How Deficit Hawks Are Trying to Pit Millennials Against Seniors to Attack Social Security, Medicare

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/economy/how-deficit-hawks-are-trying-pit-millennials-against-seniors-attack-social-security-and



Generational grievances pitting struggling young millennials against supposedly better-off seniors is creeping back into American politics, fanned by a new wave of deficit hawks who want to undermine public confidence in Social Security and Medicare—as the first step in cutting the social insurance programs.

In a string of recent examples— rants from MSNBC’s wealthy young commentator, a notorious elderly-attacking House candidate, think tanks promoted on NPR—generational warfare cheerleaders are proclaiming that America is heading toward an epic and immoral conflict as better-off seniors are robbing millennials of shrinking federal dollars because retirement programs cost too much. That’s simply false, as Social Security is solvent through 2033, and spending on all mandatory programs as a percentage of GDP is close to where it’s been since 1975, at 21 percent.

This line of attack isn’t in a political vacuum. It comes as some Democrats are reframing the debate on Social Security and campaigning for increased benefits. Nor is it a new argument, as a right-wing club of libertarians, Wall Street bankers and deficit hawks have tried for decades to undermine and privatize the program. Amazingly, the generational warmongers are not just irking progressives who see shifting political winds; they're scaring at least one Republican congressman who called out the generational warfare ruse and game plan in a fundraising letter.

Pennsylvania Republican Tom Marino is a former U.S. Attorney and conservative two-term incumbent. His re-election website boasts he is anti-Obamacare, pro-gun, pro-fracking and anti-gay marriage. Yet, the top news item on his website is a letter from Vivian Mae Marino, “to let all of you know that my son, Tom Marino, will save Medicare and strengthen Social Security.”

[House of Roberts]

1. Marino will save Medicare and SS

the same way Paul Ryan will.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Yep. That was my first thought too when I saw that line.......

It's the classic, "We had to burn the village to save it!" attitude.

[bemildred]

2. Driving wedges is what they think politics is all about, it's their big weakness. nt

[BadgerKid]

3. I'd say wedges are the means.

Greed for power and money are the drivers. Campaign private donations, kickbacks, creating middlemen (which is ironically job creation), etc.

[bemildred]

4. And that's why you don't vote for people who are greedy, regardless. nt

[daleanime]

5. K&R....

[Thinkingabout]

6. The group who will be needing social security and medicare most better be rethinking

Their tactics. The success rate in which Republicans have in busting unions has left less than desirable wages and no pensions. If the young is very used to making lots of money and not saving most if it is not going to be happy seriously curtailing their living status to
$0 to survive. Yes when you are young money may come easy but when the working days are over it is going to be really hard on many. One reason why some seniors has put away money was they lived through the Depression, they learned to be frugal.

[dawg]

7. Actually, they are trying to pit millennials against themselves.

Current seniors are already getting *their* benefits. Gen X'er and Millennials are the ones that conservatives want to shaft.

[MillennialDem]

8. As a Millennial the problem should be solved not by cutting SS/medicare but by

eliminating the cap and also applying SS/medicare to capital gains/carried interest.

[karynnj]

11. As a baby boomer, I think you are completely on target with what needs to be done nt

[mountain grammy]

12. As a boomer (1947) benefiting from SS/Medicare, I thank you

for advocating for the simple solution to the problem. You're not fooled, make sure you're friends aren't either.

[Locrian]

9. it's working with some of them

Usually the ones already with a 'libertarian' bent.

Their strategy is simple: teach them to "kiss up and kick down". Of course, eventually they get kicked to the ground as well...

[DesertDiamond]

10. Divide and conquer.

[mountain grammy]

13. Dear Mrs. Marino: your son will throw us all to the wolves.

Well, maybe not you, so it's all good, right? Wake up, old lady.

[fasttense]

15. And the truth is that Millennials are only paying for their own Social Security

When the bad actor Raygun was president he doubled everyone's (except the very wealthy) Social Security payments. Half of the Boomers payments were taken to pay for their parent's retirement. And the other half was put aside in the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for the Boomer's retirement. The trust fund is suppose to run dry as the payments are made to the Boomer's retirement. We Boomers were the 1st generation to pay both for our parent's retirement and our own. The money put into Social Security now by everyone after the Boomers, is going to pay for only their own retirement.

So what is there to get all upset about? We Boomers stepped up and paid double for us and our parents leaving all other generation the need to only pay for their own.

By the way, if the RepubliCONS got their way and gave the Social Security Trust Fund to Wall Street bankers like Pete Peterson, do you really believe the kids of those suffering Boomers are going to let their parents die in abject misery? I doubt it. So those children will be left with the full responsibility of taking care of their elderly parents.

[Gormy Cuss]

17. Wait -- you mean it ISN'T the fault of the selfish Boomers?

I am amazed at how often on DU I see the Boomers blamed for everything

[fasttense]

18. So true, so true. n/t

[woo me with science]

16. K&R

[woo me with science]

19. kick