"Entitlements"

According to Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, an "entitlement" is the right to receive something. It is my contention that Medicare and Social Security are not entitlements because you cannot receive them until you have paid for them. You are not entitled to receive Social Security until you have paid into the program, in order to recive the benefits. It may be just semantics but "entitlement" seems to be connoted as "welfare", which it is definitely NOT.

Social Security is not bankrupt, after all it is a Trust Fund that many President's sticky fingers have latched onto. However Social Security can be enhanced if high income earners were made to continue paying into the fund after they have reached the magic number of $106,800. For people to receive Medicare, they have to make a monthly payment (taken out of their SS check) of anywhere from $96.40 to $369.10; and that payment goes up every year depending on the annual cost-of-living. So that is not an entitlement, but is a paid for benefit.

Do you want your Social Security benefit income cut? If not, remember that "elections have consequences". If you vote for dogs, you will get up with fleas. Call your congress persons and the White House and tell them to stop fooling around with your income. Leave Social Security and Medicare out of the mix, and make the very rich pay their fair share.