Social Security Evaders and Raiders

What is the contribution cap to Social Security? As in, how much do you have to earn annually to stop paying in?  The answer is $176,100.  So, if someone makes less than that, then that money will be taken out of their paycheck throughout the entire year. Jeff Bezos on the other hand, slaps down that amount in less than 10 hours and doesn't pay a cent from there on.

So, the people getting the biggest tax breaks have the smallest ratio of contribution. And don't even ask about what corporations and hedge fund managers pay in taxes.  For too many companies it rhymes with Nero. Then. on top of these sweetheart tax deals, some even get us supporting their businesses.  Like who? Say ExxonMobile, or everything Elon Musk owns.

Back to all the faux Cassandras worried about the deficit and SSA running out of money.  We already know the solution to this “problem:” Tax the rich just a little more and raise the cap on SSA contribution. Just raise the cap a little.  Poor Jeff might toil away for a few more hours but it will preserve one of the most successful government programs ever.

 Remember, It is called an entitlement program because people are entitled to it.  If someone is at retirement age, then they have paid into Social Security for decades.  It is a contract that Americans made, or was made for them, to have money as they grew older. At this point 66 million people receive SSA and 46.7 million are retirees. That is 20% and 14% of our population respectively, many of whom, after their pensions were wrecked, together with the market crash in 2008, have lost other sources of retirement income. Now millions of elderly retirees rely on SSA to survive, drawing down benefits they paid into for decades.

So this South African tax guzzling hog Musk has decided SSA is a Ponzi scheme.  Uh no. And he pretty much single-handedly, with a small coterie of boys, wants to dismantle it. Or more likely, cripple the program so private bankers can "manage" it (with the appropriate fees of course).  Like the ones who crashed the world economy during the Bush Jr administration.

Perhaps the man who has damaged every company that he has purchased (not created).  If that person isn't obvious, it is Elon Musk.  Twitter/Tesla/Spacex.  Unless losing half the value of a company is winning. Or rocket parts falling all over Florida.  As if extreme weather wasn't problematic enough there. 

Oh, this is the latest attempt to torture us. Anyone who is eligible to start receiving their SS of which they are entitled or make a minor change like direct deposit locale, they must appear in person to an agency office.  This is happening after mass firings at the agency and many elderly or those with a disability have transportation or mobility issues. The more one considers the implications, the more ruinous the fallout.

Here's a thought Mr. Musk.  Until your vehicle recall notices stay in single digits and your rockets don't explode in air, not one more penny in federal funding.  And since the performance of your products is so vastly inferior, you need to pay back all the billions given to you with interest. And wait in line to do it.

Let's table the tragic scenario of people suffering for a moment.  Not only does this administration dismiss any concerns about people's pain but seems to thrive on this.  

Focus on economics.  Follow the money if you will.  If SSA is dismantled or even crippled, chaos will ripple through the economy.  By the way, trickle-down is not only incredibly insulting, it doesn't work.  But a healthy middle class raises all ships.  Even multiple yachts. 

To try to ruin Medicaid would destroy rural healthcare and hurt hospitals everywhere.  This would be happening together with top research institutions already losing hundreds of millions in federal grants.  Who needs to cure cancer or understand Alzheimers?  

So, billionaires, yes, the most vulnerable will suffer the most but the entire country will be at risk.  Our healthcare system, now the stepchild laughingstock of the world, will become even more fragile and unable to meet even minimal health concerns.

A cruel, indiscriminate attack and deportation of immigrants here will not help our country.  But you can always send back Elon Musk.  And Peter Thiel as a bonus.

It's all about money.  We have the aggregate power and heft.  Show them. Prove it.

Don't Shop on Tuesday.