COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) Is Nada

Senior citizens won't see a cost of living adjustment for the second year in a row.

(CLEVELAND) - Senior citizens won't see a cost of living adjustment for the second year in a row. Fortunately members of Congress saw an increase of 5%, so they escaped the fate of American seniors.

Obama wants to see Congress follow suit, according to a White House press release issued today, by adding a one-time payment of $250 for Americans on Social Security.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs stated: "Many seniors are struggling in the face of the economic downturn, having seen their savings fall. Today’s news that the Social Security Administration will for a second year not provide a cost of living adjustment for social security benefits highlights these struggles."

"The President will renew his call for a $250 Economic Recovery Payment to our seniors this year, as well as to veterans and people with disabilities."

Last year, under the Recovery Act, 56 million people benefited from the first Economic Recovery Payment—including about 50 million Social Security beneficiaries.

COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) Is Nada

Does this refer to an ice cold red, white & blue can? Nope!
How about Bill Cosby’s favorite soft drink, good old Coke?
Neither, as COLA refers to something dealing with money,
By no means is it sweet & delicious as queen bee’s honey.

Cost Of Living Adjustments was adopted by U.S. Congress,
In 1970, setting the standard so no one would have to guess,
Where consumer prices are lower than they were 2 years ago,
So a fruitful sip of much needed COLA, Uncle Sam says No.

Almost 59 million retired and disabled Americans are to do,
Minus an increase unless the SSA pushes for something new,
Like a one time $250.00 payment to recipients, wow big deal,
Representatives can spend more than that on an evening meal.

It will face opposition from the Senate if passed by the House,
While many senior citizens munch on trash left by the mouse,
All of the best garbage has already been consumed by the rat,
Every rodent in New York City is plump, juicy & grotesquely fat.

Politicians are worried only because this is an election year,
And more than anything it is the voter’s wrath that they fear,
Not their welfare, safety, health or any more important facts,
The candidates want to get on Capital Hill, sit back & relax.

Isn’t it amazing the Washington elite will not miss a raise,
When they only do any really work three out of seven days,
Many will spend more time on the golf course or the club,
As retirees see light from a candle unable to buy a bulb.

Produce is higher since truckers pay more to fill up rigs,
Seniors keep warm in winter months burning dried twigs,
Okay, why don’t they fill the fireplace with stacks of wood,
Well, most are unable to buy logs so that idea is no good.

As superstar athletes & owners cry foul on contract greed,
Elderly & disabled are unable to meet basic human needs,
Billion dollar banks and brokerages were bailed out why?
Multi-million $ paydays reward failure, now that’s real SSI.

America the Beautiful, capitalism unlimited, military elite,
Fraudulent mortgage foreclosures, thousands on the street,
Damage & destruction on par with the deadly virus Ebola,
And all they ever desired in life is a decent glass of COLA.

by Luke Easter

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com