The chained CPI: A zombie benefit cut still walks

[cali]

It happens every time: Republicans and Democrats get into a standoff over the federal budget, and their best plan for wriggling out of it is to nickel-and-dime people on Social Security and Medicare.

The worst zombie in this package, a terrible idea that simply won't die, is the "chained CPI." This is a version of the consumer price index that purportedly yields a more "accurate" reading of inflation, which is supposed to be virtuous because Social Security recipients get a cost-of-living increase every year based on inflation.

The chained CPI has risen to walk among us again in the muttering and jawboning around the government shutdown/debt limit standoff and the search for an exit. We're hearing again about a "grand bargain" on the government deficit -- never mind that the deficit is falling, not rising -- that would trade, say, cuts in Social Security and Medicare and some kind of tax reform for an end to the government shutdown and an increase in the debt limit.

In other words, the average person gets a kick in the slats, and the politicians in Washington get to deliver it. That's some bargain.

<snip>

But every crisis brings yet another effort to preserve the prerogatives of the wealthy and take the cost out of middle- and working-class hides. On this occasion, when the costs of the shutdown have fallen on Head Start children, medical patients and middle-class workers, to slice away another portion of their safety net would be a truly unspeakable act.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-chained-20131004,0,4565719.story

[JoePhilly]

1. Not. Happening.

[cali]

2. we hope.

[JoePhilly]

4. The folks who have always so positive this was definitely about to happen

at any second, are now being a bit more circumspect on this topic.

I'm guessing that's the effect of having been wrong about it over and over and over.

So again.

Not.

Happening.

[Fumesucker]

5. Eh, they're still not finished with filing off the serial number

Wouldn't want that hot piece traced back to the origin, any origin. Wouldn't be prudent, plausible deniability is the watchword.

Arranging it so that CCPI is the lesser of two evils that we must regretfully accept because the alternative is much worse takes a while in the modern internet era.

Politics was so much less complicated when it was merely a matter of smoky back rooms without all the bomb-throwing rabble poking their vulgar noses into the business of their betters.

[zeemike]

9. Well what else will we have to bargain away in the grand bargain?

You know we have to give up something...and that something must come out of the pockets of ordinary people.
What else do we have to offer them?...Medicare, Social Security, perhaps another tax cut for Wall Street?...that is why a grand bargain, to take something away from us to give to them so they won't shoot us in the foot.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. That's just speculation on your part Joe, same as other people's speculation.

Well, not exactly the same because your sort of speculation tacitly promotes the Chained CPI while others are attempting to oppose it and to oppose any use of our elders as bargaining chips with the evil that is the Republican Party. Why opposition to such bad policy ideas bothers you is an unknown because all you offer is your own opinion and some snark for those who dare not fall in line with you.
It has been proposed multiple times and that alone is unacceptable behavior out of Democrats. Some of us will oppose the idea until the other side, Centrists and Republicans stop the threats. Sick of hearing about it? Tell Obama to take it off the table as he could at anytime. He needs to stop scaring Americans with this shit. He and the Republicans negotiate like psychos.

[JoePhilly]

17. Sick of hearing about it? I'm laughing at the Combustible hair Club

for freaking out every time the GOP throws a hissy fit.

I've been right about this every time its come up since 2009. Its not speculation. Its become a pattern.

And has for Obama scaring Americans ... pffft ... talk to the Combustible Hair Club.

[Enthusiast]

7. Actually it would be shocking if it doesn't happen.

Grand bargain style.

[cali]

8. sadly, I tend to agree with you.

and lots of liberals in the Congress are fearful of this as well.

[Nite Owl]

13. I'd be very surprised if it didn't happen

They have been wearing away at this for a long time.Obama wants it so there will be no fight from him on this one. The progressives might fight it off one more time but they will find a way to get it through.

[newfie11]

3. Isn't this something Obama proposed?

If this is passed i will have given up hope this country cares about anyone but the 1%.
Ominous future for America ahead if this happens.

[RandiFan1290]

6. It will never happen!

Just like he'd never extend or make the Bush tax cuts permanent.

[RC]

10. +10

The obvious would be to take all the needed money out of our inflated, so-called defense budget. Sane people the world over would be grateful.

Social Security recipients are gonna die in a few years anyway, so why not take something out of their promised retirement, that they have been paying for their entire working lives. <---<< I shouldn't need this, but DU is heavily infiltrated by people that think DLC equals Liberal because they have a (D) by their name.

[Cryptoad]

11. They want to change SS

Remover the damn FICA tax cap! Limit the Benefits paid to the Super Rich!

Thats a good starter!

[Laelth]

12. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[Oilwellian]

15. I've collected video clips of all Dem leaders

voicing their support for CPI. I guess it's time to dust them off and make a video showing just how strongly they support this piece of shit legislation. It almost seems like purposeful sabotage of the Democratic Party, because if they bring this to the table and Obama signs it, we will be in as much disarray as the Pukes. We thought 2010 was a bad turn out...

Edit to add...the only Dem leader I could NOT find anything on is Harry Reid. Maybe he will be our saving grace.

[MisterP]

16. "but it's an UPWARD chaining!" --February 2013 talking point