Maybe because they PAID SOMETHING INTO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I am against all of those programs, but if you are paying into it without choice might as well take from it. If I oppose buying a beach house, but I agree to pay for one for my family, I should have the right to hang out in it

Government benefits are only ok when they get it, not ok when anybody else gets it

In what universe is having money taken from your paycheck, then a smaller amount given back to you decades later a government benefit?

Have you ever even SEEN a paycheck stub?

Do you not understand what Social Security IS?

Let me guess, the amount at the bottom of my paycheck (what the government lets me keep after taxes) is a government benefeit as well?

I dunno but they justify supporting fascists in this question.

lets see…THEY EARNED THEM?

The idea that these entitlement programs are paid for is a weak defense employed by conservatives… here comes the truth train

IF THESE PROGRAMS ARE PAID FOR, THEN WHY ARE THE PROJECTED TO GO BANKRUPT AND WHY DO THEY COMPOSE NEARLY ALL OF THE FEDERAL DEFICIT???

BECAUSE PAYING 5% OF YOUR INCOME TO RECEIVE A SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER MONTHLY CHECK FOR DECADES OF RETIREMENT MEANS THE PROGRAM IS NOT PAID FOR. THE PEOPLE WHO PAY MOST OF THE TRANSFERS ARE YOUNGER TAX PAYERS PAYING INTO THE FUND FOR PEOPLE ALREADY RETIRED.

That’s why medicare liabilities are in the trillions
That’s why social security liabilities are in the trillions

That’s why the tea party is phony. Everyone wants theirs but cries when someone else gets his.

The Tea Party has to pick and choose its battles. Medicare and Medicaid are important to senior citizens, and the Tea Party needs seniors’ votes. I think the Tea Party would definitely like to cut or eliminate those programs though. If we didn’t have to pay into all those “benefits”, we could save our own money and plan for our own retirements and safety nets.

Limit unemployment benefits and encourage people to work… nobody is too good for McDonalds. If you give someone a paycheck to sit at home… what’s the incentive to swallow your pride and fill a lower paying position until things get better?

I am not a tea party member, conservative or republican.

But an educated guess would tell me that since they are generally so unsatisfied with the current situation, to them it is only fair that in times of need (especially when they believe these are the exact same reason why we are in this horrible situation) they get something back from all their hard earned tax dollars!
It really isn’t that complicated to understand this thought process.
More importantly… why are so many people willing to go against what they believe in?
The answer is because they really don’t think they themselves(or anyone) can make a difference or fix this mess.

We need to work together to get out of this hole.

Because in some casaes, they are getting their own money back.

IE: social security - why shouldn’t someone collect their SS, they paid a payroll tax for those benefits all their life, they are getting their own money back, not a hand out from the government.

Same for unemployment, you pay a insurance premium every pay check you get, for unemployment, unless the government is gonna refund the premiums you paid, why shouldn’t you collect on the insurance you paid for ?

medicare is the same, you paid for thjose benefits already, the government is not offering a refund of the payroll tax you paid, if you do not use the benefits.

2. Your argument would be better, if you actually choose benefits that you did not pay for already,

Like food stamps, welfare, etc.

3, But you seem to think, people should just throw away all the money they were forced to give the government to pay for their SS, unemployment, etc.

Its not the government money they are being paid, it is their own money they are getting back.

4. Most would happily stop paying the payroll tax, if the government would allow them to opt out.

they only want big government cheese when it benefits them.