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Sen. Johnson suggests ending Medicare, Social Security as mandatory spending programs

Well...they'd never win another election so I doubt that's the plan.
Unfortunately, that thinking doesn’t seem to hold true anymore. I think a true MAGA politician could suggest something like what Johnson is proposing (or even flat out ending the program) and the MAGA base will still vote for them in the general election because they believe the alternative candidate is a baby-eating communist.

This might be a tougher mountain to climb for senators in even remotely purple states but it’s a cakewalk for GQP representatives (due to gerrymandering) and even some senators in overwhelmingly conservative states.

The highly negative correlation between educational attainment and support for conservatives is no coincidence.
 
Again...and this cannot be overstated...Republicans have always opposed the idea of Social Security and MediCare! Ever since their beginnings! Republicans have always claimed “the private sector can do it cheaper, better, and more efficiently” than the government, although they have never offered a program as evidence or proof!
Somewhere in the archives their is a great FDR speech where he is mocking the Republicans with his “we can do it better” quote.
One thing about FDR.....for the vast majority of his political career...he did own the Republicans.
@goldmom @binsfeldcyhawk2
 
Guessing the number of people that want to collect social security someday (after paying in since teenagers) dwarfs the number of people concerned about getting an abortion.
Yet these people will still vote for the people who continually rip them off. Hence, the wealth gap continues to widen.
 
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Of course you doubt it. I have read Republicans on this site who sound okay with it. Because party first.
Nobody wants to get rid of Social Security JFC....

Even if they wanted to it's political suicide...

Johnson actually makes a decent point making it discretionary....you actually have to address problems in the system. Won't work because congress can't address anything, so a dumb idea...As is it's on track to be insolvent by 2033....


Medicare 2028

We'll just kick it down the road and address the problem in 2027 or so...

Bring up anything on social security/medicare and folks freak the F out...which is why nothing gets done.

We have an aging population...the problems ain't going away.
 
Unfortunately, that thinking doesn’t seem to hold true anymore. I think a true MAGA politician could suggest something like what Johnson is proposing (or even flat out ending the program) and the MAGA base will still vote for them in the general election because they believe the alternative candidate is a baby-eating communist.

This might be a tougher mountain to climb for senators in even remotely purple states but it’s a cakewalk for GQP representatives (due to gerrymandering) and even some senators in overwhelmingly conservative states.

The highly negative correlation between educational attainment and support for conservatives is no coincidence.
Johnson isn’t recommending ending either program...

He thinks making it discretionary will force congress to address the issues with both...I think he's wrong and politically stupid.
 
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Not on those 2 things....

"I HATE SOCIALISM!!!! Leave my Social Security alone!!!"

Good one from the Tea Party days...
I have read posts on HROT from younger people who would prefer they could invest their own money instead of paying SS taxes. There are people who would welcome the end of Social Security.
 
Johnson is recommending ending either program...

He thinks making it discretionary will force congress to address the issues with both...I think he's wrong and politically stupid.
Maybe he’s just raising it in conversation to give things a kickstart. Dems and their journoboys love to raise the specter of granny pushed off the cliff in her wheelchair because it never fails to cause terror in the old, vulnerable, dependent, and the stupid, and is a certain marker of desperation when they’re behind.
 
Johnson is recommending ending either program...

He thinks making it discretionary will force congress to address the issues with both...I think he's wrong and politically stupid.
Yeah, in the same way that SCOTUS's catholic fascists don't want to end abortion, only give states the "choice" to take rights from women in as many states as possible.

The fascists, at the service of neoliberal corporations, want to shove their violent, judgmental, white supremacist, pro-corporate, anti-planet policies down everyone's throats. They view anyone who disagrees with them as "sinful" (catholic term) or "demonic" (fundamentalist term). They believe they are doing "God's" work. They are craving the war of the apocalypse, and believe that they must be christian soldiers in that cosmic battle. They are sick. Epitomes of the "banality of evil", supposedly "good" people who want JUSTICE TO PREVAIL, THOUGH THE HEAVENS MAY FALL. Horrific worldview.
 
I have read posts on HROT from younger people who would prefer they could invest their own money instead of paying SS taxes. There are people who would welcome the end of Social Security.

It was proposed to the Boomers in the 80’s and again quashed by the then recipients who were told that the R’s wanted to take away their SSI. Think about it- the folks on SSI at the time tended to be Depression survivors who remembered when old folks didn’t have a “safety net”.
 
I have read posts on HROT from younger people who would prefer they could invest their own money instead of paying SS taxes. There are people who would welcome the end of Social Security.
True….but the voting block (old people) that turns out consistently don’t want that. Sure fire way to lose an election
 
Barnes should stamp the ready made bumper sticker Johnson suggestion on Ron's forehead from today til November.
Johnson can lose this race with this self-sabotage.
 
Because one affects you?
Because doing away with Roe only loses you an election in certain areas that you probably don’t win anyway.

Getting rid of social security loses you elections everywhere.

Even Johnson’s comments don’t come near to saying he wants to get rid of it…it’s a red herring.

R’s we’re pretty open about their ambitions to get rid of Roe.

Hence….not comparable. Unless you’re into false equivalencies
 
Because doing away with Roe only loses you an election in certain areas that you probably don’t win anyway.

Getting rid of social security loses you elections everywhere.

Even Johnson’s comments don’t come near to saying he wants to get rid of it…it’s a red herring.

R’s we’re pretty open about their ambitions to get rid of Roe.

Hence….not comparable. Unless you’re into false equivalencies
Everything you wrote is nonsense.
The R's lied for years about Roe. All their politicians pretended like it was settled law while working behind the scenes to overturn it. Meanwhile you all called us crazy for sounding the alarm.

Same with SS - pretend like it is some third rail while work has gone on for decades to kill it. Then you'll act all surprised pikachu when they manage to kill it. Somehow blame democrats.
 
I have read posts on HROT from younger people who would prefer they could invest their own money instead of paying SS taxes. There are people who would welcome the end of Social Security.
That would work out well…..I am sure most would be responsible and do that with the money…lol. Would be a huge economic drag as there are far too many that would not do that. Then we would be paying for everything for them when they are old(housing, food, medical care).
 
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Nobody wants to get rid of Social Security JFC....

Even if they wanted to it's political suicide...

Johnson actually makes a decent point making it discretionary....you actually have to address problems in the system. Won't work because congress can't address anything, so a dumb idea...As is it's on track to be insolvent by 2033....


Medicare 2028

We'll just kick it down the road and address the problem in 2027 or so...

Bring up anything on social security/medicare and folks freak the F out...which is why nothing gets done.

We have an aging population...the problems ain't going away.
Head in sand as usual. It’s part of the plan!!! They want to do this. If they achieve what they are attempting- only Republicans can win some swing state elections- they won’t be worried about voters. It’s like you pay attention to nothing some of us are telling you. You don’t even pay attention to what Republicans are telling you if it doesn’t fit inside your safe little box you’ve created for yourself.
 
Maybe he’s just raising it in conversation to give things a kickstart. Dems and their journoboys love to raise the specter of granny pushed off the cliff in her wheelchair because it never fails to cause terror in the old, vulnerable, dependent, and the stupid, and is a certain marker of desperation when they’re behind.
Pathetic and very wrong take. Almost Republican projection.
 
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Everything you wrote is nonsense.
The R's lied for years about Roe. All their politicians pretended like it was settled law while working behind the scenes to overturn it. Meanwhile you all called us crazy for sounding the alarm.

Same with SS - pretend like it is some third rail while work has gone on for decades to kill it. Then you'll act all surprised pikachu when they manage to kill it. Somehow blame democrats.
Exactly. Then move onto the next thing we’re “imagining”.
 
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Barnes should stamp the ready made bumper sticker Johnson suggestion on Ron's forehead from today til November.
Johnson can lose this race with this self-sabotage.
It’s definitely a gamble, although there are quite a few here on HROT who dislike all things Boomer. He could pick up a few votes-you never know.
 
That would work out well…..I am sure most would be responsible and do that with the money…lol. Would be a huge economic drag as there are far too many that would not do that. Then we would be paying for everything for them when they are old(housing, food, medical care).

You’re paying a lot of it already.
 
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