The intent of this blog is to promote human equality, human progress, human peace and justice, and optimism. To accomplish this, to encourage the discussion of ideas after identifying and discovering problems, and then creating positive solutions for "we the people," in order to provide for the "general welfare" and "domestic tranquility" of America now and its "posterity" into the future. To encourage an emphasis on separation of religion and state for all, no matter if this is for those "of faith" in a Maker / Creator (Deists, God-loving people, Christians, various people of spirituality) and atheists or agnostics.
In your most recent issue (23 Apr 2026), your article, “The Aging Class,” the reviewer (Trevor Jackson) discusses Social Security. The point was made about a solution by Republicans to raise the age limit for retirement. I am going to copycat words used by 666 Reagan a 1980 debate with true Christian president Jimmy Carter, “there you go again.” Except I shall say it like this: “there you Republidumbs go again.” I am fed up with Republicans in this nation calling me a “Dumocrat,” especially if they are part of MAGA or the Christian Nationalists CLAIMING to be “Christians.” This solution to “raise the age of retirement” might be favorable to common folk who just listen and never take the time to consider the overall picture here. Perhaps it could partially solve the problems caused by deliberate Republican strategies to sabotage Social Security by taking money from the fund with investments which come from common folk. But the other sabotage done to Social Security is to make us pay a percentage of our income up to a certain six-figure salary and then it becomes nothing but a base equal rate for all the millionaires and billionaires. Who primarily funds the Republidumbs? The wealthy. A known fact. Why would they wish to change such a situation so that a percentage is applied ACROSS THE BOARD? So they continue to keep throwing the solution of age out there. Meanwhile, many of the Democrats, when they have the majority, ARE too dumb and wimpy to make the change which is necessary. But there are common folk Republidumbs who keep following what the wealthy say, expecting different results every time. That is called a mental illness or a stupid mental attitude. We need an attitude paradigm shift in America. Or one that is a paradigm shift to use some intelligence and common sense when Americans THINK – if they are doing such a thing as THINKING. It does not take a scientist to THINK.
According to government and fact finders, FICA deductions are calculated as a percentage of earnings, with 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare applied to all wages, but only up to a wage base limit of $184,500 for Social Security in 2026.
For incomes of $184,500 and above, the FICA deduction includes a 6.2% Social Security tax on the first $184,500 and a 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% Medicare tax for earnings over $200,000. The Social Security tax does not apply to income above the wage base limit of $184,500.
All of this points to a bunch of complexity bullshit so as to keep the common folk ignorant. When ignorant, they just listen to the information fed to them from above by way of a media controlled by billionaires. The media goes about discussing all of the disagreements on the political spectrum and ignores providing FACTS about this condition in FICA and Social Security.
This is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. We need government leaders willing to take the bull by the horns (or by the balls) and do something significant, rather than the bullshit about increasing the age to begin collecting Social Security. There they go again. More bullshit rather than taking the bull by the balls and shaking it a bit.
Tioga Herald 
Commentary on “The Aging Class” in the New York Review of Books, 23 Apr. 2026; RE: Social Security
In your most recent issue (23 Apr 2026), your article, “The Aging Class,” the reviewer (Trevor Jackson) discusses Social Security. The point was made about a solution by Republicans to raise the age limit for retirement. I am going to copycat words used by 666 Reagan a 1980 debate with true Christian president Jimmy Carter, “there you go again.” Except I shall say it like this: “there you Republidumbs go again.” I am fed up with Republicans in this nation calling me a “Dumocrat,” especially if they are part of MAGA or the Christian Nationalists CLAIMING to be “Christians.” This solution to “raise the age of retirement” might be favorable to common folk who just listen and never take the time to consider the overall picture here. Perhaps it could partially solve the problems caused by deliberate Republican strategies to sabotage Social Security by taking money from the fund with investments which come from common folk. But the other sabotage done to Social Security is to make us pay a percentage of our income up to a certain six-figure salary and then it becomes nothing but a base equal rate for all the millionaires and billionaires. Who primarily funds the Republidumbs? The wealthy. A known fact. Why would they wish to change such a situation so that a percentage is applied ACROSS THE BOARD? So they continue to keep throwing the solution of age out there. Meanwhile, many of the Democrats, when they have the majority, ARE too dumb and wimpy to make the change which is necessary. But there are common folk Republidumbs who keep following what the wealthy say, expecting different results every time. That is called a mental illness or a stupid mental attitude. We need an attitude paradigm shift in America. Or one that is a paradigm shift to use some intelligence and common sense when Americans THINK – if they are doing such a thing as THINKING. It does not take a scientist to THINK.
According to government and fact finders, FICA deductions are calculated as a percentage of earnings, with 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare applied to all wages, but only up to a wage base limit of $184,500 for Social Security in 2026.
For incomes of $184,500 and above, the FICA deduction includes a 6.2% Social Security tax on the first $184,500 and a 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% Medicare tax for earnings over $200,000. The Social Security tax does not apply to income above the wage base limit of $184,500.
All of this points to a bunch of complexity bullshit so as to keep the common folk ignorant. When ignorant, they just listen to the information fed to them from above by way of a media controlled by billionaires. The media goes about discussing all of the disagreements on the political spectrum and ignores providing FACTS about this condition in FICA and Social Security.
This is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. We need government leaders willing to take the bull by the horns (or by the balls) and do something significant, rather than the bullshit about increasing the age to begin collecting Social Security. There they go again. More bullshit rather than taking the bull by the balls and shaking it a bit.
Category:
Commentary, Social Security & FICA
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