It’s been a busy morning. I took the dog out early for a walk, giving me an opportunity to test out one pair of my new shoes.
They were STELLAR!
I had bought Oofos in the past, and loved the for the comfort they gave to my aching feet. Lately, I’d noticed less relief from the pain, and took a look at them.
The tread was virtually non-existent. So, I ordered TWO new pairs, in different styles. They arrived late yesterday.
Early on Thursday, I’d gone to the podiatrist about my foot issues. He gave me the bad news - the only option he had for me was surgery. We agreed on January 26.
After walking in my shoes, I decided to try increasing my time on foot, and see if a weight reduction might help the pain. Walking, and 2-3 times a week of swimming/pool exercise, should make a difference in fitness. I’ll report back on the results in a few weeks.
Now, to more important issues:
“70% of the budget that is now $33 trillion in deficit is pre-planned mandatory spending that no one in Washington has the standing to stop. Like a kudzu plant, it grows every year and you can’t kill it. It’s hard to even slow down or trim.”
Guys, that’s you and I and a whole lot of other people.
Some of them deserving of the benefits.
Some of them, I’m sorry to say, getting benefits they do NOT deserve. They may be exaggerating symptoms. Them may be using other’s information. They may be claiming to be qualified.
Some of them, due to the fact that they are not citizens, really DON’T qualify. Even if an administration that is currying votes SAYS that they do, they don’t.
Doesn’t make them bad people. but it DOES cost the American taxpayers - the 43% of households that do pay net taxes - a lot of money.
So, for me, that’s the FIRST step.
Hit all the most serious abuses of the system. Start with examining the books of the suspected Medicaid/Medicare mills - those clinics that prescribe a higher than average level of addictive substances (those that can be readily be converted to cash).
Take a look at those on Social Security. Outsource to TRUSTED organizations the verification that the person actually exists, is the person so named, resides at that address, and has photo ID.
That should be a minimum. Verification to see if a person is living, is that person, and is residing at that address.
Then, cross-check that SS # with other uses at other places. It’s not a small amount of the total.
Notice that these “old” people are still carried on the rolls, even though they are dead. There should be a mandated standard for all states, where the death record has to be reported to the Social Security system immediately upon death.
…nearly 67,000 of the Social Security numbers were used to report more than $3bn in wages, tips and self-employment income from 2006 to 2011, according to the report. One Social Security number was used 613 times. An additional 194 numbers were used at least 50 times each.
People in the country illegally often use fake or stolen Social Security numbers to get jobs and report wages, as do other people who do not want to be found by the government. Thieves use stolen Social Security numbers to claim fraudulent tax refunds.
The IRS estimated it paid out $5.8bn in fraudulent tax refunds in 2013 because of identity theft.
I’m not the only one for fiscal frugality - MOST people are.
Look, rather than scheme to get every last cent out of the government taxpayers, consider telling your representatives and senators that you would be fine with perhaps 1-3% less from them.
