Strengthen Social Security...Don`t Cut It !

Fiscal Commission Meets Again, Considers Medicare, Social Security Cuts > http://www.strengthensocialsecurity.org/. <

Did You Know…
A new survey sponsored by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) found that only 24% knew that the new health law will extend the solvency of Medicare, and only 14% were aware that the reforms are projected to cut deficit spending. To print a copy of this document, go to > http://bit.ly/aISZwC.
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The Wednesday, July 28th meeting of the President's Fiscal Commission, which is charged with fixing the federal budget deficit, featured testimony from Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a conservative organization funded by the right-wing Pete Peterson Foundation. MacGuineas mentioned raising the retirement age as a viable option to help generate savings. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) made the point that the debate must shift away from spending cuts and start to focus more on revenue raising options, saying that capping mandatory spending on entitlement programs such as Social Security will undoubtedly generate minimal savings at the expense of deserving beneficiaries. For an Alliance summary of the happenings at Wednesday's meeting, go to http://bit.ly/c2tIIb.
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Social Security's 75th Birthday Festivities Begin http://www.strengthensocialsecurity.org/.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Democratic Leaders, and House Democrats held a press event on Wednesday on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Social Security Act, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law on August 14, 1935. At the event, the Speaker blasted Republicans for trying to privatize Social Security, saying the change would have resulted in the trust fund incurring a massive loss due to the downturn in the stock market. Last Saturday in Las Vegas, at the "Netroots Nation" convention, the Speaker said that she is opposed to raising the retirement age. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has said that he favors raising the Social Security retirement age to 70. On Thursday, more than 60 groups, including the Alliance, announced the creation of the coalition "Strengthen Social Security…Don't Cut It." The new group is launching a major mobilization to push back against Fiscal Commission assertions, backed by the Wall Street spin machine, that claim Social Security is a major component of the budget deficit and is teetering on the brink of disaster. In a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the group outlined plans to build support in Congress to fight benefits cuts and press candidates this election to push back against any move to raise the retirement age or privatize the program. "We are united by our concerns over the new Fiscal Commission, which operates in virtual secrecy and with a fundamentally flawed understanding of how Social Security is financed and operates. There is no government financial commitment at all. Every dime comes from workers and employers," The new group's web site is http://www.strengthensocialsecurity.org/. For more information, go to the AFL-CIO blog at http://bit.ly/bk160P. For photos of the press conference, go to http://bit.ly/dixNaW. For a new Alliance document on Social Security Disability Insurance, visit http://bit.ly/bMs5Eu.

Social Security Myths...Check it Out !

Top 5 Social Security Myths

Myth #1: Social Security is going broke.

Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a 'T'). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.1 After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits—and again, that's without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers' retirement decades ago. Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

Myth #2: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.

Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than they did 70 years ago.3 What's more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly—since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half. But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.

Myth #3: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security.

Reality: Social Security doesn't need to be fixed. But if we want to strengthen it, here's a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share. If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.5 Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.6 But conservatives insist benefit cuts are the only way because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.

Myth #4: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs

Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn't full of IOUs, it's full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.7 The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts. President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market—which would have been disastrous—but luckily, he failed. So the trillions of dollars in the Social Security Trust Fund, which are separate from the regular budget, are as safe as can be.

Myth #5: Social Security adds to the deficit

Reality: It's not just wrong—it's impossible! By law, Social Security's funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way. That means that Social Security can't add one penny to the deficit.

Defeating these myths is the first step to stopping Social Security cuts.

FOX is NOT NEWS !

Fox News is Propaganda, Not NEWS !

In just a few days, the White House Correspondents Association will decide which news organization will be awarded the seat recently vacated by Helen Thomas. The news organizations most actively vying for the seat are FOX, NPR and Bloomberg News. FOX News is a right-wing propaganda outlet, not a legitimate news agency. In recent weeks the network has turned the volume up on its race-baiting political agenda. The media assault on Shirley Sherrod is just a latest in a series of racist and politically motivated attacks on targets like Van Jones, ACORN, and Eric Holder's Department of Justice. It's bad enough that we have to fight the constant smear campaigns and appeals to racial paranoia from FOX and the right-wing media. We can't let them have the best seat in the White House press briefing room and the legitimacy that it confers. I just told the White House Correspondents Association to give the best seat in the briefing room to NPR, not FOX. I hope you will, too.

Have a look and take action at the link below.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/fox_or_npr/?r_by=10248-3026155-9LZ3.px&rc=confemail

The Patients Bill of Rights !

Patients Bill of Rights

“Starting in September, some of the worst abuses will be banned forever. No more discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions. No more retroactively dropping somebody’s policy when they get sick if they made an unintentional mistake on an application. No more lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on coverage. Those days are over.” –

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA


President Obama announced a Patient’s Bill of Rights made possible under health reform—a basic set of consumer protections that end some of the health insurance companies’ worst abuses.

The Patient’s Bill of Rights:

1. Prevents insurance companies from canceling your policy if you get sick. Right now, insurance companies can retroactively cancel your policy when you become sick if you or your employer made an unintentional mistake on your paperwork.

2. Stops insurance companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Beginning in September, discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions will be banned—a protection that will be extended to all Americans in 2014.

3. Prohibits setting lifetime limits on insurance policies issued or renewed after Sept. 23, 2010. No longer will insurance companies be able to take away coverage at the very moment when patients need it most. More than 100 million Americans have health coverage that imposes lifetime limits on care.

4. Phases out annual dollar limits on coverage over the next three years. Even more aggressive than lifetime limits are annual dollar limits on what an insurance company will pay for your health care. For the people with medical costs that hit these limits, the consequences can be devastating.

5. Allows you to designate any available participating primary care doctor as your provider. You’ll be able to keep the primary care doctor or pediatrician you choose, and see an OB-GYN without referral.

6. Removes insurance company barriers to receiving emergency care and prevents them from charging you more because you’re out of network. You’ll be able to get emergency care at a hospital outside of your plan’s network without facing higher co-pays or deductibles or having to fight to get approval first.

The Patient’s Bill of Rights starts to take effect this fall—but the benefits for individuals and families under health care reform don’t stop there. Over the course of the next several years, the historic health reform law will make care more affordable, hold insurers accountable, and finally give all Americans the coverage they deserve.

To learn more about what’s in the health care reform bill, please visit:

http://www.WHITEHOUSE.GOV

Thomas M.Cooley High School~Detroit Michigan ~ The End of an Era !

Thomas M. Cooley High School Detroit Michigan...Closing

by Don Jones...7/23/10

Former Audio-Visual Stage Technician at Cooley H.S. 1958-70

I have learned today that Thomas M. Cooley High School in Detroit Michigan will close its doors July 30, 2010 for the last time. It is a sad day for this writer. I worked there from 1958 until 1970 ! They were wonderful days at a school that was not only top notch in the city, but, academically one of the best in the State of Michigan. Cooley had the largest comprehensive music department in the United States at That time. I was privileged to work with some very talented people at Cooley. Ms. Doris Lenz was the fine arts Department head. Ms. Stella Schvickas was a wonderful art teacher. Mr. William E.(Bill) Hollingsworth was the Auditorium Director and my immediate supervisor and one great guy ! I have been in communication with Mr. Stephen Czapski, Principal at Cooley H.S. Having never met him, from his letters, he sounds like an upfront and caring man and Principal. I can only hope that the powers that be, will find a place for him in a broken but not dead yet system ? I understand they will place the 17 acres that Cooley presently sits on up for sale. My heart breaks, when I think they will demolish that auditorium and stage facility. It was built in 1928-29 and If you have never seen it, You should before it is gone. When I left Detroit in 1970 and headed for Martin Tennessee, little did I think of the events that would unfold. Detroit had approximately 2 1/2 - two and half million people in the City limits. There were 26 High Schools and the Detroit Board of Education was the largest employer in the City limits. Today, there are less than 800,000 thousand people in the City ! Detroit had a school system that was envied by everyone across the country ! Today it is in shambles. The arsenal of democracy is decaying before our very eyes. I believe it can be rebuilt. This City must not be allowed to continue on its present course. I informed Mr. Czapski, that the first time, I heard of the term "Quality Education", was around 1964-65, when Lyndon B. Johnson was president. The Congress under his direction passed the National Defense Education act (NDEA). Money was thrown at our school system like rice at a wedding. I`m not sure if helped or hindered ? For years after the (NDEA) I kept hearing the term, Quality Education. I really did`nt understand the definition or if there was a definition ? Then about three years ago, I learned what Quality Education was ! Definition of Quality Education = Discipline ! Somewhere along the way, we seem to have lost our way, in discipline. Now, I`m not sure how to regain it ? I just know, what it is ! The Teachers/Faculty blame the parents, the parents blame the Teachers and Administrators. I think there is enough blame for everyone to share and at this time and point, blame is irrelevant. I do not have all the answers, but, I have some. I just know, that if we do not save our public school system, we will lose ourselves ! We seem to have become a throw away society. If we throw away our public school system, we might as well consider ourselves lost in a wilderness of despair. Lets return to common sense and service to our fellowman. I realize, that I have rambled a bit, but, I cannot write this and be neutral. Everything in the past is not bad. Everything in the present only seems to be. Everything in the future depends on both ! I`m an old Detroiter, I can remember when it was Great ! I believe it can be again. It must be again or we all lose !

Cooley Cardinal ~ Black & Red Epitaph :

Thomas M. Cooley High School is located at the intersection of Hubbell and Chalfonte Street, on the northwest side of Detroit, Michigan. The three-story structure is operated by the Detroit Board of Education. The facility was named in honor of Thomas M. Cooley, a nineteenth-century jurist and Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Due to budget issues and declining enrollment, the school was closed at the end of the 2010 academic year.

Hi.

I am also a graduate of Cooley High School (1959) . I was privileged to have Don Jones as one of my teachers. Cooley High school was a wonderful building, beautifully built and very pleasing to the eye. The grounds were equally beautiful. We keep tearing down our old wonderful buildings . Why not sell it for a dollar and save the demolition costs, someone might have a good use for it. I know my memories are from 50 years ago but I’m sure the building is still salvageable. Another idea is sell it to China so it can follow the jobs that left Detroit.

Steve Sauter, Class of "59"

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Don :

I have tried with to no avail to save the closing of Cooley High School - even that last ditch effort. As I walked on each floor that last day - Thursday, July 29th - it was a shame to see the gutting of the school's interior. Currently, my objective is still to reopen as a magnet and academic academy, similar to the Lindblom - Math and Science Academy High School located on the South Side of Chicago. Lindblom had also fallen to disrepair within a socio-economic neighborhood, I would suggest similar to that of Cooley High School in Detroit. I visited the new Lindblom in April of this year. Wow, currently it is a wonderful refurbised high school (interior and exterior) with an advanced curriculum. Moreover, it has great architecture as does Cooley - though different type and period. I will not stop in this advocacy for Cooley High School within my geographic School Board District.

Sincerely,

Tyrone E. Winfrey, Sr. ~ School Board, City of Detroit

Until Trade is Leveled ~ Our Race to the Bottom Continues

Level the Playing Field in Trade Policy
by James Parks, Jul 19, 2010

Current U.S. trade policies encourage corporations to move production off our shores to low-wage countries that do not enforce workplace and environmental laws. This is good for multinational businesses and investors but bad for workers and communities, as pointed out by Stan Sorscher, legislative representative for the Society for Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA)/IFPTE Local 2001. Writing at Huffington Post, Sorscher says to level the playing field, the United States should set rules that will encourage more investment in America, and neutralize the flow of new investment offshore.
The nation also needs to set non-economic principles and rules that go beyond the bottom line. For example, U.S. corporations are not allowed to make goods in sweatshops. It’s only fair, he says, that we level the playing field by insisting on sweat-free goods when selling in our domestic market. If domestic manufacturers are responsible and play by rules that reflect our values, then at the very least, we should protect those local businesses from being undercut by foreign producers working to lower standards. Check out Sorscher’s full column, “Level the Playing Field in Trade Policy,” here. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stan-sorscher/level-the-playing-field-i_b_646234.html

Michael Duke, CEO Wal-Mart in a Word "OVERPAID"!

SURPRISE! THE PEOPLE SPEAK...Wal-Mart
Monday, July 19, 2010 Posted by Jim Hightower

Michael Duke is the Big Wally of Walmart. As CEO of the low-wage behemoth, he siphons some $19 million a year in personal pay from the global retailer. How much is $19 million? Let's break it down in terms that Duke's own workforce can appreciate. While Big Wally's workers average about $9.50 an hour, Duke's pay comes to about $9,500 an hour. So he pockets as much in two hours as Walmart workers make in a whole year! But Walmart doesn't give a damn about such gross pay gaps between privileged elites and the rest of us. As a spokesman scoffed, "I don't think Mike Duke... needs me to defend his compensation package." Really? If not you, who ? Those who think that the hoi polloi don't notice, much less care, about America's growing income disparity, should take a peek at a recent opinion survey run by the right-wing, corporate-funded Peter Peterson Foundation. This outfit intended to show that the general public backs the teabag agenda slashing of government spending, including balancing the federal budget by putting Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block. But – woopsie-daisy – the survey of thousands of Americans went badly wrong for the Peterson ideologues. For example, far from wanting to gut Social Security payments, 85 percent of the people favored extending the program by the making rich pay into the fund, like all the rest of us do. And – hey, Mike – this one's for you: nearly six out of 10 of the folks involved in the foundation's "America Speaks" survey want a new, higher tax bracket to make millionaires pay their fair share of providing for the common good. The foundation tried to bury these surprisingly progressive results, but you can see a good analysis of them at the Center for Economic Policy and Research: www.cepr.net.

"Americans Care About Jobs, Not Deficits -- When Will Obama Listen?" http://www.alternet.com/ , June 28, 2010.

"Walmart CEO Pay: More in an Hour Than Workers Get All Year?" http://www.abcnews.com/ , July 2, 2010.

"Executive Profiles* Mike Duke," http://www.businessweek.com/ , July 6, 2010.

Editorial : God forbid that millionaire$ pay income tax ! You know, like ordinary people !

UnderDogs Blog ~ Re-Published - Feb.01 18, 2012

Occasionally, I see a need to re-publish this particular blog ! One of those occasions is now. I have some readers, who do not agree with me. Hey, Thats fine. However, they seem to get bent all out of shape. Perhaps they need to read again !

Your Friend, I hope ? Underdog = Don Jones ... I wrote this almost three years ago, my view has not changed !

UnderDog`s Blog ! Re-Published... Feb 02, 2012
By Don Jones = Underdog

I publish this blog, called Underdog almost daily. I write about things, I think, I know about ? For instance, I write about Organ/Transplantation. I write about Unions. I write about healthcare. I write a little about Pulmonary Hypertension. At times I am very opinionated. I do not ask that you agree with me, I do ask however that when you disagree with me, that your comments on my blog be without curse words. I do not use them in my blog. I must insist that your comments be curse free. If they are not without curse words, that`s your prerogative. However, that particular comment will be deleted. That's my rule ! I am a Democrat most of the time. Although, I have voted Republican. I am a voter of platforms and programs. Thus, the platform of the Democrats, usually fit my needs. I feel that if you are a Republican voter, you are mostly with and not without, you are white collar not blue collar. I feel if you are opposed to health care reform, you are both with and have great insurance ! I`m a Democrat who opposes gun control. I am a Democrat who opposes abortion. If you want to carry a gun, and I do ! Get licensed. I am ! You don't want or believe in abortion, don`t have one ! As for myself and my family, I view it as our decision, not your`s ! I believe in Free Democratic Trade Unions ! I belong to one. In my state of Tennessee, we have a law called (Right to Work) You are not required by law to join a union. If you do not wish to join, don`t ! You must understand, that I do not agree with that law, but, I am a law abiding citizen, thus I do abide by it ! I believe we should have term limits for our politicians. Congress was never intended to be a life-time occupation. We have them for our President and in Tennessee we have them for our Governor. Why not Congress and the Senate ? I once had a politician tell me, he could`nt be bought, but, he could be rented for a little while. I had a problem with that statement. I am a practicing Christian. I believe in separation of church and state. I have seen my church lose members over the years, because they turned into a political action committee(PAC). Let your conviction be tempered by your love for your fellow man. Let your example be that of Love, Hope and Charity ! I am a Freemason, Do not ever give up on our democracy. Vote ! Demand that your voice be heard and that you stay in touch/contact with your elected Representative`s. When you do disagree with someone, disagree with kindness, not hate or disgust. My e-mail address is on my blog. You can contact me via e-mail. donjones90@gmail.com/ or donjones@charter.net . You can make comments on my blog, I encourage you to do so. Just be agreeable or disagreeable, not ugly ! If you have items of interest you would like to see published, just forward them to this writer. Now, understand, I am the publisher, I will decide what is published and what is not ! If you wish to save my web-address for my blog, just click on the title or the following link.

Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Save blog > http://wwwsecondchance.blogspot.com/

and put it in your favorites.With warmest regard, I remain
Stick a Fork in Me, I`m Done !
UNDERDOG = Don Jones !

Fiat Lux

P.S. I hope this gives you a better insight as to my thinking and the positions I take on certain subjects !

Governor McWherter - Where Have You Gone ?

Former Governor Ned McWherter, As He sees It !
By: John Brannon, Special to The Press : Posted: Thursday, July 15, 2010

Former Tennessee Gov. Ned Ray McWherter offered a solution to stop the illegal aliens streaming across the U.S. border with Mexico: Use the National Guard. “I’d put some troops down there, and I’d stop this immigration problem we’re having,” he said. McWherter, 79, is a veteran of 30 years in state government, including 14 years as speaker of the Tennessee House and two terms (1987-1995) as governor. The Palmersville native lives in Dresden and is semi-retired. McWherter commented on the illegal alien problem and other issues during a recent interview with The Messenger. “I’d stop this walking across the line,” he said of illegals. “They’re going to keep doing that as long as we don’t close the borders. We’ve got enough National Guard troops that train two weeks each year. We could put National Guard troops from all the states down there for their training for a year or two, and it wouldn’t cost a lot of money. It needs to be stopped, and it can be. “We could close that border down, and if people wanted to come into our country, they could come like our ancestors did — do it the right way and become citizens.” He said the illegal aliens say they come in because they are the only ones that will work. “Well, if people can make a livable wage, they’ll work,” he said. “They always have. When I started out, out of school, I worked at the shoe factory. My mother worked at the shirt factory. Everybody worked.
“Our economy will build back and sustain itself if we give the people the opportunity to have jobs.”
Other issues discussed included:

The Obama administration:

“Obama is borrowing too much money, in my judgment, putting a lot of it out here, and I don’t know how effective it’s going to be. Tennessee has never been very supportive of him. I was for Hillary (Clinton in her presidential campaign). She defeated him pretty well in Tennessee. “It seems like they (Obama administration) are prone to want to give money away. In my judgment, they’re still not popular in Tennessee.” He said Obama administration’s practices had an influence in Democratic Congressman John Tanner’s decision to retire at the end of his current term. “I think John just got worn out with them borrowing money. I think that’s one of the reasons (he’s retiring). When I talked to him, I was kind of shocked that he decided to leave this year, but he just said, ‘The leadership up there pushes some legislation that I don’t agree with.’ “We have a good congressman. He just doesn’t believe in borrowing all this money. Look at how much we owe the Red Chinese. In my judgment, that’s dangerous.” The United States reportedly owes China $91 billion. The total national debt is listed as $12,933,965,635,673 or almost $13 trillion.

The economy:

“I am a person who believes this economy, our country (with its) so-called capitalistic economy, is strong enough, that when you give it time, it will correct itself. What has happened, in my judgment, we don’t have any more middle income jobs. It’s either privileged or low. High income and low income.
“I can remember when Union City had a thriving shoe manufacturing business. I can remember when it had a thriving Salant & Salant. Those people who went to work there, when they got out of high school, have no major skills today. We’ve lost all these jobs, these opportunities for a middle class. We’ve got to rebuild it.
“The jobs have gone overseas to Mexico (and other countries).”

Governor’s race:

McWherter’s son, Mike, 54, is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor. The primary election is Aug. 5, the general election Nov. 2. McWherter said he’s going to actively campaign for his son.
“(When I ran for governor) I did well in East Tennessee, for a Democrat,” he said.
“I’m going to make a little trip up there. There are about five counties up there that I’m going to visit. They’re going to have a reception for me in each county.”
He said he’ll ask them to support Mike for governor.
“Mike’s got a chance to win this. It’s not a big Democratic year, but he’s got a shot at winning the governor’s race. It’s a challenge for him. He’s been in every county in the state. “He’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs, and he’s right. The people out in the rural areas just don’t have any jobs. They are just having to leave. If they’re not farming, they have to leave. That’s why the cities are growing. “Memphis’ population is going up. Nashville is really going up. Jobs come to the urban areas where they’ve got good air facilities and air support. It just makes a difference.”

Former President Bill Clinton:

“I hope we’re going to get Clinton down here after the primary election for a fund-raising event and we see who the Republican candidate is. I have spoken to his scheduling people in his New York office. They are going to try to work out a date.
“He was down here last year for our Jackson dinner. They ended up with 2,500 people and couldn’t feed all of them. So he draws a good crowd. He told me last year he’d come back and help Mike if he ran and needed him. “I was a supporter of Clinton. I don’t support his immoral character sometimes, but he did a good job as president. He got some legislation passed and he got the budget balanced. He made a contribution to this country.”

Al and Tipper Gore :

McWherter said when he heard the news that the former vice president and his wife were divorcing, he was shocked.
“Lord, just look at Albert and Tipper. That shocked me. I thought they were family, totally family-oriented. “What happened to them, I have no idea. I was shocked out of my shoes when I heard it on the news and read about it in the papers the next day. “It is tragic. Good thing is, their kids are all grown. Al’s mother was a lovely lady. She’s gone, and I’m glad she wasn’t here to see it.”

Editor’s note: John Brannon is a staff reporter for the Union City Daily Messenger.

Editorial : Gov. Ned McWherter, one of the best Governors in the last 100 years. Where have you gone and are there any like you on the horizon ? Maybe it is Mike ? I hope so ! > http://www.mikemcwherter.com/ <

Balancing the Budget on Social Security & Medicare ?

Comments from Fiscal Commissioners, New Study Concern Seniors !

On Sunday, the co-chairmen of President Barack Obama's fiscal commission offered an ominous assessment of the nation's economic future, calling current budgetary trends a "cancer" that will destroy the country from within unless checked by tough actions in Washington. The two leaders - Alan Simpson(R) and Erskine Bowles - singled out Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, saying that the three programs fully consume federal revenue. The commission looks to reduce the deficit primarily through spending cuts and additional revenue. Separately, a new study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) finds that if the Social Security benefit cuts and retirement age increases that have been widely suggested were adopted, they would have a substantially negative impact on low- and middle-income families. The report, "The Impact of Social Security Cuts on Retiree Income," is available at http://bit.ly/dplKBb. "Social Security and Medicare have helped generations of seniors stay healthy and out of poverty. "Balancing the budget on the backs of seniors is absolutely not the solution."

Editorial : I have an idea, stop the WAR ! No fiscal problem ! Do not balance the budget on SENIORS BACKS !

Goodyear, VEBA and Goodyear Retiree`s !

Goodyear Retiree VEBA & Drugs, Drugs,Drugs ?

7/15/10

by Don Jones VEBA Retiree

This article/blog is for my fellow retiree`s at/from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company ! Especially the Union City Plant/my Plant. In case you hav`nt noticed, you`re cost for VEBA Insurance has gone up. You have more deductibles` and your drugs are a bit higher. Now, I`m not complaining, but you need to understand that our VEBA, Goodyear has nothing to do with it any longer. It must be funded continually by good investing and our VEBA Board of Directors have this responsibilities. If you are not aware of who is on that/your VEBA Board please click on the following > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

>http://wwwsecondchance.blogspot.com/2008/01/goodyearuswa-veba-settlement.html < this will tell you who is on that Board.

You will find those that represent you. If this VEBA fund is not replenished/invested continually, we`re all in trouble ! Oh, yes you can now purchase some of if not most of your prescription drugs at Wal-Mart Pharmacy, cheaper than you can purchase them through your VEBA...I`m a Heart-Transplant Patient, I take a lot of expensive drugs. I can now get them at Wal-Mart, 30 day and 90 day supply for $4.00 and $10.00, that`s cheaper than Express Scripts ! Some drugs I take are actually $6.00 for 90 day supply...Check it out ! You can go on-line and Wal-Mart has a list of their drugs and prices for these maintenance drugs. Just click here > > > > > > > >

> http://www.walmart.com/cp/4-dollar-prescriptions/546834 <

Now, I`m not pushing Wal-Mart Pharmacy...just low prices for VEBA Retiree`s ! If I can be of any assistance to you or your dependants in this VEBA/Drug matter...just contact me at > donjones90@gmail.com <

VEBA = Volunteer Employes Benefits Association !

Editorial: I received the following from my good friend Steve, in Michigan. You might want to explore the possibility ?

Hi Don,

If you want to get a real feel for what drugs cost. Go to :
> http://www.canadadrugs.com/ <
All the best,
Steve

The Affordable Care Act !

HealthCare.gov > http://www.healthcare.gov/

Today the Obama Administration launched HealthCare.gov, a new website to help families and employers take control of their health care. The website will allow you to take health care into your own hands, with information about insurance choices and your new rights under the new Affordable Care Act. The new website also has tools to help you explore your coverage options, with additional information if you are a parent, a senior on Medicare, a young adult, a person with a disability, or an employer. By answering a few easy questions, the website will present you with all the coverage options available to you. You can then learn more about each option, including comparing the health insurance plans and benefits available in your community.
To visit the website, go to HealthCare.gov. As always, please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.

Editorial : Thanks to my friend Steve S. for this one !

http://www.healthcare.gov/