While you weren't looking, Obama still pushing for chained CPI Social Security cuts

[brentspeak]

Much of the news in the past couple of months concerning the White House has focused on the various IRS and AP controversies, as well as Obama's approval of NSA snooping. But don't worry -- Obama still very much wants to cut your Social Security benefits. You might have missed this story from April.

http://www.news1130.com/2013/04/11/treasury-secretary-lew-tells-congress-administration-believes-budget-deal-can-be-reached/


Treasury Secretary Lew tells Congress administration believes budget deal can be reached

Martin Crutsinger, The Associated Press April 11, 2013 11:13 am

WASHINGTON – Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew told Congress on Thursday that the Obama administration is optimistic about a budget deal, but he urged lawmakers to consider concessions already made in President Barack Obama’s $3.8 trillion spending request.

snip

Democrats also voiced objections to the budget’s proposed changes to Social Security. However, their complaints focused on a plan that would tie the annual cost-of-living adjustments to a different measure of inflation. They said that would limit benefits.

The Obama budget achieves $130 billion in savings by using this “chained CPI” measure of inflation to making cost of living adjustments for Social Security and other government benefit programs.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said he would have preferred that the administration achieve savings by raising Social Security payroll taxes on upper-income workers.

[duffyduff]

1. And he's got his SS commission to tell lies about SS

by using phony projections in order to take early retirement away.

He's in the pocket of Peter J. Peterson, one of the most evil men on the planet.

[warrant46]

51. Peter G. Peterson is an Evil POS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_George_Peterson

He however is an intimate with the Clintons and their ilk

[Triana]

54. Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles are at the top of "Fix the Debt" leadership

"Fix the Debt" Leadership -who are the first two guys listed?

Guess...

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Fix_the_Debt%27s_Leadership

[fredamae]

56. And "good 'ol Dem Ed Rendell"

also sits on the commission and is Constantly on MSM Pushin' for it like a back alley drug dealer.

[Triana]

57. Him and Obama both

INEXCUSABLE.

SS can be fixed by ELIMINATING the cap and raising the SS tax by .5 to 1%.

That's IT.

There is NO NEED to cut benefits.

This isn't at all a matter of something that cannot be done. It's a matter of a bunch of bought politicians who DON'T WANT to do it.

There's a difference between "can't" and "don't wanna".

This is a "don't wanna" problem. And it's going to cost us all and those we love dearly.

Not that any of those schmucks care about that. As long as their rich owners are happy. Pfft.

[fredamae]

58. That's it right there-

If only We all could hit the phones in DC, en masse'--to let them know.
We've seen the power of the majority over gun regulation when a loud majority works together---Senators are on the run on this issue....
People are gonna die as a result of these cuts--why is that Less dangerous than guns?--if you look at the consequences they're the Same---only the mode of occurrence is different.

[Triana]

78. We need to jab 'em up the ass with the proverbial hot political poker

Dirtbags. THEY will never need SS either. No skin off their backs - just ours (while we pay their lavish salaries for their entire lifetimes, and provide them with publicly-funded health insurance).

Unbelievable psychopathy and cronyism - from so-called "Democrats".

[bvar22]

87. If you support "Raising the CAP", you should have voted for this guy!

What ever happened to that guy?
He would have made a great President.

[They_Live]

95. Perfect.

Thank you for posting these. I thought I had imagined him saying that. It really happened though.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Hey...anybody surprised?

They will, and when people protest they will throw detainment.

I wish I were kidding.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

3. But won't that help pay for spying and wars?

What's a totalitarian state to do?

[truedelphi]

32. If only you could make it clear what you mean???

And I thought the usgovernment owes us like 16 trillion??

In any event, we're at least on the same page. Spying on us is not nice, and swiping our Social Security is EVIL. And not something any "Democrat" should consider.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

53. If you don't support a Dem president enacting GOP goals you're a racist. nt

[rsmith6621]

4. I Didnt Miss It...

Obama got an email and phone call from me the minute this came out in Feb/Mar. Obama is becoming a appointment's very fast.

[mick063]

5. This pisses me off to no end.

I have to calm down a bit or I may write something regrettable.

No worry. The jury would hide it in quick fashion anyway.


I am not only disliking what this administration is doing. I am beginning to despise it at Bush levels.

[newfie11]

35. I feel the same way. Nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

63. Yeah, me too.

I am not only disliking what this administration is doing. I am beginning to despise it at Bush levels.


Not seeing a whole lot of difference at this point.



Guess that makes me a racist.

[MissDeeds]

82. I agree completely

I had massive concerns about Obama from the get-go. Never in my life have I been so disappointed to be proven right. It irks me that he claims to be a Democrat - his record clearly proves that he is not, unless one considers neo-Dem (moderate Republican) to pass for Democrat. I don't.

[rurallib]

69. I am with you

I could never vote republican and I am beginning to really dislike this republican-lite admin.

I think it is time for a New Deal Party - I would hate to split off but fuck I hate voting against my own values.

Obama the campaigner and Obama the president are sure two different people and I am sure Hillary will be also.

[MissDeeds]

83. + 1000 n/t

[rhett o rick]

6. If Ms. Clinton were president would she do anything different? nm

[Cleita]

7. No.

They are all members of the same card club.

[jtuck004]

8. How much will be left to sell off if she gets the chance? n/t

[JDPriestly]

18. No, but Elizabeth Warren might do things very differently.

I trust her. She has not been bought.

[KoKo]

62. She will still have to deal with the MIC...though.

That's the worry. They ALL will still have to deal with it.

So far only Howard Dean is a possiblity for my vote. And, even then...Howard isn't liberal enough for me. Still...I think he has an "inner moral compass" and has been around longer than Warren.

I love her strong voice in the Senate. So far she hasn't gotten elected and learned to "fit in with the crowd" the way some of our other promising elected Dems who were so outspoken and progressive on the campaign trail...but once they got into House or Senate...they said they had to be with the "go along to get along crowd" on their votes.

[rhett o rick]

74. You are exactly right. I am beginning to think that our president is not much more

than a figurehead position. The economic structure and intelligence services are the same as they have been for a decade. I wouldnt doubt that other agencies are also the same basic structure. This doesnt mean that Pres Obama doesnt shape some policy but take the NDAA and indefinite detention. He seemed to be to be honestly against it but couldnt seen to change it. Does his continued renewal of the Patriot Act mean he favors it or hasnt the power to change it?

As I have said before, I think when he got into office (I actually believe it may have happened before he got into office) he was told that the Military-Intellegence-Complex had a great spy machinery working to keep America safe and if he appointed some damn liberal Democrat to run it, it would turn into a mess and endanger the country.

[awoke_in_2003]

26. No...

that is why I am heartened to see Dean may throw his hat back in the ring.

[pacalo]

101. I trust him as much as Elizabeth Warren. He was made DNC chairman to keep him in line.

Just as they're doing with Russ Feingold with his new appointment. He must have been seriously considering running for senator, is my guess.

[summer-hazz]

31. I too would

like to know if Clinton would do this?

I read an article a hour ah
go about this very subject. It explained so much..
The article is on "POLITICUSUSA" I would link it here
but don't know how to do that yet. If someone could find it, it would be worth posting on DU I think.
Help anyone?
Also is Clinton a Centrist? Third Way?
I don't want another republican like TPOUS is acting...
I thought I was voting for a Democrat!!!

[WinkyDink]

41. HRC would do exactly the same.

[Enthusiast]

42. I agree, 100%.

I am very suspicious of HRC.

[summer-hazz]

106. well damn...

yes that needs to change!
Thank uou.....

[sabrina 1]

103. To post a link just go to the address bar at the top of the page it's on and copy and then paste it

into your comment.

Like this which is from this page: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1002&pid=3066430

Hillary would do everything this President has done. She is a centrist and so is her husband. We need to find a way to get a real Progressive Democrat, or if he would run, I would support Bernie Sanders.

Welcome to DU!

[summer-hazz]

105. Thank you sabrina 1

Hillary....sigh

I would like to see a left leaning Democrat!

[Marr]

73. No, and that's why we were invited to choose between those two options.

That's why Obama and Hillary Clinton were universally deemed the only "viable candidates" throughout the corporate media, months ahead of the first primary election.

They're Coke and Pepsi.

[bvar22]

89. Remember the night of the Iowa Democratic Caucus?

John Edwards finished a close 2nd behind Obama,
with Hillary earning Miss Congeniality in 3rd Place.

I was excited to tune in to Keith Olberman on MSNBC that night to hear them discuss the unexpected Edwards showing of support in the Iowa Caucus and winning 2nd.

Even on the "Liberal" Olberman Show, they NEVER mentioned Edward's 2nd Place,
but simply ignored it, and hammered the Corporate Sanctioned Horse Race between Obama & Hillary.

It was that night that I realized that MSNBC was just reading their scripts too.

[Marr]

91. I do remember that, yep.

That was pretty eye-opening. I remember something similar happening on the Republican side with an early win by... I believe it was Huckabee. And again with Paul, if I'm remembering correctly.

It still almost makes me laugh how blatant it is. I mean, how do you anoint Obama and Hillary Clinton as the "the only viable candidates" when there hasn't been a single vote cast, and keep on pushing that line after one of them has beaten by a 'non-viable' candidate? You'd think there'd be a point where they just have to drop the narrative in deference to basic logic, but apparently that's not the case.

[bvar22]

94. "have to drop the narrative in deference to basic logic"...

...or to a sense of SHAME.

In 1988, the League of Women's Voters withdrew from their sponsorship of the Presidential Debates because they were too ashamed to be associated with the Corporate Marketing Sham they had become.

[font size=3]"The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates...because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public."[/font]
Official Press Release from the League of Women's Voters, Oct 3, 1988

MSNBC (or ANY other Media Mouthpiece) doesn't share that reservation to "becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public."

For a while, I though MSNBC had some commitment to the truth, especially Olbermann,
but I was wrong.
Rachel is beautiful, articulate and bright, and she occasionally Pushes the Limit of the Corporate endorsed script, but, ultimately, she stays inside the line too.

It is a sad commentary on the state of Journalism in the USA when Comedy Central hosts some of the most honest and insightful Political Commentary available to consumers.
(Jon Stewart's Daily Show)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

108. I remember that, too

And the same thing happened after the New Hampshire primary.

[truedelphi]

113. I think of other words, in my analogy, but

I am eating breakfast so won't go into them.

[historylovr]

9. K & R.

[forestpath]

10. I wouldn't expect anything else from Obama...screwing over the vulnerable

was the plan all along.

[kardonb]

14. expect

What is going on in DU anymore ? It sounds like mega troll city any more ! Why didn't you wisenheimers elect Robme if you think our President is a nogoodnik . Sick of this eternal kwetsching ! Nothing and nobody is ever perfect , because they have to deal with reality , not cloud-coocooland !!!

[Fuddnik]

15. Sure nobody is perfect.

But, it takes a lot of work to be downright abysmal.

[forestpath]

16. I can't believe anyone talks like this. This MUST be a parody!

Welcome to my ignore list.

[JDPriestly]

19. No chained CPI. No cuts to Social Security.

No way.

[mbperrin]

27. Agreed. No way.

TOO TOO SIMPLE to simply raise the cap on SS contributions. Simple.

[newfie11]

36. But but the rich would have to pay more

And we can't have that now can we. Their the job builders hahahaha

What a bunch
Of shit is being fed to the people of this country! .
God forbid we become like Denmark
(Cause its socialist ya know).

[dawg]

50. Obviously,we think Robme would have been worse.

President Obama said himself, in his own words, that his positions were similar to those of a "moderate" Republican in the 1980's. My first ever Presidential vote was cast against George H. W. "Poppy" Bush, who was exactly that. So it is no surprise that many of us are not overjoyed with President Obama.

[ctsnowman]

80. This ^^^^

[SammyWinstonJack]

64. ...

[Floyd_Gondolli]

84. Poutrage is an addiction

If there wasn't anything to complain about it would be bad. Very very bad. #covetthestruggle

[blkmusclmachine]

93. Fooled ya!

Lies You Can Believe In

[WillyT]

11. K & R !!!

[ReRe]

12. Correctamundo...

... I always try to watch what's going on behind the scenes when one news story overcomes all others. Our standard of living is being reduced as we type, and especially if that TPP treaty goes through. And if PO signs a budget that includes chained cpi, death will be occurring sooner in the future for those of us who are baby boomers. Looks like we are living in one of those science fiction novels.

[truedelphi]

33. Yeah, how about that. Maybe the whole reason for the scandals is so we don't notice the

Cuts to Social Security, and the TPP!!

No one even even talks about the Trans Pacific Plan. Maybe it is mentioned in the many pages of material Snowden is delivering to Greenwald! But our supposed "media" is asleep at the wheel.

[ReRe]

38. Back in the day...

... we watched allot on C-Span. But less and less now. Used to watch Democrats make those one-hour speeches in the well of the House. My favorite was Henry Gonzales from TX. John Q Public has no earthly idea what the TPP is. Social Security? That is going to go over like a lead balloon. Fireworks will insue if PO signs a budget with cuts to Social Security.

[Enthusiast]

43. Supposed "media"

Ain't that the truth.

[AverageJoe90]

13. Trashing this.

I'm no big fan of chained CPI, never was, but anybody who truly believes that Obama actually wants Chained CPI....I've got some sunny beachfront property in Nunavut to sell ya.....

[JDPriestly]

22. It isn't whether he wants it. It is whether he is willing to accept it.

The rich are getting richer. People on Social Security who rely on their COLAs are not. The people who are on Social Security and don't need the full COLAs pay the same taxes as everyone else. The people whose Social Security does not suffice to put them in a taxable bracket need the full COLAs.

It would be cruel to have chained CPI.

I agree with the post above. With the excessive surveillance, the chained CPI and the trade agreement about which Obama is ashamed or afraid to be open and honest, we have a serious problem. Who is going to vote in 2014? Does Obama WANT a no-can-do Republican Congress? Why can't he stand up and act and talk like a Democrat?

[Enthusiast]

44. "Does Obama WANT a no-can-do Republican Congress?"

I believe he does. Just as in 2010.

[JDPriestly]

107. I think he does too.

[avaistheone1]

109. *10

[kenny blankenship]

79. Oh he does "talk like a Democrat" - when he's running.

That's his hallmark and apparently it's the key to what moderate centrism means to him:

"Liberal speeches, Conservative actions."

[AverageJoe90]

112. Re: "Why can't he stand up and act and talk like a Democrat?" Believe me...........

Most of us know he's trying. But it doesn't help that we've got a Republican dominated House, as well as too many Dems in the Senate who are all too hesitant to go along and do the right thing sometimes.

[truedelphi]

34. Yes, Obama the man who fights and fights and fights for the

Middle Class. Except, in reality, he doesn't fight for us. He occasionally mentions us in his glorious speeches.

But when the ACa was in the planning stages, he pretended to be all "separation of powers." As President "I can't talk about it - it is up to Congress." Never once did he even attempt to use his bully pulpit - nor did he feel like mentioning the public option.

Then we come to find out that Rahm was in the basement of the WH, (or down the block from the WH,) meeting with Wellpoint people and other health insurance execs writing up a bill that served industry.

The following spring the BP oil leak happened. And it basically wiped out an entire eco system. Obama allowed the BP people to take charge of it, and saw to it that the media was blocked from even reporting on it.

Fukushima happened a year later, and then Obama's response was to see to it that the EPA radiation monitoring stations shut down, so those of us on the West Coast had to rely on the very occasional reports from indie labs in New England! While we were being blanketed with radiation.

This President still believes that nuclear power is a "safe" and "clean" energy source, with some 55+ billions plus promised to go to his buddies in the Big Nuke plant industry. That way we can have a Fukushima of our own.

Meanwhile his Big Banking appointments helped the Upper One Percent swindle some fifteen to sixteen trillions of dollars out of the system, via the Geithner/Bernanke transfers (Loans, these transfers were called.) A heist of the middle class's wealth transferred to the rich. And experts now say some 3.7 to 4.7 trillions of dollars of those loans will never be paid back - which is why we now need the Social Security and MediCare cuts!

I say get it out of the hide of the Big Banks, and Senator Warren seems to feel that way too. But those who control the Dem Party will make sure she doesn't get too far.

[newfie11]

37. Everything you posted should be plastered all over greatest page

It's sad, disgusting, but true. I voted twice for him as the least bad choice now I don't think it mattered. Either way our political system is sold out to big money.

[MotherPetrie]

60. If he doesn't want it why is he PUSHING it?

[AverageJoe90]

110. Because he's not actually pushing for it, regardless of how the MSM interprets things. n/t

[Logical]

72. LOL, you are not really paying attention. n-t

[AverageJoe90]

111. I could say the same, but I'd be closer to the truth. n/t

[Union Scribe]

97. Head. Sand. Problem solved! nt

[dtom67]

17. someone's gotta pay for those weapons

For Syrian Rebs.....

[quakerboy]

20. But... But... But...

I thought that was just 12th dimensional chess, he didn't really want that, he just put it out there to trap the Republicans.

[Coccydynia]

21. Oh brother. More old news to bash the President.

[JDPriestly]

23. Hey. We don't create the news. Obama does.

If the news Obama is creating is horrible, that is his problem. He works for us, not the other way around. Remember?

[Coccydynia]

25. I totally agree with you.

I was just curious as to whether the NSA "old news" though patrol would agree with the comment. Because this really is old news.

[SammyWinstonJack]

65. I'm not seeing a whole lot of 'working' for us at this point.

[marew]

75. You've got that right!

Every time I get a request from the President for a donation- and I get them regularly- I write back that with his approval of chained-CPI I'm going to need every penny I can get! I do contribute to Alan Grayson, however.

[Pholus]

52. You mean chained CPI is already implemented?

Or is it merely a commentary about attention spans?

On Edit -- or my ability to read ALL of a thread before yapping. Sorry!

[nashville_brook]

59. question: is there any current policy issue that loyalists don't love love love?

because if there isn't -- if this faction just loves loves loves everything and anything that happens during the Obama administration, then your criticism here has little value.

ostensibly we elected this president to fix some of the problems created (especially) during the Bush Jr. years. we all agreed back then that SS cuts and domestic dragnet spying were unacceptable.

but now it seems that loyalists support SS cuts and domestic dragnet spying under Obama. it's truly sad because this undermines your credibility on policy issues in toto, and demonstrates that this faction is predisposed to acting in bad faith.

[GoneFishin]

66. Yep. And, giving cover for bad behavior just breeds more of the same.

Denial is not helpful.

[MisterP]

77. they have *no* line to cross, and they've been admitting it since 2008

[bvar22]

90. And THAT is the Beauty of "Centrism"!

[font size=3]CENTRISM!!!....because it is so EASY!
You don't have to STAND for ANYTHING,
and get to insult those who DO!



[/font]




[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]




You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[progressoid]

24. Racist

eta

[delrem]

28. Obama and his admin won't magically "change".

People who're still surprised are way lagging.
People who're gung ho are Republicans.

[jsr]

29. Very racist to suggest that the President would ever contemplate such a thing

[Liberal In Texas]

30. We should look

We should push back.

I've already written him (whitehouse.gov) about this. Got to keep the pressure up.

[Wilms]

39. ^

[WinkyDink]

40. I'm pretty sure this didn't pass by us.

[Enthusiast]

45. It is odd that social security has

a dedicated funding mechanism, yet it is somehow running out of money. But the military, which has no such dedicated funding mechanism, never runs out of money.

[KG]

46. the business of gov't is business. and that business is war.

[Enthusiast]

47. If that is true, it should not be.

Unless we want to emulate Nazi Germany.

[mick063]

49. Watch out

The Godwin freaks will be coming out of the woodwork with a reply like that.

Screw em.

Our nation is full of flag waving lemmings. Scared out of their wits from a "strange" religion while getting railed by their own secretive government.

We are Nazis.

For the fatherland.

[East Coast Pirate]

48. He told us we need to hold his feet to the fire

in a non-racist way.

[madrchsod]

55. nothing more current than april 11?

be that as it may....

i'm sure we will make it clear that no one is going to weaken social security



https://www.google.com/search?q=+chained+CPI+Social+Security+cuts&sitesearch=democraticunderground.com

[SammyWinstonJack]

61. NOT what I VOTED for!

[99Forever]

67. Hey Democrats.

Want to really get your asses waxed in 2014?

Do this and reap the whirlwind.

Thanks President Obama, you are a real peach.

[Marr]

70. Rope-a-dope!

He's brilliantly drawing out the uh...

He obviously doesn't WANT chained CPI-- it's only a ruse and...

Eh...

[silvershadow]

71. As God is my witness (or not, depending on your religious views), if that subject rears it's ugly

head one more time, I'm going to work to impeach *anyone who dares go there. That is a promise. I have stated over and over here the lengths I have gone to to make my views known on this subject- to every member of my delegation, both in writing and by phone, and to the White House as well. This alone will push me over that imaginary line I have drawn in the sand that prevents me from working toward impeachment. I am a good, old-fashioned, dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. Not too many of us left, I am afraid. I don't believe in the third way, about anything. I don't believe in the Clintons. I don't believe in chained CPI. And I don't believe in chained CPI. I will not blather on as to why, except to say it is nothing more than theft.

[HiPointDem]

86. not

[nashville_brook]

88. wow...that's completely uninformed.

[Union Scribe]

98. Lol.

You must be part of the reinforcements.

[ctsnowman]

81. Too bad Obama didn't think there should be a red line on SS.

We should be increasing payments!

[HiPointDem]

85. kr

[blkmusclmachine]

92. Obama is determined to reform us out of our Social Security savings accounts.

DC: by, and for, the 1%

.

[NealK]

96. K&R

[pacalo]

99. At the risk of appearing "racist", do I have the right to feel resentment

that families like mine are being sold down the river, while they're spending billions of dollars on "keeping us safe"?

I resent, too, that they think we're too trivial & too stupid to add everything up.

[DeSwiss]

100. Slaves have no say in what their masters do.

- Again, reprise:

K&R

[bearssoapbox]

102. If it's significantly less than my last increase

Which was about $23.00/month. I thought about putting it in an envelope and sending it back to Obama.

But then maybe sending it to Elizabeth Warren might be a better idea with the explanation that Washington might as well keep it because that small of an amount won't make that much of a difference with the way prices of things have gone up in the last year.

Last years increase caused our food stamps to go down $5.00 and the help we get with utilities $4.00. Net gain $14.00. What's that? About 3 gallons of gas. But household staples prices have gone up as have OTC pain relievers, tooth paste, vitamins, most which aren't covered under medicare or medicaid etc....

Maybe they could give advice on what vitamins that I don't need. The potassium? The folic acid? The B-1? The aspirin? The multi-vitamins? So far the only ones that I might get a script on is the potassium and maybe the multis. I have AFIB, COPD, CHF, and my lungs keep trying to fill with fluid, they say I need all of those because of the 160 mgs. of Lasix that I take every day.

I don't know.

I thought I voted for a democrat. Not the "at least he's not Rmoney" candidate. I do like him. It's just that he's caved to much to the rethugs and gotten not much in return. I hope the next 3 years get better.

I do know whizzing out 1.5 to 2 gallons of pee a day is a drag.

[Newest Reality]

104. It has been, is

and always will be a facade and a scam. The hard part is when you, who have invested yourself into that scheme, realize that fact and then have to deal with the insult to your own intelligence and the basis of your personality for having been played so expertly as if you were such a fool, no matter how well informed or intelligent you may have been in the game.

So, we can either resort to our confirmation bias and follow this train to the wall, or deal with our own sense of indignity about having been patsies in a game where the ruthless and cunning have been outdoing even the best of us for whatever their idea of the good life and gain really is.

In the long run, getting over this crap game of fantasy is really essential because we have some really heavy results from it that we all could get together and work hard to solve before it is too late and no games will be able to be played at all, possibly forever.

Enough is enough. You have been played. Deal with that. Get over it. Get a new perspective and you won't be played anymore. Get down to the real business of equanimity and survival for all of our sakes. We can't really indulge in this basic crap anymore if we want to continue.