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drmeow

(4,996 posts)
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 06:15 PM Apr 2013

Called Jeff Flake about CPI

I finally got around to calling Jeff Flake about CPI - the local office in Phoenix. I told the woman who answered the phone that I am opposed to CPI, that if he votes for it I will encourage someone to primary him, I will give money to someone who will primary him, will vote against him in the primary, and, if he wins the primary, I will give money to and vote for anyone who is running against him. The woman who answered the phone's response was, "I know! I can't believe they would even think of doing that." So I told her that I wasn't even old enough to collect SS benefits yet (she said that was an important point) and that I won't be dependent on SS benefits when I do retire cause I'm making enough money. The woman and I chatted for a few minutes about how horrible it will be for the elderly here in AZ and then she sincerely thanked me for calling and that she would be sure to pass on my message.

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Called Jeff Flake about CPI (Original Post) drmeow Apr 2013 OP
On March 21 he voted for Paul Ryan's budget, the "Path to Prosperity". spedtr90 Apr 2013 #1
I doubt she knows what's in Ryan's budget drmeow Apr 2013 #5
You do realize that Social Security COLA has been base on the CPI for decades? pinqy Apr 2013 #2
wouldn't a better response have been a link LittleGirl Apr 2013 #3
Ok, here's an example: pinqy Apr 2013 #7
thanks for the link. eom LittleGirl Apr 2013 #8
And your point is .... drmeow Apr 2013 #4
To answer your questions.... pinqy Apr 2013 #6

spedtr90

(719 posts)
1. On March 21 he voted for Paul Ryan's budget, the "Path to Prosperity".
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 07:58 PM
Apr 2013


So he voted for Medicare vouchers and increased expense to seniors; and although Ryan pulled his Social Security privatization from this latest budget, it is not dead. Sen Flake was endorsed by Ryan, so he seems likely to agree on Ryan's "serious" proposals.

Wonder if the woman who answers the phone can believe that.


drmeow

(4,996 posts)
5. I doubt she knows what's in Ryan's budget
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 07:05 PM
Apr 2013

She just answers the phones in the local office. And, honestly, she and I probably disagree about virtually everything else that Flake stands for (or she must hate her job). But in this case she seemed to genuinely agree with me. Its just another illustration to me that a lot of the conservatives (not just in this state) react to the propaganda rather than the true message. Sigh.

Of course, you wouldn't catch me dead voting for Flake and the only way I'd give money to his opponent in a primary is if that person was significantly more moderate than Flake but that's not the point.

pinqy

(596 posts)
2. You do realize that Social Security COLA has been base on the CPI for decades?
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 10:51 AM
Apr 2013

What you probably are objecting to is the change to the CCPI-U instead of the current CPI-W.
But if you don't understand the differences or what you're actually objecting to, why not? Why haven't you informed yourself about the actual issues? There are some problems with using the CCPI-U, but almost all of the criticism I've read on the internet is based on misunderstanding or lies.

LittleGirl

(8,261 posts)
3. wouldn't a better response have been a link
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 05:01 PM
Apr 2013

to back up your claims of misunderstanding? I would like to see that myself.

pinqy

(596 posts)
7. Ok, here's an example:
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 09:18 AM
Apr 2013
http://my.firedoglake.com/masaccio/2013/04/12/chained-cpi-means-you-cant-have-nice-things/

The claim is made that under the chained CPI a lower standard of living is measured:
The example you get is that if beef gets more expensive, you can substitute pork, without in any way affecting your life. In other words, the selections among beef, pork, chicken and catfood you currently make are assumed to give you a certain level of pleasure, but now you can’t have that level of pleasure. Either you eat less of something you like, or you just don’t get to eat it, and have to eat something you don’t like as much.

But that's untrue. A constant standard of living is assumed. People do substitute: that's a fact. If beef prices go up more than pork and chicken, you'll buy less beef and more pork and chicken in amounts that keep you on the same demand curve.

There are 2 basic ways to approach price changes: Either assume no substitutions from a base period and measure the price changes as if every thing was bought in the exact same propoportions OR measure the price change as if the same proportion of goods was bought back in the base period. Either way a constant standard of living is assumed, it's just a question of which set of goods you're measuring.

A superlative index, such as the chained CPI, basically takes the average of the two approaches. So it's not measure of a declining standard of living.

Also ignored is that substitution is based on relative price changes...Even though beef is more expensive than chicken, if chicken prices go up by 10% and beef goes up 4%, people will substitute towards beef.

drmeow

(4,996 posts)
4. And your point is ....
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 06:58 PM
Apr 2013

that I should have made sure I included my exact words to the woman in my post (which did, in fact, include the word chained) because not doing so made my post unclear?

that I shouldn't have called Flake?

that the woman I spoke with did not understand what I meant by my call?

that I shouldn't object to the proposed change?

or

that my post laid me open to patronizing, nit picky, unsupported responses?

Life is WAY WAY WAY to short to have to deal with being nit picked and talked down to about making my voice heard to my representative and therefore participating in the democratic process. I refuse to continue this conversation with someone who appears to be motivated to suppress voter's participating in said democratic process. Perhaps you should find something else to do with your time than raining on someone's parade.

pinqy

(596 posts)
6. To answer your questions....
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 09:03 AM
Apr 2013
that I should have made sure I included my exact words to the woman in my post (which did, in fact, include the word chained) because not doing so made my post unclear?

Yes. By simply saying "against the CPI" it is unclear that you understand what the CPI is or what the Chained CPI is. It sounds like you don't actually understand the issues. Maybe you do, maybe you don't..but it doesn't sound like you do from what your wrote.

that I shouldn't have called Flake?

You are perfectly free to exercise your rights.

that the woman I spoke with did not understand what I meant by my call?

Oh, it is clear enough that you oppose the proposed changes. It just wasn't clear if you understand them or not.

that I shouldn't object to the proposed change?

Of course you can object. The question is why you object. If your objection is based on misunderstanding, then it's possible you could change your mind if you did understand. If your only objection is that the change will tend to result in a lower increase, then the understanding doesn't necessarily play a role.


that my post laid me open to patronizing, nit picky, unsupported responses?

That too.


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