Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie single-handedly forced the issue of Social Security expansion onto the national agenda
Obama Flips on Social Securitya Big Win for Bernie Sanders
William Greider
The Nation
We cant afford to weaken Social Security, Obama said. We should be strengthening Social Securityand not only do we need to strengthen its long-term health. It is time we finally made Social Security more generous and increase its benefits so that people get the dignified retirements that they have earned.
That statement alone is a 100 percent reversal of where Barack Obama started on this issue seven years ago. Then he aligned his presidency with billionaire financial gurus like Pete Peterson who are pressing for so-called entitlement reform. That is, whacking Social Security on the grounds that the government can no longer afford it.
But Obamas change of heart also amounts to a breathtaking salute to Senator Bernie Sanders. Bernie single-handedly forced the issue of Social Security expansion onto the national political agenda. He did not ask anyones permission. He was belittled as a dreamy left-winger out of touch with practical reality.
One of the realists who gently dismissed Bernies bold talk was Hillary Clinton. I imagine Obamas endorsement will make it safer for HRC to embrace Bernies position. Several years ago, well before he decided to run for president, Sanders drafted and vetted a bill to expand the retirement benefits in a progressive manner, financed by increasing the contributions from upper incomes. The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed that his calculations were plausible assumptions, though of course it did not endorse the measure.
William Greider
The Nation
We cant afford to weaken Social Security, Obama said. We should be strengthening Social Securityand not only do we need to strengthen its long-term health. It is time we finally made Social Security more generous and increase its benefits so that people get the dignified retirements that they have earned.
That statement alone is a 100 percent reversal of where Barack Obama started on this issue seven years ago. Then he aligned his presidency with billionaire financial gurus like Pete Peterson who are pressing for so-called entitlement reform. That is, whacking Social Security on the grounds that the government can no longer afford it.
But Obamas change of heart also amounts to a breathtaking salute to Senator Bernie Sanders. Bernie single-handedly forced the issue of Social Security expansion onto the national political agenda. He did not ask anyones permission. He was belittled as a dreamy left-winger out of touch with practical reality.
One of the realists who gently dismissed Bernies bold talk was Hillary Clinton. I imagine Obamas endorsement will make it safer for HRC to embrace Bernies position. Several years ago, well before he decided to run for president, Sanders drafted and vetted a bill to expand the retirement benefits in a progressive manner, financed by increasing the contributions from upper incomes. The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed that his calculations were plausible assumptions, though of course it did not endorse the measure.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 646 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (18)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bernie single-handedly forced the issue of Social Security expansion onto the national agenda (Original Post)
portlander23
Jun 2016
OP
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)1. OMG, where has everyone been for the last several years?
randome
(34,845 posts)2. That's sort of the problem. He does everything single-handedly.
Think what he could have accomplished if he had spent the past 25 years building coalitions and partnerships. Instead, virtually none of his coworkers endorse him for President.
He gets credit for the ideas he's put into the public square but no one does anything single-handedly. He is not Hercules.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]
MattP
(3,304 posts)3. No it was Elizabeth Warren
MattP
(3,304 posts)4. Bandwagon Bernie taking credit for other peoples work
His campaign must be pushing this because this is the second article and it's still bullshit Warren is the force in the Senate http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2015/04/can-elizabeth-warren-expand-social-security
mmonk
(52,589 posts)5. Yes he did. That is why it is important to fight for what you believe in.