Mona Charen's column is released once a week.
By Mona Charen-
April 26, 2013
It was cool and rainy Sunday morning when the bomb ripped through the building. At 10:22, a group of children was just heading into the basement to hear a sermon at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. According to a Washington Post account at the time: Dozens of survivors, their faces dripping blood from the glass that flew out of the church's stained glass windows, staggered around the building in a cloud of white dust raised by the explosion.
Four girls were killed. The head of one little girl was found far from her body. Twenty-two others were injured. Wandering through his devastated church, the Rev. John H. Cross found a megaphone and asked the enraged and stunned crowd to disperse. "The Lord is our shepherd," he sobbed, "we shall not want."
This week, Congress marked the 50th anniversary of that terror attack by posthumously awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins and Cynthia Wesley.
We Americans are not confused about the morality of what happened in Birmingham that September morning in 1963, nor during the Jim Crow era in America generally. We do not hesitate to condemn utterly the behavior and the beliefs of the Ku Klux Klan (the perpetrators of this bombing and others) and their white supremacist fellow travelers. We do not worry that reviling white supremacists and their grotesque deeds will somehow taint all white people.
But when it comes to other groups and other motives for the same kind of terrorism — we lose our moral focus. Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn and Kathy Boudin have become honored members of the faculties at leading universities. Ayers is even the friend of the president of the United States. Regarding his own record of setting bombs that kill and dismember innocent people, Ayers told The New York Times on the ironic date of Sept. 11, 2001 that "I feel we didn't do enough ... (there's) a certain eloquence to bombs, a poetry and a pattern from a safe distance." So says a retired "distinguished professor" at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Today, American liberals are obsessed not with terrorism but with the color and ethnicity of terrorists. They can readily enough attribute violent tendencies to groups they dislike — the tea party, for example, which hasn't committed so much as a littering offense. But when it comes to Islamic terrorism, their voices falter.
Attorney General Eric Holder, asked whether three attacks on the United States (the underwear bomber, the Times Square bomber and Maj. Nidal Hassan) could be attributed to "Islamic" radicalism, refused to say so. Asked repeatedly whether religious motives played a role, Holder would say only, "there are a variety of reasons why people have taken these actions." Janet Napolitano has been quick to dismiss terror attempts as "one offs." Would Holder and Napolitano say the same about white supremacists? Each one had his own motivations and we can't surmise what those factors were?
There is a tendency among many on the left to temper their disgust and indignation at political violence (i.e. terror) if the terrorist is from the "correct" group. "Muslim ... means not being white" Peter Beinert writes in the Daily Beast.
Beinert and other liberals imagine that the U.S. is a cauldron of teeming racism with the lid barely kept down. At the first acknowledgment that Islamists (some, but by no means, all of whom are dark skinned) present a continuing threat, the lid will fly off and white American vigilantes, given permission, will start shooting black and brown people on the streets, burning their shops, and bombing mosques.
The hatred that Islamism preaches lauds and inspires is a nuisance, liberals may concede. But the hatred in the heart of "white America" is the greater danger.
To find out more about Mona Charen and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2013 CREATORS.COM
MTW-This article is very offensive to us all, no matter what color your skin is. It is also very wrong. We are all the same Race, the HUMAN Race, and yet we have differences; but any difference between any of us, is ridiculous to be used in an article of such ignorance to further someone’s agenda. For one, the events discussed in the beginning happened 50 YEARS AGO. Before Civil Rights. A lot of us were not alive then. How are we (white folks) to blame for the wrong actions taken by our dead elders? What about the Black Panthers openly placing bounties on WHITE people and intimidating voters at polling places. Obama is a White-Black man, or a White man wrapped in the color you wanted in this case, simply to call us "racist" if we disagree with the president; it does not seem to matter if we voted for the man or hold the same socialist ideology. The Dems sure did not hesitate to demonize GW Bush, but it is alright because he is white!? I am white, and there is no hatred in my heart for another Human Being for any reason. Something that really bothers me is when the term “African American” is used. If you are an American Citizen that is what you call yourself. An American. This- the United States used to be a melting pot. Now, everybody wants to be labeled as this or that rather than simply be an American. I do not wish to even go into Islam, after Boston’s tragic bombing; however, after Obama has given billions in aid to Muslim countries, as the Citizens of the U.S. are forced into poverty by the same man, I will. You need to be removed from office sir. Why did you have Eric Holder put an end to the interrogation of the younger bomber Tsarnaev? Did you have something you needed to hide, just as in the Fort Hood TERROR attack by Major Nidal Hassan which YOU Mr. President deemed "workplace violence? Muslims hate us and are taught to KILL US for NO REASON. I find that this should be an exception to Freedom of Religion in our Constitution, if not an Amendment. There is nothing anywhere close to freedom in sharia law. The Muslims in America right now are being stereotyped even worse to their own detriment. That is not my intention. This is simply my honest opinion. Tell Mr. Obama our history; I do not think he knows it. Yet another liberal propaganda article on Yahoo, distorting the facts. Jim Crow Laws-
Enacted by Democrats; Ku Klux Klan- started by Democrats who lost the Civil War which they started, as they were against the abolishment of slavery. Democrats were against de-segregation and shortly thereafter Civil Rights. Can we get some accurate information from the liberals? What about the so-called "Affordable Care Act" or Obamacare? It is not affordable or rolling out very well, nor has he kept any of his promises about keeping your plan, your doctor or the dramatic savings of $2500 per family per year. More folks have lost their coverage than have signed up for that atrocious law- mainly due to the awesome $600 million dollar website that does not work. The enrollees are a fraction of those who lost coverage- over 5 million so far. This is redistribution of wealth- or SOCIALISM. Not Capitalism. Where did the United States of America go? Free speech zones? Unconstitutional. Gun-free zones? Unconstitutional. Changing parts of a law as he pleases (Obama-ACA)- Unconstitutional and exceeding his authority. We sure got the "Change" he promised. $17 trillion for the worse. We are becoming the new USSR- United States Socialism Redux.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
The Government?
I Just Realized Something:
My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.
He has his food prepared for him.
His meals are provided at no cost to him.
He visits the doctor once a year for his checkup and again during the year, if any medical needs arise.
For this he pays nothing and nothing is required of him.
He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep.
If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.
He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep.
He receives these accommodations absolutely free.
He is living like a king and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.
All of his costs are picked up by others who earn a living.
I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks ~
Maybe he has a secret that keeps him from worrying about the truth. I bet Obamacare covers it.
My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.
He has his food prepared for him.
His meals are provided at no cost to him.
He visits the doctor once a year for his checkup and again during the year, if any medical needs arise.
For this he pays nothing and nothing is required of him.
He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep.
If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.
He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep.
He receives these accommodations absolutely free.
He is living like a king and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.
All of his costs are picked up by others who earn a living.
I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks ~
MY dog is a CONGRESSMAN!
MTW-I just thought that after all of these governmental nightmares- you know, the phony scandals, along with the AWESOME roll-out of government take over of your health care by causing many millions of folks to lose their health insurance and pay more for the forced health insurance (which is not the same as health care) by Obama and Sebelius because they know what is better for you than you do, we may need some levity. That was a mouthful. Also, if the shoe fits.... But what does this make Obama? Lost? Did anyone believe his non-apology? He apologized to other countries for the US a lot better and more often than he takes responsibility for his own actions with a genuine apology to his own Country for INTENTIONALLY lying. If he did not know, he is lost. The rest of the White House knew in July 2010, when Kathleen Sebelius wrote the "grandfather" statutes she KNEW as a former insurance worker would cause this. He heard about fast and furious, IRS and the Obamacare website problems on the news? Who tells this man what IS GOING ON? Anybody? Or are you playing dumb now Mr. President? "If you like your health insurance, you can keep it. Period."- Barack Obama around 30 times since 2009. The "if" came last week. Now he said IF your policy doesn't change after Obamacare passed. This is much worse than a website malfunction. Premiums and co-pays change every year. We finally see some of Obama's "Change". The cartoon below is from overseas. Do any of you wonder what they think of us now?
MTW-I just thought that after all of these governmental nightmares- you know, the phony scandals, along with the AWESOME roll-out of government take over of your health care by causing many millions of folks to lose their health insurance and pay more for the forced health insurance (which is not the same as health care) by Obama and Sebelius because they know what is better for you than you do, we may need some levity. That was a mouthful. Also, if the shoe fits.... But what does this make Obama? Lost? Did anyone believe his non-apology? He apologized to other countries for the US a lot better and more often than he takes responsibility for his own actions with a genuine apology to his own Country for INTENTIONALLY lying. If he did not know, he is lost. The rest of the White House knew in July 2010, when Kathleen Sebelius wrote the "grandfather" statutes she KNEW as a former insurance worker would cause this. He heard about fast and furious, IRS and the Obamacare website problems on the news? Who tells this man what IS GOING ON? Anybody? Or are you playing dumb now Mr. President? "If you like your health insurance, you can keep it. Period."- Barack Obama around 30 times since 2009. The "if" came last week. Now he said IF your policy doesn't change after Obamacare passed. This is much worse than a website malfunction. Premiums and co-pays change every year. We finally see some of Obama's "Change". The cartoon below is from overseas. Do any of you wonder what they think of us now?
Maybe he has a secret that keeps him from worrying about the truth. I bet Obamacare covers it.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
Friday, November 8, 2013
To Earn Respect, You Have To GIVE Respect
President Bush knows how to treat our soldiers, with respect
and gratitude. He was not the perfect president, but none can be perfect.
Surely, I didn't agree with everything he did, but he was a class act when it came to our military & their families.
God bless him, and God bless America.
(THE LESSON NOW BEGINS)
1. Look them in the eye and give them a firm handshake.
4. Always treat their families with great respect.
They have been through more than you could imagine.
5. Laugh with them!
Laughter is a medicine that works 102% of the time.
8. Or you can Skype them.
9. Each soldier has an amazing story.
President Bush golfs with wounded veterans at the Warrior Open tournament.
13. Make sure you are respectful.
14. Cook them a big dinner if you can. Lots of meat.
15. But if you only have a minute, look them square in the eye…
And say, “Thank you.”
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
The Tao of Badass
Surely, I didn't agree with everything he did, but he was a class act when it came to our military & their families.
God bless him, and God bless America.
(THE LESSON NOW BEGINS)
1. Look them in the eye and give them a firm handshake.
No one appreciates a firm handshake more than a soldier.
2. If they prefer not to shake hands…
2. If they prefer not to shake hands…
…then a chest bump will do.
Just make sure you do duck face afterward so they can laugh
at you.
3. Admire their medals. They were hard-earned.
4. Always treat their families with great respect.
They have been through more than you could imagine.
5. Laugh with them!
Laughter is a medicine that works 102% of the time.
6. Sometimes it’s important that you treat soldier
the way you would treat anyone else.
7. If you know a soldier, call them on the 4th of July
the way you would treat anyone else.
7. If you know a soldier, call them on the 4th of July
It will make their day!
8. Or you can Skype them.
9. Each soldier has an amazing story.
10. Listen.
Listening is often the best gift you can give someone.
Listening is often the best gift you can give someone.
11. Give them a hug
Soldiers love getting hugged because most of them are big softies deep down.
12. Do a sport with them.
Soldiers love being active.
Soldiers love getting hugged because most of them are big softies deep down.
12. Do a sport with them.
Soldiers love being active.
President Bush golfs with wounded veterans at the Warrior Open tournament.
13. Make sure you are respectful.
14. Cook them a big dinner if you can. Lots of meat.
15. But if you only have a minute, look them square in the eye…
And say, “Thank you.”
We promise you they will appreciate it.
God Bless America!
Very heartwarming…
Somehow, I can't imagine our current president doing anything like this!
Somehow, I can't imagine our current president doing anything like this!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
The Tao of Badass
Friday, November 1, 2013
The Tiny Cabin
A social worker from a big city in Massachusetts recently
transferred to the mountains of West Virginia and was on the first tour of her
new territory when she came upon the tiniest cabin she had ever seen in her
life. Intrigued, she went up and knocked on the door.
"Anybody home?" she asked.
"Yep." came a kid's voice through the door.
"Is your father there?" asked the social worker.
"Pa? ---Nope, he left afore Ma came in," said the kid.
"Well, is your mother there?" persisted the social worker.
"Ma? --Nope, she left just afore I got here." said the kid.
"But," protested the social worker thinking that surely she will need to intervene in this situation "are you never together as a family?"
"Sure, but not here," said the kid through the door. "This is the outhouse!"
Government workers are so very smart. Aren't you overjoyed that they'll soon be handling all our financial, educational, and medical dilemmas?
MTW-Funny: yet sad but true. Just look at HHS and the IRS. Nothing is phony about this administration's inept and corrupt leadership, as mistakes earn promotions, while the truthful operator is fired. Obama lies as easily as he breaths. Wake up and pay attention to all of his admirers. Can we not just save America and leave any differences in ideology out of it? Pakistan does not need $1.6 billion from us, and Egypt has several F-16s that are ours. Look out for one another hear, rather than divide the Nation. No more "Political Correctness" or bending over backwards trying not to offend anyone. WHY OH WHY DID YOU SELL OUT ISRAEL MR. PRESIDENT? (Attack on SAMs in Syria on 10-31-13) Not a smart move. Remember Mr. Netanyahu, OUR Government is not really representing US at the moment. I am personally sorry. Some of us still believe that this is STILL a Judeo-Christian Country.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
"Anybody home?" she asked.
"Yep." came a kid's voice through the door.
"Is your father there?" asked the social worker.
"Pa? ---Nope, he left afore Ma came in," said the kid.
"Well, is your mother there?" persisted the social worker.
"Ma? --Nope, she left just afore I got here." said the kid.
"But," protested the social worker thinking that surely she will need to intervene in this situation "are you never together as a family?"
"Sure, but not here," said the kid through the door. "This is the outhouse!"
Government workers are so very smart. Aren't you overjoyed that they'll soon be handling all our financial, educational, and medical dilemmas?
MTW-Funny: yet sad but true. Just look at HHS and the IRS. Nothing is phony about this administration's inept and corrupt leadership, as mistakes earn promotions, while the truthful operator is fired. Obama lies as easily as he breaths. Wake up and pay attention to all of his admirers. Can we not just save America and leave any differences in ideology out of it? Pakistan does not need $1.6 billion from us, and Egypt has several F-16s that are ours. Look out for one another hear, rather than divide the Nation. No more "Political Correctness" or bending over backwards trying not to offend anyone. WHY OH WHY DID YOU SELL OUT ISRAEL MR. PRESIDENT? (Attack on SAMs in Syria on 10-31-13) Not a smart move. Remember Mr. Netanyahu, OUR Government is not really representing US at the moment. I am personally sorry. Some of us still believe that this is STILL a Judeo-Christian Country.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Paul Harvey's 'If I Were The Devil' Transcript
"If I were the devil … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d
want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of its real
estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had
seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee. So I’d set about however necessary
to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first — I’d begin with
a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as
I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’
To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’
And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.
If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what do you bet? I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as thee way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work, in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing on what he’s doing. Paul Harvey, good day.”
MTW-Paul Harvey first wrote this as an article in 1964. I do not believe I need to say how applicable it is to the Nation today. Almost prophetic.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
Survive the End!
Free Credit Card Knife
The Tao of Badass
To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’
And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.
If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what do you bet? I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as thee way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work, in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing on what he’s doing. Paul Harvey, good day.”
MTW-Paul Harvey first wrote this as an article in 1964. I do not believe I need to say how applicable it is to the Nation today. Almost prophetic.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
Survive the End!
Free Credit Card Knife
The Tao of Badass
Friday, October 25, 2013
Social Security Raise To Be Among Lowest In Years
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER- Associated Press
FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2005 file photo, trays of printed social security checks wait to be mailed from the U.S. Treasury's Financial Management services facility in Philadelphia. For the second straight year, millions of Social Security recipients can expect an historically small increase in benefits come January 2014. (AP Photo/Bradley C. Bower, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second straight year, millions of Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees can expect historically small increases in their benefits come January.
Preliminary figures suggest a benefit increase of roughly 1.5 percent, which would be among the smallest since automatic increases were adopted in 1975, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Next year's raise will be small because consumer prices, as measured by the government, haven't gone up much in the past year.
The exact size of the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, won't be known until the Labor Department releases the inflation report for September. That was supposed to happen Wednesday, but the report was delayed indefinitely because of the partial government shutdown.
The COLA is usually announced in October to give Social Security and other benefit programs time to adjust January payments. The Social Security Administration has given no indication that raises would be delayed because of the shutdown, but advocates for seniors said the uncertainty was unwelcome.
Social Security benefits have continued during the shutdown.
More than one-fifth of the country is waiting for the news.
Nearly 58 million retirees, disabled workers, spouses and children get Social Security benefits. The average monthly payment is $1,162. A 1.5 percent raise would increase the typical monthly payment by about $17.
The COLA also affects benefits for more than 3 million disabled veterans, about 2.5 million federal retirees and their survivors, and more than 8 million people who get Supplemental Security Income, the disability program for the poor.
Automatic COLAs were adopted so that benefits for people on fixed incomes would keep up with rising prices. Many seniors, however, complain that the COLA sometimes falls short, leaving them little wiggle room.
David Waugh of Bethesda, Md., said he can handle one small COLA but several in a row make it hard to plan for unexpected expenses.
"I'm not one of those folks that's going to fall into poverty, but it is going to make a difference in my standard of living as time goes by," said Waugh, 83, who retired from the United Nations. "I live in a small apartment and I have an old car, and it's going to break down. And no doubt when it does, I'll have to fix it or get a new one."
Since 1975, annual Social Security raises have averaged 4.1 percent. Only six times have they been less than 2 percent, including this year, when the increase was 1.7 percent. There was no COLA in 2010 or 2011 because inflation was too low.
By law, the cost-of-living adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W, a broad measure of consumer prices generated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It measures price changes for food, housing, clothing, transportation, energy, medical care, recreation and education.
The COLA is calculated by comparing consumer prices in July, August and September each year to prices in the same three months from the previous year. If prices go up over the course of the year, benefits go up, starting with payments delivered in January.
Graphic shows annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments; 2c x 3 inches; 96.3 mm x 76 mm;
This year, average prices for July and August were 1.4 percent higher than they were a year ago, according to the CPI-W.
Once the September report, the final piece of the puzzle, is released, the COLA can be announced officially. If prices continued to slowly inch up in September that would put the COLA at roughly 1.5 percent.
Several economists said there were no dramatic price swings in September to significantly increase or decrease the projected COLA.
That means the projection shouldn't change by more than a few tenths of a percentage point, if at all.
Polina Vlasenko, a research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, projects the COLA will be between 1.4 percent and 1.6 percent.
Her projection is similar to those done by others, including AARP, which estimates the COLA will be between 1.5 percent and 1.7 percent. The Senior Citizens League estimates it will be about 1.5 percent.
Lower prices for gasoline are helping to fuel low inflation, Vlasenko said.
"In years with high COLA's, a lot of that had to do with fuel prices and in some cases food prices. Neither of those increased much this year," Vlasenko said. "So that kept the lid on the overall increase in prices."
Gasoline prices are down 2.4 percent from a year ago while food prices are up slightly, according to the August inflation report.
Housing costs went up 2.3 percent and utilities increased by 3.2 percent.
Advocates for seniors say the government's measure of inflation doesn't accurately reflect price increases older Americans face because they tend to spend more of their income on health care. Medical costs went up less than in previous years but still outpaced other consumer prices, rising 2.5 percent.
"This (COLA) is not enough to keep up with inflation, as it affects seniors," said Max Richtman, who heads the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. "There are some things that become cheaper but they are not things that seniors buy. Laptop computers have gone down dramatically but how many people at 70 are buying laptop computers?"
The cost of personal computers dropped by 10.6 percent over the past year, according the CPI-W.
That's a small consolation to Alberta Gaskins of the District of Columbia, who said she is concerned about keeping up with her household bills.
"It is very important to get the COLA because everything else you have in your life is on an upward swing, and if you're on a downward swing that means your quality of life is going down," said Gaskins, who retired from the Postal Service in 1989.
MTW-How about some truth. Obama did give a single Cost Of Living Adjustment in his first term- mine was $20 per month. It was in 2012 that he did, and it was 50% of 1 of the 3 COLAs Bush gave us the first four years I was on disability. Usually $40 per month. His (W) last one was in 2009. Obama not only figured out a new formula to calculate these Adjustments to give us less, he slapped the word "Federal Benefit Check" on OUR MONEY. F YOU OBAMA. He is our Nation's destroyer, and has all of his loyal Dimocrats drinking his Jim Jones Kool-Aid defending him. Heaven forbid you disagree with almighty Obama, his feelings are hurt, thus, it makes you a racist, not a person with a brain in your head. He has also threatened to stop our payment TWICE to get his way. We have a total asshole for a president who continues to make us look like fools to the World for electing him. For the record, I NEVER voted for him. He cannot be gone fast enough. I for one am pissed off. How is the COLA lower under Obama with the economy the way it is now as opposed to under Bush. He has added over 6 trillion dollars to the deficit, nobody has a fulltime job because of Obamacare, and everything costs more. How is it that we are receiving a smaller COLA? BO figured out a better and more economical equation to save the federal government money. Not quite qualified for the job Mr. Obama, are you. That is a statement, not a question. Behold, the Destroyer of the United States:
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2005 file photo, trays of printed social security checks wait to be mailed from the U.S. Treasury's Financial Management services facility in Philadelphia. For the second straight year, millions of Social Security recipients can expect an historically small increase in benefits come January 2014. (AP Photo/Bradley C. Bower, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second straight year, millions of Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees can expect historically small increases in their benefits come January.
Preliminary figures suggest a benefit increase of roughly 1.5 percent, which would be among the smallest since automatic increases were adopted in 1975, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Next year's raise will be small because consumer prices, as measured by the government, haven't gone up much in the past year.
The exact size of the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, won't be known until the Labor Department releases the inflation report for September. That was supposed to happen Wednesday, but the report was delayed indefinitely because of the partial government shutdown.
The COLA is usually announced in October to give Social Security and other benefit programs time to adjust January payments. The Social Security Administration has given no indication that raises would be delayed because of the shutdown, but advocates for seniors said the uncertainty was unwelcome.
Social Security benefits have continued during the shutdown.
More than one-fifth of the country is waiting for the news.
Nearly 58 million retirees, disabled workers, spouses and children get Social Security benefits. The average monthly payment is $1,162. A 1.5 percent raise would increase the typical monthly payment by about $17.
The COLA also affects benefits for more than 3 million disabled veterans, about 2.5 million federal retirees and their survivors, and more than 8 million people who get Supplemental Security Income, the disability program for the poor.
Automatic COLAs were adopted so that benefits for people on fixed incomes would keep up with rising prices. Many seniors, however, complain that the COLA sometimes falls short, leaving them little wiggle room.
David Waugh of Bethesda, Md., said he can handle one small COLA but several in a row make it hard to plan for unexpected expenses.
"I'm not one of those folks that's going to fall into poverty, but it is going to make a difference in my standard of living as time goes by," said Waugh, 83, who retired from the United Nations. "I live in a small apartment and I have an old car, and it's going to break down. And no doubt when it does, I'll have to fix it or get a new one."
Since 1975, annual Social Security raises have averaged 4.1 percent. Only six times have they been less than 2 percent, including this year, when the increase was 1.7 percent. There was no COLA in 2010 or 2011 because inflation was too low.
By law, the cost-of-living adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W, a broad measure of consumer prices generated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It measures price changes for food, housing, clothing, transportation, energy, medical care, recreation and education.
The COLA is calculated by comparing consumer prices in July, August and September each year to prices in the same three months from the previous year. If prices go up over the course of the year, benefits go up, starting with payments delivered in January.
This year, average prices for July and August were 1.4 percent higher than they were a year ago, according to the CPI-W.
Once the September report, the final piece of the puzzle, is released, the COLA can be announced officially. If prices continued to slowly inch up in September that would put the COLA at roughly 1.5 percent.
Several economists said there were no dramatic price swings in September to significantly increase or decrease the projected COLA.
That means the projection shouldn't change by more than a few tenths of a percentage point, if at all.
Polina Vlasenko, a research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, projects the COLA will be between 1.4 percent and 1.6 percent.
Her projection is similar to those done by others, including AARP, which estimates the COLA will be between 1.5 percent and 1.7 percent. The Senior Citizens League estimates it will be about 1.5 percent.
Lower prices for gasoline are helping to fuel low inflation, Vlasenko said.
"In years with high COLA's, a lot of that had to do with fuel prices and in some cases food prices. Neither of those increased much this year," Vlasenko said. "So that kept the lid on the overall increase in prices."
Gasoline prices are down 2.4 percent from a year ago while food prices are up slightly, according to the August inflation report.
Housing costs went up 2.3 percent and utilities increased by 3.2 percent.
Advocates for seniors say the government's measure of inflation doesn't accurately reflect price increases older Americans face because they tend to spend more of their income on health care. Medical costs went up less than in previous years but still outpaced other consumer prices, rising 2.5 percent.
"This (COLA) is not enough to keep up with inflation, as it affects seniors," said Max Richtman, who heads the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. "There are some things that become cheaper but they are not things that seniors buy. Laptop computers have gone down dramatically but how many people at 70 are buying laptop computers?"
The cost of personal computers dropped by 10.6 percent over the past year, according the CPI-W.
That's a small consolation to Alberta Gaskins of the District of Columbia, who said she is concerned about keeping up with her household bills.
"It is very important to get the COLA because everything else you have in your life is on an upward swing, and if you're on a downward swing that means your quality of life is going down," said Gaskins, who retired from the Postal Service in 1989.
MTW-How about some truth. Obama did give a single Cost Of Living Adjustment in his first term- mine was $20 per month. It was in 2012 that he did, and it was 50% of 1 of the 3 COLAs Bush gave us the first four years I was on disability. Usually $40 per month. His (W) last one was in 2009. Obama not only figured out a new formula to calculate these Adjustments to give us less, he slapped the word "Federal Benefit Check" on OUR MONEY. F YOU OBAMA. He is our Nation's destroyer, and has all of his loyal Dimocrats drinking his Jim Jones Kool-Aid defending him. Heaven forbid you disagree with almighty Obama, his feelings are hurt, thus, it makes you a racist, not a person with a brain in your head. He has also threatened to stop our payment TWICE to get his way. We have a total asshole for a president who continues to make us look like fools to the World for electing him. For the record, I NEVER voted for him. He cannot be gone fast enough. I for one am pissed off. How is the COLA lower under Obama with the economy the way it is now as opposed to under Bush. He has added over 6 trillion dollars to the deficit, nobody has a fulltime job because of Obamacare, and everything costs more. How is it that we are receiving a smaller COLA? BO figured out a better and more economical equation to save the federal government money. Not quite qualified for the job Mr. Obama, are you. That is a statement, not a question. Behold, the Destroyer of the United States:
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Fort Hood and President GW With Laura Bush
A doctor had his TV on in his office when the news of the
military base shootings at Ft. Hood, TX came on. The husband of one of his
employees was stationed there. He called
her into his office and as he told her what had happened, she got a text
message from her husband saying, "I am okay." Her cell phone rang
right after she read the message. It was an ER nurse, the one who just sent you
a text, not your husband.
I thought it would be comforting but I was mistaken in doing so. I am sorry to tell you this, but your husband has been shot 4 times and he is in surgery."
The soldier's wife left Southern Clinic in Dothan, AL and drove all night to Ft. Hood. When she arrived, she found out her husband was out of surgery and would be OK. She rushed to his room and found that he already had two visitors there to comfort him.
He was just waking up and found his wife and the visitors by his side. The nurse took this picture:
What? No news crews and cameras?
This is how people with class respond and pay respect to those in uniform.
I sent my cousin in Fayetteville, N.C. (Retired from Special forces) that picture of Geo. W. visiting the wounded at Ft. Hood.
I got this reply:
What is even better is the fact George W. Bush heard about Fort Hood, got in his car without any escort, apparently they did not have time to react, and drove to Fort Hood. He was stopped at the gate and the guard could not believe who he had just stopped.
Bush only asks for directions to the hospital then drove on. The gate guard called that "The President is on Fort Hood and driving to the hospital."
The base went bananas looking for Obama. When they found it was Bush, they immediately offered escort. Bush simply told them it was o.k. and to let him visit the wounded and the dependents of the dead.
He stayed at Fort Hood for over six hours, and was finally asked to leave by a message from the White House.
Obama flew in days later and held a "photo opportunity" session in a gym, and did not even go to the hospital.
All this I picked up from two soldiers here who happened to be at Fort Hood when it happened.
This Bush/Obama/Ft. Hood story is something that should be sent to every voter in the US .
Those who wanted "change". You certainly got it.
Someone, PLEASE, show me anything that will tell us that Obama has ANY respect for the country he leads!
I'm looking for just a little sign of respect.
MTW-This was sent to me via e-mail. It says a lot about how to be PRESIDENTIAL- Bush did anyways. Obama could not be out- scooped by Bush, his go-to scapegoat. He then proceeded to call it "work place violence" rather than what it is: TERRORISM. This screwed over the families of ALL of the victims out of any compensation. Class act, Obama.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
I thought it would be comforting but I was mistaken in doing so. I am sorry to tell you this, but your husband has been shot 4 times and he is in surgery."
The soldier's wife left Southern Clinic in Dothan, AL and drove all night to Ft. Hood. When she arrived, she found out her husband was out of surgery and would be OK. She rushed to his room and found that he already had two visitors there to comfort him.
He was just waking up and found his wife and the visitors by his side. The nurse took this picture:
This is how people with class respond and pay respect to those in uniform.
I sent my cousin in Fayetteville, N.C. (Retired from Special forces) that picture of Geo. W. visiting the wounded at Ft. Hood.
I got this reply:
What is even better is the fact George W. Bush heard about Fort Hood, got in his car without any escort, apparently they did not have time to react, and drove to Fort Hood. He was stopped at the gate and the guard could not believe who he had just stopped.
Bush only asks for directions to the hospital then drove on. The gate guard called that "The President is on Fort Hood and driving to the hospital."
The base went bananas looking for Obama. When they found it was Bush, they immediately offered escort. Bush simply told them it was o.k. and to let him visit the wounded and the dependents of the dead.
He stayed at Fort Hood for over six hours, and was finally asked to leave by a message from the White House.
Obama flew in days later and held a "photo opportunity" session in a gym, and did not even go to the hospital.
All this I picked up from two soldiers here who happened to be at Fort Hood when it happened.
This Bush/Obama/Ft. Hood story is something that should be sent to every voter in the US .
Those who wanted "change". You certainly got it.
Someone, PLEASE, show me anything that will tell us that Obama has ANY respect for the country he leads!
I'm looking for just a little sign of respect.
MTW-This was sent to me via e-mail. It says a lot about how to be PRESIDENTIAL- Bush did anyways. Obama could not be out- scooped by Bush, his go-to scapegoat. He then proceeded to call it "work place violence" rather than what it is: TERRORISM. This screwed over the families of ALL of the victims out of any compensation. Class act, Obama.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by Michael T. Wayne- A Little Crazy
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