House Republican eyes Medicare, Social Security for DOGE cuts

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

12/09/24 12:41 PM ET


Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) is floating Medicare and Social Security as potential areas of focus for President-elect Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Alford was pressed about potential cost-cutting recommendations by DOGE during his Monday appearance on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings With Maria.” The congressman noted, in response, that GOP members recently sat down with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the duo Trump tasked to head up the DOGE effort, to discuss ideas “to cut our budget.”

“We all agree this is an unsustainable area that we’re in right now — almost $36 trillion in debt, and we are spending more on the interest on our debt than we are going to spend on the National Defense Authorization Act this year,” he said.

“And so we’ve got to right the ship, and it’s going to mean cuts. It’s going to mean cuts to the 24 percent of the discretionary spending that we have, and it’s also going to mean looking long-term at the front end of some programs like Social Security and Medicare,” Alford continued.

Read more: https://thehill.com/business/budget/5030214-republican-alford-medicare-social-security-doge/

[multigraincracker]

1. When the poor get hungry enough,

they will eat the rich.

[Trueblue1968]

24. We will take to the streets like the thousands of peole the world over. In numbers too big to ignore

[Bo Zarts]

68. THIS is what we all should fear ..

[AZ8theist]

2. Cutting SS and Medicare has always worked out well for Republicans......

[Multiguy]

20. Bingo

That's correct. I can't wait for them to do it again.

[enid602]

3. Logic

If I understand his reasoning, he now counts Medicare, Medicaid and SS as ‘discretionary spending.’ Changing the lexicon little by little.

And notice that deficits and debt are no longer a function of spending and tax levels, but spending alone.

[CousinIT]

17. Exactly. We have a REVENUE problem as much or more than...

…a spending problem.

and AGAIN, Social Security DOES NOT ADD TO THE DEBT. It is separately funded - NOT funded by regular income tax dollars or the general fund. It is a SEPARATE tax and in a SEPARATE fund that fully pays for all benefits.

Their counting it as “government spending” is a LIE. IT’S OUR RETIREMENT INSURANCE MONEY THAT WE PUT IN THERE. And the fucking robber barons want to STEAL IT from us.

WHERE IS THE MEDIA and DEMOCRATS on this?

WHY THE HELL ARE THEY NOT ON TV AND SOCIALS EVERY DAY PUSHING BACK ON THIS BULLSHIT?

I mean not a damn PEEP about it. They’re just letting SHitler’s robber barons drive the narrative- the LIES.

[Stargazer99]

42. Recently when the IRS was given more money to audit the wealthy they found ONE BILLION in back taxes

due. And now you Republicans not in the wealthy club are owned by your balls-too bad the rest of us have to suffer your egotism and stupidity. I don't want to hear one damn complaint when you get your SS cut because I will remind you and tell others just who is at fault for that

[hadEnuf]

45. Good question. Been asking it for years.

Where are the news channels, radio and internet that some progressive billionaires could have started to counter the horrible 24/7 RW propaganda?

Where are the immovable statesmen and women that will do what is needed to stop these fascists on every street corner and will inspire the real American public to do the same?

I could go on but why bother?

[Stargazer99]

47. Communication is owned by the wealthy they are not going to show their greed

we need communication owned by government apparently as we can't get ALL the information we need to make a good decision

[LastDemocratInSC]

26. Good observations. Thank you.

[magicarpet]

55. Logic # 2 - NOT LIES,...

Social Security and Medicare do not add one penny to the deficit. These programs are self sustaining via payroll tax deductions.

The Fascist Republican Party hates Social Security with a passion and wants it privatized. Just like they want Medicare privatized with their fraudulent privatized Medicare "ADVANTAGE" Plans.

Do not fall for their plans to balance the federal budget by trashing Social Security. It is only a ruse to give them extra money to then pass another massive tax break for the billionaires.

Stop passing massive tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. Rather,... have them pay their fair share. Then tax corporations too so they pay their fair share. Then the deficits will disappear. For decades the rich have been ripping off the federal government and refused to pay a fair share of the yearly taxes - that is what is causing these deficits to balloon.

Fascist Republicans call it trickle down economics. That is bullshit,... the 1% filthy rich are reaping all the benefits as they bleed and bankrupt the US economy dry.

[Attilatheblond]

57. Worker's contributions AND employer contributions into those workers' accounts.

Most employers do not want to pay into workers' accounts. Getting rid of Social Security fund payment the employers must pay toward the retirement of the workers who made them wealthy is how pols get even small business owners to vote for them, despite GOP policies that put small businesses out of business.

When there is nothing left to take, it's gonna get mighty dicey. With nothing to lose, and a short time left, a lot of people can become mighty dangerous.

[Moostache]

58. You are unfortunately very correct...

When there is nothing left to take, it's gonna get mighty dicey. With nothing to lose, and a short time left, a lot of people can become mighty dangerous.

The line between disinterested but pissed off observer and homicidal actor is nowhere NEAR as wide as many want to believe.

[magicarpet]

60. You said,...

"When there is nothing left to take, it's gonna get mighty dicey. With nothing to lose, and a short time left, a lot of people can become mighty dangerous."

■○■○■○■○

Djt and Project 2025 knows that their drastic austerity program (DOGE) will likely cause social uprisings. This is why djt wishes he had LOYAL Four Star Generals just like Hitler did.

When social uprisings pour over and protests come to the streets - djt intends to immediately enact Martial Law.

The military, the federal LEO agencies, the National Guard, the State, County, and local police forces will all be called to action to violently put down any public protests and quickly restore order.

Then the Fascist regime can proceed to carry out their Project 2025 mission absent any public input, feedback, thus minimizing any public protests.

This jackbooted clampdown will not be pretty.

[durablend]

4. So more Luigi Mangione's in the offing?

[Blue_Tires]

43. Oh, I've got a list of preferred targets if they need it...

[AverageOldGuy]

5. And, of course . . .

. . . there is not and never will be discussions of cuts to the "defense" budget.

[Callie1979]

27. There HAS been mention of having another BRAC

Which strikes fear in every area with a base.
But while I do NOT think the US should pull away from the world I DO think we have far too many foreign bases. I think its around a 1000. No doubt SOME of those could be closed & their missions merged with others.
Congress also has a record of ignoring the Pentagon's wishes to reduce or end certain weapons programs because they're produced in THEIR districts

[Hieronymus Phact]

28. BRAC Rounds happen regularly,

About every 10 years if memory serves me. and its about re-prioritizing and organizing. not cost-saving. In fact it's usually more expensive than leaving things alone.

[Callie1979]

30. In the long run I think its cheaper. We went from 5 ALCs to 3; thats a LOT of $

One of them was in Sacramento. Its now a business park & it costs a LOT less to do the ALC work in Utah, OK & GA And running that one base cost Billions.
Closing small bases also saves money. But still, the biggest savings is from dropping costly weapons programs that even the Pentagon no longer wants. Its just tough getting Congress to get behind it

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

38. And a lot of those bases are in red states.

And there are a lot of civilian jobs on those bases in those red states.

I hope this jerkoff Alford gets some major pushback from constituents over this. But no, they’ll just blame Biden and the Democrats.

[Stargazer99]

48. When the time comes remind the lower and middle class Repubs in those states about stupid choices

[bluestarone]

6. Time to start keeping track of what these assholes said before this election.

Get the videos started now. get them in line for the next two years. nailing the facts as to how much lying these scumbags do. THIS, along what people will be witness's to for the next two years, could stop any rethug from being elected. Now's the time for our plan to begin.

[Blue_Tires]

44. That doesn't mean anything anymore

You can't use the words of Republicans against them as an effective tactic anymore...

They'll always ignore it, change the subject or give you a long, rambling nonsensical answer to a question you never asked...

[bluestarone]

49. Just gotta keep at it!

We cannot lay back. It's to important!

[Bengus81]

7. Hmmm...he didn't mention debt caused by massive tax cuts for the uber RICH and Corporations....

He mentions fraud and waste in Medicare but somehow forgets about massive waste and FRAUD in the Pentagon budget. Or did he forget about the $200.00 screw drivers and ridiculous cost overruns that the winner of the contract gets paid eventually.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

31. He wants to make the $1 trillion "temporary" breaks for the rich permanent

and then he wants to add another permanent $1 trillion tax break to that.

But the problem with balancing the budget is our fault.

Time to duct tape T***p, Musk and Swamibaloney to one of SpaceX's rockets and send them into the sun.

Hey, Herr Red Hat promised the price eggs would go down -- and he always keeps his promises.

[Karasu]

8. This is the sole reason "DOGE" exists. It's an attempt to finally realize the GOP's wet dream, but to do it completely

under the radar.

No one voted for fucking austerity. It has to be forced on the public, knowingly or unknowingly.

[Baron2024]

9. People Who Voted For Trump

Many people who voted for Trump are going to be quite surprised when the Republicans cut Social Security and Medicare. My Stepfather is retired and living down in Florida. He voted for Trump. He gets a pension from his former teaching job and Social Security. He is one of many that will be shocked if Social Security is cut. These people do not know what they are in for. Trump and the MAGA Republicans have suckered these people. Trump and MAGA are for the billionaires, not the Middle Class or Working Class. Many people who voted for Trump are going to find out what a mistake that was.

[Demobrat]

19. I don't think they will come for his SS retirement income first.

Those benefits are paid out according to a formula based on what you paid in and your age.

They will go after “fraud and malingering” in SSDI - AKA disability. I swear, I don’t think any of those ignorant MAGAts get that the disability checks that keep them in beer money ARE social security.

You never hear Republicans say they want to cut disability. That would not sound good. So they say they want to reform social security instead. But it’s the same thing.

They can tinker around the edges of the retirement formula, but seniors are a huge bloc of people who vote.

Much better to get people riled up about fraud, and catch them by surprise when it turns out THEY are the so-called fraudsters.

Those are the ones who are going to be shocked.

[Montauk6]

35. Lee Atwater would be so proud.

[nmmi]

40. "'we can move that retirement age back a little bit,' he [Alford] said."

(from the OP's linked article)

That's a form of retirement benefits cut.

[Demobrat]

80. Yes but it's a form that's much easier to sneak by a poorly

educated public than cuts to checks that already exist.
So I can see them doing that in the dead of night. Fox will not report on it.

[DSandra]

23. Trump said to them "you won't have to vote anymore!"...

I guess they are that confident, that they can get away with touching the third rail because they are going to rig future elections.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

39. "you won't have to vote anymore!"

I just watched a video of this….and after that quote he tells them that in four more years “we’ll have it all fixed”.

Yeah, I’ll bet.

The obtuseness and stupidity of his cult is beyond belief.

[Lonestarblue]

46. Just as they may have rigged this year's vote counts in key districts.

We’ll never know whether any voting machines were hacked because no one has bothered to check. Even high school students have shown how easy it is to hack voting machines and Republicans had full access to the Dominion software for over three years to explore any vulnerabilities and how to use it to tabulate votes for their advantage.

[TomSlick]

10. It used to be said that Social Security and Medicare were a "third rail" - touch it and die.

I will be curious to see if that is still the truth.

[cstanleytech]

11. Ya, I'd love to see the Republicans literally commit seppuku.

[TomSlick]

12. A nice image.

Here's hoping.

[Harker]

18. With bamboo swords. n/t

[cstanleytech]

21. Dull, chipped rusty ones?

[Harker]

22. Very dull, as in Kobayashi's 1962 film "Seppuku."

Made for the most harrowing scene I can think of in samurai films.

[SWBTATTReg]

66. I intensely feel that this is an barrier that if they touch this two pgms, then they will die as a political party

forever. It's going to lead them to their political deaths, only by 1000s of elderly recipients of social security and Medicare, one cut at a time, leading these so call reps dying by a thousand cuts. I don't know how many recipients of these programs, after working so hard their lives for these programs (and putting into them too), are literally terrified. They are literally terrified.

Cut into the seemingly forever large military industrial complex budget. Increase the damn taxes on these idiots who has way too much wealth as it is, leading to massive distortions in income disparities in this Country. And I'm talking about Elon, and thugs like him.

If it wasn't for all of us peons who worked in the past for the meager social security benefits we get now (remember, we paid into these benefits all of our lives. What we get is what we paid into the system for), they wouldn't have been able to thrive in the massively successful economy that we have now.

And threatening us? Threatening us by declaring a insurrection? Go ahead, try it. I think those that are grappling w/ the reins of power now had better get ahold of themselves quickly before they do something irrational. I still recall the one guy stating that the military will not participate in any actions against their own citizens/against us, after all, where does the bulk of the military people come from? From us.

In the meantime, now, I'll have to make a few calls to some of my older than I friends, (and I'm on SS too), who do get terrified at any talk of cutting back SS benefits etc. And I truly mean 'terrified'. This sort of talk terrifies some of them. I remember last time that they had crazy talk, and I had to spend a bit of time talking on the phone calming them down. I don't know how much luck I'll have this time around, for I'm terrified now. Who's going to calm me down?

[Emile]

13. More like floating Project 2025!

[crimycarny]

14. Privatization on the horizon?

I feel like the GOP will try to privatize SS, all these greedy rich people wanting to get their hands on that golden pot of money. Scary if that happens, I hope not.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

41. Of course it is.

Last edited Tue Dec 10, 2024, 06:12 PM - Edit history (1)

And this DOGE bullshit is nothing but wanting to privatize jobs and services that the government currently performs under the guise of “saving money”.

And if those things are privatized, just take a wild guess as to what two billionaires will be standing in line waiting for government contracts to fall into their hands. And what president will be behind them waiting for his payout.

It will be a legal license to steal.

[crimycarny]

64. Which all will end in collapse of the country--if history serves

How many times will history repeat itself?

The Roman Empire collapsed after 1000 years of rule due to the corruption of the elite and the sale of public offices for profit.

The Ming Dynasty collapsed for similar reasons, those at the top exploited their positions for personal gain

Soviet Union under Gorbachev.

I predict Russia will suffer the same fate after years of corruption between Putin and the Oligarchs.

And America is headed in the same direction I fear.

[ThoughtCriminal]

15. Roll back the tax cuts.

Until that's on the table, they are not serious about reducing the debt

[CousinIT]

16. SOCIAL SECURITY DOES NOT ADD TO THE DEBT. It is 100% paid for by

a separate tax that employees and employers pay.

So this bullshit about cutting it to decrease the debt is BULLSHIT. Cutting social security will NOT decrease the debt because it doesn’t add to the debt. By law, it cannot. It is a separate fund which is invested in US treasury bonds. And it is 100% PAID FOR by us.

[Initech]

25. Fuck you Mark Alford!

[Stargazer99]

29. Isn't it odd how the Republicans believe their master's lies about social security (cut the deficit crap)

when SS is not part of the budget...makes you think they really are stupid when it is right in front of them. Suckers is what I would call them

[ancianita]

36. They also believe their masters' lie

that is unsaid: cruelty is the point, never the budget nor the legality of any action. As JB Pritzker said, the cruel are the stupid, and the kindest are the most intelligent.

[70sEraVet]

32. The problem never seems to be that the rich are too rich,.....

But that the poor aren't poor enough, the hungry aren't hungry enough, the sick aren't sick enough, the destitute aren't........

[WinstonSmith4740]

33. Oh, please, please, PLEASE!

Go ahead...step on that 3rd rail. You guys don't believe in science, so you won't get hurt, right? And all those folks living in places like The Villages, or in rural America will be just fine with having their incomes slashed.
Please proceed.

[karin_sj]

34. His term is up in November 2025

Time for his future Democratic opponent to collect all his comments and videos to use in their future campaign. These people are so brazen and complacent. They truly don't believe they will pay a price for this in the next election, but they are wrong.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

37. Call it what it is!

DOGE: Department of Government Evisceration.

[DonCoquixote]

50. but of coiurse

trump adding 1 trillion in tax cuts to the rich is ok

[underpants]

54. Well that will decrease revenue so OBVIOUSLY cost cuts are needed

[elleng]

51. 'Doge' hsd no authority.

It's 'someone's' dream; little more.

[Turbineguy]

52. Don't increase taxes for the starving rich!

“The majestic equality of the laws prohibits the rich and the poor alike from sleeping under bridges, begging in the streets and stealing bread.”

[Traildogbob]

53. How about

We take a front end look at elected (appointed) peope’s retirement costs to tax payers? Including President's, whose illegal alien wife’s will collect until death.
And the 100’s of billions in subsidies to the CORP CEO’s that are reporting the biggest profits in history, that they do not want to pay a penny in taxes on.
Besides the trillions we are gonna make off of Tariff's should cover all our budget.

[magicarpet]

59. Each and every tariff is slapped on to the total retail price.

It is a tax imposed on goods at the point of entry, when a ship unloads its goods.

The buying merchant of international goods pays the tariff tax at the port of entry. Then the wholesale merchant passes the total tariff onto the retail merchant. The retail merchant inturn passes the tariff/tax on to the final consumer of those imported goods.

The exporter or the foreign manufacturer of goods does not pay the tariff. The importer then ultimately the final retail customer pays the added on tariff which is now included in the final shelf price we see in the retail store.

The tariffs djt wants to impose will cause inflationary increases in prices to skyrocket. Plus djt hopes to use this tariff money/added on tax - to help finance his 2.0 trillion dollar tax break to the billion and millionaires. Tax breaks and subsidies to corporations and industry. By the time djt spends,... spends,... spends,... there will be little left to pay off the federal deficit. Which is what they promised this DOGE austerity program would do.

This is all another giveaway boondoggle subsidy to the rich - that the middle class and poorer classes will pay for. While the filthy rich rake in trillions of more dollars in benefits. More mansions, more private jets, more fancy $

[Traildogbob]

61. It was a sarcastic point

I made. Trump rants about the trillions we will make as a country with HIS tariff wet dream.
People with a brain know damn well, we will pay those prices, never Corp billionaires.

[magicarpet]

63. The choir knows who pays the tariffs.

Because they researched it prior to the 2024 vote.

The MAGA Meatheads and Fux Gnewz viewers have not one clue what tariff are all about.

The Google inquiries,... "What is aTariff" exploded after the election. Then the comments on the Internet saId djt lied to and betrayed us.

Too late dumb dummy,.. next train stop is at station - "Find Out" the repercussions of your djt vote in 2024.

[Traildogbob]

67. I wish

I could just sit and laugh at the stupid, but it will fuck us all, except the oligarchs. I hope though before I die, I get to do some laughing in their face.
I went to the grocery (a word trump just now invented) store a bit ago. A smaller red car had a huge trump 2024 MAGA flag bolted to the side door. The entire hood was painted with Trump 2024 Make America great again with what use to be our flag. An actually very good job of painting. The windshield had “Trump 2024, The rules have changed, we are coming for you”.
I wanna laugh my ass off at whoever the fuck that is as he dies a miserable death from a new disease a vaccine would cure, and bankruptcy follows the miserable death.
Do I have to turn in my WOKE membership card for that? Zero fucks left.

[magicarpet]

69. You'll get a giggle in there.

Team trDUMP will not spare the MAGA Meatheads from the blade of the austerity chopping machete.

[Attilatheblond]

56. They just don't want people reading about what they & Reagan did back in the 80s to justify giving rich jerks tax cuts

The money is there, but it's in the form of IOUs. And the rich, enjoying even more tax cuts of late, just don't want to cough up what they owe.

Pretty soon, there will be websites offering recipes for tax evaders with millions and billions in assets.

[nmmi]

75. The trust fund assets are already being cashed in because SS benefits exceed SS income

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/

Table 4: TRUST FUND OPERATIONS, 2023
....................... OASI   DI
Net change in Reserves -70.4 29.0
. . .
Since 2021, the OASI Trust Fund has been drawing down asset reserves to finance benefits and will require increasing amounts of asset redemptions during the next decade. The OASI Trust Fund has a projected reserve depletion date of 2033, the same year as in last year’s report.

The DI Trust Fund is projected to remain solvent throughout the long-range period, as in last year’s report. The DI trust fund ratio increases throughout the projection period from 92 percent at the beginning of 2024 to 858 percent for 2098.

The Trustees project that the combined OASI and DI Trust Fund reserves will continue to decrease in 2024 because total cost ($1,482 billion) is expected to exceed total income ($1,382 billion). For OASDI, the Trustees project that total cost will exceed total income in all future years, as it has starting in 2021.

The money is there, but it's in the form of IOUs. And the rich, enjoying even more tax cuts of late, just don't want to cough up what they owe.

They may not want to "cough up what they owe", but it's being "coughed up" from general revenue which is where the money comes from to redeem the trust fund bonds.

I have some "IOUs" too -- some I-bonds and a TIPs bond, plus whatever Treasuries is in various bond funds that I have.

[Evolve Dammit]

62. Mr. Alford- With no due respect; F yourself.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

65. The GOP has a death wish

That or they're brain dead.

[Rebl2]

70. Oh Alford

Your MO constituents are NOT going to be happy with you! He represents a mostly rural area.
I can hear them now. Don’t touch my Medicare, SS, Medicaid.
Good thing is, our senator, Hawley, said he promised he would not let congress cut Social Security in an ad while he was running for senate this year. Yeah, right Hawley. Every time I saw that ad I yelled LIAR!!!

[Aaeia]

71. If this is what it takes:

I'm sorry. I really love you guys here at D.U. but honestly, this is what it's going to take to get these people out of power. Hunker down. Protect your assets if you can & let them f**k around & find out how quickly they lose their support if they tamper with all of the above. SOMETHING has to get through to these people that keep electing this fuzbgrs.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

72. How about cutting the DEFENSE CONTRACTORS instead

[nwduke]

73. You mean

Trump the Felon lied 🤥?go figure! Comstock act just around the corner you dimwitted females that voted for this clown!🤬

[no_hypocrisy]

76. $36 Trillion Debt

We estimate the ten-year cost of the legislation and executive actions President Trump signed into law was about $8.4 trillion, with interest.

It’s also the case that the government accumulated $7.8 trillion of gross federal debt while President Trump was in office, though much of this is unrelated to President Trump’s actions.

https://www.crfb.org/blogs/how-much-did-president-trump-add-debt

That's $16.2 trillion that Trump added to The Debt.

He owns it.

And his "remedy": MORE TAX CUTS!! Choke the Revenue and Cut Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security, which come out of our payroll taxes.

[nmmi]

78. Only SS and Part A (Hospital) of Medicare is funded by payroll taxes.

Medicare parts B (doctors visits, outpatient stuff) and D (drug plans) are funded 1/4 from premiums and 3/4 from general revenues.

Medicaid - none of that is funded by payroll taxes.

Social Security - most is from payroll taxes, but also is funded by the income tax on SS benefits (which goes into the SS system, not into general revenues).

[The Grand Illuminist]

77. The biggest casualty that will most likely be hit the most due to DOGE....

will be the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

[ificandream]

79. Raise taxes on the wealthy, you schmuck!

[stollen]

81. This is the last year I will be indiscriminately generous

In 2025 I'll want to know who the recipient voted for because in all likelihood, they created their own problem.