this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2024
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Summary

At the first meeting of the DOGE Caucus, a new congressional group focused on government efficiency, Republican Rep. Greg Lopez stated that cuts to Social Security and Medicare are likely “on the table” as part of debt reduction efforts.

The caucus, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, aims to slash government spending, raising concerns among advocacy groups about potential attacks on anti-poverty programs.

Critics, including Social Security Works, warn the caucus may push for privatization and benefit reductions.

This comes despite Trump’s prior commitment to protect these programs.

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[–] mhague@lemmy.world 19 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

A huge, mouth watering steak walks up to you and says, "There's no more food."

[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 4 points 1 hour ago

Thank you, I couldn't think of a better analogy

[–] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 5 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

Don't worry, the cuts will drain social security just in time for when you go to collect. Current recipients will go un affected. I have no insider knowledge, I just understand that corporate America hates my generation.

[–] sumguyonline@lemmy.world 10 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

It's funny at this point. Either the rich pay their share or we Mangione them. Tick tock musky. Tik fuckin tok.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

I know a lot of bitter Boomers with bad health and nothing to lose, this could be an interesting year.

[–] TipRing@lemmy.world 29 points 4 hours ago

Yes, they want to roll back the entire New Deal and have corporate serfdom again. They have been saying it for years and now they have their chance.

[–] CitricBase@lemmy.world 142 points 6 hours ago (9 children)

Friendly reminder that Social Security is a separate government program that funds itself.

What Musk is talking about is stealing from Social Security in order to cut taxes elsewhere (namely cutting taxes for people like Musk).

[–] n2burns@lemmy.ca 24 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

That's not completely true. Social Security is supposed to fund itself, however it's currently facing a funding shortfall with current estimates that it will be depleted in 2035. There are many suggestions on how make this program solvent, including bolstering it with general funds.

[–] Dkarma@lemmy.world 10 points 3 hours ago

That's not completely true. Long ago they put it into the general fund. There is always a shortfall in the general fund. Before they put it in there it was solvent, and if they wouldn't have it would be completely solvent today.

It was already stolen. They want the rest.

[–] CitricBase@lemmy.world 68 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I think a good start would be to stop allowing Republicans to raid Social Security for quick cash, like they've been constantly doing since the Reagan administration.

[–] teamevil@lemmy.world 31 points 5 hours ago

But then how could they argue it's insolvent‽

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[–] Zeppo@sh.itjust.works 17 points 4 hours ago

Lovely how this incredibly wealthy person is laser focused on making things worse for poor people. I suppose it's the usual ploy of making people as desperate as possible so people like him can prey on us more easily.

[–] blarth@thelemmy.club 1 points 1 hour ago

No there the fuck will not be cuts to either thing.

[–] ramsorge@discuss.online 9 points 4 hours ago

Hahahahahahahaahahhaahahaaaaaaaahhahahahaa

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 94 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Wow! Who woulda guessed they would immediately reneg on a campaign "promise" and immediately attack the side of the population that most reliably votes for them?

[–] ohellidk@sh.itjust.works 47 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Jimmyeatsausage@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago

At least until the next pandemic

[–] tacosanonymous@lemm.ee 47 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

"But they won't take away MY social security…"

[–] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 13 points 4 hours ago

For most boomers, this is true. It’s genx and younger that will suffer.

[–] VanillerGoriller@sh.itjust.works 45 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

Disabled people will be first to be killed by this. It is already a Herculean task to be approved for SSDI and takes years for many despite clearly documented and proven disabilities. And it does not pay out enough for most recipients. That will only get worse if SSA is targeted. I am not legally allowed to state my opinion on this.

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 5 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Interestingly enough, social security's disability trust fund has enough money to continue paying out until 2098; it's the old person part that's running out.

[–] Supervisor194@lemmy.world 5 points 2 hours ago

It should also be mentioned that it wouldn't be running out if they didn't cap the taxable income at $168,000. If you make $168,000 a year you pay the same social security tax as every millionaire and billionaire. BuT iTs InSoLvEnT

[–] adarza@lemmy.ca 31 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (5 children)

doesn't need to be, of course. they just want to cut social security because 'the poors' rely on it more.

debt reduction efforts

deep-six every loophole used mostly or only by the wealthy to avoid paying their share of taxes.

increase funding for irs, streamline enforcement actions, give them the resources needed to go after the big fish.

eliminate the cap on social security contributions, lower the ceiling on benefits for the very wealthy retirees, while raising the minimum benefit.

single payer tax funded health care, paid by higher taxes on the wealthy.

raise the capital gains rates. raise the estate tax, lower the assets value needed to trigger it.

raise the marginal rates for high income earners (by a lot. i want reagan screaming from beyond)

budget problem fixed. well over $2 trillion a year pumped into the economy by people who are now no longer padding insurance companies' bottom lines with it. but we aren't done yet....

$12/hr min wage (wait wut?!?!?! wait for it....)

$24,000 universal tax credit for everyone. the higher taxes up^there on high income earners would negate this for them, and they fund it for the others that do receive it.

this is a compromise between the $15 (or higher) crowd and small businesses. a little lower fed min wage than what's being pushed, but then essentially doubled based on full time work via the tax credit all receive.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 17 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

The wealthy, who have had help all their life but imagine they did it all on their own, see needing help when you're poor as a disgusting moral failing. Many of them will also call themselves Christians.

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[–] pivot_root@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

> some cuts
> the cuts:

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 14 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

This is going to go down like a lead ballon, even with the 60+ year old MAGAs.

[–] Supervisor194@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago

All they have to do is tell them the reason it has to be done is LIBRULS and boom. All anger directed at Nancy Pelosi, all is forgotten.

[–] WaxiestSteam69@lemmy.world 10 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I hate to tell you but it won't. My in-laws fall into that category and I constantly watch them twist themselves into knots trying to justify this stuff. They would also rather do without insurance than watch someone "undeserving" get it for "free".

[–] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

I'm sure they say that now, but I wonder what happens when they actually have to live it.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 hours ago

I have a feeling they will just grandfather people in, and reduce for future recipients.

[–] WaxiestSteam69@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

I guess we're about to find out

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 28 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

They will blame immigrants, single mothers, non-whites and LGBTQ+ people, and ignore the facts.

[–] eran_morad@lemmy.world 15 points 6 hours ago (5 children)

Bring it, bitches. It's high time we face the consequences of our collective stupidity.

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[–] MyOpinion@lemm.ee 10 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

So so shocked. But but they said that they would never go after social security.

[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 1 points 9 minutes ago

well I mean, roe vs wade is not going anywhere.

[–] WaxiestSteam69@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago

I don't know what's more intriguing- the lies or the fact that his base doesn't notice it or doesn't care.

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