See other Editorial Articles
Title: Social Security Bait And Switch, A Continuing Series
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/20 ... nd-switch-a-continuing-series/
Published: Oct 31, 2011
Author: PK
Post Date: 2011-10-31 09:53:48 by tom007
Keywords: None
Views: 724
Comments: 36
Social Security Bait And Switch, A Continuing Series Dean Baker is angry at the Washington Post for spreading disinformation about Social Security. He’s right, of course — and it’s shocking that a well-known fallacy is the subject of a “news analysis” that purports to inform readers. You see, the WaPo makes a big deal of the fact that Social Security is currently taking in less in payroll taxes than it’s paying out in benefits. Yet this means nothing, except as a favorite point used to create confusion by those who want to kill the program. I’ve written about this repeatedly in the past, but here it is again: Social Security is a program that is part of the federal budget, but is by law supported by a dedicated source of revenue. This means that there are two ways to look at the program’s finances: in legal terms, or as part of the broader budget picture. In legal terms, the program is funded not just by today’s payroll taxes, but by accumulated past surpluses — the trust fund. If there’s a year when payroll receipts fall short of benefits, but there are still trillions of dollars in the trust fund, what happens is, precisely, nothing — the program has the funds it needs to operate, without need for any Congressional action. Alternatively, you can think about Social Security as just part of the federal budget. But in that case, it’s just part of the federal budget; it doesn’t have either surpluses or deficits, no more than the defense budget. Both views are valid, depending on what questions you’re trying to answer. What you can’t do is insist that the trust fund is meaningless, because SS is just part of the budget, then claim that some crisis arises when receipts fall short of payments, because SS is a standalone program. Yet that’s exactly what the WaPo claims. This is what you call negative journalistic value added.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: All (#0)
From a post : When I read Mr. Baker's post this morning and followed the link back to the WaPo article, I almost fell out of my chair. The Post "analysis" sounded as if it were written by the AEI or Heritage Foundation. Not only did it argue out of both sides of its mouth, what passed for "analysis" was based on faulty assumptions and made-up facts. Yet this is the tripe that's being read by inside the beltway policy makers, and I'm sure it will be cited at some point by one of more of the Sunday talking heads in arguing for cuts to Social Security. Facts no longer matter to half the country, and half the country is not only misinformed, it is simply wrong. Recommend Recommended by 185 Readers Card carrying socialists (anyone with a SS card in their wallet) have unwittingly departed the republic and entered the socialist STATE.
"the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
Welcome to the club! I don't believe for one minute that you don't have a SS# and card. You couldn't cash checks, deposit checks, have a driver's license,get auto insurance, get your monthly SS check, get medical services without a SS#, buy and own property. What a hypocrite! Have you always been this goofy?
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. I agree with this analysis (wittingly) So, if the SS Number (without which one may not buy or sell, since it's hard to buy without a job, is the "mark of the beast" ... do you see any way for those that accept it to avoid the accompanying "wine of the wrath of God" ??? "the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
Ambi's on my bozo list so I miss some of the wisdom espoused.
"the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
All of you: stop scaring me!! I want my Social Security!!! I don't know how people lived prior to FDR implementing this wonderful, life-saving program, don't rock the boat and threaten My Right To A Carefree Retirement Provided By My Government!!! You're all just mean and cynical.... sarc/off I'm sorry !!!!! "the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. I have noticed that many so-called believers do so as long as they're able to interpret metaphors or assign certain commentary to the "spiritual" meaning as they see it. Christ stated that since he was persecuted we should expect it too. Yet, I see many of the modern church preaching the "prosperity" doctrine. Far be it from me to proclaim a superior understanding of scripture than anyone else. It's just that whenever something troubling is stated in scripture like when Christ told the pharisees they were of their father the devil or be not like Cain who was "OF THAT WICKED ONE" ... all of a sudden out comes the "spiritual meaning" ... "the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
Oh, I guess the thousands of dollars I paid into the system every year doesn't mean that I have more than earned every penny I may ever receive from this "Carefree Retirement Provided By My Government"? :) SolvoSermo.Com Free speech Video Hosting
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. A friend has successfully done all this and more going on three decades now. It's not easy, but it can be done. Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson Get out of here with that logic!! And stop looking at my government SS-cheese!! :p deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. And ya just can't underestimate them thar Doug's !
"the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
I have spoken with the guy Lod is refering to ! We're just a stubborn bunch. "the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
According to many, you should not get your money back. Who are they? I don't know; government shills who want your money or morons who say let the government keep it so they can buy a bigger club to beat us with.
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. It's not easy, but it can be done. That would be the only way to get rid of this mess that government has perverted for several decades. People who had their money confiscated must demand it back and not give them any more.
Here goes: Married, no children, many cats. You can get a bank account w/o a SS#, you just collect no interest, but these days no one collects any interest to speak of anyway. He's a self-employed contractor. Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. Bwahahahahaha Only those he legitimately owes !!! "the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
He's never filed his Release of Lein on his property; so at tax time he sends in a M.O. using the former owner as Payor, and pays for undeveloped land. He built the home himself long before there was county zoning/permitting in TX. The only other taxes paid are the state sales tax and fuel taxes. Zero goes to deecee. Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson Translation, he wouldn't allow martyrs as one counterexample to such folly. God being infinite sees our lives from that perspective, as a mere vapor. What may appear to the human being as tragic or traumatic might seem negligible from God's perspective. (I'm just speculating). "the man who puts all the guns and all the decision-making power into the hands of the central government and then says, “Limit yourself”; it is he who is truly the impractical utopian." Murray Rothbard
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. My name and # is on way, way, way too many pieces of paper to ever get out.
Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. 
"Satan / Cheney in "08" 
#2. To: tom007 (#0)
#3. To: noone222 (#2)
Card carrying socialists (anyone with a SS card in their wallet) have unwittingly departed the republic and entered the socialist STATE.
#4. To: noone222 (#2)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#5. To: ambi (#3)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#6. To: Eric Stratton (#4)
Or wittingly
#7. To: Eric Stratton (#5)
#8. To: noone222, All (#2)
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#9. To: X-15 (#8)
All of you: stop scaring me!! I want my Social Security!!! I don't know how people lived prior to FDR implementing this wonderful, life-saving program, don't rock the boat and threaten My Right To A Carefree Retirement Provided By My Government!!! You're all just mean and cynical....
#10. To: noone222 (#6)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#11. To: noone222 (#6)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#12. To: noone222 (#7)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#13. To: Eric Stratton (#10)
#14. To: X-15 (#8)
don't rock the boat and threaten My Right To A Carefree Retirement Provided By My Government!!!
We are not allowed to make a decision as mundane as what kind of lightbulb we're going to use anymore, but we're allowed to choose who runs the city, state, and fedgoob? Give me a break. - Esso
#15. To: noone222, X-15 (#9)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#16. To: ambi (#3)
You couldn't cash checks, deposit checks, have a driver's license,get auto insurance, get your monthly SS check, get medical services without a SS#, buy and own property.
#17. To: Critter (#14)
Oh, I guess the thousands of dollars I paid into the system every year doesn't mean that I have more than earned every penny I may ever receive from this "Carefree Retirement Provided By My Government"? :)
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#18. To: Critter (#14)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#19. To: Critter (#14)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#20. To: noone222 (#13)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#21. To: Lod (#16)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#22. To: noone222 (#13)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#23. To: Lod (#16)
#24. To: Eric Stratton (#21)
#25. To: Critter (#14)
Oh, I guess the thousands of dollars I paid into the system every year doesn't mean that I have more than earned every penny I may ever receive from this "Carefree Retirement Provided By My Government"? :)
#26. To: noone222 (#24)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#27. To: Lod (#16)
A friend has successfully done all this and more going on three decades now.
#28. To: Eric Stratton (#21)
#29. To: Lod (#28)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#30. To: Eric Stratton (#29)
(Edited)
Does he pay taxes?
#31. To: Eric Stratton (#29)
#32. To: Eric Stratton (#20)
One of my favorites is that "God wouldn't put his people through something like that." [The Great Tribulation]
#33. To: Lod (#31)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#34. To: noone222 (#32)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#35. To: Eric Stratton (#33)
#36. To: Lod (#35)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest