An Argument Against Trusting Hillary On Social Security

[cali]

Hillary doesn't talk a lot about Social Security beyond vague, but adamant promises to defend it. She is vague on lifting the cap, even on those earning over $250,000. She is vague on raising the retirement age, and has talked about raising it on those not engaged in professions that involve physical wear and tear. She has talked about means testing.

But it's who she surrounds herself with that is most alarming. Lloyd Blankfein we all know of. He's almost a cartoon bad guy at this point, thanks to his own actions and words,. He's a close Clinton friend. Goldman Sachs paid Hillary a pretty penny personally, after she stepped down from State. GS has been very generous to the Clinton Family Foundation as well. Listen to Lloyd for 2 minutes and you'll know with great certainty that he didn't do these things out of the goodness of his heart. Money equals access which equals influence. At the very least.

Lloyd is gung ho on cutting social security.

Meet, if you haven't, illustrious economist Alan Blinder, former Clinton appointee and economic advisor to Hillary.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Blinder

Alan Blinder has vigorously supported cutting Social Security:

https://shadowproof.com/2010/05/22/dean-baker-and-alan-blinder-face-off-on-social-securty-cuts/

http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/18/news/economy/national_debt_blinder_hubbard/

And for those who argue that there is absolutely no problem with Hillary having personally enriched herself with the largesse of Mr. Blankfein and that glowing example of corporate rectitude, Goldman Sachs, I offer you this comment from a kossack:


Being personally given six figure fees by a company (or companies!) while running for a political position with regulating oversight of that company is a conflict of interest.

You can argue that you believe your candidate will not act on that conflict of interest, but it is there none the less.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/3/1479347/-Hillary-Clinton-plays-victim-card-again-but-now-on-Bernie-Sanders

I wish I could trust Hillary on Social Security the way I trust her on reproductive rights. She makes it difficult.

[applegrove]

1. So Hillary is against lifting the cap? Are you saying she'd rather

dismantle it? Well you didn't say that. You implied it with links. Why not link to what Hillary has actually said on the issue. Seems to me that would be more honest.

[cali]

2. You know I said nothing about her wanting to dismantle it.

Our discourse ends now by dint of that disingenuous claim. I will not engage with people who found their arguments on a false premise.

[applegrove]

4. Just leading a discussion that casts Hillary with the complete

thoughts and desires of people she comes into contact with is unfair to her and people on this discussion board. Do you know that speaking fees are a common way for experts and public figures to make money? Speaking to some group and getting paid to do so in no way implies support all of said group's policy desires. Just as selling someone your book does not imply the purchaser has some sort of control over the writer. It is simply the free market at play. And i'm sure Hillary does some convincing in her dpeeches to big business. And a good amount of taxes are raised along the way. I suggest you try posting Hillary's position on the issue and link to that.

[Hoyt]

3. Same kind of junk some folks said about Obama. I would be more worried Sanders would screw up

the economy, putting more pressure on the Social Security system.

[cali]

5. I think ignoring who Hillary surrounds herself with is foolish.

[newfie11]

6. Exactly

[Hoyt]

7. Like it or not, some folks she "surrounds herself with" impact jobs, tax revenues, etc.

What's the old saying about keep your enemies . . . . . .

And, yes, I'm concerned about folks like Goldman Sachs. But I'm also concerned about trying to shore up social security; funds for healthcare, education, welfare, etc., trading among ourselves in a stagnant economy. Our economic system needs a lot of changes, but it won't happen overnight without a lot of chaos and perhaps a lot of pain for those who need the most help (the poor). You aren't going to change the economy by ignoring people who can influence where investment goes.

Like Sanders, I'd be glad to see us become more like Denmark -- well, except for their seemingly growing racist attitudes. But, there are investment bankers there too.

I'm fine with Clinton taking money from Goldman Sachs and others to fund her Foundation, run against GOPers, etc., as long as there is no evidence -- beyond conjecture, conspiracy theories -- she is giving them preference to detriment of society.

[cali]

8. Kick

[CharlotteVale]

9. I don't trust her. Her caginess speaks for itself.

[Nanjeanne]

10. Even Obama was willing to cut SS with the Grand Bargain thru chained cpi

I'm sure Hill would do the same.