Millions face shrinking Social Security payments

[MollieB55]

Millions face shrinking Social Security paymentsBy: Stephen OhlemacherThe Associated PressAugust 24, 2009Millions of older people face shrinking Social Security checks next year, the first time in a generation that payments would not rise.The trustees who oversee Social Security are projecting there won't be a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the next two years. That hasn't happened since automatic increases were adopted in 1975.By law, Social Security benefits cannot go down. Nevertheless, monthly payments would drop for millions of people in the Medicare prescription drug program because the premiums, which often are deducted from Social Security payments, are scheduled to go up slightly."I will promise you, they count on that COLA," said Barbara Kennelly, a former Democratic congresswoman from Connecticut who now heads the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. "To some people, it might not be a big deal. But to seniors, especially with their health care costs, it is a big deal."Cost of living adjustments are pegged to inflation, which has been negative this year, largely because energy prices are below 2008 levels.This above article is living proof that the White House and all of Washington is living on Kool-Aid! They are not breathing in too much carbon dioxide but too much carbon monoxide! Energy prices are DOWN! ;In the infamous words of Barney Franks, “Just what planet are they from? My energy bill took a huge leap in March and Obama has already warned us to expect them to cost a great deal more if Cap and Trade passes.Prescription drugs are up, food prices are up, cigarettes have tripled, they are talking of a sugar shortage which means those prices will be up. We are not drilling for oil but spending money in other countries for them to drill so expect gasoline to go up even more. While it is not as bad as two years ago, it is still much higher than the US is used to seeing. About the only thing that has stayed even or gone down ae electronics. Unfortunately, most of senior citizens do not spend their days twittering, playing GameBoy, X-Box, setting up web sites, photo editing, on their cell phones, or hacking into the White House database. (Too bad!)This is just another attempt on Obama’s part to rid our country of senior citizens. His list of targets gets longer daily and it is not at all hidden!I, for one, have had a gut full of this man and his agenda. And I am still waiting to see signs of the charismatic speaker I keep hearing he is supposed to be. I haven’t heard him utter a word of substance yet. Wake me when he does!