Ray Hanania
Seniors need to stand up against selfish pols
.
By Ray Hanania
Buried in a lot of the news over the past few weeks was the announcement that Social Security recipients will see a 20% cut in monthly payments by 2034, predicting the Social Security trust fund will “run out” by 2035.
That’s only 12 years away. What is being done? Nothing.
For those still working, government takes Social Security payments of 6.2% from every paycheck.
What’s happening to that money? Government is absorbing it through expenses, shortfalls and sifting of funds to cover other things like massive salaries for members of Congress, increases pushed by politicians with large, low-income populations to give away money.
Our national politicians only care about one thing: to get re-elected. They depend on senior citizen voters, and yet they do the least for senior citizens. They need seniors so they can stay in office and enjoy huge salaries, massive benefits, and opportunities to profit from their clout in business and investments.
How does Nancy Pelosi go from a modest income family with a degree in Political Science in 1962 and a candidate in 1987 when she was first elected to Congress? Her family had some money, but today she is worth more than $117 million–most of that revenue coming since becoming Speaker of the House.
She’s not the only politician who has turned your vote support into massive profits for themselves. Look at all of them. The Trumps, Clintons, Bushes and Obamas. They hate each other in public over political ideology, but they share one thing: putting themselves above everyone else.
Politicians who need your vote, especially the vote of the seniors (who have a higher vote rate than most other groups in the country), are not wasting their time trying to protect your lifetime investments in Social Security.
There is no reason why the Social Security pension fund should evaporate in 2035 when government and union pensions approved by government and politicians will continue to grow and increase the burden on the American people.
I don’t want to see these union members or pensioners lose their money. What I want to see is the politicians pay as much or more attention on this impending crisis facing America’s senior citizens.
There is only one way to force the national politicians to take the Social Security problem seriously. You have to vote against them. You need to make them feel the pain. You need to vote in a way that throws the political game board into the air to disrupt this faulty political system that exploits you, over-taxes you, profits from your suffering and focuses only on rewarding their cronies and allies.
A lot of seniors will find themselves on the streets, eating dog food if Social Security shuts down.
The answer isn’t to come up with a new system. The answer is to recommit this country to a system that has worked for nearly 90 years.
They increase taxes on everything, except benefits for senior citizens. They will increase sales taxes, property taxes, income taxes and impose all kinds of fees on public services. Look at the symbolism of the massive increases that have hit the costs of annual license plate renewals, increasing nearly 50% in the past few years.
Government pension payments continue to increase because government always takes care of its own.
You are bombarded by tax increases and money being taken out of your income and wages. But, for some reason, you won’t see money increase to prevent the collapse of Social Security. Why? Because very few politicians retire on Social Security. They don’t need it, profiting in so many other ways.
There is a way to prevent the collapse of Social Security, but senior citizens need to stand up and fight. They need to push back against politicians, and stop giving their vote to people who say they support them but don’t. They have to end their “party loyalty” and instead support candidates who make Social Security their “Number One” priority.
Someone needs to start caring for senior citizens, instead of viewing them as a constituency with a short lifespan. We need to change the system.
Seniors should get completely free medical care.
The government should allocate more money to fully fund the Social Security trust fund.
The federal government should end the taxation of all Social Security benefits for seniors who continue to work and earn combined wages and Social Security under $150,000 a year.
Government needs to put an affordable ceiling on prescription drugs for individuals 65 years of age or older.
You, seniors, have the power to make this happen. But you have to stop giving away your vote.
Ray Hanania is a former Chicago City Hall reporter and award-winning columnist. Visit hanania.com for more commentary.
Local News
Work moving forward at Marquette Park
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . In the March 29 edition of the Greater Southwest News-Herald, I wrote a story about a town hall meeting at Marquette Park, we learned of some of the upcoming plans the Park District has for…
Sophia Smith’s brace sinks Red Stars
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Home has not been that sweet lately for the Chicago Red Stars. The team lost its second straight game at SeatGeek Stadium with a 2-0 setback to Portland in front of an announced crowd of 4,443 on April 27. Portland star Sophia Smith scored in the 10th and 26th…
Nazareth Academy celebrates ‘special talent’ J.J. McCarthy in NFL Draft
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Dennis Moran has no doubts that J.J. McCarthy – the former Nazareth Academy quarterback who is now with the Minnesota Vikings – will succeed in the National Football League. Moran was among about 60 or so Nazareth Academy fans, friends and coaches who gathered Thursday night at The Stadium Club…
Brother Rice names Al Perez next soccer coach
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A few new coaches are dotting the area high school athletic scene. One of the more notable hires was Brother Rice bringing Al Perez aboard as the soccer coach. Perez led Chicago Public League power Washington to a Class 2A state championship in 2013, a fourth-place finish in 2015…
Police Council rallies to save ShotSpotter
Spread the love. By Alexis Bocanegra Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (773) 949-1509 • grcl.alex23@gmail.com . Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police Council members Mark Hamberlin, Al Cacciottolo and Jason Huff have created an online petition to save ShotSpotter. As you may have read in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound back in March, Mayor…
Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Additional chairs had to be brought out to seat an overflow crowd of Evergreen Park residents who attended a meeting April 15 regarding a proposed cannabis dispensary for the village. And many who were in attendance voiced their opposition to having a dispensary in Evergreen Park. Most of the people cited…
Countryside puts dog park on hold, will require leashes in two parks
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The city of Countryside has put on hold building a dog park, but canines and their owners are still in store for a treat. The city council has unanimously approved a plan to permit dogs in City Park and Countryside Park this year. Previously, they were not allowed in the…
Bridgeview approves auto repair shop
Spread the loveMoves up time for May 1 village board meeting By Steve Metsch Bridgeview is getting a new automotive repair shop. The village board at its April 17 matinee meeting approved a special use permit that will allow a repair shop at 9010 S. Beloit Ave. There was no discussion among trustees. The board…
Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the…
Neighbors
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded…
Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The Worth Public Library has been around for decades. Resting in the heart of the village at 6917 W. 111th St., the library held an event focusing on its rich background story on April 23 with a historical photo exhibit. “It’s amazing because this library is still so important to…
Rose Zubik, Woman’s Club veteran, installed as 3rd District president
Spread the love Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club…
Shots fired in Chicago Ridge Commons parking lot
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot at Chicago Ridge Commons mall. Police said they received reports of the shooting about 9:45 p.m. No injuries were reported. Multiple witnesses told police four men were walking through the parking lot from the XSport Fitness area. They approached two vehicles…
Hair salon with a ‘flair’ marks first year in Chicago Ridge
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Melissa Kowalski wanted to do something meaningful to mark the first-year anniversary of her Flair With Hair Salon in Chicago Ridge. “We did not have a grand opening last year so I wanted to do something really special,” Kowalski said. “We wanted to say thank you to our clients.” Kowalski,…
Palos East fifth-grader wins Scholastic Storyworks writing contest
Spread the loveGabriel Chowaniec, a fifth-grader at Palos East Elementary School, has been named a winner of the Scholastic Storyworks Magazine writing contest. Gabriel, who is a student in Cathy Casey’s fifth-grade classroom, was named one of only five winners nationally for the December 2023/January 2024 competition. Garbriel’s submission for the nonfiction story “The Shattered Land,” “showed a strong understanding of the text along with the ability to author a well-organized…
Shepard celebrates Autism Week
Spread the loveBy Kelly White World Autism Acceptance Week is organized by the National Autistic Society in the first week of April and aims to raise awareness about the challenges autistic people face across all areas of society. Not missing out the opportunity to celebrate all-inclusion was Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos…
Billions of cicadas get ready to raise a racket
Spread the loveBy Kelly White If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, you will soon. With 2024 marking a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, billions of the red-eyed buggers will soon be making an appearance. Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time.…
‘A man of honor, a beacon of kindness’
Spread the love. Chicago weeps for Officer Luis Huesca . By Tim Hadac People across the Southwest Side shed tears earlier this week, as throngs of police officers and other filled the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 77th and Western for a funeral Mass for CPD Officer Luis M. Huesca. Officer Huesca was…