The Democrats should run on Social Security

[babylonsister]

The Democrats should run on Social Security
Katrina Vanden Heuvel


If Democrats really want to rally their base and win over voters who are either on the fence or thinking of sitting this midterm election out, they'd be smart to start talking Social Security.

You won’t find a lack of enthusiasm at the grassroots when it comes to protecting a program that for 75 years has lifted millions out of poverty and provided dignity for the elderly and for other vulnerable Americans.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has noted that Social Security provides the majority of income for two-thirds of the elderly population, and one-third receive nearly all of their income from it. And let's be clear: despite all the right-wing and neoliberal rhetoric, it isn't going bankrupt. According to the Congressional Budget Office, if no changes were made to Social Security it would still be able to provide full benefits to every recipient until 2039, and approximately 80 percent of benefits thereafter.

So it's stunningly bad politics and bad policy that at this moment -- with record poverty and economic inequality, and a shrinking middle-class -- Republicans and ConservaDems are looking to slash benefits under the guise of deficit reduction. It’s quite possible they will vote on a plan -- via the White House National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform -- to do just that in a lame duck session of Congress come December.

But the Strengthen Social Security Campaign (SSSC) -- a coalition of over 125 national and state organizations, representing over 50 million of Americans -- and their congressional allies are pursuing an effective inside-outside strategy to stop that plan in its tracks and protect Social Security for American workers, seniors, children, and people with disabilities.

At the grassroots, activists are focused on petitioning to protect benefits and pressing members of congress and candidates to declare their positions on ideas like raising the retirement age, privatization, means-testing, and changing the cost of living adjustment (COLA) formula -- all of which are (not so) stealth ways to cut benefits.

Inside Congress, 105 Members have signed onto a letter from Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), and Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.) to President Obama stating their opposition to these and any other efforts to cut Social Security.

more...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/10/the_democrats_should_run_on_so.html

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Nice thought, but the Democrats are also trying to slash it

Even Obama, who appointed the Catfood Commission after Congress would not, refuses to rule out cuts.

Fortunately there are a few actual Democrats, like Grijalva and company, who are standing up for working Americans.

[babylonsister]

2. He has a commission; have they changed anything yet? FAIL,

manny. Again, you're borrowing trouble that hasn't even happened yet.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. A commission led by two people who've actively worked to cut SS before

The "Democrat" cut a deal with Newt Gingrich to cut it when he was Clinton's Chief of Staff.

The Republican urged the formation of this committee specifically to slash Social Security. And called Social Security "a milk cow with 310 million tits", which is a disgusting and horrible lie - it's a pension fund that we paid into, which is under attack because the Predator Class wants to grab the $2.5 trillion surplus.

Most of the others members appointed by Obama have been public about their desire to cut it as well.

[babylonsister]

4. Has it happened? And all these Dem voices expressing

their concern just might have an impact, but you go ahead and insist something has happened when nothing has. I know it makes you feel better.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. So: why did Obama appoint this commission?

And why pick so many people who have openly vowed to raid Social Security?

[babylonsister]

6. Write him a letter and ask him. Don't ask me, because I don't

know, though I imagine if I googled and wanted to read about what his reasoning was, it might be there.

I'll bet there are also people on the commission who don't want to change SS, but you don't care about that contingent. Interesting that...

[MannyGoldstein]

10. And why has Obama refused to speak out against cuts?

He's only said he'll fight against privatization.

I think it's pretty clear that Obama set up the Commission so that he could triangulate with it: he can tell the crazies that he cut SS, while telling Democrats "at least I saved it from privatization".

If he hadn't appointed this infernal commission, he wouldn't have to save anything. He appointed it, nobody was forcing him. In fact, Congress had already voted down this commission.

[MrTriumph]

7. Obama has already tipped his hand.. cuts are coming

Rememer how he praised Reagan?

[babylonsister]

8. Got a link? nt

[MrTriumph]

14. Yes...Sept 8, 2010 Cleveland, Ohio...here is the exact quote

"And yes, the vision of Ronald Reagan, who despite his aversion to government, was willing to help save Social Security for future generations."

[customerserviceguy]

9. Frankly, 'our' side is waiting for the election to be over with

so they can pass the commission report in full. That will allow two full years almost before having to face voters on the issue in 2012.

[pansypoo53219]

11. they also should run on georgee.

how long did they blame carter + clinton? let's see some 'best of' georgee commercials and use that 'miss me yet?' billboard.

[GSLevel9]

12. agreed...

a commitment to SS is smart politics.

[David Zephyr]

13. Yes. Remind Americans that this same GOP wanted Americans to "invest" their SS in Wall Street.

They still do. We should be using their words in audio and video against them.