This money was not theirs to take. This money belongs to us, not Congress.

It is unfair that States that are successful have to carry those that are not and unable to be due to misguided governance.

I know many that would retire if they could buy into Medicare. That would open jobs for younger workers. Medicare must be here for future generations.

After becoming disabled at 17, I came to depend on the 'necessary for my survival' money paid me by Social Security. Due to my mother also having a disability, the funds from Social Security helped my father's paycheck cover our bills and keep food on our table. Social Security needs to be kept alive to help the disabled and elderly citizens who depend upon it.

C-CPI-U Legislation

HELP PEOPLE ON SOCIAL SECURITY WITH A TRUE COST OF LIVING INCREASE EACH YEAR.

We all have jobs to do and your job is to come to some resolution to avoid the "fiscal cliff." If you can't come to an agreement by year's end, stick to the task and continue on until you do. But, DO NOT leave your offices or the Capitol building until a deal is done. It is that simple. No social engagements, no trips home or to the district. Perhaps this will encourage those who do not understand the importance of compromise to move forward. If not, perhaps living in close proximity to one another over an extended period of time will help to convey the message of urgency that has not been heeded to date. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't leave the Capitol until you have reached a budget agreement.

The President and Congress are considering changing the cost of living adjustment (COLA) used to determine benefits. The change will gradually reduce the benefit a little bit each year. For myself the effect will be small, but for my children and grandchildren, it will not. I've read that the system would remain solvent for another 75 years if the cap on income subject to the tax, now at $100,100, were to be removed. The media don't mention this, so the COLA reduction is the only game in town. Here is a good alternative.

The President and Congress are considering changing the cost of living adjustment (COLA) used to determine benefits. The change will gradually reduce the benefit a little bit each year. For myself the effect will be small, but for my children and grandchildren, it will not. I've read that the system would remain solvent for another 75 years if the cap on income subject to the tax, now at $110,100, were to be removed. The media don't mention this, so the COLA reduction is the only game in town. Here is a good alternative.

I am 70 yrs old and live on around 1,000. a month, I can barely survive. I try and do odd jobs with care in my community. Helping out the shut ins, and run errands when I can..but Please do not cut our s/s and medicare benefits or raise the premiums..supplements are so high which I pay 160.00 a month just so I do not have co-payments..Please sign on if you are having problems living like I do...

In light of the slow collapse of employer-based retirement systems, Americans face a serious retirement shortfall. Individually-based savings are inherently inefficient for several reasons. First, each individual must save for their maximum expected retirement, while a social plan only needs to save for average life expectancy, which is shorter. Second, individuals must invest their money in financial instruments, while Social Security can be invested in the economy as a whole, including productive public investments that are not traded on financial markets. Third, individuals must save enough to cover cyclical downturns, while Social Security can ride those out, counting on eventual recovery. Fourth, individuals must rely on expensive financial advisors and intermediaries such as banks, mutual funds or Wall Street traders, while Social Security is far cheaper to administer. For these reasons, we need to run a larger part of our retirement system through Social Security. This petition seeks to link Social Security to growth in the economy and make it our primary retirement system. At the same time, it seeks to reduce the political manipulation of the system by reducing the planning horizon to a more realistic distance.

The food stamp program currently allows parents to purchase harmful items such as sodas, candies, chips, and other substances that serve no nutritional purpose and consume a large percentage of their cash benefit. These items also promote obesity in children and can even lead to childhood diabetes. Although I believe in helping others who are hungry, we need to do it in a way that actually helps our citizens and maximizes the tax dollars given to food relief.