@Randy
While wages may have been on the decline, the massive amounts of spending that we were told would fix the problem has only created a deeper decline. As GDP continues to slide the last 3 years, Obama has done nothing to help the economy.

Randy, what do polls show for voters 55 and over? Who cares what you think. I am guessing 55 and older are swinging towards Romney. Strange alternate universe? Yeah, you live in YOUR own little world.

According to Patzfahl, the Greatest Generation favors Romney, but Jason isn't exactly known for posting factual information...

@oak creek resident -- Who cares what I think? Obviously not you or Bryant or J.B. Schmidt, which shows I'm doing something right.

Affordable Care Act? One of Obama’s key health-care advisers, Jonathan Gruber, found that by 2016, individual premiums in Wisconsin will increase by an average of 30 percent;Affordable Care Act???

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2012/10/29/in-wisconsin-obamacare-to-increase-individual-insurance-premiums-by-30-says-obama-adviser/

Health insurance costs have increased at a far higher rate than the cost of living for years. That's nothing new. However, there is protection for citizens in the ACA to control profiteering. If the insurance companies try dodges and work-arounds, I think the next logical step is a national healthcare plan. I personally think, based on past experience with a NHP, that I'm going to get more thoughtful care from a health system that is not burdened by a for-profit middleman. "Death panels?" They currently exist, at every health insurance company. They are there to make sure that patient care doesn't cut into profits.

Most health insurance companies are non-profits...

About 60%-65% of all insurance dollars spent on healthcare are done through government programs(medicaid/medicare/VA...).

About 20%-25% of all insurance dollars spent on healthcare are done through large group corporate plans. These are normally groups of 500+ that 'self insure' and the hire regular health insurance company to process claims for 10%-15% fee on claims paid.

That leaves about 20% of the population that is paying the very,very high insurance overhead of about 30%. But, now the ACA requires 80% of all premiums be spent of heath-care, so they are only paying 20% overhead.

If a government run 'universal healthcare program' were enacted at about the 10% overhead[(Medicaid overhead rate)(that's about the Canadian costs, too)], I see about 20%x10% + 20%x5% total savings

That would be about 3% savings of all dollars spent on healthcare, if we had a single payer healthcare plan.

.

Good one, divert to Bush. But it seems your Obama had lack of intel in Benghazi. Oh wait, the only lack of intelligence IS Obama. At least with Watergate, nobody died.

GW Bush is his own thing... worst President ever. Obama just seems interested in being #2. Anyone who tries to tie Romney to Bush is reaching... and its just another desperate move by the Obama camp because they know they are in trouble. Raising taxes on the "rich"... can ONLY hurt the economy and job situation. This country was not built upon the concept of taking from those who succeed to give to those who arent really even trying. It should be a country based on giving everyone the opportunity to succeed and even a little assistance towards that once in a while... but living off the government long term shouldnt really be something that people view as an option for how to live their life.

Brian, nobody died because of Watergate, it's true. However, there is no comparison between a couple of grown men breaking into an office in D.C. and the extremely dangerous and delicate work done by U.S. diplomats in an unstable country.

I renewed my license sticker this morning. No one died.

Hi, Dave. I have a question.

Did you have a issue when Regan did pretty much the same thing?

I'm not defending it, or saying it's right or wrong. I am merely curious.

Endorsed the commercial?? Personal and negative attack ads are all the rage now - from both sides of the political spectrum. Well - unfortunately in the world of Citizens United any and every group can make any ad they want that says anything they want and, not only spend as much as they want - they don't have to identify who they got their money from. How many times in this campaign has Tommy Thompson said "I didn't make the ad and they have a right to do so". Sorry - but to associate any candidate with all these political groups ads that make ridiculous claims is, in my opinion, a curious method for which to decide your vote.

Yes, Ronald Reagan did the same triple-entendre thing, with homoerotic overtones about 'pulling Republican levers' and everyone thought it was very witty, which it was.

@Freethought
If you cut the money to providers, who get hurt?

...and aren't the Lefties using the same talking point, about the same 'cut' against Romney/Ryan?

Actually CowDung - Lefties are ripping on Romney and Ryan's use of this talking point. We are criticizing the lie - and the absolute refusal to recant or clarify the lie.

It was a lie when Ryan said it. When Romney backed him up and all the Conservative News Sources continued. It's a lie now.

That is the rub. That is Clinton's classic, " ...it takes some brass to..."

The providers cut:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/14/romneys-right-obamacare-cuts-medicare-by-716-billion-heres-how/

Both sides have been making the charge that their opponent wants to cut Medicare...

@Randy1949...I am not finding much difference between what J.B.Schmidt, oak creek resident, Bryant Divelbiss and others of the Gen-X group are saying from that of Jason Patzfahl's last blog, 'Dear Greatest Generation'. It seems to be a position that if they don't benefit, it's unfair and they shouldn't have to do it. I keep hearing how seniors' social security and medicare is taking away from future generations. They keep referring to their kids and grand kids having to pay for the benefits that we have contributed to our whole working lives. They are truly being hypocritical, it's not about their kids and grand kids at all, its about them.

What is disturbing is that they think that once someone retires either by choice or for some other reason, they become second class citizens because they are no longer productive. Leave it to the Gen-Xers and soon they will be doing like Eskimos and Native Americans of old and having us old folks just wander off and expose ourselves to the elements and just die so we will no longer be a burden on society. However, knowing this group, when they reach our age, they'll refuse to go and their kids and grand kids will end up supporting them during their extended lifetimes of whining and complaining.

@Lyle -- I do see a slight difference between Jason Patzfahl's message and that of J.B. Schmidt's. Jason is telling to seniors not to be fooled into thinking they're saving their own benefits by altering the system for their children and grandchildren. Not only is it unfair of them, it is also very short-sighted of all current retirees except the very oldest, who can expect to be dead by the time the younger generation balks at paying the same FICA contributions for a prospect of much lesser benefits and starts agitating for a reduction for those of us who have been assured we're unaffected by the proposed changes.

Bryant is arguing, against all logic, that seniors will be better off under the Romney/Ryan proposals. J.B. Schmidt is at least honest and indicates he wants to stop paying FICA, and we Boomers can just suck it up.

@Lyle
So you and your Boomer friends are only pulling out of medicare and SS the money you put in? Can we hold you to that?

The programs were developed so that the money paid in (corpus) grew over time. Raids on SS funds over the decades reduced the principal and resultant interest growth. The way to "fix" Social Security is to develop a repayment program.

@Lyle
Yet seniors get to make the decisions on my future by demanding we care for them at every financial expense? We Gen-Xer's will still be paying for the debt added for your care long after you have died. That seems fair.

@J.B. Schmidt...How's that any different than the seniors paying for those preceded them?

Well, J.B. -- Which of those seniors has 'demanded' a ridiculous level of healthcare so far? Not my generation, which has barely hit the Medicare age yet. So far, the privatized Medicare (Medicare Advantage) has proved to be more expensive than the traditional kind, so I don't see why you want to switch over to it even more, other than the private sector would be able to reap 20% off the top rather than the 5% it costs traditional Medicare now.

And no, it does not seem at all fair that anyone would continue to pay the same FICA rate as now for less in ultimate benefits.

@Randy
I have no choice whether I pay for anyone's medicare. That was decided before I was born. Now Lyle is telling me I should have a choice in its continuation either.

@Lyle
The difference is the size and scope. Also, using the excuse that others are doing it, it doesn't make it the right choice.

Boo-hoo, J.B. I have no choice that people get born and take poor care of their health, running up the per capita costs for everyone and affecting healthcare premiums. It's a 'tax' whether it goes to a government program or the private sector.

What do you consider to be a 'reasonable' level of healthcare for seniors? We might actually agree on some of those points.

@Randy
Here is a start. Lets stop assuming it is the government that should supply it. The average age of retirement is 67years. That is 67years to plan for your healthcare. I have no expectation of receiving any government money when I reach that age.
Why are you entitled to it?

A reasonable level is none, if you are a capable person. Considering a recent report that shows our welfare system (national, state and local) is currently costing us $60k per houisehold under the poverty level, is proof that government cannot properly provide social programs.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/over-60000-welfare-spentper-household-poverty_657889.html

@Lyle
I don't know, to say that gen-xer "shouldn't be allowed to make any decisions for seniors" basically means you don't want gen-xers to vote.

My father in law is pretty well to do, yet paid very little towards a recent surgery because medicare or medicaid pitched a whole lot it. Now how is that FAIR to younger working class families who are partially footing the bill???

Why should I be entitled to a health plan in my retirement? Because I paid for one, that's why. My entire working life, money came out of my paycheck or self-employment income for this purpose.

Would you give the same kind of pass to a private annuity or a long-term care insurance policy that took your money and just shrugged when the time came to pay the benefits? Because that's the kind of system you seem to be arguing for -- privatization of everything.

I'm sure you expect to be in fine financial shape, with plenty of savings when you hit retirement age, but no one can plan for employment setbacks and major illnesses. I will also point out that when I came into this world 63 years ago, two days in a hospital didn't cost upwards of thirty thousand dollars. It's a bit much to be expecting babes in arms to begin planning for their healthcare, don't you think?

Did that blog include Social Security and Medicare in that figure? It's hard to tell.

@Randy
Again the same argument as Lyle, 'you must cause I did.' That is not acceptable.

Maybe 2 days in the hospital would not cost as much if the government hadn't stuck its nose into healthcare. I would put a wager that more money is wasted in the government system then the private system takes in as profit. As I know you like to demonize excessive profits, yet you seem just peachy with a system that wastes as much if not more of your money then it uses to help.

@J.B. -- you could not have made a better argument for people my age voting for President Obama than you did just now.

@Randy
Your right, when you want to suck the warm teat of government; Obama is your man.

In that case, Schmidt, for my generation working to support your grandparents and parents in their retirement to absolve you of the responsibility and leave you with more money to set aside for your own needs in old age, you're very welcome.

I'm also still paying taxes to support the little Schmidts' education. So who is sucking whose warm teat, I ask you?

@Randy
Again, you the voice of wisdom and common sense. The situation sucked for you and you were suckered into to; therefore, everyone most suffer. Since you foolishly bought the progressive social agenda we are all doomed to following your foot steps and anyone looking to change it must be condemned.

For those of us with an open mind and confidence in the American people, we will change the system so your teat never dries up.

Hardly, Schmidt. First of all, I wasn't alive when Social Security was created, and I was not of voting age when Medicare was passed. Paying FICA taxes is the law, and I obeyed the law, as i presume you do.

It's only going to suck for me if your generation breaks faith even further, which from your tone, they will. Otherwise, it's going to suck for your generation, because I've yet to hear any word of the FICA taxes being reduced.

@Randy... The numbers seem to indicate that the Social Security Plan 'Broke The Faith' the day they changed the original 1.5% employee + 1.5% employer of earnings as required contributions Or, when they increased the amount of earnings(above the rate of inflation) subjected to the FICA tax. Or, when they raised the retirement age.

J.B., and his generation, can show you from a mathematical/actuarial/tax perspective that the entire program is, was, and remains a 'bill of goods'; from the very first day the FICA tax was collected.

@Kenneth
Your are right. Just as Obama continues to push EOs (immigration) and legislation (health care) through against the will of the people; Romney/Ryan should make plans for the next 4 years with no bipartisan planning.

As for health care, any perceived savings ACA will provide will be wiped out by its increase in taxation. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2012/06/28/obamacares-7-tax-hikes-on-under-250000-a-year-earners/

Lastly the biggest reason for the slower increase in healthcare has been because the economy itself sucks and not even healthcare professionals are making as much money.

You are supporting your own demise.

I've come accross that, too. Strange.

I think it has something to do with the "SUPER STORM".

You mean the sudden storm of propaganda spammers from the Eastern states?

Morninmist, you know nothing about campaign strategy. Nor do I, yet you post these ridiculous idiotic comments. Make me a deal and move out of the state, or country, if Romney wins - PLEASE!

If Twitter did not exist, morninmist would no longer have an opinion.

...or a job.

We can all look forward to morninmist falling off of the face of the earth as soon as Romney wins, just like happened after the recall election. The Twitter twit has no spine.

morninmist
12:58 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Good to see the Independents are breaking for Tom Barrett.

But, sad to say that only land lines were called.

....A new poll taken by pollster Celinda Lake — who is a Democrat but is well respected by polling professionals — has found that the battle between Scott Walker and challenger Tom Barrett is now deadlocked, at 49 percent each.

The poll — which will be released later today and was comissioned by the pro-labor Greater Wisconsin Committee’s political fund — also finds that independents are breaking towards Barrett, 49-44......

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
morninmist knows nothing!

@Greg
You are very boring living in the past as you do.

But we should learn from the past. Everything you post is wrong. The definition of boring is your rehashed reposts.

This applies to the presidential race how?
Spam, spam, spam, morninmist and spam....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_eYSuPKP3Y

And Another smack down of Walker!!

ACLU of Wisconsin ‏@ACLUofWisconsin

File under "that's what we said" Circuit Court says Act 21 (giving the Governor rulemaking approval) an abuse of power: http://bit.ly/XUxHSF

http://whitefishbay.patch.com/articles/taco-bell-in-glendale-offers-free-doritos-locos-tacos-thanks-to-world-series-steal

Nope!

New poll:

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/wisconsin-poll-obama-by-8-points

Wisconsin Poll: Obama By 8 Points

Kyle Leighton 1:33 PM EDT, Wednesday October 31, 2012

President Obama has re-opened a solid lead in Wisconsin, according to a poll released Wednesday from in-state institution Marquette University Law School. Obama sees 51 percent to Republican candidate Mitt Romney's 43 percent in the current number, a big jump from the small 1-point edge that Obama held in mid-October.

maybe crazy birther will help???

ThinkProgress ‏@thinkprogress

Romney enlists @RealDonaldTrump for robo-calls in key swing states http://thkpr.gs/Swoiis

You are aware Putzfahl, that your taxes will increase the first of the year?
They also will increase in 2014 to pay for ObamaCare.
This is Obama's Middle Class elimination project. "Make the wealthy pay a little more", translates to make anyone working get screwed so they too can join the ranks of food stamp recipients to build this great Socialism project.

Don't know where that came from, but I guess we could vote for Romney - who will give tax breaks to the most wealthy, gut Medicare and Soc. Sec. turning it into voucher programs, continue to support the outsourcing of American jobs leaving the Middle Class and Poor absolutely without Hope or Opportunity.

Welcome to the Great Depression part II

Craig, I'd gladly pay more tax if that's what it takes to preserve the programs I care about. I want elders to have dignified golden years. A lot of middle aged people have had their savings devastated by Wall Street fluctuations over the years. This generation will rely on Medicare and Social Security more than any other, I am convinced.

Concerning the food stamps, if one lost one's job because of the recession, should that have been a death sentence for the displaced worker and their family? Should Darwinian principles be attributed to the Great Recession? I want to clearly understand why you are denigrating keeping food on the tables of recession victims.

Jason:

Why don't you use facts to argue a case against Romney? He's not going to take away your medicare to give tax breaks to millionaires, and he's not going to cause women to earn 70% of the pay of a man. He's unlikely to take control of your hypothetical reproductive rights either.

Troy, Bren, et all:
Raising taxes on the middle class at a time like this is stupid, how many "Middle Class" people are able to save a few bucks at a time like this? Making them pay and additional $1 thousand on average more after this year could be the last straw. More Foreclosures, more foodstamps is not going to help the economy one little bit.
That extra tax is going to do nothing to preserve SS or Medicare. Obama's FICA tax reduction should be seen as a sign he wants it to become insolvent faster.
If you are owed money, and the person who owes it to you can't pay...
Would you rather have 80% of what he owes you? Or do you want 100% of nothing?
You know how I feel about SS being a "TRUST FUND"- it is by definition a contractural agreement to pay you when you reach retirement age or become totally disabled. But if the checks bounce, what good does a damn contract do?
Most people I know are making less than they were four years ago...Based on the savings rate of Americans, they were putting next to nothing into savings then. How can we ask them to take another hit that they can not afford?
I know many people who earn in excess of $200k/ year, a few who make over $500k, and a couple who earn more than $1 M...
90% of them were living just within their means, with little room for Uncle Sam to take a bigger bite.
I mention them only to illustrate that if they are mortgaged to the hilt, and have other bills it's not easy to find extra $$ to pay higher taxes either.

Bren: Regarding food stamps...
I do not want to see anyone go hungry, of course I do not want to eliminate the program. I DO want to see the abuse of said program eliminated. I will try to post a copy of a reciept above. You tell me if food stamp recipients should be eating better than most wealthy people?

Obama is not going to raise taxes on the middle class. He is keeping the Bush tax cuts for those earning less than $250k annually. I don't know where the concept of raising taxes on the middle class came from, but it's not true.

If taxes are raised on the middle class, it's if Romney is elected and he closes the tax deductions to pay for his round of tax cuts.

No Brain Troy, are you seriously this stupid? Would you like a list of all of the taxes implemented by Obongo via Obongocare that will be paid for by the middle class and poor?

@Craig -- Which tax breaks are due to expire after the first of the year? If it's the FICA, well, that was short-sighted and not intended to be forever. If it's the Bush tax cuts, neither were they intended to be forever. They were intended to pay down a surplus that pretty much never materialized.

I'm like Bren. I don't like paying more taxes, but that's a sacrifice we all need to make, as long as it's equally applied. To make the poor and vulnerable even more so while lowering the top marginal tax rate is wrong.

My understanding is that the President wants to extend the Bush tax cuts for the lower brackets. The people howling the most are those who won't be going without meals if they go back to 39%.

Actually Craig, Does it really matter if food stamp recipients can choose steak and lobster with their benefits--as long as the 'food stamp budget' for the month is of a reasonable amount. If they blow through all their benefit dollars on the first day of the month with steak and lobster, they should find themselves hungry before their account is replenished. If they spend wisely, they should be able to eat like 'normal' people...

@Pennypacker -- Yes, please list all these new taxes that will be inflicted on the middle class to pay for the ACA. I'm curious.

Randy: I made my point about the 'affluent' people living paycheck to paycheck for this very reason. Raise thier taxes, and they may default on debts in order to eat. Either way the poor people get screwed. Rates will go up and credit will become harder for those who need it most.
The likelyhood of the Bush tax cuts being extended for only a certain class of people is next to nill.
ObamaCare has costs. Bigger costs than Social Security- which is failing big time. How can we have BOTH? We can't even shore up the erosion of SS and Medicare.
CowDung: If people blow their food stamp wad on Lobster and Mountain Dew the day after their debit card is filled- they will go to the food banks/pantries and live on that for the other 3+ weeks each month.
The food banks should be helping those who need a short term fix, otherwise what is the point of having redundant food programs?

@Craig -- What is your definition of affluent? And what kind of affluent person lives paycheck to paycheck? However did they manage during the Clinton years?

The ACA has expenses, but so did the system in place before it, with healthcare premiums and hospital charges higher than they should be because of the built-in bad debt. And how about those medical bankruptcies? They cost the economy too.

Randy: You got me on the definition of affluent. I used that word because it IS vague. I guess they would be wage earners who have an income over $250,000/ year. But again, they often live just within their means- as do most Middle Class people. I know this because I made my living working with people of different incomes.
How did they manage during the Clinton years?
Simple explainantion, they had less debt, lower payments, etc.
After people get a wage increase, do they all put 100% of the increase away? NO. 98% of them will raise their standard of living. In short; they got used to the Bush tax breaks and live accordingly. (not unlike most middle class people either I might add)
I think we agree on medical debt. People without insurance are charged a higher rate than Medicare patients, because that is how the Medical Profession makes up for the losses in Medicare reimbursement. Those with insurance are charged more but often get a pre-negotiated discount. The poor bastard who could not afford COBRA will get his wages garnished if he ever returns to work.
I do not have all the answers, I am not a smart man. I am smart enough to know however; the ACA is too costly for many people on the cusp of bankruptcy or mortgage default.
As much as it pains me to say this: A "true" National Health Care Plan would be better than ObamaCare for many reasons.

Craig. I understand what you are saying completely. I just find it difficult to justify continuing tax breaks for those earning $250k annually when, for decades, the middle class has been asked to sacrifice. To redo thier budgets. To start living without some frills. The 1% can start budgeting, too I think.

@Craig -- As you learn to live on more money, you can also learn to live on less again. Trust me, it's possible. That is, until your income decreases to the point of not being able to buy food or pay $500 for rent. Then it gets rough, and those are the level of people who are supposed to suck it up in the Ryan budget.

Either your side is serious about reducing the deficit or it isn't. If we're expected to make sacrifices, then everyone should make sacrifices, not just the little people.

Randy:"Either your side is serious about reducing the deficit or it isn't. If we're expected to make sacrifices, then everyone should make sacrifices, not just the little people."
Craig: I absolutely agree 100%. I hope I haven't given the impression I felt otherwise?
It takes time to make adjustments to lower income and take home pay, I know this from personal experience. I never imagined it was possible until it was a necesity, and it certainly did not happen overnight. It took all of my savings and my IRA to adjust to where I am now.

Craig, what is the source of this receipt? It's over a year old and as far as I know, soda is not covered by food stamps. I also note that a "D" appears to have been added to the EBT in the circled area.

One can ring up anything with a bar code as you know. What happened afterward is where the truth lies.

Someone forwards me this type of apocrypha all of the time, despite my pleas to desist. That's why I'm a tad cynical about the veracity of the receipt.

And, even if it were true, the vast majority of food stamp recipients are not "living large."

Bren: I do not deny that the reciept could be altered or a total forgery. It is easy to alter photographs and documents of any type.
I can tell you from experience, I have seen food stamp debit cards used on food I can not afford. The people often drive nearly new SUV's, while I pay by check and drive home in my 10 year old Chevy.
Let's be honest, those are the exceptions and not the norm- at least I hope they are not the norm. But these are the people who should be disqualified from the entitlement.

Colonel Sanders got the chickens jobs, that's more than Obama did for the working class.
I think you bringing chicken into this is racist.

Seriously, how is that comment racist? He could as well have said "Chick-Fil-A" or other chain.

Bren - I took the comment as sarcastic.

It is a little telling to equate Col. Sanders with getting chickens jobs (the middle class).

I agree. The chickens have been killing themselves while the Col. gets richer.

We all know that saying Chick-Fil-A would be homophobic.

Greg - that's funny.

If you think about it, it is really really funny.

FTT, The Colonel has been dead for 30+ years, you may want to tell the chickens to stop killing themselves.

Now that is funny...

Greg & CowDung -

That is funny.
Funny and a good burn.

Nice work.

4 MORE DAYS!!, 4 MORE DAYS!!.........

I think we will have a New President also!
It is quite possible the results may take a couple weeks if the vote is close.
But breaking news today will certainly move Romney to win by a landslide!

Misty, I doubt you know anything. Come out from under your rock.
Listen to the News anytime this weekend, you will feel differently once you know the truth.
Blot those eyes, don't rub!