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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (125956)	12/1/2009 3:40:25 PM
From: Dale Baker	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 542203

The screaming cognitive dissonance here is that the same folks who scream about SS and Medicare bankrupting us unless the costs are contained, now scream bloody murder not only at the idea that there could be cuts if we improve efficiency, but even that COLA's won't be given out in what was clearly a deflationary year. Between all the screaming voices, nothing will change with entitlements until we can no longer borrow the money to keep the gravy train going to everyone.

To: JohnM who wrote (125956)	12/1/2009 4:22:37 PM
From: Katelew	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 542203

The suspension of the COLA ( announced in February) was based on the strange assumption that consumer prices were not going to increase in 2009. Why it's also being suspended for 2011 is beyond strange. I see lots of price increase around me. The pharmas announced an 11% average increase in drug prices, but I don't know that it will impact us. Reportedly other medical costs are continuing to rise. What's clearly increased for us is our Medicare supplement premium 8%, our local sales tax rate, our homeowner insurance went up over 10% (I guess because of the monster ice storm las Feb.), and food. There seems to be no end to the increases in food prices. Costs that had fallen, like gasoline, natural gas heating, and airfare are rising back up. Even though there's been these ups and downs, I can say with assurance that I'm now paying more for gasoline, heating (nat gas), and airfare to Utah and Colorado than I did in 2007. Most of these things are things I have to pay for. They aren't discretionary. So I don't care whether or not clothes, electronics, and other consumer stuff is flat in price or maybe even cheaper. Have you seen no increase in the costs of the things I listed, i.e. food, utilities, insurance, medical, etc.? The things you have to buy. I want to want to vote Dem, and I want to want to vote for Obama. But it seems just plain stupid to increase the cost of our military expenses overseas while at the same time sucking money out of the US economy by nipping the 51 million retirees. This is no better thinking than came out of the Bush administration, imo.