Cost of living index is it a sham?

I understand that the cost of living index determines what percentage increase is given to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid recipients checks or payments during a fiscal year.

Did our politicians pull a fast one on the population of Tax Payers in the United States of America? The cost of living index does not include the cost of food, oil and gas. Now if the cost of food, oil and gas for instance goes up 40% in one year are the Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, employment contracts, peoples salaries, and pension recipients being short changed when they receive maybe a 2% to 3% cost of living increase?

With energy bills, food and gas prices all soaring by double or triple digits how is everyone especially seniors suppose to keep pace when the (COLA) Cost Of Living Allowance does not match up with the True Cost Of Living Index that should include food, oil and gas? Rik Riley

[edit on 11-7-2008 by rikriley]

When the company i work for was handing out raises this past year, to its managers and administration, the raise % was based on "cost of living" increases from last year to this year, as set forth by "the fed" or whoever.

It was the smallest % raise ever given, in the history of the company, even if you scored perfect marks.

My raise 2 years ago was 5% higher than the raise i got this year.

The feds shammed us on this one.

Through and through.



[edit on 7/11/2008 by Andrew E. Wiggin]

reply to post by Andrew E. Wiggin


Congress is suppose to represent the Taxpayer LOL but what ends up happening most of the elected officials in Congress end up representing their own self interests. It is not what politicians say but what they all do. Rik Riley



[edit on 11-7-2008 by rikriley]

Then you have to realize on top of all of that folks whom are getting disabilty didnt even get a stimulous check and if they had children, there children were not elligable to get it either so that really sucked for some folks. Yeah the government ripped off the poor folks big time this year. And they do it every year.

Hilda

reply to post by hildar


2,000 people per month in the county I reside in are having their electric turned off due to lack of payment although there are agencies that are helping with the situation. The county has 500,000 residents and is in the top 3 areas in the country in foreclosures. A month ago Target was taking applications for a store opening in Lee County Fl. opening on July 27th and 1,000 applicants applied for the jobs in that one location.

So at this time it would be nice for Congress to reassess how they determine the cost of living index and ad food, gas and oil in the equation. I do understand that there are other parts of the country not struggling as much as we in Lee county but no matter where you live the price of food, gas and oil are going up weekly and sometimes daily and this affects us all. Rik Riley

We are living right on the edge any major hurricane hitting the gulf cost near Houston or terrorist attack any where in the U.S. would send gas and food prices thru the roof. The segment of the population that I believe would be hit the hardest would be the elderly with set incomes. Although many segments of the economy would be affected and one thing we can count on for sure is death and taxes. Rik Riley

paying for basic things in a civilized world is a sham,

basic needs for all should be met by civilized nations to help stimulate alternative thought processes that led to new inventions and new technologies,

this world has been so hung up on the fact of gathering money, that in all honestly we are just producing inventions and products that are entertaining, rather then functional an useful for a future generation. Since most are forced to worry about hwere dinner an where gas is going to be paid, that im sure they arent thinking about the things they would want to be.

seems like congress has failed, an they are building a fail train, with every politician holding 1st class tickets.....

ALLLLLL ABOARD!!!!!!! CHOO CHOO FAIL!!!!!!!!

[edit on 12-7-2008 by Trance Optic]

Most of the government statistics released for the cost of anything or number of anything, have been changed since Reagan took office.

The 70's taught the government several things. When a politician uses the term misery index, the current administration loses that battle. Reagan and all the Presidents since have used skewed numbers for inflation and employment so their administrations looks like they are doing a good job.

You just woke up to that fact.

Thanks, I already knew the cost of living index started being Skewed during the Reagan administration and like you said the rest of the administrations followed suite. It makes the standing President and Congress look good supposedly in the eyes of the voters they all think. LOL

We all know better and it is window dressing in other words cooking the books trying to trick the masses into believing in false figures. This is what is happening particularly with the present administration with their fingers crossed behind their back. Rik Riley

We had that disaster last month, when the midwest flooded.
It does not require any further devistation.

We don't need another. The world is currently on 45 days supply of food on hand. It used to be 90 days supply. It takes 60 to 90 days to grow a crop. When those crops don't come in from the U.S. Midwest how far do you think the 45 day supply will shrink to?

We are on course to having zero buffer already. If everyone starts putting away a little extra at this point, it could very well tip us into a deficit of supply available.

You are correct when it comes to food shortages we have a 3 day supply of food on the grocery store shelves at any given time especially during a major flood, hurricane or National transportation disruption. When it comes to disasters we are living in the middle of one and it is called our declining economy. Rik Riley