raise the ceiling on eligible wages from $90k to $250K. The payroll tax is extremely regressive; why not let everyone "feel the pain?"

Going into debt only hurts everyone, but especially the poor. Inflation is a regressive tax.

They do "feel the pain" up to $90k just like everyone else.

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"George W. Bush surrounds himself with smart people the way a hole surrounds itself with a donut." —Dennis Miller

they are feeling a lot less pain than the poor slob making $9.00 at Walmart.

The same old "stick it to the rich, they can afford it" class warfare mantra. While you're at it, join up with the people who say that the "rich" shouldn't get SS when they come of age. Tell me. How much taxes should the rich have to pay? 50%? 60%?

While you're at it. What do you consider rich? 90K?

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"Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves." ~Ronald Reagan

We already have a welfare system.

It is important to remember that we have TWO welfare systems: (1) one created ostensibly to help those who couldn't help themselves, but which has turned into a system where the government enables, and in some cases encourages, people to behave in a reckless and carefree manner; and, (2) one created by political hacks to protect from the realities of the market products like ethenol which takes as much energy to create as is produced by it use.

The first type needs a serious retooling and the second needs to be abolished.

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"George W. Bush surrounds himself with smart people the way a hole surrounds itself with a donut." —Dennis Miller