And hey, whattaya know... when Mr. and Mrs. Santorum pass away, guess which one of their little tardlets is going to be completely dependent upon the state for her care and well-being? Assuming she doesn't die young, that is.

Bladel: Santorum (and subby?) seem to think that a check from the government of any kind is some sort of "assistance" (read: "welfare").

They both also seem to think that government is separate from the people it governs. But then, the people think that, as well, which is why most of them aren't really interested in fixing any problems within it.

vpb: Or is even mentioning the recession the same as blaming Bush?

I don't know about you, but it sure sounds like a guilty conscience to me.

Boy, let me tell you I had it rough growing up.

I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.

I was so ugly my mother used to feed me with a sling shot.

I came from a real tough neighborhood. Why, every time I shut the window I hurt somebody's fingers.

AdolfOliverPanties: Bladel: About half--but only if you count Medicare & Social Security recipients, and veterans benefits.

Gotcha.

Well of course they count them. They also count these people in their "49% of Americans pay no income tax" boondoggle. It's true, America. Retirees living off Social Security do not, in fact, pay income tax on that income. They already paid taxes on it when they were working. It was called the Social Security tax.

If your corporation recieves income, it pays a tax. If it then pays you your salary, you pay tax. This is the hellish double taxation of job creators that conservatives swear will destroy our nation, despite the fact that it was two different people that were paying those taxes.

If you recieve an income, you pay social security taxes on it. Then, after you hit 65, you recieve some of that money back as social security. Conservatives believe that because you do not again pay taxes on that original income, you are a teat-sucking freeloader, even though actually already have paid the IRS that money.

Only half? His math is just wrong. See Job Creators need those low taxes and government subsidies to create those jobs, so the reality is 100% of all Americans depend on government aid.

Misleading. The "nearly half" Santorum cited includes most seniors who receive Medicare and Social Security benefits, while a large portion of the increase in poverty-assistance programs is a result of the lingering effects of the 2007-2009 recession.

That's right folks, citing Medicare, Social Security, and 2008/2009 is also known as "but but Bush!"

Hey you know what, we should be nice to subby. Let him keep criticizing Medicare and Social security, see how far that gets him.

"It also includes Social Security and Medicare, the federal pension and health care programs for seniors"


You run with that,GOP.
Shout it from the rooftops.
What could go wrong?

AdolfOliverPanties: Bladel: About half--but only if you count Medicare & Social Security recipients, and veterans benefits.

Gotcha.

Well of course they count them. They also count these people in their "49% of Americans pay no income tax" boondoggle. It's true, America. Retirees living off Social Security do not, in fact, pay income tax on that income. They already paid taxes on it when they were working. It was called the Social Security tax.

I don't think it works that way.

If you overpay your estimated taxes and get a refund, you have to report that amount next year as income. Those on SS probably earn so little money and have other deductions that they wind up owing nothing. That part is likely true.

lennavan: Misleading. The "nearly half" Santorum cited includes most seniors who receive Medicare and Social Security benefits, while a large portion of the increase in poverty-assistance programs is a result of the lingering effects of the 2007-2009 recession.

That's right folks, citing Medicare, Social Security, and 2008/2009 is also known as "but but Bush!"

Hey you know what, we should be nice to subby. Let him keep criticizing Medicare and Social security, see how far that gets him.

FTFM

Bladel: About half--but only if you count Medicare & Social Security recipients, and veterans benefits.

Gotcha.

Let's do an experiment: cut off Social Security and Medicare for a couple months. Then you can tell me whether they think the government had been assisting them.

/Fact checkers should be fact checkers, and 49% is pretty damned near half. Want to biatch about the significance of a fact? Get an opinion page or a Fark account.

Do we include politicians salaries?

Maybe the problem is that too many jobs don't pay a living wage?

DamnYankees: Karac: If your corporation recieves income, it pays a tax. If it then pays you your salary, you pay tax. This is the hellish double taxation of job creators that conservatives swear will destroy our nation, despite the fact that it was two different people that were paying those taxes.

It's even worse than that - corporations pay income tax on profit, not revenue. They get to write of expenses. Individuals don't.

Not entirely. Certain expenses are deducted from income before taxes, such as mortgage interest.
impaler: Other than mortgage interest deduction, studen loan interest deduction

I wouldn't consider a deduction as receiving assistance from the government. Otherwise you could consider everyone with an income who takes any deductions or receives any credits as receiving assistance. Which would include the entire population. I think we're talking about transfers here, so Pell grants and SBIRs would count.

Y KANT SUBBI READ

Not so much B-b-but Bush as B-b-but Roosevelt

Rick Santorum has received a government check every month for 28 out of the 32 years since he earned his bachelor's degree (1980).

Bladel: About half--but only if you count Medicare & Social Security recipients, and veterans benefits.

Gotcha.

I'm curious about these numbers. Specifically before the war started to now. But hey, war is good for business right?

bulldg4life: How bad must you suck at math and logic to be a republican?

Not quite as badly as they suck at biology, history and human empathy, but still pretty badly.

He was addressing the convention attendees and was kind enough not to name names.

I thought it was closer, ya know, to 100%. I mean everyone relies on the government. EVERYONE. No governmental aid means no roads, no police, no fire fighters, no national defense, no education, and no LAWS. Dumb argument is dumb

Truthiness, taking on a whole new form at the GOP convention.

Boudica's War Tampon: 49% but the number includes more than just people receiving anti-poverty assistance. It also includes Social Security and Medicare, the federal pension and health care programs for seniors -- programs that are funded by workers' payroll taxes and aren't typically associated with concerns about dependency. It also includes other benefits, such as worker's compensation or educational assistance for veterans.

I BLAME OBAMA FOR KEEPING GRANDMA ALIVE AND FOR HELPING VETERANS RECEIVE A DEGREE

SLACKERS