Congress

George II

(67,782 posts)

19. It's a different way of calculating INCREASES (!!!)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 10:48 AM

Feb 2014

I've done this before - compared the historic Social Security COLA to the CPI back to 1976.

Over those 38 years the COLA was higher than the CPI in only 16 years, it was LOWER than the CPI in 22 years.

If one were to take an average of the two (not the best way to compare, but....), the average COLA was 3.93% and the average CPI was 3.97%.

Further, if one were to take $1.00 and compound the annual adjustment for both the historic COLA and the CPI, the result in 2013 would be $4.26 using the historic COLA and $4.33 using the CPI.

Any way one plays with the numbers, historically tying the Social Security increase to the CPI would have resulted in an overall HIGHER increase than the actual increases.

All this "the sky is falling" gloom and doom about the chained CPI is unrealistic gnashing of teeth.

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Dear Mr. President: Don't You Dare Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid [View all] unhappycamper Feb 2014 OP

Kick. Scuba Feb 2014 #1

why the poutrage? it hasn't happened, yet. which, of course, is proof it would never happen. KG Feb 2014 #2

Cue the apologists... durablend Feb 2014 #3

No apology from me for understanding basic civics. Article I, section 8. If the members msanthrope Feb 2014 #6

Meanwhile as we wait... maybe the Pres. *won't sign* such an abomination? delrem Feb 2014 #12

Sure...but then you have the problem of omnibus spending and section 7. This is why 2014 matters. msanthrope Feb 2014 #18

I seem to remember that the Pony meme hit the press FiveGoodMen Feb 2014 #27

good point. yurbud Feb 2014 #40

K & R cate94 Feb 2014 #4

Article I, section 8. nt msanthrope Feb 2014 #5

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, DON'T YOU DARE INVADE CANADA! Drunken Irishman Feb 2014 #7

Has Obama suggested invading Canada before? NorthCarolina Feb 2014 #8

Has he cut Medicare, Medicaid or SS? Drunken Irishman Feb 2014 #22

He can't do it by himself, but he has hearalded that he thinks it would be a good idea. NorthCarolina Feb 2014 #32

Can you provide the link? Drunken Irishman Feb 2014 #35

In what universe is chained CPI not a cut to Social Security??? NorthCarolina Feb 2014 #37

Are benefits actually cut? Drunken Irishman Feb 2014 #38

He has threatened cuts before Faygo Kid Feb 2014 #9

Here we go again - the chained CPI is NOT a cut! George II Feb 2014 #16

Yes, it is Faygo Kid Feb 2014 #17

It's a different way of calculating INCREASES (!!!) George II Feb 2014 #19

Ridiculous comment. Chef Eric Feb 2014 #11

Can you give me a link on him saying we need to cut SS, Medicare and Medicaid. Drunken Irishman Feb 2014 #23

DI, the fact is that he never said anything about cutting SS, Medicare and Medicaid... George II Feb 2014 #25

John Conyers disagrees with you. bvar22 Feb 2014 #30

Okay then, what is it that Obama said? George II Feb 2014 #31

Rep. John Conyers word is not good enough for you? bvar22 Feb 2014 #33

For your presumptuous information, I was born in Brooklyn NY and live in Connecticut, AND.... George II Feb 2014 #34

shit--that's the bigger story than this letter. yurbud Feb 2014 #42

You can do better than that. delrem Feb 2014 #14

Link me to his plans to cut all three. Thanks! Drunken Irishman Feb 2014 #24

Definition of 'or': used to link alternatives. nt delrem Feb 2014 #26

So no? Drunken Irishman Feb 2014 #36

Unlike you I distinguish between the connectors 'and' and 'or'. delrem Feb 2014 #39

Not this again. Folks, it ain't gonna happen. berni_mccoy Feb 2014 #10

Wish I could be so sure rurallib Feb 2014 #13

Obama only said the things he did to bring Republicans to the table. That isn't gonna happen now berni_mccoy Feb 2014 #20

If Hillary is thinking about running for Pres. rurallib Feb 2014 #15

These decisions are made in Congress. oldandhappy Feb 2014 #21

Is a simple, direct statement like THIS too much to expect from a Democratic President? bvar22 Feb 2014 #28

if one wants to have the support of Wall Street, apparently yes. yurbud Feb 2014 #44

or what? MisterP Feb 2014 #29

what counterbalancing pain does this budget inflict on the rich? yurbud Feb 2014 #41

left out of the letter: stop letting Wall Street dictate budget policy yurbud Feb 2014 #43