I Just Quit Republican Party - Now Independent

[Care4all]

One of the risks of doing an OP, is getting responses from IDIOTS.
Can you read ? I said I've become an "Independent", and have no intention of voting for anybody, much less the Democrazies.

Secondly, if you were staring HOMELESSNESS in the face, and struggling to figure out how you could come up with the money to move (to where?) you wouldn't be absurdly calling this a "minor issue."

YOU are the "dumb as dirt"

OK, I did a inquiry and there could be some help for you to move to a cheaper rent place with moving costs and some housing programs.... i think you are in Tampa?


Florida law explicitly bans local rent control or rent freezes, meaning Tampa cannot legally cap your landlord's rent increases. However, you can access localized financial aid and income-based housing programs designed to combat these rising costs.
Tampa & Hillsborough County Programs
The Tampa Housing Authority: This is your primary resource for Section 8 vouchers and senior-specific public housing complexes, which cap your rent at 30% of your income. You can reach them to check waitlists and apply.

Hillsborough County Aging Services: They offer a "Help Me, Hillsborough" hotline at (813) 272-5220 to connect low-income seniors with direct financial stabilization services, case management, and localized utility or rent assistance.

Hillsborough County Housing Stability Program: Run in partnership with community groups, this initiative provides emergency rent payment assistance to tenants facing severe rent hikes or potential eviction if their household income falls below 80% of the Area Median Income.

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay (211): By dialing 211 locally, you can connect with active, short-term rental assistance funds distributed through local charities like Metropolitan Ministries or the Salvation Army.
Because Florida lacks statewide rent caps, your best course of action is to immediately contact Hillsborough County Aging Services or the Tampa Housing Authority to explore income-restricted senior housing or active emergency voucher programs.
and there is this....
Relocation & Moving Assistance
Area Agencies on Aging (AAA):

Local offices provide relocation counseling, housing resources, and sometimes grants or volunteer aid for packing and moving.

Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG): A federal program that can help with rental deposits, utility connections, and moving costs if you are at risk of homelessness.

Charities and Nonprofits:

Organizations like The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and local Community Action Agencies frequently provide one-time financial aid for security deposits or moving truck expenses.

Next Step: Dial 211 or visit 211.org to instantly connect with a local specialist who can look up current open waiting lists and moving grants right in your immediate area.

 

[jacksonlamb]

I register R so I have a say in their primaries, but each election vote for candidates D, R, and I.

 

[candycorn]

I smell a rat here as he can't be that stupid.

What evidence can you present to come to that conclusion?

The fool didn’t know people died from pneumonia.

 

[Robert W]

I register R so I have a say in their primaries, but each election vote for candidates D, R, and I.

In California and several states, when you die, not to worry, a democrat will vote for you.

 

[Woodznutz]

That's because so few people pick up the phone and call them. If they got calls from THOUSANDS of constituents, the advertising money wouldn't matter, and they would respond. Until then, you're right.

I sent a detailed letter to my Senator. I got a form letter back thanking me for my concern. That's how they can say that they answer each and every letter they receive.

 

[Robert W]

I sent a detailed letter to my Senator. I got a form letter back thanking me for my concern. That's how they can say that they answer each and every letter they receive.

That means a clerk in the office saw it, laughed at and you got the automatic reply.
When I was a director of the California Association of Realtors, we got paperwork on the best way to contact congress, and the top way is the handwritten letter.

 

[Gary Seven]

I just changed my political party from Republican to Independent. Yes, I agree with Trump on a variety of things BUT there is one glaring (if not terrifying) thing that is staring me in the face, that I don't see anybody even talking about, much less dealing with it. That is the outrageous discrepancy between the yearly Social Security COLA (Cost of living Adjustment) increase in our monthly Social Security check, and the monstrous housing rent increases that landlords have been walloping us with.

So what does this mean in $$ & cents ? The 2025 & 2026 COLAs both were 2.8%. So our Social Security checks went up 2.8%.
This gave me a "whopping" (insulting) $31/month more to my income. At the same time, my apartment rent went up $104. So I LOST $73 per month. That's like going out in the street and being mugged for $73 once every month. Or being mugged for $876 once a year. Or $4,380 every 5 years.

For $4,380, I could buy a helluva nice guitar and mandolin, both of excellent quality.

It would be nice if some politicians were to even BE TALKING ABOUT THIS, much less doing something about it.

So, all you seniors out there, collecting Social Security, have you contacted your folks in Congress ? A 2018 study done by the Senior citizens League showed a noticable 34% loss of buying power since 2000 - and that was before housing rents went on their astronomical surges of the 2020s (and showing no sign of diminishing). REMEMBER >>> If your congressmen don't hear from you, THEY THINK YOURE HAPPY, AND DOING FINE.

Either the rents have to be controlled, or the COLAs need to be increased (or both). Doing nothing is unacceptable. Unless you think getting poorer & poorer with each passing year is acceptable - in which case, you'll need to have your head examined.

Note - 73% of Social Security recipients rely on it for most of their income. 50% rely on it for ALL of their income.

https://seniorsleague.org/assets/2018-Loss-of-Buying-Power-Report.pdf

You can still vote the way you want by remaining officially a Republican. You could even vote Democrat if you wanted to. I was registered as Independent for about 19 years before I re-registered as a Republican. My only reason for doing so was to be able to vote in the Primaries. It was only because of the slickery stuff the Dems and Obama pulled in getting him elected and his obvious involvement as a top-dog of the New World Order, that I began to realize the Dems needed some strong opposition, and I wanted a say in who would run against them.

It's not impossible I could vote for a Dem. I still favor Republicans over Dems, and I want a say in who runs against them, but I still remain Independent/Libertarian at heart and probably always will.

Another way to look at it is this: You could register as a Dem, often vote Republican, but ALSO vote in the Primaries for whatever Dem you think has the WORST chance of beating whatever Republican runs against them.

 

[sparky]

WE NEED A THIRD PARTY

heck.....a 'real' 2nd one would do......~S~

 

[EMH]

heck.....a 'real' 2nd one would do......~S~

But that's not there. We need to act now, join the LP en masse.... make it the "plurality party."

 

[Carl in Michigan]

squanderedby the Democrat....Social Security was never intended to be the sole or primary source of income for retirees. It was designed as a safety net to supplement existing retirement savings, pensions, and other income sources, not to replace them.

Other things should have been done.
Also, I would have loved to have the choice of having my SS deduction invested rather than squandered by the Democrat Party

 

[Robert W]

Other things should have been done.
Also, I would have loved to have the choice of having my SS deduction invested rather than squandered by the Democrat Party

Social Security is a poor investment for the Government.

 

[Lockback]

Social Security is a poor investment for the Government.

It's a Ponzi scheme ...

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Social Security is a poor investment for the Government.

And for the recipient. They COULD have done this so much better.
Also, something has to give as far as housing. Most of us will eventually end up homeless.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

I have said it before and I'll say it again: Trump wasted too much of this term dinking around in foreign affairs while the middle class is FLOUDERING HARD in this economy. He keeps on about the stock market and that's great if you're some, but not near most or even all.

The middle classes 401Ks are growing by leaps and bounds. Inflation has cooled off, and the energy prices are being affected by the actions of Iran. Personally, I am in a lot better shape financially now than I was two years ago.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

I haven't seen the THOUSANDS of constituents pick up the phone and call them. If/when that happens, THEN we can talk about what they'll do about it.

I know if I was in their shoes, and thousands of constituents were calling me, I'd be doing SOMETHING about it. Wouldn't you ?

How many people can you talk to at one time? All their constituents would get is a busy signal. Accomplishes nothing!

 

[SweetSue92]

The middle classes 401Ks are growing by leaps and bounds. Inflation has cooled off, and the energy prices are being affected by the actions of Iran. Personally, I am in a lot better shape financially now than I was two years ago.

Wages are not keeping up with consumer spending index/inflation, as just released yesterday. People know this and can feel it. I understand the principle in Iran, but this mess is gonna cost us the midterms very shortly, if not immediately. Americans are very tired of being told it's Covid or Iran or whatever hobbling the economy.

 

[SaxonJackson]

I just changed my political party from Republican to Independent. Yes, I agree with Trump on a variety of things BUT there is one glaring (if not terrifying) thing that is staring me in the face, that I don't see anybody even talking about, much less dealing with it. That is the outrageous discrepancy between the yearly Social Security COLA (Cost of living Adjustment) increase in our monthly Social Security check, and the monstrous housing rent increases that landlords have been walloping us with.

So what does this mean in $$ & cents ? The 2025 & 2026 COLAs both were 2.8%. So our Social Security checks went up 2.8%.
This gave me a "whopping" (insulting) $31/month more to my income. At the same time, my apartment rent went up $104. So I LOST $73 per month. That's like going out in the street and being mugged for $73 once every month. Or being mugged for $876 once a year. Or $4,380 every 5 years.

For $4,380, I could buy a helluva nice guitar and mandolin, both of excellent quality.

It would be nice if some politicians were to even BE TALKING ABOUT THIS, much less doing something about it.

So, all you seniors out there, collecting Social Security, have you contacted your folks in Congress ? A 2018 study done by the Senior citizens League showed a noticable 34% loss of buying power since 2000 - and that was before housing rents went on their astronomical surges of the 2020s (and showing no sign of diminishing). REMEMBER >>> If your congressmen don't hear from you, THEY THINK YOURE HAPPY, AND DOING FINE.

Either the rents have to be controlled, or the COLAs need to be increased (or both). Doing nothing is unacceptable. Unless you think getting poorer & poorer with each passing year is acceptable - in which case, you'll need to have your head examined.

Note - 73% of Social Security recipients rely on it for most of their income. 50% rely on it for ALL of their income.

https://seniorsleague.org/assets/2018-Loss-of-Buying-Power-Report.pdf

I may not agree with you on several issues but you certainly made a step in the right direction. Congrats!!

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Wages are not keeping up with consumer spending index/inflation, as just released yesterday. People know this and can feel it. I understand the principle in Iran, but this mess is gonna cost us the midterms very shortly, if not immediately. Americans are very tired of being told it's Covid or Iran or whatever hobbling the economy.

Do you honestly think anyone will vote for a Democrat because the price of gas is high? Absolutely the opposite will happen! Republicans will work to bring it down while Democrats will just continue whining and complaining and then importing more illegals and defrauding the American people.

Facts are inconvenient truths sometimes. I am on a fixed income so every little increase hurts, but I also know that there is little than anyone can do about it as it is being caused by evil in this world and the only way we can overcome come evil is to defeat it, sometimes on the battlefield.

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

I just changed my political party from Republican to Independent. Yes, I agree with Trump on a variety of things BUT there is one glaring (if not terrifying) thing that is staring me in the face, that I don't see anybody even talking about, much less dealing with it. That is the outrageous discrepancy between the yearly Social Security COLA (Cost of living Adjustment) increase in our monthly Social Security check, and the monstrous housing rent increases that landlords have been walloping us with.

So what does this mean in $$ & cents ? The 2025 & 2026 COLAs both were 2.8%. So our Social Security checks went up 2.8%.
This gave me a "whopping" (insulting) $31/month more to my income. At the same time, my apartment rent went up $104. So I LOST $73 per month. That's like going out in the street and being mugged for $73 once every month. Or being mugged for $876 once a year. Or $4,380 every 5 years.

For $4,380, I could buy a helluva nice guitar and mandolin, both of excellent quality.

It would be nice if some politicians were to even BE TALKING ABOUT THIS, much less doing something about it.

So, all you seniors out there, collecting Social Security, have you contacted your folks in Congress ? A 2018 study done by the Senior citizens League showed a noticable 34% loss of buying power since 2000 - and that was before housing rents went on their astronomical surges of the 2020s (and showing no sign of diminishing). REMEMBER >>> If your congressmen don't hear from you, THEY THINK YOURE HAPPY, AND DOING FINE.

Either the rents have to be controlled, or the COLAs need to be increased (or both). Doing nothing is unacceptable. Unless you think getting poorer & poorer with each passing year is acceptable - in which case, you'll need to have your head examined.

Note - 73% of Social Security recipients rely on it for most of their income. 50% rely on it for ALL of their income.

https://seniorsleague.org/assets/2018-Loss-of-Buying-Power-Report.pdf

This is it the most important issue in America the cost of living. How people are doing financially. It’s what defines the American dream. Look at how some of your own fellow Trump voters are treating you. Laughing at you while they wave their Israeli flag. Just laughing at you blowing this off giggling acting like pansies.

What is also driving up your cost of rent? The war in Iran. Driving up the cost of oil making people pay more at the gas pumps. Groceries going up in prices.

What we need is the democrat party from the 1950s era. Or even Eisenhower republicans…. Today The uni party gives our money to Israel. And you can support Israel all you want, but this is playing a role in the bad economy. Rarely do I even hear Democrats talking about helping the middle class. All they talk about is Trump being a Nazi while most support the genocide in Gaza and at best mildly criticize the war in Iran…rank and file democrats are in unison though with neo cons. Meanwhile some of the beta male pro Israel Republicans go around calling people Nazis and racist just like the BLM left does.

Now aside from Israel and Iran. And again you can support Israel, but everyone can accept the fact that that war in Iran jacked up the cost of oil it’s undeniable, but we all know that back in the day this kind of stuff wasn’t an issue when it came to greedy Landlord out of control or rent increases not coinciding with people’s purchasing power. The greatest middle class in America history was in the middle of the 20th century.

 

[Woodznutz]

This is it the most important issue in America the cost of living. How people are doing financially. It’s what defines the American dream. Look at how some of your own fellow Trump voters are treating you. Laughing at you while they wave their Israeli flag. Just laughing at you blowing this off giggling acting like pansies.

What is also driving up your cost of rent? The war in Iran. Driving up the cost of oil making people pay more at the gas pumps. Groceries going up in prices.

What we need is the democrat party from the 1950s era. Or even Eisenhower republicans…. Today The uni party gives our money to Israel. And you can support Israel all you want, but this is playing a role in the bad economy. Rarely do I even hear Democrats talking about helping the middle class. All they talk about is Trump being a Nazi while most support the genocide in Gaza and at best mildly criticize the war in Iran…rank and file democrats are in unison though with neo cons. Meanwhile some of the beta male pro Israel Republicans go around calling people Nazis and racist just like the BLM left does.

Now aside from Israel and Iran. And again you can support Israel, but everyone can accept the fact that that war in Iran jacked up the cost of oil it’s undeniable, but we all know that back in the day this kind of stuff wasn’t an issue when it came to greedy Landlord out of control or rent increases not coinciding with people’s purchasing power. The greatest middle class in America history was in the middle of the 20th century.

I miss the days of Ike, the Saturday Evening Post, and Norman Rockwell. That was the "sweet spot" in American history.