The man’s on a mission..

[purplefaithful]

To your point Jimmy, SS and Medicare have to evolve on a forward basis. But efficiencies will more than likely focus on those in the population with enough run-way to plan appropriately for it.

Kinda like what many corps (who had em) did with phasing out pension plans.

At the company I worked at, they did phase out pensions - but gradually. For those where pensions ended, they were young enough to throw more $$ into 401k or other retirement strategies instead.

[JimmyinSD]

To your point Jimmy, SS and Medicare have to evolve on a forward basis. But efficiencies will more than likely focus on those in the population with enough run-way to plan appropriately for it.

Kinda like what many corps (who had em) did with phasing out pension plans.

At the company I worked at, they did phase out pensions - but gradually. For those where pensions ended, they were young enough to throw more $$ into 401k or other retirement strategies instead.

I am fine with that,  but the notion of making cuts to those already on them,  thats bull shit, it my parents and grand parents who were robbed by the govt and now that they need the system that was promised to be there,  the govt needs to make sure its there.  perhaps we defund the former elected officials pensions and health care to cover these shortfalls, they were the fuckers that stole the funds in the first place?

and definitely,  its long since past the time to start rolling the govt out of these things, especially SS,  I dont know how many times I have read that if the average Americans SS had been put into a fund based on the S&P500, that it would be like 3 times more money at retirement payable for 15 years or some such shit.

I would like to suggest that any company providing govt subsidized health care should be subject to different rules when it comes to profits,  they should be able to make a profit,  and their investors should as well,  but its not like working for the feds is high risk,  you are going to get paid eventually,  so its time their return is more representative of their risk.  same goes with pharma companies that get govt grants to develop shit,  or use publicly funded sources to develop drugs and treatments,  no more double dipping.

and if they can sell it in other countries for cheap, but jack it up here,  they lose their patent protections IMO, fuck that shit where Americans pay 10X or more for the same shit.

[purplefaithful]

I am fine with that,  but the notion of making cuts to those already on them,  thats bull shit, it my parents and grand parents who were robbed by the govt and now that they need the system that was promised to be there,  the govt needs to make sure its there.  perhaps we defund the former elected officials pensions and health care to cover these shortfalls, they were the fuckers that stole the funds in the first place?

and definitely,  its long since past the time to start rolling the govt out of these things, especially SS,  I dont know how many times I have read that if the average Americans SS had been put into a fund based on the S&P500, that it would be like 3 times more money at retirement payable for 15 years or some such shit.

I would like to suggest that any company providing govt subsidized health care should be subject to different rules when it comes to profits,  they should be able to make a profit,  and their investors should as well,  but its not like working for the feds is high risk,  you are going to get paid eventually,  so its time their return is more representative of their risk.  same goes with pharma companies that get govt grants to develop shit,  or use publicly funded sources to develop drugs and treatments,  no more double dipping.

and if they can sell it in other countries for cheap, but jack it up here,  they lose their patent protections IMO, fuck that shit where Americans pay 10X or more for the same shit.

^^^
At the bold

We're singing from the same hymnal on this one...I just spent the last 9 mos hacking my way through the medicare maze and landing on a set of plans/supplements. 

Hell, there is a whole big beautiful cottage industry on people making $$ just leading people through Medicare. 

I am still not comfortable with the cuts made to Medicaid...I think people (like myself) are still trying to wrap their heads around them and truly understand who's being impacted or not.

[Waterboy]

I reference those emerging markets as you brought them up.  Tariffs are a short term gain,  long term pain.  as long as we keep tariffs on, other countries will do the same and our mfg wont win in foreign markets that way.  the issue at hand is blue collar jobs are decreasing, unfortunately the vast majority of Americans arent suited for more than blue collar employment.   so all this mfg that is potentially coming back will largely be automated and last time I checked, robots dont pay taxes.  those corporations will have years of depreciation tax write offs piled up due to the costs to bring the mfg back...so they arent paying taxes,  so where is all this new revenue coming from,  and how are we going to handle all the current blue collar people that lose their jobs with the rush of new AI and automation taking their positions?   

Some say AI and Automation will be the answer,  I think it just raises more questions and concerns,  we arent going to stop it,  but I dont see the rosy future that some want to paint as a result of this coming round of advancements.  

as far as SS and medicare,  those shouldnt be cut,  better managed yes, but those are programs that were funded by those that use them ( or thats how they were supposed to be)  they have been stolen from for decades,  but maybe if they want to sell off some govt land,  the proceeds need to be earmarked for those pillaged funds?  problem is,  who is going to buy billions in US land,  more than likely its people we dont want owning more land in this country.

Other countries have huge tariffs on us already.  Trumps actions will make them less, not more….  I don’t think SS or Medicare should be cut, either.  They should be reimagined and remade for l-t success.   Trump is specifically targeting industries that are in our vital interests.  AI and automation helps produce products far cheaper. That’s a huge advantage to our competitiveness world wide, in building a military, in making automobiles more affordable.  More affordable equals growth.  It’s not all linear, but directionally things are lining up.  I don’t remember bringing up emerging countries.  I think I meant emerging markets, which is similar, but emerging markets would be things like selling our cars in Germany which is a developed country.  Opening up the European Union has potential to be huge.  Today it’s one way trade.