Why do I rail on and on about the Social Security Offset and Windfall Elimination Penalty? Because my husband worked for private industry and paid into Social Security from age 18 (1967) until he was 31 (1980), BUT because he began working for the United States Government in 1980, our retirement income is reduced by two thirds because the government has deemed that money to be a "windfall".
Retirees
drawing any government pension and also qualify
with a minimum of
40 quarters for Social Security benefits
may have
their Social Security benefit reduced by as much as 60%
As it is right now, he gets a very small pension from a corn processing company he worked for before going in the military and serving in the Air Force for 4 years (also paying Social Security), and also after he got out and reclaimed his job there. The government does not reduce his government pension because it's a private pension fund through Kraft. Before he ever hired on with the government, he had fully paid his 40 quarters for Social Security benefits.
From 1981 to 2008 my husband worked for the Federal Government as a civil servant with the Dept. of Defense paying into his government pension each paycheck. Right now, he is only 60 years old and so not old enough to begin collecting social security, but he is collecting his government pension. He was in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).
Now, here's where it also cuts to the quick. I was a stay-at-home mom, and haven't worked enough in my lifetime to pay into Social Security. At this point, I'm disabled with fibromyalgia, but I rightfully don't qualify for any disability insurance or anything. I didn't pay into it, so I shouldn't get it. But, because my husband's Social Security benefits are reduced by this supposed 'windfall', so are any that I will get through him!! Just for being a woman, and being married to him for almost 39 years, I too am being penalized financially while he is alive.
Because Congress, since 1977 (Carter) has fed at the pork trough and robbed Social Security so much that there is (seemingly) no way to pay federal retirees the full amount to which they are entitled. They could repeal it, but we need to speak up. We need to tell Congress to do the right thing.
Whether or not you are a federal retiree, or about to be, personally write to your Congressperson and express your opinion.
House of Representatives: H. R. 235 - Social Security Fairness Act of 2009
Senate: S.484 Social Security Fairness Act of 2009
Bush asked Educators "Leave no child behind" (he blew that one, didn't he?)
Dear Readers,
I'm not flush with disposable income any more than the rest of you. I didn't even have the $25 to donate to MoveOn.org that they asked for. But I did have $10, and you betcha I donated it. Every time I get an extra $10 I'm going to do it. And, here's what else I would like to see:
We need to keep sending clear messages to our government that we want our country back! If you like this idea, then feel free to copy the below message on your blog and get the word out. We got Obama in office to clean house and bring us back to prosperity. This is a way you can help and it's as easy as a small donation and copy/paste. I'm for this. This I can do. Can you?
All American - Carol
~~~~~~~
You'd think after bankrupting our country, Republican leaders would rethink some of their ideas.
Guess again.
They actually tried to replace the whole stimulus bill with tax cuts for the rich. And the worst part is, they were partially successful—they gutted funding from some of the most progressive programs, like school construction and affordable health care.
We need to make sure voters back home know what these Republicans are up to. Because if we don't, they'll do it again. They'll weaken or block every important piece of legislation this year.
If you want health
care for all, if you want to stop climate change, if you want to end the
war, can you help run ads letting voters know that their senators and
representatives stood in the way of change? Since yesterday, thousands of
contributions have been coming in. But we're still $100,000 short of our
goal. Can you chip in $25 to put us over
the top?
President Obama and most of the congressional Democrats spent the last month working hard to craft a plan that would help keep hundreds of thousands of teachers from being laid off, invest in vital green-energy technology, and provide health care for folks who lose their jobs.
What did conservative
Democrats and Republicans bring to the table? Rehashed Bush policies and
tired talking points. The very same things that got us into this mess in
the first place. The stimulus will still create millions of jobs, and
it's an important first step, but it could have been even stronger.
People are really
suffering across our nation, yet Republicans are continuing to play the
same old partisan games—and they're being helped along by conservative
Democrats. Don't worry: We'll hold both Republicans and Democrats who stand in the way of
change accountable with these ads.
We need to make it crystal clear to their voters what they're doing. If we don't, these senators and representatives will stand in the way of every bit of progress we try to make this year, from clean energy to affordable health care for all. Can you chip in $25 to help us run hard-hitting ads exposing this conservative obstructionism?
Thanks for all you do.
–Noah, Karin, Marika, Joan and the rest of the team
Republicans tried
everything they could to block Obama's stimulus. They'll
keep at it all year unless we tell their voters back home
that they're standing in the way of change. Can you chip in $25 to get some
hard-hitting ads on the air?
I think some people have confused the office of the President with the man who has just been elected. On another blog I visited today I saw a post by the blog author questioning why his child should go to school and celebrate that we have a new President. I left this comment on his blog, but I would like you all to see it too.
What are we teaching our children when we send them to school with our prejudice against a man who just became our President? Should we be surprised when they then show no respect at home, to their teachers, law enforcement officers, military members, etc? I hope the blog author gave my comment some thought. I personally don't care if he likes Obama or not, but I do care that he is teaching his child to disrespect the President of the United States. It is no different than showing disrespect for the members of our military who protect us every day. You may not like the job they have been sent to do, but they volunteered to fight for us, and as such deserve our respect for their membership in our military.
I hope you all see my point. Semper Fi! ♥
Rod Blagojevich has to be the epitome of the male political ego, doesn't he? What could be going through his little tiny brain to convince him that he is going to get to stay in office? Legally speaking, I have no idea if the wire taps with their damning conversations would be admissible in court to convict him, but just hearing the tapes on the news tells me that he is a scumball and should not trip on his way out the door.
What audacity to get up there today and tell the world that he is going to fight this "until his last breath"!! If he had any integrity at all he would admit his guilt and do what's best and step down. But that's not going to happen and his staying in office just proves what a moron he is. I mean, this guy believes his own PR. Methinks he has taken one too many blows to the head in the past.
What do you think? Should he waste more taxpayer money and have to go to trial to get his sorry butt out of office, or should he just concede defeat and go quietly into the night?
I have to speak out about this. It sickened me to get an email today from one of my husband's family members that compared Michelle Obama with a black widow spider. I replied immediately and told the person that I didn't think it was funny. In fact, I am appalled. Not surprised, just appalled. No, more than that. I am Mad.
Whether I voted for Barack Obama or not (I did), he is now my president and his wife is the first lady. I have always believed we should respect the office of President, even if we don't like the man (and someday, God willing, woman) or disagree with his politics. Respect is a very uncommon commodity in our country these days. How many times a day are you disrespected? At least once? Why do we put up with it? And, if you are being disrespectful, what gives you that right?
My feeling is that when the election was over and Obama was elected, our country took another step closer to coming of age. In 200+ years we took baby steps through indentured servants and slavery, wars and riots, depression and oppression, but in 2008 we took a giant stride forward and chose a man for his ability and not one of the 'good ol' boys'.
That a man of mixed heritage would have the courage to take on a job of President of the United States says more than that he wanted to lead our country. In my opinion he truly does want to make our country better. When our country succeeds, the whole world can succeed, because like it or not, we are all in this together and the United States can lead the way.
You know, when I think of myself as a citizen of the United States of America I don't see myself as better than people in all other countries. It is like my own close personal relationships in that I see we all have strengths and weaknesses. If we weren't so focused on greed and hateful behavior, we could really make our life on this lovely blue marble something better than what it is right now.
Do you remember the song in South Pacific about racial hatred? "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught" Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed November 19, 2008). With every breath I take, I will endeavor to not be a racist. I want to be able to hold my head up and look you straight in the eye and tell you that I will never tolerate you being one either.
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My blog is worth $196,459.92.
How much is your blog worth?
