US economy--all entertainment?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

You are correct in that the legal constraints on SSI were relaxed under Reagan -- thanks for the update on that -- but you admit that it was still very hard to get. And, yes, Obama complained about it and requested funds in his 2010 budget to fight abuse, but who rejected that budget and refused those funds but his own Senate and House majorities?

HOWEVER, while SSI was once extremely hard to get, recent award levels can exceed 50% (see http://trac.syr.edu/tracreports/ssa/254/ ).

And then there's the judge I was referring to: David B. Daugherty.
His approval rate was 99.7%.

Judge David B. Daugherty The Herald-Dispatch

In the fiscal year that ended in September, the administrative law judge, who sits in the impoverished intersection of West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio, decided 1,284 cases and awarded benefits in all but four. For the first six months of fiscal 2011, Mr. Daugherty approved payments in every one of his 729 decisions, according to the Social Security Administration. Complaints got nowhere. Judge Daugherty processes more cases than all but three judges in the U.S., and says of his less-generous peers, "Some of these judges act like it's their own damn money we're giving away." He knew damned well this administration wasn't going to stop him.

He's not alone. Here are about 30 more in his virtually 100% club:

This link expands that chart:
http://tinyurl.com/kuxuh8t

From the WSJ/US News, "This breakdown is one reason why Social Security Disability Insurance—one of the federal government's two disability programs—is under severe financial strain. It paid a record $124 billion in benefits in 2010 and is on track to become the first major entitlement program to go bust. Government officials said last week it is expected to run out of money in 2018."

MUCH more at http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704681904576319163605918524
or http://tinyurl.com/mwa936k .

DAMMIT, but I don't have time for this. One would think that the fact that I can virtually ALWAYS back up my claims would break some of you from trying to disprove them, but I thought you may have caught me this time, as I was going from memory. Not to worry. This messes up my supper, my sleep, and infinitely more important research. I may have to PLONK you just because you present better more legitimate challenges than the vast majority of these guys, and I just can't spare the time.

pointster · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 376

Mike posted: "That changed by hundreds of percent since 2008. SSI used to be extremely hard to obtain; now many liberal judges and SS offices, encouraged by this administration, award it with NO PROOF. Yawannit, yaaskforit, yagotit, in many jurisdictions, according to widespread media reports, by name and jurisdiction, several years ago."

Mike's subsequent post does not support that contention. I have looked closely at the links he has provided and they do not show that the overall rate of approval has gone up during the Obama administration. Nor do they show that the Obama administration has encouraged judges and SS offices to make awards with no proof.

The absolute number of people getting social security disability during the Obama administration has increased because the number of applications has increased. The rate of approvals has remained about the same.

pueno · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 2807

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Now you're distorting what I said -- "SSI used to be extremely hard to obtain; now many liberal judges and SS offices, encouraged by this administration, award it with NO PROOF. Yawannit, yaaskforit, yagotit, in many jurisdictions, according to widespread media reports, by name and jurisdiction, several years ago." -- and denying that this administration encourages government largesse. That's mac/kc/Chandler/etc.-level tactics, which I REALLY don't have time for and wouldn't entertain if I did.

uwindsurf · Joined: 18 Aug 2012 Posts: 968 Location: Classified

Hey Iso, Judge David B. Daugherty was appointed as a SS Judge in 1990 during Bush I's tenure. I guess you should blame the Republican/Conservative faction for any abuses perpetuated by the Judge.

But you won't, because you are a hypocrite.

That is all.

pointster · Joined: 22 Jul 2010 Posts: 376

uwindsurf · Joined: 18 Aug 2012 Posts: 968 Location: Classified

Mikey: "Facts? Facts? I don't need no stinkin' facts!"

Reality is what Mikey says it is, not what facts prove it to be.