How Elizabeth Warren Upset the DC Establishment's Plans to Weaken Social Security

[babylonsister]

How Elizabeth Warren Upset the DC Establishment's Plans to Weaken Social Security
By Dean Baker

Warren's support for raising Social Security benefits could be exactly what we need to move the discussion of retirement income in a positive direction.

December 17, 2013 |


When Senator Elizabeth Warren came out for increasing Social Security last month it set in motion a remarkable turn of events. For over a decade the only discussion of Social Security by the Washington power types was over how much to cut it and when. The extreme left position was that current spending was about right.

Senator Warren changed the debate when she endorsed a bill proposed by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin that would index retirees' benefits to an index that more closely tracks the cost-of-living of seniors. The bill also would raise benefits by roughly $70 a month. As a result of Warren's prominence in national politics, and the fact that raising Social Security benefits is actually quite popular, the Washington insider types were forced to take the idea seriously.

As was predictable, she was quickly denounced by the usual suspects, most notably the ostensibly center-left group Third Way. Third Way is one of the many Wall Street funded groups that manage to get credibility in policy circles almost entirely by virtue of their funding. They have no real political following and rarely produce anything resembling original thinking or research. But in Washington, money commands attention.

Third Way is one of a long list of organizations that have received Wall Street funding to go after Social Security and Medicare under the guise of protecting the young from their greedy parents and grandparents. This list includes Lead or Leave, the Concord Coalition, The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, America Speaks, Fix the Debt and the Can Kicks Back.

At a time when we are seeing the largest upward redistribution in the history of the world these organizations have attempted to divert attention from the class war on the nation's middle class and poor. Instead they are trying to convince young people that their financial difficulties stem from the size of their parents' Social Security checks.

snip//

For these reasons, Warren's call for raising Social Security benefits could mark a real turning point. It could mean that we get a public debate which looks at the program with open eyes, recognizing that it is a large and growing portion of workers' retirement income.

more...

http://www.alternet.org/economy/how-dc-corporate-establishments-carefully-laid-plans-destroy-social-security-was-badly

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. She is sensible and fearless...

Good for her.

K&R

[winter is coming]

3. And she gives voice to things that ordinary Americans know to be true,

which must be terrifying to some. Good for her.

[hootinholler]

6. Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

That sums it up. Giving a voice to obvious truth that the banksters have worked so hard to hide.

[CTyankee]

2. This makes absolute sense. Younger people don't want to see their parents more and more

dependent on THEM for support! They have their own families to support and kids to send to college!

So people are waking up. Slowly. But it's happening...

[malaise]

4. Elizabeth Warren is a breath of fresh air

Someone is actually standing up for the poor and middle class. Someone is not afraid of the bankers. Go girl!!!

[1nancy2]

28. Elizabeth warren is a breath of fresh air

Yes, she's from my State of MA. I adore E. Warren and she has not wavered in her support of the poor and middle class, er, the 99%. She's the best of the best.

[malaise]

29. Welcome to DU

and Happy Holidays

[Pholus]

5. First thing that made me want to cheer today! :)

Thanks!

[mbperrin]

7. I want a Warren, too!!!!

All I got was this crummy Cruz and Cornyn....

[babylonsister]

13. Ha! I live in

Georgia and feel your pain.

[cantbeserious]

8. Warren For President 2016

eom

[blue14u]

9. K&R

[Bonhomme Richard]

10. Third way is center left?

Not in my book and it annoys me that alternet would refer to them that way.
That's the problem right there.

[frylock]

17. seems these days, "left" or "liberal" is defined as "not republican."

[ctsnowman]

25. In the MSM it sure is

Almost always a moderate debating a far right winger.

[freshwest]

11. Truth is like a laser, move ahead or get burned. Best pick PBO ever made. Keep it up, Warren!

[scarletwoman]

12. Rec'd, and here's my kick - thank you for posting this!

We need to make sure that the proposal to RAISE Social Security benefits builds momentum. It's on all of us to make that happen.

[4dsc]

14. Centrist are not going to like this populism

Its time to get these centrist on the bandwagon to strengthen SS in the years to come. I know its not going to be easy but at least we are gain headlines.

[Douglas Carpenter]

15. I don't know what alternative universe the sensible center lives in

We have all heard the talking heads of the sensible center proclaim that the far left is against "Entitlement reform" - AKA cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits. Keeping current benefits the same was the position of only the crackpot leftist fringe - and about 80% of Americans. We are not talking about some Fox News libertarian crazies saying this - this was the heart of the Democratic Party establishment. Keeping the poverty dole of Social Security the same - was something only nutty far leftist believed - and it was politically toxic to adopt a position held by almost all Americans. .

[LongTomH]

21. "Sensible center" should be in quotes!

They are definitely not "sensible," and I think we could dispute the 'center' designation. What's defined as "centrist" in country, in this century, would have been defined as right-of-center in previous decades.

[brer cat]

16. I hope she gives much consideration to lowering the eligibility age for SS.

I think we have very few options available to help older workers who are increasingly unemployable.

[sheshe2]

18. K&R! For Warren!

She is doing exactly the work that we sent her to Washington to do.

I have long failed to see the push for a Presidential run. As a Senator she can and will focus entirely on issues such as these, as a President she could not.

Thank you babylonsister, great OP~

[Grateful for Hope]

19. A hearty K&R

Elizabeth Warren is amazing!

Thanks for posting this.

[Liberalynn]

20. I love her

Still wish she would run for President.

[JDPriestly]

22. K&R.

[WillyT]

23. K & R !!!

[closeupready]

24. You know why she's so not eating the Beltway Bullshit?

Because she actually CARES about American families - mothers and fathers, children, and what happens to those families.

"Centrist", i.e., right-wing Democrats also care - but about post-term Mickey Mouse Board of Director jobs in industries that lobby heavily in Congress for favorable legislation, and regressive tax policies, like the flat tax.

[ctsnowman]

26. K & R

[blkmusclmachine]

27. Deeds, not words

[Laelth]

30. k&r for Elizabeth Warren. n/t

-Laelth