If you or a relative, a parent perhaps, collects Social Security, in just a few weeks, the usual cost of living increase should be reflected on monthly checks. That won't happen in January of 2010 unless House Bill HR-3572, introduced by Rodney Alexander (R-LA) and referred to the House Ways & Means Committee on September 15 becomes law .

The Bill, HR-3572, would give Social Security recipients a 2.9% increase in 2010. If you are one of the lame brains who thinks seniors don't deserve increases, or you think all today's retirees are well off, or you agree with the excuse makers, including some economists, who say the cost of living is going down, not up, step into the real world.

Some experts say that one in ten seniors are impoverished, others say more. And a vast number are squeaking by. Seniors paid into the social security fund for years. It was supposed to be their money. On top of that, the average monthly Social Security check is $1160.90 and a 2.9% increase amounts to a whopping $33.67 a month or $403 a year. See Table 2 at this site.

In order to survive today, retirees need to have substantial investments or savings, or they continue to work. Thousands lost their security, thanks to the economy, bankrupt companies, decisions by Congress and more.

Then there is Medicare. In case you didn't know it, this government health care insurance doesn't come out of "Obama's stash!". There is a monthly premium just like any other insurance coverage. (This will be a shock to those who think the government health care option will be free.)

In 2010, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will increase from $94.60 a month to $110.50, a 15% increase. If you are a senior and still working, that amount may be higher depending on the amount of income you receive. Who knows what will happen to these premiums with probable fees and surcharges, and heaven only knows what —- if the Health Care Reform Bill passes. (I refuse to call it "affordable") More information about Medicare is available on the government Medicare web site.

So why is there no COLA for seniors next year? Because, by law, the usual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which is tabulated by the career professionals at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last year, they determined that Cost of Living rose 5.8%. This year, they say it now stands at 1.9% below a year ago.

Don't you just love it when bureaucrats tabulate things? The key word here is "now." The "Dumb-Nut Economics" is not considering the dollar which is losing value faster than Obama is losing approval ratings, and not considering real world costs and estimates. Those who site a dip in prices from a year ago should remember that those prices were soaring beyond anything that was considered possible. So the little dips today are hardly economic relief.

Consumer prices typically go down in a recession, but not this time. The Government's own U.S. Department of Agriculture expects food prices to rise as much as 4% in 2010 and some economists are predicting a 5% rise. Predicting? Have you tried to by a chicken recently? Doesn't seem like too long ago I paid $6 or $7 for a roasting hen that now costs $10 or $11, even more. Price Thanksgiving turkeys and get sticker shock, or try to buy a steak that seems like you should be getting the entire cow!

Could it possibly be that it costs more to feed cattle, chickens and hogs that normally consume corn and soy because corn-based ethanol and soy-based bio-diesel are having an effect?

Speaking of fuel, gasoline prices are expected to rise in 2010 as well. Some are predicting that $3.25 a gallon will be the low for a national average. See what DailyFinance.com has to say. And what about increases in basic utilities, sales taxes and property taxes?  State taxes in California just added another 10%!

At a time when $34 a month could mean a lot to those receiving Social Security, the usual cost of living increase may not be realized. Yet the President wants to send out $250 checks to seniors, a trickle than half the amount most would receive with a COLA. Why? Do you really think mature Americans will fall for a bribe like this?

And here's a real gem. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) wants to map the United States into 14 regions and determine the rate of COLA based on the consumer price index for each region. It will probably cost more to research this than the Cost of Living Adjustments for years to come. And what will happen to the Social Security amounts for those seniors who move from one region to another? Sounds like another fine mess to me!

While seniors tighten their belts, lets not forget Congress. This will get your dander up in the middle of this economic crisis. The average automatic raise for members of Congress in January of 2009 was $4,700 bringing their annual salary to $174,000. Queen Nancy receives $223,500 a year. The majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the House receive $193,400 each. This doesn't include some rather spectacular perks and pensions to die for.

Compare this with the average salaries for executives in the United States as of November 15, 2009. (Average salaries, not including inflated Wall Street super compensation.)

I don't object to paying our representatives for jobs well done and we can discuss that another time. If all goes as currently planned, Congress will forego an automatic increase in salaries next year. But do you know that the Congressional budget was recently increased to $4.7 billion? A nifty maneuver.

What's included? A $500,000 pilot program to send out post cards, $4,000,000 for consultants and funding for House office building improvements and renovations jumps a whopping 128% to $84,000,000. And that's just a sample. Proponents of the increase say they were frugal last year without significant increases since 2001. Opponents think this is not an appropriate time to increase expenditures. You think?

So let's just watch to see who the "Dumb-Nuts" are (those who vote against HR-3572) and consider this another indicator for 2010 elections.