To some Americans the thought of Barack Obama being re-elected for another four years is abhorrent. Those individuals had better get used to the idea because despite the rhetoric from the tea party and the rest of the right, Americans are hooked on their entitlements and “promised” benefits and perks.
We are in the “solve the problem, but not at my expense” mode. Be it college students, military retirees, public union members, seniors collecting Social Security and Medicare or those benefitting from the new mandated benefits under Obamacare, they all want to preserve what they have been promised, earned or that to which they are “entitled.”
That is the insidious nature of government promises, they are habit forming. Those Americans who want less government and lower taxes enjoy all these benefits as much as anyone. Some believe that balancing the budget simply means cutting foreign aid or the bureaucracy. It doesn’t work that way. Others rather listen to unspecified plans promising solutions without sacrifice and refuse to ask “how.” Politicians don’t tell the truth because they know if they do, they won’t be elected.
That is why the person promising the most to the most people will be re-elected.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Dick, Mike has nailed it. He believes he paid for his Social Security and Medicare. You provided a good response. Here is a little more detail.
For example, no one paid into Medicare Part B, doctor coverage, as it is funded on a pay as you go basis, and of course, no one paid into Medicare Part D, which didn’t exist until 2003, and is not funded, but also pay as you go.
For Part A, let’s say that you and Mike earned the social security wage base maximum each year, and that each of you paid in the maximum from 1966 through last year, each of you would have contributed only $33,000 or so in Medicare Part A taxes (aka FICA-Med) – with an equal amount from your employers.
Social Security is a different issue. Because of the progressive nature of the taxes and benefits, the fact is that the only thing more progressive (favoring lower income folks or folks with spotty earnings history) than the taxes are the benefits the taxes actually fund. So, to create the higher income replacement rates for lower income workers, those at or above the median wage will often not receive repayment of their taxes within the seven year period you cite… Many at the maximum wage base will never receive a repayment of the taxes they paid (if you also include the company paid taxes and adjust for earnings/inflation)
However, clearly, for almost all of today’s retirees, those who are part of the greatest generation down to the leading edge of the baby boom, the promised benefits from Social Security and Medicare will far exceed the taxes they paid – for those who survived to claim the benefit and survive through a typical life expectancy.
Those in office will demagogue anyone who promises reasonable reforms … to confirm, just “google” “pelosi and medicare” or “reid and medicare”
So, that will continue to be the situation until someone gets a second term in the president’s office with, perhaps the other party in control of Congress…. see Bill Clinton in the late 1990’s, where we had a good chance to fix the funding challenges … but for, perhaps Monica…
LikeLike
I based the seven years on the statement I received from SS just before I retired. I paid the maximum tax for thirty years or so. Add in the spouses benefit plus the COLA and it’s a pretty good (and unsustainable) deal.
LikeLike
Dick,
I’m not nearly as sure as you are that the President will be re-elected.
The Bowles-Simpson commission provided a bi-partisan blue-print for getting the national debt and deficit in order for long term sustainability.
The commission was made up of Democrats and Republicans and its final report was voted on and passed with 11 votes out of 18.
The President ignored the report even though he had established the commission. He refused even to acknowledge the work that was done by the commission in his State of the Union speech, weeks after the commission released its recommendations.
This November will be a close election. I give Romney a chance.
LikeLike
Well, you make logical points, but I’m not sure that is sufficient-being logical that is.
LikeLike
I disagree, I am retired and paid into SSI & Medicare, which is taken form my SSI. I do not considered it an entitlement
LikeLike
Mike, you paid for the benefits of people already retired while you were still working, not your benefits. In addition, you will (or already have) collect benefits equal to your total contributions within about seven years of retirement. Those of us who are collecting SS and Medicare hardly paid for what we are receiving.
LikeLike
Well put. Obama has the masses so “buffaloed” that it seems he runs a cult instead of government. He continues to by-pass the laws of the Constitution and proceeds as a dictator. I can not even imagine what this land will be like if he is re-elected but I do believe that he will be. He has just secured another mass of votes with his immigration law institutued yesterday with out Congress. Pray for our country. This also is only the first step. The more we give the more they will want and before we know it they will be pouring into the US to get the unearned benefits.
LikeLike