Summary

Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley warns that actions by Elon Musk threaten to disrupt Social Security payments within 30-90 days, something that has never happened in the program’s 80+ year history.

Following leadership upheaval, including the resignation of acting commissioner Michelle King, and significant staff cuts leading to system outages, O’Malley advises beneficiaries to “start saving now.”

The administration is planning to terminate leases at approximately 45 Social Security locations.

Critics call these moves a “backdoor benefit cut” that will particularly impact new applications and in-person services for elderly and disabled Americans.

  • Aviandelight
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    471 day ago

    The minute checks stop going out is the moment shit gets real. This will impact everyone. Yes the people directly getting checks will be in dire trouble. But I don’t think most folks understand just how much our economy relies on this system. Business will take a hit, more people will end up having to support aging parents even more than they do already, and every working American is going to immediately question why they’ve now lost money to this system. Billionaires can fuck around with money because it’s not really or tangible for them, but normal folks… Yea you just don’t fuck with people’s money.

    • @[email protected]
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      1624 hours ago

      Those in governance seem to have a big disconnect on social security too. They shouldn’t be allowed to touch it. Ever. Other than adjusting payout size to keep with inflation. Every time they claim they’re cutting funding, they really just mean they’re taking money from the program to fuel some boondoggle.

      It is literally directly funded from people’ paychecks. Of all the money in government, social security is OWNED directly by the general public.

      Yet they have the audacity to call it a “benefit.” It isn’t. It’s contractually stored and invested money.

      Current governance is probably the most tone-deaf to it because they’re all oligarchs that want for nothing, so all they see is a bank account they can spend.

      • @[email protected]
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        28 hours ago

        They tried to turn “entitlement” into a slur, but I don’t hear it much anymore so I think that backfired on them.

    • @[email protected]
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      171 day ago

      Revolution is only 3 missed meals away. You always make sure your citizens can afford to eat, as hunger is the biggest way to trigger unrest.

      • @[email protected]
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        91 day ago

        Trouble is, these old folks aren’t ready to fight a revolution themselves. You see them at the food pantries and Little Free Pantries already, the better-off with walkers and canes, just a step or two away from being homeless and all the hatred and suffering that that brings.

        Still, for the kids of the old folks, assuming they have any, and assuming they care somewhat for their parents, it could get ugly fast w/o SS and Medicare. Grandpa and Grandma lose their homes and have to move in, all kinds of caretaking and medical bills and old-folks Rxs to pay for, and all that on 1950s America Great Again wages. I’d like to think the pitchforks would come out at that point, but I dunno, people would have to put their phones down and get off their couches.

  • @badbytes
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    823 hours ago

    Let’s start and continue to interrupt the benefits of those being greedy. They breath our air and drink our water.

  • @Kyrgizion
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    1 day ago

    Pretty sure that was the plan from the beginning. Also:

    O’Malley advises beneficiaries to “start saving now.”

    Lol, with what? Bottlecaps?

    • @SMillerNL
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      131 day ago

      You’d be rich when Fallout happens

  • @[email protected]
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    1 day ago

    I hate to admit this for the people who rely on social security checks to survive, but I really wish the Social Security Administration screws up because of Musk, because that will for sure trigger a bloody rebellion against him and the orange utan. And the country desperately needs this and fast.

    • @Vash63
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      291 day ago

      Will it? They’ll just say it’s Biden’s fault and enough people will buy it to prevent an organized protest.

      • JackFrostNCola
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        410 hours ago

        Excuses, blame, finger pointing.
        How long will these last when people cant afford to eat?

        Excuses and misdirection may keep MAGA voters consience warm at night but if the power is off and their belly is empty i think they might stop beleiving its the ‘lefts fault’ when the right are in power pulling all the strings that made this happen and could un-fuck it any time… but choose not to.

      • @[email protected]
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        1 day ago

        I don’t think it would fly. Even the dumbest magat knows Musk is diddling with the Social Security Administration at the request of the orange utan, when the orange utan literally said he wouldn’t touch it, and they’ll put two and two together PDQ if their check doesn’t come in the mail for the first time ever.

        • @voracitude
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          111 day ago

          I’m sorry to say you’re incorrect. I have family who receive social security cheques, and they will not blame Trump and Musk if the cheques don’t arrive.

          • @ChickenLadyLovesLife
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            81 day ago

            People need to understand how utterly different the worldview is on Fox News and the like. I don’t even watch Fox News, I just occasionally glimpse it peripherally while I’m at the gym, and it’s easy to see how consistently they can spin what’s happening into something else entirely.

        • @SMillerNL
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          31 day ago

          Do they know musk is diddling? Most didn’t even know who was on the ticket on election day

      • @apfelwoiSchoppen
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        101 day ago

        They will always regurgitate a reason for why the leopard is eating their faces, even while it is occurring.

    • @jaybone
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      61 day ago

      Yeah I can see some old guys with guns and nothing to lose being pretty unhappy about this.

  • @grue
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    261 day ago

    I would absolutely love it if my parents’ Social Security payment didn’t go through; then maybe my MAGA dad would finally get a fucking clue!

      • @IphtashuFitz
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        171 day ago

        Trump just has to say it’s all the fault of the radical corrupt left, led by Obama’s tan suit and Hillary’s emails colluding in the basement of that Pizza place in DC, and the MAGAts will blindly accept it as undeniable gospel.

  • @EmpathicVagrant
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    161 day ago

    Start saving but also you’ll lose benefits if you save too much to get bent I guess

    • @jaybone
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      61 day ago

      That’s just for disability though right?