From My Perspective - - -
Political Pendulums are fascinating to observe! Why? Most of the time they have little, if any, connection to reality. The concern of too many professional politicians is, “what can I do to increase the voter base in order to retain my office and job”! While the Politicians (entirely Democrats) were shown displaying merriment and applauding vigorously their “victory for the people” with the passage of the Health Reform Legislation, The New York Times headlined the following: “Social Security to See Payout Exceed Pay-In This Year” by Mary Williams Walsh, March 24, 2010. In the mad dash for Health Care Reform, the reality of Social Security has received little or no attention by the Professional Politicians. They are too busy applauding their newest Train Wreck in the making. What is the explanation for this Social Security reality?
The article states: “The bursting of the real estate bubble and the ensuing recession have hurt jobs, home prices and now Social Security. This year, the system will pay out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes, an important threshold it was not expected to cross until at least 2016, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Stephen C. Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration, said that while the Congressional projection would probably be borne out, the change would have no effect on benefits in 2010 and retirees would keep receiving their checks as usual. The problem, he said, is that payments have risen more than expected during the downturn, because jobs disappeared and people applied for benefits sooner than they had planned. At the same time, the program’s revenue has fallen sharply, because there are fewer paychecks to tax. Analysts have long tried to predict the year when Social Security would pay out more than it took in because they view it as a tipping point — the first step of a long, slow march to insolvency, unless Congress strengthens the program’s finances. Interestingly, the calculation includes that the Social Security Trust Fund won’t reach zero until the year 2037. The Problem is – the trust fund only has government IOUs in it – the money has been spent on other things.
Other realities that are seemingly ignored include the passage of Medicare in 1966 with a cost projection of $9 Billion by the year 1990 - the projection was incorrect inasmuch as it exceeded $110 Billion in that time frame. In order to arrive at a projected “savings” for the new Health Care Reform, it includes a reduction in Medicare funding in the amount of $500 billion. Supposedly, this money will be found by ending fraud and abuse in the system! Someone has suggested 12 Possible Scenarios (guesses) of where Health Care Reform will bring us: (1) Cost overruns; (2) Fraud; (3) Additional coverage extended to groups; (4) Rising deficits in the program; (5) Lower payments to physicians; (6) Lower payments to hospitals; (7) Delays in payments; (8) Rising taxes on the rich; (9) Rationing by doctors, hospitals, government; (10) Delays in treatment; (11) More HMO care, assembly line medicine(12) A search for scapegoats.” Regrettably, many of those “guesses” are already realities (Check the Medicaid funding and reimbursement in most States).
One of the primary issues rests with having Correct Cost Calculations before embarking on a course and in a direction where there are too many variables. When Jesus Christ was challenging people to become a disciple, He told them they should make a Correct Cost Calculation. In Luke 14:28-30, we read: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” In this context, the cost includes identity with the Cross, and one’s taking it up daily, and then following Jesus Christ. The Message Translations words it: “If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: He started something he couldn't finish…” How long will it take for Health Care Reform to exceed estimates and catch up to the insolvency of Medicare and Social Security? Will those who applauded it’s passage be there when it fails? Who will Applaud that sure to happen Train Wreck? More importantly, how does one follows Jesus Christ. Have you Correctly Calculated the Cost of following Him? What about the cost of not following Him? Consider these things with me!
Political Pendulums are fascinating to observe! Why? Most of the time they have little, if any, connection to reality. The concern of too many professional politicians is, “what can I do to increase the voter base in order to retain my office and job”! While the Politicians (entirely Democrats) were shown displaying merriment and applauding vigorously their “victory for the people” with the passage of the Health Reform Legislation, The New York Times headlined the following: “Social Security to See Payout Exceed Pay-In This Year” by Mary Williams Walsh, March 24, 2010. In the mad dash for Health Care Reform, the reality of Social Security has received little or no attention by the Professional Politicians. They are too busy applauding their newest Train Wreck in the making. What is the explanation for this Social Security reality?
The article states: “The bursting of the real estate bubble and the ensuing recession have hurt jobs, home prices and now Social Security. This year, the system will pay out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes, an important threshold it was not expected to cross until at least 2016, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Stephen C. Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration, said that while the Congressional projection would probably be borne out, the change would have no effect on benefits in 2010 and retirees would keep receiving their checks as usual. The problem, he said, is that payments have risen more than expected during the downturn, because jobs disappeared and people applied for benefits sooner than they had planned. At the same time, the program’s revenue has fallen sharply, because there are fewer paychecks to tax. Analysts have long tried to predict the year when Social Security would pay out more than it took in because they view it as a tipping point — the first step of a long, slow march to insolvency, unless Congress strengthens the program’s finances. Interestingly, the calculation includes that the Social Security Trust Fund won’t reach zero until the year 2037. The Problem is – the trust fund only has government IOUs in it – the money has been spent on other things.
Other realities that are seemingly ignored include the passage of Medicare in 1966 with a cost projection of $9 Billion by the year 1990 - the projection was incorrect inasmuch as it exceeded $110 Billion in that time frame. In order to arrive at a projected “savings” for the new Health Care Reform, it includes a reduction in Medicare funding in the amount of $500 billion. Supposedly, this money will be found by ending fraud and abuse in the system! Someone has suggested 12 Possible Scenarios (guesses) of where Health Care Reform will bring us: (1) Cost overruns; (2) Fraud; (3) Additional coverage extended to groups; (4) Rising deficits in the program; (5) Lower payments to physicians; (6) Lower payments to hospitals; (7) Delays in payments; (8) Rising taxes on the rich; (9) Rationing by doctors, hospitals, government; (10) Delays in treatment; (11) More HMO care, assembly line medicine(12) A search for scapegoats.” Regrettably, many of those “guesses” are already realities (Check the Medicaid funding and reimbursement in most States).
One of the primary issues rests with having Correct Cost Calculations before embarking on a course and in a direction where there are too many variables. When Jesus Christ was challenging people to become a disciple, He told them they should make a Correct Cost Calculation. In Luke 14:28-30, we read: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” In this context, the cost includes identity with the Cross, and one’s taking it up daily, and then following Jesus Christ. The Message Translations words it: “If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: He started something he couldn't finish…” How long will it take for Health Care Reform to exceed estimates and catch up to the insolvency of Medicare and Social Security? Will those who applauded it’s passage be there when it fails? Who will Applaud that sure to happen Train Wreck? More importantly, how does one follows Jesus Christ. Have you Correctly Calculated the Cost of following Him? What about the cost of not following Him? Consider these things with me!
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