IRS will have enough employees to work on our taxes...
Could be this is a way AI will be bad. It can digest vast amounts of data. Still now is the time to decide which fork one might take. Easy to say, I know. I saw Zelenskyy's response to the despicable US performance in Munich. He seems to have chosen. I will let him be my model and hero. I ask my God to give me the strength to follow.
So are you saying you didn’t approve of JD VAnce’s speech? I thought it was quite something
I hope not
Probably not
Not to be harsh, but when it comes to that, they won't be so precise. It'll be: Republicans can pay no taxes, Democrats get audits. So eventually, everyone will be a Republican. At which point, much to their amazement, the original Party Members will find they have no special place among the rest of us serfs. In short: please don't obey in advance.
I switched from Democrat to Republican last spring so I could vote for Nikki Haley in the primary. After she dropped out, and I saw which way the wind was blowing in my red state, I decided to keep the R by my name so as not to “accidentally” get purged from the voter rolls before November. Now I’m still keeping the R by my name to avoid a mass attack on registered Democrats. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to vote Republican, and, at least so far, “they” don’t know how I vote once I’m in the booth.
Wow …that’s interesting
Good on for strategically preserving your vote!
I should have said "Republican", by analogy to WWII Germany, or Stalin's Russia -- you couldn't *not* be a Party member (to function above a certain menial level), no matter your actual beliefs. (Note Winston Smith in 1984: he was a Party member -- he had to be simply to be employed at MiniTruth -- but when he encountered O'Broen, then he learned what the Inner Party was).
Their next project is the IRS, and I read they’ve already fired 300 there, although I haven’t been able to confirm that . There very well may not be enough employees to process returns this year.
How can any red blooded American be against firing IRS agents…..lol I mean wouldn’t it be great to get rid of the IRS as much as possible?
Stop that’s just silly talk
Yes, I believe they will use your information. Sorry to say that but it seems to be a pattern.
You mean like Tulsi Gabbard?
That’s exactly what they want you to be thinking. First rule of opposing fascism: don’t obey in advance. It takes courage to be a real Christian, and to be a citizen.
Thank you...that was helpful....I need courage.
What does it mean to be a real Christian?
The word "Christian" means "one who follows Christ." What does that mean? Why don't we let Christ himself answer that: Matthew 7:20-27.
One more specific: Matthew 20:25-28. Humble service, being an example for the world.
Courage: Matthew 10:18-22, 32-39.
All directly the words of the One we follow.
Yes these verses tells me what a Christian does but what is a Christian aside from what a Christian does
Just put your zip code on the letter. We are skating dangerously close to McCarthy era where everyone ratted folks out. (ACLU website has guidance).
Cassidy is my senator, too. For a very brief moment I thought he would do the right thing and vote against RFK jr., but, unfortunately, he is just as weak and gutless as the others. I know why you have those fears. I won't even put out a yard sign for fear of retribution from those obnoxious idiots.
Here’s what House Representative Clay Higgins (R, La) posted on social media after Cassidy roasted RFK Jr at his confirmation hearing:
"RFK is going to run HHS whether you like it or not," Higgins wrote. "The Senate is ours, and the moment Trump decides he’s had enough of random Senators delaying our mission, JD is walking in and taking the gavel as President of the Senate. There’s zero you can do about that. We the People will not be stopped. We’re saving the country and RFK is part of the formula. So, vote your conscience Senator, or don’t. Either way, We’re watching."
https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2025/01/31/louisiana-senator-bill-cassidy-faces-pressure-to-confirm-rfk-jr-from-own-delegation-clay-higgins/78081782007/
I’m pretty certain Cassidy was threatened in starker terms in private.
This is the kind of scary 💩 I really worry about. I wonder how many other threats have been made to the Republicans in congress that we don't hear about. I hope Higgins burns in He11.
A Christian IS what a Christian does. Or to use yet one more scripture, James 2:18-26.
Put another way, “Christian” is not a noun, it is a verb. (Actually it’s an adjective, but it describes action, so it’s really an adverb.)
What happened to those on the other side that protested?
Yes, that was perverse on Dr. Cassidy’s part!
I ask our Canadian and European allies to support the 75% of us who want nothing to do with Tramp and his Muskrats or MAGATS. We have an infestation and it will die out in time, but any thing our Canadian, Mexican, and European allies can do to speed along the demise of King Tramp and his billionaire supporters and misguided cult followers is much appreciated. May god help us in our hour of need.
My mother, a Holocaust victim, always said to me “Where was God when 6 million died?”.
My personal knowledge of "God" comes from innumerable personal experiences of growing-up totally alone, with two very traumatized parents and no other family nearby, and plunked down in a rural Ohio school system. I have known loneliness as few have. I became adapted to being alone and live alone today at 79yo, a Long COVID and prostate cancer (including the mandatory chemical castration), as well as childhood sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse survivor. So, I suppose, my intimate knowledge of the creator of the universe, Mother Earth, and my Better Angels is "a gift of desperation", as well as my recovery from multiple addictions, including alcohol/pot/tranquilizers/sex/material possessions/excitement/cults/money/etc.,etc. I would have loved to have known your mother, and, perhaps, she and I will meet-up somewhere along the path. If you wish to know about my journey/life as a physician/psychiatrist, Google "Stress R Us", and download the PDF at Stanford. Have a blessed day.
I am so sorry, Greeley. Truly…
Considering myself to be a "victim" is a choice I choose not to make. I would not have the tangible, palpable relationship with my Creator, my Better Angels, or my dear Mother Earth were it not for all the gifts of desperation I have been guided by.
California..West Coast and .Blue States and the EU with Ukraine plus Canada to form the super democratic state
Blue States and Canada could form a combined force to take on the Red nazi states that have been brainwashed by the Orange/South African Fuheurs to start a civil war
Where are the Obamas, Clinton's, and Bush family and former officials and generals who all swore allegiance to the Constitution? Where are the leaders who have agency in this arena? Why are you suggesting me with my magic marker and cardboard has any sway in this chaos? We need a leader. Come out of hiding and give us a center around which we can coalesce.
The Dems are not street fighters, and this is one massive street fight.
I’m going to keep urging Jeffries to bust open his cool calm and collected persona to reveal the bold, brilliant leader that I truely believe he is.
Me too, Friedrike!! I want him mad as hell!
Instead of pointing an accusing finger at our own side, can we keep the focus on the people who are fleecing American taxpayers by rummaging around in our treasury? Each one of us has a role to play. If we refuse to do our part, why should we expect someone else to step up to save us? Join your local Indivisible group or other action-oriented grassroots group. Let’s lean into community and get to work.
The Obamas are AWOL. So is Kamala Harris. You can contact her at:
KamalaHarris.com/contact
We need a huge fundraising effort for our new DNC Chairman, Ken Martin. She and her husband, Doug Emhoff have huge contacts. Doug is an attorney working with entertainers. I am writing her an email to request that she start raising money for the DNC through her contacts, such as Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, etc. I will post my email on Hopium Chronicles here on Substack.
I've been getting daily fundraising e-mails from Kamala and others. To all of them I have replied: "When you write to tell me that T**** is in handcuffs, being led off by a phalanx of US Marshals, then I'll send you a donation. If you can't do that, then there will be no further funds from this donor." What was that line - oh, yeah "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this any more!"
I want to know the same thing? Why in the world are none of them speaking out. I don't understand it. It doesn't make any sense. I thought these leaders had character. Where are they? Come out and lead. That means you Obama's, Clinton's, Christopher Wray, Merrick Garland. Open your dang mouth. Now is the time when the people need you.
Sen Chris Murphy from Connecticut has been very vocal. Sen. Whitehouse from Rhode Island, ditto.
My husband made a point this evening about this country having been built on racism. When Obama became president, that was more than the far right could take!
They *are* speaking out. AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Jamie Raskin, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, lots more - you're just not hearing about it.
Vickie, excellent question!!!
How about short, selective small strikes. Fast food workers call in for the day sick. Airlines baggage handlers, at major hubs slow down their work for a day; this could be rotational across the network.
Terry,
Feb 28 is a national day to boycott, don’t spend money at retail stores.
I think I'll spend money that day at my local Indy bookstore. I know the owners and I know their politics. They can use all the help they can get.
I also heard about not spending anything on President's Day -- this coming Monday.
(below from Diana -- thanks Diana!) The group "Indivisible" is holding a National Day of Protest on Monday, Feb. 17. They are calling it #NotMyPresidentsDay.
Check your local chapter of Indivisible to see if there is a protest planned near your location. Here is a link to the organization's main page: https://indivisible.org/
The group "Indivisible" is holding a National Day of Protest on Monday, Feb. 17. They are calling it #NotMyPresidentsDay.
Check your local chapter of Indivisible to see if there is a protest planned near your location. Here is a link to the organization's main page: https://indivisible.org/
Protests are nice, do them. Compliment them with acts that gum up systems. Forget to put your ID number on a government form, or send in a form missing a signature. Drove slower on your way to work. Be creative. Be a tiny pain to someone's day.
Terry, I agree that we need to be creative, but some of those ideas seem self-defeating. We are ALL going to rue the day DT was re-elected and allowed Musk to eviscerate our government. For example, when we are unable to access those agencies we desperately need (IRS refunds, passports, etc.). Also, I'm not one to advocate pain to others in order to make a point -- like gumming up roadways, unless the protest has a legitimate permit. People need to get to work or the airport, and it's unfair to target them. We need to target those who are doing this, by protesting in front of GOP elected officials' offices, making it known to business leaders that we will not buy from them, and so on.
In addition, I respect those serving in government. By and large, they do a heck of a lot of work and are often treated rudely by us, the folks needing their help.
I'm hoping those who organized the HUGE protests the first time around start working together and promote several days of protests, when permits for peacefully protesting are secured and we can make ourselves loud and clear that we will NOT stand idly by while Trump tears up our government.
We can stick together in this, and make the point to those who are harming us and our government without harming bystanders.
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/754857/
Feb 17 National Protest Against Donald Trump
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/754857/
Peace Monument
It is dark on the capitol grounds.
Rain floods red faces watching.
His motorcade worms past Peace,
Two women wanting to prefend,
A robe of wisdom wraps History’s body,
Grief’s arm hangs across her back,
With her head resting on History’s shoulder
Grief covers her face with her hand.
Scientists wonder what force eroded
The feet of these women so quickly.
The marble statue now two-foot shorter,
Both Wisdom and Grief on their knees.
So poignantly descriptive, and so sadly true.
I think the biggest short-term problem is Trump and his MAGA cronies having enough power to substantially interfere with the mid-term election process or stop it altogether in some of the battleground states. At that point, it seems like a heavy dose of "Good Trouble" may be the only recourse.
We’re not going to have another opportunity to vote for quite awhile. I see no other guard rails at work other than the courts. Yes, we can protest. In the meantime, though, the Trump S**t Show continues.
https://fb.watch/xMZYYMJxss/?mibextid=wwXIfr
indivisible.org
Listen to what Joyce is saying. We’re all angry scared and frustrated but those emotions are worth little without action from those who are able.
Swing Left is a great group to join! I was able to help with letters to various swing states- very organized, great zooms, helping at phone banks, and loads of camaraderie! Thanks, Joyce, as ALWAYS! We are going to get through this to the other side!!!!
I'll look in to it. Thank you.
Midterms are coming up and there are millions of people who never vote. And there will also be some disappointed Trump voters. If we could get some of these people to vote Democratic and just get a few more Democrats in Congress, it could make an enormous difference- even though Trump will have two more years. People, please look for what we CAN do - don't look for reasons to do nothing. We're all scared and discouraged but that's no excuse to just sit idly by
The DNC was a massive a failure on GOTV. Our new DNC chair,Ken Martin must do much better on this. All those rallies Kamala did were entertaining but they were failures on GOTV. Who even had the time to watch them - Not me.
It's a difficult time, but I am not discouraged.
Last night I made a list of names and phone numbers of members of the house and senate budget committees. I forwarded the list to friends and family and called them all today about preserving medicaid. If you call at nite or on weekends you can leave a message to all of them. It felt great to be doing something! I suggest this to all of you
Thanks. Nancy
Doing it! Donating to special elections as I can. Writing postcards for Tony the Democrat when there’s a special election. Paying dues and whatever might come up that I can help with in our county and city Dem organizations. Also getting out helpful information to friends in our local immigrant communities about their rights (do those still exist?) and where to find shelter and help if they are deported.
This might be a bit off topic. LIke you, I donate whenever, however much, I can to worthy candidates. Unfortunately, when I use ActBlue, I often end up receiving a receipt for twice the amount I intended to donate. The site has a way (trick?) of cycling the user back to the beginning as if the transaction hadn't been completed yet and the amount needs to be entered again. This has soured me on donating to any politician who utilizes ActBlue (and I think all Democrats are using it). It's a shame because I won't be helping them again.
Have you been able to document this and taken the matter to ActBlue? I’ve used them extensively since they began without any issues.
I send checks via the US Postal Service. Not as great as it was, but still (mostly) delivers, no thanks to DeJoy. No annoying email, and I recycle the snail mail.
Read your transaction carefully. ActBlue does an okay job with your account but be aware when using it! Have never had a problem but know one can if you check or fill in the wrong box ! ! Do not be in a hurry!
Unfortunately I think you have a valid point. I have noticed similar oddities happening when I donate to someone or an organization that uses Act Blue. I try to avoid it for that reason. I am prompted to log into my Act Blue account - I just skip that step. BTW the best way to make sure your donations are most effective is to donate through OATH - Google "Oath voting."
They identify which races will make the biggest difference and which candidates are underfunded- meaning they don't already have plenty of money, ie we would be wasting to donate
Thank you for the daily briefings, Joyce. I tell my husband and son that you are my girl!
I watched Malcom Nance, Black Spy, and follow Steve Schmidt, The Warning. Both are intensely furious, as they should be.
We are, not the courts? Are you blaming the victims? I am tired and dismayed by this attitude. If the courts can't protect us, who the hell can?
Shaina, we need to organize and vote and educate. Maybe, as Joyce said, they will stop some of the excesses, but for now the status quo is holding. No hearings have taken place. And if there are cases that go all the way to SCOTUS, we really cannot guess what they will do. Who would have expected that the Justices would have invented total criminal immunity for a president. They did not get that from the Constitution.
If you read many of the voices writing today, they all say it is up to us! Scary but true
In case you have not been paying attention courts enforce their judgments through the willing or grudging compliance of the parties. If a party will not abide by a judgment, then the courts use the executive branch's forces (marshals, police the military) to enforce the judgment through seizure, arrest, forced sale, &c. So yeah it is up to Y-O-U to bring that about because I just do not see Trump complying willingly and very unlikely to have himself arrested. So the great mass of the People must be willing to do it at the risk of their " ... lives, fortunes and sacred honor."
I am sure you read that somewhere.
Our entire country has always moved forward based on the good-faith intentions of its citizens, but we got complacent in the last 40 or so years and let the bad-faith actors in, who are just so good at lying, cheating, and manipulating.
Not all of us are in a position to do that, be it health, age, jobs that do not allow political activity. Yes, it sounds good, educate and vote, but most people get their news from fox and even less credible sources. Reality bites. Pundits make resistance sound easy. Its not.
Shaina, none of this is easy. You are correct
Indivisible is doing great things . They are focused on identifying Republican Senators who are up for reelection soon and encouraging people in red and purple states to fight like heck to make sure that they lose their seats. Please sign up for indivisible's emails, they have a very motivating Zoom call every Thursday afternoon with specific action steps
They really are doing a great job.
Same thing our side is doing right?