Quote of the Day -- On Liberals -- And Conservatives

"Liberals got women the right to vote.

Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote. 

Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty. 

Liberals ended segregation. Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act. 

Liberals created Medicare. 

Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act. 

What did Conservatives do? 

They opposed them on every one of those things...every one.

So when you try to hurl that label at my feet, 'Liberal,' as if it were something to be ashamed of, something dirty, something to run away from, it won't work, Senator, because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor."

--Matt Santos, character in "The West Wing"

Happy Thanksgiving, Indeed

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Republican Party

 Yes, Mr. and Mrs. America, here is your Republican Party and Right Wingers and conservatives, down through American history.

So proud, no doubt.

And now they have Donald J Trump.

God help us all.

Quote of the Day -- Another Proud Day for Missourians

"Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years.

Socialism is what they called public power.

Socialism is what they called Social Security.

Socialism is what they called farm price supports.

Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance.

Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.

Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people."

--President Harry S Truman, said this day, October 10, 1952

Give 'em Hell, Harry.

And thanks. Thanks so very much. For all you did and said and stood and fought for.

It's Important Americans Understand Trump's "Tax Cut"

Yes it's very important Americans know and understand what this Republican Party President is proposing with this current attempt to "suspend the payroll tax."  For an explanation of what this President is proposing presently:

When Trump says he wants to suspend "payroll tax," he's talking about the 7.65% withheld for your Social Security and Medicare.

Here's the scam: it would suspend the 7.65% your employer matches.

See?

You will not get that, nor will your wage or salary increase by 7.65%. Plus, when Social Security collapses due to this de-funding, It will provide an excuse to keep it.

This is to help businesses and corporations, certainly not the American people.

It will at least weaken, if not eventually destroy Social Security and Medicare.

Thanks, Mr. President.

But no thanks.

Thanks, Republicans.

Links:

The Social Security System Is The Most Successful Government Social Insurance Program

Social Security has kept millions of Americans out of poverty

Social Security Keeps 20 Million Americans Out of Poverty

Social Security Lifts More Americans Above Poverty

Social Security Keeps This Many Seniors Out of Poverty

Quote of the Day: Harry Had It Right

Harry had the Republicans down cold, from then, his day, to today.

Worst State Tax Rates for Retirees?

There is an analysis out today on GoBankingRates.com that evaluates the tax rates of all 50 states, showing best and worst for retirees.

The Most (and Least) Tax-Friendly States for Retirees

What it shows:

Nebraska, worst, worst, last place, of the 50 states followed far too closely by Kansas at 47th place and Missouri, next, at 46. Neighboring Iowa at 38. Arkansas, too, in the bottom, worse half, at 32. Oklahoma, 29.

Way to go, Midwestern states.

You don’t have mountains, you don’t have an ocean and you also don’t have good tax policies for retirees.

Besides less traffic and hopefully cleaner skies, what do you have?

Note to retirees: Check out the states that have both no income tax and no tax on Social Security.

In the #1 best spot on the list for most friendly to retirees?

Alaska.

Check out that map.

Worst tax rates for retirees, right in the center of the nation.

Kudos, Missouri, kudos, Kansas and Nebraska.

Way to chase people away.

A Few Reasons I'm a Democrat

This leaves out, of course, all the things Republicans do and have been doing, in Congress, across the states, across the nation, to their respective states, to their constituents and so, to the nation so yes, it's a long but partial list.

AARP: Tits on a Boar

To what other conclusion can one come about AARP, ostensibly named the "American Association for Retired People" than that they are useless, ineffectual?

Sure, you can get discounts to buy things if you want, if you join as a member but when it comes down to representing, really representing those "retired people", do they do anything?

When one political party in this nation not only comes out for taking funds from even just Social Security, let alone Medicare and then Medicaid, too, all so already-wealthy people can get still more of the nation's wealth, does the AARP do anything? Do they speak up? Do they attack even the IDEA of depleting the Social Security fund, let alone the political party that wants to do this?

Oh, hell no.

No, they don't.

Not only do they not attack the idea or the person proposing it or the idea, AARP does----nothing.

And it's not that this has only happened once that a person in that political party has tried attacking, depleting the Social Security fund, as just one example, it keeps happening, again and again, over the years.

AARP?

Silent.  Deafeningly silent. Not a word.

If you're a member and get their magazine in the mail, what are the articles about? Some examples:

--Commit Yourself to an Exercise Routine

--Get Financial Advice Without Going Broke

--Test Your Knowledge of Voting Facts

--Find the Best Health Care Where You Live

And this one. I love this next one:

--Why a Vacation Might Make You Feel Better

Like we need an article for that.

All no doubt fine articles but let me say this again---ONE POLITICAL PARTY IS REPEATEDLY, OVER THE YEARS, WORKING, FIGHTING TO DEPLETE THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND.

And if you're an AARP member, you wouldn't know it.

It's almost as though they don't want to upset or alienate any people in that political party--let's go ahead and say it---Republicans, either members or, God forbid, members of Congress.

Sure, don't upset any Republican or Republicans, even though they vote and have voted, time and again, to drain the Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid funds for other purposes.

And the latest use or attempted use of Social Security funds?

Well, those pesky Republicans voted for TAX CUTS FOR THE ALREADY-WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS earlier this year. It's blowing up the deficit so THEY WANT TO TAKE MONEY FROM SOCIAL SECURITY and what they call "entitlements" to pay for those now deficits. Don't believe it? Check out the very recent headline:

The deficit is rising, so Republicans want to cut Social  Security, Medicare

And as I said above, they've been saying and working on and doing this over the years, too. This headline and story is from December, 2016:

GOP introduces plan to 

massively cut Social Security

You would think that, since they're supposed to be for retired people--it is in their name, after all--that each and every time a politician, any politician, from any party, even mentioned, once, aloud, draining the Social Security fund or Medicare or Medicaid, that that same organization would be screaming bloody murder to its members to, for heaven sake, contact their representative and express their disbelief and strong support for these programs.

But AARP?

Not a word. Never. Not a peep.

But if you want a tote bag with your new membership and 5% off your next purchase of some tchotchke or a roadside atlas or advice on why you might enjoy a vacation, well, then, AARP is just the group for you.

The Republicans Are Shattering the Nation, Honestly

Besides the fantastic leaders the Republicans have foisted on us---think Nixon, Trump and Greitens, as just 3 quick examples--it seems we just keep getting yet more gifts from these people. This news story broke today.

The US's national debt spiked $1 trillion 

in less than 6 months

So they railed against big budgets and too much spending for 8 years while a Democrat was in the White House but when they get their own man in there, what do they do? Do they slash spending and whittle down the deficit they hate so much?

Heck no!

They've done quite the opposite, as we keep seeing!  First it was with their budget giveaway for the already-wealthy and corporations.

The Senate Budget Sets Up A Tax Giveaway 

To The Rich

The Trump Budget Is Full of Giveaways 

to Coal and Oil Companies

Tax bill: Ample tax cuts for business, wealthy 

in new GOP tax plan

Not done there, they also did their best to increase other spending and unnecessary, at that.

A disconcerting $70 billion increase 

in defense spending

Then look what they've done to "Obamacare" and health care in the nation, folks.

The stupidity of Trumpcare: Government will spend $33 billion more to cover 8.9 million fewer Americans, as premiums soar

They wanted to make sure they undid President Obama's legacy on health care, for sure. So we'll all be paying more for health insurance, fewer will have coverage and so, access to health care and then the nation will spend more to get it all.

Fantastic, no?

Finally, here are just two of the results of their tax plan.

CBO: Senate tax bill increases deficit 

by $1.4 trillion 

Why the GOP Tax Bill Will Make 

Wealth Inequality Worse

They famously, even infamously did it in and to Kansas, as we all watched, right next door, from 2012 to today with Governor Brownback's and the Republican Party's tax cuts for the already-wealthy and corporations.

Did anyone learn?

Oh, heck no. So here we go again. Some more. But on a larger, national scale now.

God help them if they go after Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other budgets.

For the love of God and all that's good, someone, someone tell me why anyone but the wealthy votes Republican.

It's Cool to Trash Gubmint

I am really more than a bit tired of the trend--because that's all it is, a trend--to be against or to out and out hate government.

Like most trends, it's tiresome but this one goes beyond that. It's not just wrong but wrong-headed, too

Seems Right Wingers and Republicans and Libertarians, all, at minimum, like to rail against government. They sometimes literally say or will write, on social media, that "government doesn't do anything right."

To that I like to point out just a few of the things government has gotten us all.

The Interstate Highway System

The Social Security system, which lifted millions of Americans out of poverty and keeps millions more out of same.

Social Security Keeps 22 Million Americans 

Out of Poverty

And then there's Medicare.

Medicare Keeps Americans Healthy for the Past 50 Years

And Medicaid.

Medicaid keeps adults healthy and employed

Note that's "healthy and employed" so they can stay at work and be productive and benefit our society, locally and nationally. So there aren't just costs to Medicare and Medicaid, to be clear. There are benefits as well.

Heck, "gubmint" took us all, took man to the moon, for God's sake, no small task.

May 25, 1961: JFK's Moon Shot Speech to Congress

Government cleaned up some of our dirtiest and most-polluted rivers.

A Brief History of the Clean Water Act

Including, of course, the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency.

These Photos Show How the EPA 

Transformed America

Heck, at one point, at least a few of our rivers were so polluted, they actually caught fire.

Cuyahoga River Fire

And these are just a few, quick examples of how government actually not only works for us but helps us all, individually and collectively.

A Success Story, with Many Chapters Still to Come

Breathing Easier Because of the Clean Air Act

Cleaner air linked to bigger, stronger lungs 

in Southern California

Again, this is a case of all of us benefiting, too, due to "gubmint", these regulations called the Clean Air Act of 1970 and what it's done for us. We live longer lives, better lives, healthier lives and so, more productive lives because we require companies to pollute less. It's a total win for all, including those companies.

Have governments, has our government, at times gone wrong, done wrong by the very people it is to serve?

Of course.

Has there been, is there waste in government?

Most certainly.

But it's up to us, the people, to keep our government on the "straight and narrow." Things will go wrong, things will be done poorly or wrongly and/or not at all, at times. But government can do and has done great things, over time, certainly.

Government is, after all, us, we the people.

To Trump Voters, Supporters

Here's to all of the people who voted for Trump:

Remember when the so-called President said he was going to donate his salary?

He just accepted his second paycheck. Says he'll pay it back later.

Remember when he said Mexico was going to pay for the wall?

He has asked Congress to appropriate the $25 billion of taxpayer money to cover costs.

Remember when he said he was going to divest from his businesses?

He changed his mind.

Remember when he said he was going to release his tax returns?

Again, changed his mind.

Remember when he said he wasn't going to go on vacation or play golf?

5 of the last 7 weekends he went on vacation and played golf, costing taxpayers $11.1 million.

And he's going again this weekend.

Remember when he said he was going to use American steel to build these dangerous pipelines?

Russian steel arrived last week for the Keystone Pipeline XL.

Remember when he said would defeat ISIS in 30 days?

He still has no plan whatever.

Remember when he said he was going to appropriate money to historic Black colleges?

He lied to get a photo-op.

Remember when he said he was going to drain the swamp of Washington insiders?

His cabinet is filled with lobbyists, oil and Wall Street executives.

Remember when he said he wasn't going to cut social security and Medicare?

The Republican bill does just that.

Remember when he said that nobody on his campaign has any communications with Russian govt?

7 in his administration--so far--have now admitted they spoke and/or met with Russian officials, after they lied and got caught.

Remember when he said that the Obamacare replacement would cover more people at lower cost?

The AHCA that the GOP and he are now pushing; they now admit will cover fewer people at a higher cost.

So here's to you, Trump voters, Trump supporters.

Unless you regret that vote and now, that support, the rest of us out here in America have no idea what you're thinking. You got duped but we have to pay the costs for your mistakes, too. And the poor and elderly have to pay a "higher price" than just about any of us.

Kudos.

Another--Big---Reason We Should Lift the Cap On Social Security

It's commonly known there is a cap on earnings for paying in on Social Security. If you're wealthy and making $118,500 per year or more, you don't get taxed on the rest of that income.

Basically, if you're already wealthy, you get one more break from the rest of us stooges. Thanks, Congress!

As if that's not bad enough---and it is---it's clear, too, that, given that the wealthy also famously and statistically live longer than the rest of us poor schlubs, they get more benefits from the system.

The Upshot:  Rich People Are Living Longer. That's Tilting Social Security in Their Favor.

So they live longer, already, what with the cushy lives and security and great food and second (or third or fourth homes), etc. So since they do, they reap more benefits from the system. It makes sense. They live longer so THEY GET MORE MONEY FROM THE SYSTEM.

Sweet deal, huh? They're already wealthy and they soak more from the rest of us. And being rich, I'd nearly bet most of them are "small government" Republicans and Right Wingers and Libertarians, to boot.

It's sick. It's just one more way "Them that has, gets", as the Andrews Sisters used to sing.

The great thing is that there is an obvious and simple solution.

How Taxing the Wealthy Could Save Social Security

News flash:  How about we lift that cap on what they pay in?

This way, they can still contribute to the system---the system they usually take more advantage of since they live longer. Meantime, THEY DO WITHOUT NOTHING. They pay in a bit more, up front. Is that asking so much? It seems clear the answer is no. They pay in on the incomes over $118,500 and they get back, later in life, thus saving Social Security for all of us.

It helps all of us, it actually strengthens the middle and lower classes, thus strengthening the economy. All that's true as if doing the right thing, as a rather human, even "Christian" nation isn't enough and doesn't have it make all the more sense. It's good for the people, yes, but good to great for the nation and even, hell, good for creating demand for products, for all the Capitalists out there.

It makes so much sense. It makes too much sense.

Probably why the Republicans in Congress will never go for it.

Hate Liberals?

Is that you?

You hate "libruls"?

They're--we're--libtards?

Really?

"Liberals got women the right to vote.

Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote.

Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty.

Liberals ended segregation.

Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act.

Liberals created Medicare.

Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act.

What did Conservatives do?

They opposed them on every one of those things...every one!

So when you try to hurl that label at my feet, 'Liberal,' as if it were something to be ashamed of, something dirty, something to run away from, it won't work, Senator, because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor."

--Matt Santos, character in The West Wing

Conservatives, also, under the George W. Bush administration, got us into two, count 'em, two wars and crashed the economy, too, by the way. And by economy, I don't just mean the US, national economy, I mean the world economy. There was very nearly a global, economic meltdown.

More.

“If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal", then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal.”

--President John F. Kennedy

They, Liberals, are for the people, first and foremost.

So yeah, call me a Liberal.  I'm good with that. 

Link:  150 Achievements Of Liberalism

Three Big Piles of Retirement Money That Were "Just Sitting There"

Here in the US, in the last several decades, we have had at least three different instances of where people had huge amounts of money--hundreds of millions and maybe billions---of dollars sitting around. And people being people and business being business, they saw it sitting there and it just killed them. They knew SOMETHING had to be done with it, would be done with it and by gosh, they could get a piece or chunk of it and who would that hurt, after all?

Well, the fact is, it hurt Americans and soon, with all the Baby Boomers about to retire, it's going to hurt America. And it's going to hurt mightily.

Here are three of the most famous pots of money.

Social Security

This is an old story and well-known.

We had all these people, Americans, many of them the biggest generation to ever come along in our nation's history, contributing to this Social Security fund since FDR got it going and what could Congress do but take and spend it? After all, there's more where that came from, right?

Social Security Scam: Where Did the 

$2.5 Trillion Surplus Go?

One Senator, now deceased, God rest his soul, Senator Patrick Moynihan, made a very public, long term attempt at being wise with the fund.  Unfortunately, even before he passed, it died, also.

Heed Senator's Call To Keep Social Security 

Soundless Intact

But rob it they did.  It is a shadow of its former self.

This example is much more recent, however. This goes back to the budget deal this last Fall, in 2015 so they're still robbing that puppy:

Budget Deal Robs $150 Billion 

from Social Security

So the robbing of and from the Social Security fund is still going on, unabated and I don't think most Americans are even aware.

Next up? The 2nd big pile of money that was sitting around?

Pensions.

And actually, it's piles. There were pensions all over this country---public, private, all kinds. And it was just far too tempting to too many people.

Millions of Americans had pensions. They had been funded mostly by business and by the people themselves, contributing to them through their work, their companies.  Once again, it was just far too much temptation for people and businesses to ignore.

Looting the Pension Funds

The Looting of Detroit's Pensions

LIKE CLOCKWORK: Pension plans 

to be looted nationwide

There was all that money sitting there and there was no way these people and businesses could let it sit there and not be skimmed.

Again, what could it hurt, right? There was SO MUCH MONEY.  And it wasn't illegal?  Why not, eh?

And then there's the final big pile of money that was heretofore sitting out there, just waiting to be raided.

Mutual Funds

So people saved for retirement. They squirreled their money away, saving for that retirement "rainy day."

And it created, again, huge piles of money. HUGE.  And all kinds of insurance companies and investment companies had these things. It was supposed to be terrific.

Except with the companies who created them "guarding them", protecting them, holding them for these Americans---their customers---it was the fox being in charge of the chicken coop, so to speak.

The Retirement Savings Drain: Hidden 

& Excessive Costs

Vanguard is quietly draining billions 

from the financial industry

Mutual Fund Fees Will Drain Your Expected Stock Returns

Who's to say what the fees and charges for holding and protecting and investing these funds were going to be?

Why the very companies taking in all the big money, of course.

These 3 are really untold tales of just what has happened in America in the last 50 years or so to retirement savings. Government had no rules, really, for what could or could not be done to or with them so who's to say what could or would happen to them?

And the answer is, in the place of Social Security, Congress was to say---they spent it.

And in the case of pensions, both private and public, and mutual funds, again, no rules so whoever is in control of them could do whatever with them they wanted. After all, with "campaign contributions", they could keep the regulators--read: Congress---from passing any legislation that would put any restraints on them. And to this day there are no real rules on what can and can't, should or shouldn't be done with people's hard-earned and saved retirement funds.

It's great to be rich, isn't it?

So now, all these millions of Baby Boomers are going to retire and they're going to be sitting on and falling back on either not much or nothing at all.

This was decidedly not how this was supposed to play out and it's certainly not good for either these people or, worst, the nation and our nation's short-term future.

God bless America.

In fact, God help us.

The US and Where the Republican Party Wants to Take Us (Guest Post)

Great questions--and facts--on our United States today, from one Wayne Stiles  out on Facebook earlier.

Since when did it become acceptable in this country to toss the weakest of us overboard?

There is a political party dedicated to castrating the poorest among us.

It started out by refusing to extend unemployment benefits at a time when we were hemorrhaging 800,000 jobs a month.

Then it was cutting off food stamps to these same families. Taking food off the tables of the hungriest and poorest families.

Then the GOP showed how truly despicable they were.

Laws were passed to keep people from feeding the homeless. People were being arrested for feeding homeless families.

Laws passed to make it illegal to sleep ANYWHERE outside. Homeless people were being arrested.

Then the GOP sank to its lowest depths.

It began cutting off help to our veterans and seniors.

Veterans committing suicide at a rate of 200,000 a year. Seniors deciding whether to eat or pay bills. Denying healthcare to them all.

But the worst atrocity is while doing this, the GOP is taking that money and giving it away wholesale to the wealthiest.

Do we change this or not?

On This Day, 1948, From Our Very Own President Harry Truman

This speech was given October 13, 1948 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It's sad to see we've been fighting the exact same battles for all these 70 years. I recommend reading the entire speech but here is an excerpt:

'Today the forces of liberalism face a crisis. The people of the United States must make a choice between two ways of living--a decision, which will affect us the rest of our lives and our children and our grandchildren after us.

On the other side, there is the Wall Street way of life and politics. Trust the leader! Let big business take care of prices and profits! Measure all things by money! That is the philosophy of the masters of the Republican Party.

Well, I have been studying the Republican Party for over 12 years at close hand in the Capital of the United States. And by this time, I have discovered where the Republicans stand on most of the major issues.

Since they won't tell you themselves, I am going to tell you.

They approve of the American farmer-but they are willing to help him go broke.

They stand four-square for the American home--but not for housing.

They are strong for labor--but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights.

They favor a minimum wage--the smaller the minimum the better.

They indorse educational opportunity for all--but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools.

They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine--for people who can afford them.

They approve of social security benefits-so much so that they took them away from almost a million people.

They believe in international trade--so much so that they crippled our reciprocal trade program, and killed our International Wheat Agreement.

They favor the admission of displaced persons--but only within shameful racial and religious limitations.

They consider electric power a great blessing-but only when the private power companies get their rake-off.

They say TVA is wonderful--but we ought never to try it again.

They condemn "cruelly high prices"--but fight to the death every effort to bring them down.

They think the American standard of living is a fine thing--so long as it doesn't spread to all the people.

And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.

Now, my friends, that is the Wall Street Republican way of life. But there is another way--there is another way--the Democratic way, the way of the Democratic Party.

Of course, the Democratic Party is not perfect. Nobody ever said it was. But the Democratic Party believes in the people. It believes in freedom and progress, and it is fighting for its beliefs right now.

In the Democratic Party, you won't find the kind of unity where everybody thinks what the boss tells him to think, and nothing else.

But you will find an overriding purpose to work for the good of mankind. And you will find a program--a concrete, realistic, and practical program that is worth believing in and fighting for.

Now, I call on all liberals and progressives to stand up and be counted for democracy in this great battle. I call on the old Farmer-Labor Party, the old Wisconsin Progressives, the Non-Partisan Leaguers, and the New Dealers to stand up and be counted in this fight.

This is one fight you must get in, and get in with every ounce of strength you have. After November 2d, it will be too late. It will do no good to change your mind on November 3d. The decision is right here and flow.

Against us we have the best propaganda campaign that money can buy.

But we are bound to win--and we are going to win, because we are right! I am here to tell you that in this fight, the people are with us.

With a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress, you will have the right kind of unity in this country.

We will be unified once more on the great program of social advance, which the Democratic Party pioneered in 1933.

We will be unified in support of farm cooperatives, rural electrification, and soil conservation.

We will be unified behind a housing program.

We will be unified on the question of the rights of labor and collective bargaining.

We will be unified for the expansion of social security, the improvement of our educational system, and the expansion of medical aid.

Moreover, we will be unified in our efforts to preserve our prosperity and to spread its benefits equally to all groups in the Nation.

Now, my friends, with such unity as this, we can secure the blessings of freedom for ourselves and our children.

With such unity as this, we can fulfill our God-given responsibility in leading the world to a lasting peace.'

Link: Harry S. Truman: Address in St. Paul

A Statement I'd Like Every Left Wing, Liberal, Progressive, Democratic Candidate for President to be Able to Say and Commt To

From the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his "Second New Deal", October 31, 1936..

For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred.

_________________________

It's that last line I'd really enjoy hearing.

One More Thing Congress Needs to Act On

Sure, Congress needs to act and is doing precious little besides legislating to get the wealthy and corporations yet more money or curb women's reproductive rights instead of, say, writing, proposing and passing a jobs/infrastructure bill.

Here's one more thing they haven't yet acted on but need to:

Social Security disability payments 

will be cut by a fifth 

Not only do they need to act on this or risk Americans' payments being cut, they also, this year, made 

On the first day of the new Congress, Republicans symbolically bound themselves to what is certain to be a controversial reform of the federal disability insurance program, which would probably occur near the height of the 2016 presidential campaign.

Social Security has two components, the disability insurance program and the much larger Old Age and Survivors Insurance program, for which almost all Americans become fully eligible when they reach retirement age. Congress has historically treated them as one system, moving money between one pot and the other if one is running short on funds and the other has plenty of money.

That's the situation now, as the disability pot is expected to be empty late next year. There is enough money in the larger pot to last until 2034, or to keep both programs solvent through 2033, according to the Social Security Administration.

Here's where they made the/our situation worse, and recently:

On Tuesday, however, the House adopted a parliamentary rule that adds a procedural obstacle to reallocating the money.

If Republicans do decide that a transfer is necessary, they can change the rules again easily enough. Still, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Tex.) said that a reallocation would be only a temporary solution that would avoid making real changes to "the fraud-plagued disability program."

"It will actually make the retirement program worse off, and it does nothing to fix the disability program," he said in a statement.

Fraud appears limited to relatively few cases in the disability program, although it is difficult to know precisely how many beneficiaries could be working.

So not only are they doing very little but one of the few things they recently did has made their work possibly even more difficult, more complicated. Terrific.

Meanwhile, check out this information on the elderly in America lately:

Number of seniors facing hunger has doubled 

since 2001

And then, on the heels of Memorial Day when we otherwise honor our nation's Veteran's, there's this:

Bernie Sanders Rips Republicans For Cutting 

Social Security Benefits for 1 Million Disabled 

Veterans

Republicans' nerve and even hypocrisy seem to know no bounds.

So on this, as with so many things, this Congress needs to act.

And they need to do what's right for America and Americans. They need to make certain these cuts in Social Security payments don't occur, at least, and as soon as possible.

Quote of the day -- I love this woman

Click on picture for easier reading.