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The Social Security Administration has begun warning the public it cannot guarantee full benefit payments if the debt ceiling isn’t increased.
When asked by the public, the agency is notifying beneficiaries that “Unlike a federal shutdown which has no impact on the payment of Social Security benefits, failure to raise the debt ceiling puts Social Security benefits at risk,” according to a person familiar with the agency directive.
The warning was assembled after the agency consulted with the Treasury Department, which would play a lead role in determining how the government handles payments if the borrowing limit isn’t raised soon.
“Our employees started receiving questions from the public, so the agency worked with Treasury to provide an answer they could use when asked about the debt ceiling by the public,” a Social Security Administration spokesman said.
ok, so if obamacare is so wonderful, why are people flipping out about how much more expensive it is than what they currently have? if it's so wonderful, why were government employees exempted from having to buy it? if it's so great, why did they make it a mandatory purchase? if it's the greatest thing since jesus h christ, then why isn't it optional? why is there a fine for not participating?
Sestias
reply to post by Daedalus
ok, so if obamacare is so wonderful, why are people flipping out about how much more expensive it is than what they currently have? if it's so wonderful, why were government employees exempted from having to buy it? if it's so great, why did they make it a mandatory purchase? if it's the greatest thing since jesus h christ, then why isn't it optional? why is there a fine for not participating?
1. If it's more expensive than what they have, then they can keep what they have. Also, these people are probably not going to the state exchanges that were put up the first of October. Here insurance companies compete with each other for customers. To get more customers, your rates have to be competitive.
2. Government employees are exempted because they already have insurance from the government.
3. The purchase is mandatory because otherwise people who are not participating get a free ride. People who DO buy insurance have their rates increased to cover the uninsured. That's one reason why emergency rooms are so expensive. The hospitals are making up for all the free riders they have treated by making everyone else pay more.
The mandatory rule does not apply to people who already have Medicare, Medicaid, or other state assistance. It also does not apply to people who like what they already have and decide to keep it. Likewise, there is government assistance for people who cannot afford it. There are also the state exchanges which were set up October 1st where insurance companies compete with each other for customers. It is in their best interest to offer the most competitive prices.
If everyone is covered, then the population overall is healthier, because they have access to early screenings and regular doctors' appointments.
5. The fine for not participating is negligible. What little is actually collected goes to making health care costs lower.
Universal health insurance is already in effect in places such as Germany, France, Norway, and Japan. It is working well for the people of those countries where it is in effect.
Sestias
3. The purchase is mandatory because otherwise people who are not participating get a free ride. People who DO buy insurance have their rates increased to cover the uninsured. That's one reason why emergency rooms are so expensive. The hospitals are making up for all the free riders they have treated by making everyone else pay more.
5. The fine for not participating is negligible. What little is actually collected goes to making health care costs lower.
Universal health insurance is already in effect in places such as Germany, France, Norway, and Japan. It is working well for the people of those countries where it is in effect.
mrsdudara
The government is shutting down regardless.
At this point they are just trying to find someone else to blame.edit on 4-10-2013 by mrsdudara because: added a piece of info.
Since I do not consider state and federal workers to be employed, we already have much higher than 20% unemployment.
August 24th, 2004
"GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC REPORTS: THINGS YOU'VE
SUSPECTED BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!"
...Up until the Clinton administration, a discouraged worker was one who was willing, able and ready to work but had given up looking because there were no jobs to be had. The Clinton administration dismissed to the non-reporting netherworld about five million discouraged workers who had been so categorized for more than a year. As of July 2004, the less-than-a-year discouraged workers total 504,000. Adding in the netherworld takes the unemployment rate up to about 12.5%.
The Clinton administration also reduced monthly household sampling from 60,000 to about 50,000, eliminating significant surveying in the inner cities...
LINK