Obama and Social Security

There have been letters showing up in editorial columns about Obama and fears that he will drastically alter or cut Social Security. There was one in today's Gazette Times that was interesting to read. Obama has been making hints lately, rather loudly, about changing "entitlements". When somebody wants to eliminate or decimate something, one of the first steps is to give it a derogatory association. The term "Entitlements" will do the trick when referring to Social Security and medicare. People in this country hate that word.

Social Security money collected out of paychecks was supposedly to go into the infamous "lock box", untouched except for use by Social Security and Medicare. That is hardly what has gone on. The feds steal that protected money every year to use elsewhere. This why Social Security is in deep shit.

Already many existing on Social Security live on the brink of desperation. Obama's suggestions about "entitlements" like they are evil, has a lot of poor old people very nervous. Would he yank the rug from under the feet of the poorest oldest and sickest Americans?

Many people, my extremely conservative brother included, believe the only reason extreme recessions have not ended up in a major depression is because of Social Security, Medicare, HUD and unemployment. Even my ultra conservative brother thinks these are great programs without which our country would slip into third world status.

Our government does need to tighten its belt and use money only on programs that work. It needs to weed out waste and stop corruption. I remember the millions lost in government department personal credit cards. The public became aware of this type of government waste when a news story came out on personal uses of Pentagon credit cards for employee use. Charges to the cards, and to taxpayers included trips to Vegas, laptops bought for personal use, massages, etc. When the extreme corruption was exposed, the whistle blower was fired, the thieves promoted and the credit limit on the cards increased.

It will be interesting to see what changes Obama wants in Social Security. He's taken the first step, by constant referral to Social Security as "entitlement".