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TwilightZone

(28,836 posts)

4. FICA and SECA help fund SS and Medicare

Fri Jun 10, 2016, 10:23 AM

Jun 2016

They come from payroll and self-employment taxes.

The taxes one pays in aren't stored somewhere for one to collect at a later date. They're paying for current recipients' benefits, along with other sources like interest on trust fund bonds and taxes on SS benefits. The trust fund is there as a reserve for when those other sources run out, but at present most benefits for current recipients are paid by payroll taxes, bond interest, and taxes on SS payments.

My point was that discretionary spending and total spending are two very different things. Making a vague claim about half of spending going to the military is demonstrably false.

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American Logic [View all] Scuba Jun 2016 OP

never underestimate the awesome power of stupidity or the incredible ability of the american public Javaman Jun 2016 #1

Amen. 840high Jun 2016 #14

That's damn right. n/t paleotn Jun 2016 #39

It's the propaganda from the "Boob Tube" and RW radio! Dustlawyer Jun 2016 #53

Half our taxes don't go to the military. It's half of *discretionary* spending, not total spending. TwilightZone Jun 2016 #2

SS and unemployment homegirl Jun 2016 #3

FICA and SECA help fund SS and Medicare TwilightZone Jun 2016 #4

Yes, and it is very important to some people sulphurdunn Jun 2016 #49

Yes, and they always have been. Igel Jun 2016 #7

Social Security is a pay as you go system. SheilaT Jun 2016 #13

Social Security Trust Fund Cash Flows and Reserves IronLionZion Jun 2016 #20

Sorry Mr. twilight, you are mistaken . . FairWinds Jun 2016 #5

Thank you. There us a shell and narrative game to disguise how much we are truly spending newthinking Jun 2016 #19

Total federal spending is roughly $3.8 trillion. $1.2 trillion is not one-half of $3.8 trillion TwilightZone Jun 2016 #26

Move those goal posts! Rex Jun 2016 #33

Yeah, so it's druidity33 Jun 2016 #55

This and this and this!! Silver_Witch Jun 2016 #46

to cite just one ridiculous example . . FairWinds Jun 2016 #10

Also the nuclear arsenal falls under the DOE, not the DOD. Fantastic Anarchist Jun 2016 #23

Shhh! Aerows Jun 2016 #30

Lord have mercy. Aerows Jun 2016 #16

A site where accuracy should be considered a priority. TwilightZone Jun 2016 #28

Every once in a while Aerows Jun 2016 #29

Sad to see someone defending the insane amount of money we spend on the MIC. Rex Jun 2016 #34

to be fair..... paleotn Jun 2016 #40

+1 uponit7771 Jun 2016 #44

Agree completely with the sentiment. cheapdate Jun 2016 #36

You are correct about DOD spending as a stand alone expenditure, sulphurdunn Jun 2016 #51

Your Own Information (from this source) shows that . . FairWinds Jun 2016 #57

wrong! lakeguy Jun 2016 #24

If you have proof that those costs are half of the entire government's expenditures, let's see it. TwilightZone Jun 2016 #25

You win. Aerows Jun 2016 #31

Even so, we still spend FAR MORE than other countries. PotatoChip Jun 2016 #50

Fucking YES! Ferd Berfel Jun 2016 #6

Not just conservative. Neoliberals have joined forces. newthinking Jun 2016 #21

Hillthink 101 AgingAmerican Jun 2016 #8

Spot On my friend. Phlem Jun 2016 #9

K/R Jack Rabbit Jun 2016 #11

Another good example: Initech Jun 2016 #12

+1 Scuba Jun 2016 #15

They should keep kids out of churches if they want to rally protect them. Fuddnik Jun 2016 #17

This message was self-deleted by its author Initech Jun 2016 #18

Obama says it is "opportunity" when he, a millionaire, takes food out of hungry kids mouths, jtuck004 Jun 2016 #22

Puhlease tymorial Jun 2016 #27

Kill millions of civilians in the Middle East? ConservativeDemocrat Jun 2016 #32

I know, right? A Little Weird Jun 2016 #35

Yeah, I mean compared to WW2, where Americans killed hundreds of millions ConservativeDemocrat Jun 2016 #38

Depends on when you start the counting. davidthegnome Jun 2016 #42

As you are engaging earnestly instead of the typical shitposting we see on DU by the far left... ConservativeDemocrat Jun 2016 #45

I wasn't aware of that. davidthegnome Jun 2016 #47

Medical supplies were also specifically exempted ConservativeDemocrat Jun 2016 #58

That's what I was telling my mother in law today Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2016 #37

Beautifully said…. Thank you for sharing some wisdom…. midnight Jun 2016 #41

K & R FailureToCommunicate Jun 2016 #43

Kicked and recommended!!! Major Hogwash Jun 2016 #48

Leftist Logic 6chars Jun 2016 #52

Don't fight it. The Founders wanted this: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness HereSince1628 Jun 2016 #54

K&R myrna minx Jun 2016 #56