Mitch McConnell's Plan to Sabotage Social Security From Within

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/alex-lawson/109238/mitch-mcconnell-s-plan-to-sabotage-social-security-from-within

Mitch McConnell’s Plan to Sabotage Social Security From Within
by Alex Lawson | January 31, 2024 - 6:37am


Mitch McConnell and his fellow Republicans have a problem. They hate Social Security, because it is popular, effective, and doesn’t make any money for their billionaire donors. But their voters love Social Security. Ninety-four percent of Republicans oppose benefit cuts.

McConnell understands the political dangers of being openly hostile to Social Security. So instead, he is plotting to sabotage it from within. The latest instrument of that sabotage is Andrew Biggs, a senior fellow at the billionaire-funded American Enterprise Institute. Biggs is McConnell’s pick to serve on the Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB), which “provides advice and recommendations to the President, Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on matters related to the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs and policies.”

snip//

Biggs also wants to turn Social Security from an earned benefit into a poverty-level flat benefit. That means huge cuts for middle class workers who’ve been paying into the program their entire lives. It would destroy Social Security’s political popularity by turning it into a welfare program—a sitting duck for Republicans to make even larger cuts.

What Biggs doesn’t want is for his billionaire donors to pay their fair share into Social Security. He doesn’t want the American people to know that if billionaires pay into Social Security all year long on all of their income, not only can we protect Social Security—we can expand benefits.

Andrew Biggs is an enemy of Social Security, and we need to keep him off the SSAB. The Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing on the nomination this week, and the Senate may hold a vote soon. Democrats have a majority in the U.S. Senate, and they must stand united to protect Social Security from Mitch McConnell’s saboteur.

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.

[malaise]

1. Can't he just croak and

disappear?

[B.See]

2. No, because you see, they'll just shellac him over, prop him

up on a vertical gurney and wheel him about. No one would ever notice the difference.

[malaise]

6. ROFL

😀😀

[vapor2]

28. Like Weekend at Bernie's??

[FailureToCommunicate]

3. Yes please. I get nauseous just hearing his rancid pontifications.

[kwijybo]

8. He did, several years ago.

The latest glitches he's been having lately are the animatronic computer crashing. It runs on Windows Vista

[malaise]

9. ROFL😂😂

[Martin Eden]

12. That wouldn't change what the Republican Party has been wanting to do for decades

Last edited Wed Jan 31, 2024, 01:49 PM - Edit history (1)

They want to destroy FDR's New Deal and LBJ's Great Society. They can't attack these popular programs by frontal assault, so they do everything they can to undermine them.

Including jacking up federal budget deficits with huge tax cuts for wealthy individuals and highly profitable corporations. They are NOT fiscal conservatives. They need huge budget deficits to "starve the beast" then claim these "entitlement" programs are no longer affordable.

Working Americans already paid for these EARNED BENEFITS with deductions from every paycheck. Republicans scream CLASS WARFARE when Democrats advocate taxing the rich, but the plain fact of the matter is the oligarchs who fund the political careers of Republicans have bern waging and winning class warfare since Reagan.

Their greed knows no bounds. They're coming after the earned benefits we worked hard for all our lives. Transfer of wealth flows upward, not the other way around.

Which begs the question:
Why do so many Joe 6-pack types vote for them?

[malaise]

14. Sadly you are correct

Rec

[jaxexpat]

16. Because, sadly, Joe 6-pack is an oafish lout.

[OMGWTF]

53. In the last three weeks in the Coachella Valley, I met four strangers who have turned out to be

total MAGA Trumpers who spout Fux/OAN drivel as if it were fact. One asshole said he didn't like Palm Springs (where I live) because of the gays. I said that's one of my favorite things about it. Another fidiot said that every hotel room in Times Square was occupied by an illegal immigrant. JFC! I shut them all down with facts and left ASAP. For the last ten years I have made it my New Year's resolution to keep idiots and assholes out of my life -- I clearly need to do a better job or just stop being friendly. Fuck 'em!

[jaxexpat]

54. 3 weeks?! Thank you for your service.

[calimary]

34. And therein lies the problem.

[orthoclad]

41. Good question. Why?

We don't tend to answer that. It's easier to sneer and feel superior.

The working class used to identify with the Left. During Vietnam and civil rights, the Right managed to split us up, using racism, sexism and other emotional triggers.

[Martin Eden]

55. Rightwing propaganda networks have been very effective at manipulating perceptions

Triggering emotions (as you noted) and crafting a "conservative" ideology linking the Republican Party with Christianity and patriotism. This is firmly ensconced in the culture across wide swaths of the American demographic.

It's been a highly successful multigenerational psy-ops operation.

[orthoclad]

57. I keep thinking of the Powell Memo

Multigenerational. When you have massive inherited wealth, you can be patient.
Psy-ops. The Right has access to many decades of applied research into how to manipulate a population. Think of Bolton's confession about knowing how to do coups.
Emotional triggers beat sweet reason 9 times out of 10.
Religion. Faith trumps evidence and justifies extreme behavior.

The 1971 Powell memo, written by a future Supreme Court justice, distilled the sense of threat to power permeating the rich and powerful, and describes the long-term planning to solidify power. Whether today's headlines are a result of the memo or just fellow-traveler consequences, we need to bear these factors in mind.
https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/speeches/the-scheme-1-the-powell-memo

[Martin Eden]

58. THAT is one of the most important articles ever posted in DU

MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!@

[orthoclad]

59. I repeatedly post the

Senator Whitehouse link, and this one from the Congrssional Biudget Office:
?itok=wQNZRzxP

source: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58533, Trends in the Distribution of Family Wealth, 1989 to 2019
I wish it covered 1970 to 2022.
That little black squiggle at the bottom is HALF the US population. The orangish curve on top is 10% of the population. Tells us where the power is.
Trickle on!

[Trueblue1968]

49. Time to French Revolution tirtleman ......

[malaise]

52. THIS

Rec

[Takket]

4. Him and every other rethug since SS became law. They haven't succeeded yet.

[markodochartaigh]

20. They have had some success.

Under Reagan social security became taxable, and social security benefits for many public employees who also have a pension are significantly reduced by the "Windfall Elimination Provision". Efforts are underway to improve social security, and even though there is a little support on the Republican side, unless the Democratic party controls the House, Senate, and the Presidency measures to improve social security are unlikely to pass.

[videohead5]

5. Any change like this to Social Security

Would have to be voted on by the House and Senate and signed into law by the president. I just don't see this ever happening.

[2naSalit]

11. Yet they will...

Continue to attempt it.

[orthoclad]

60. "But we're broke!"

That worked in 2010 to gut a lot of programs. That's why we don't have national health care, like every other First World country. As soon as the Tea Party gained power, suddenly "we're broke" was dropped.
The Right has access to TONS of motivational research about manipulating the people. I personally don't feel socially secure.

[2naSalit]

61. Nor do I. ...nt

[Lonestarblue]

17. And if Trump is elected, Republicans will take the Senate and possibly the House. Plan accomplished.

Republicans always find a way to hurt everyone but their rich donors.

[videohead5]

25. I just don't see

Trump winning. The red wave was a joke.
The filibuster is still in place plus I don't see all Republicans voting for it. The public will be burning up their phones if they even started to do something like this.

[Akacia]

31. I thought so too at one time but

ever since Roe I am not as confident.

[calimary]

35. I know how you feel, Akacia.

[LakeArenal]

7. No secret there.

[spanone]

10. K&R

[B.See]

13. The bs these fkrs get away with is infuriating

The MAGAS in control of the house are working to impeach a Democrat colleague of theirs even as we speak, on the basis of pure concocted bs, and for FAR less that what that sob Moscow Mitch has pulled.

Between Jan 2019 and Sept 2020 only 1 percent of 15,000 bills submitted to the Senate passed, thanks to Mitch.

And the fkr actually BRAGGED about his government SABOTAGE, in which 395 bills, most of them BIPARTISAN sat in what he called his "legislative graveyard." Actually LAUGHED about it.

So yeah, fk Mitch McConnell.(Godspeed or hell bound it'd be good riddance.)

https://www.newsweek.com/mitch-mcconnells-legislative-graveyard-helping-current-congress-least-productive-history-1532424

[jaxexpat]

15. Total elimination of the Social Security administration is McConnel's wet dream, his raison d'etre.

It's his personal philosophical anchor and the muse of his political definition. At some point in his personal evolution, he learned to hate and mistrust all things FDR (a textbook example of 1+1= any number, except 4), upon which he closed off all other coherent aspiration. It explains the singlemindedness of his "talent", his ability to fully immerse himself in hypocritical illogic unscathed. Portending a very real and diabolical psychosis, the template and example for all Republican legislators, it shows. He has no consciousness of introspection, indeed, no mental acuity for doubt on this subject. Fulfilling this quest, he would happily expire, like some salmon, having laid its eggs in some nameless stream, for he has nothing else to live for. The John C. Calhoun of our time, all because one day he had a half-baked idea which he took as a calling.

[B.See]

19. In other words, he's a mean spirited, narrow minded, underhanded

SOB.

(But I love the eloquence with which you said so.)

[Upthevibe]

18. babylonsister ..

It's important that this plot gets out to the masses via commercials, social media, etc.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

21. Add this to the Dems campaign message....

REPUBLICANS WANT TO DESTROY SOCIAL SECURITY!!!

Here are the facts. Make sure Voters of the other party hear the message.

[Upthevibe]

26. ProudMNDemocrat.....

Yes! That's what I'm talkin' about!

My sense is (I'm not sure) those in their 20's & 30's won't be as moved by this catastrophe but those who have parents on Social Security will be (their parents). The Dems need to be REALLY smart with their target marketing.

[calimary]

36. THIS!!!

THIS, Dammit!!!

[Hotler]

22. Cuts to S.S. is smoke and mirrors, their goal is to steal every penny in the trust fund.

And they won't stop there. The fascist will steal everything they can get their hands on.

[BradBo]

23. That gently alive corpse needs to die already.

[AllaN01Bear]

24. 75 years they been nickleing and diming it. leave it the heck alone and dont mess with me.

[Traildogbob]

27. Yet

His wife will draw his tax funded pension for decades after he is dead.
Social Security Advantage is on the way.
It will be free, with dental eye and hearing.
(Destroying from the inside)

[TeamProg]

29. Fuckers. Money trickles to the TOP anyway. Most Soc Sec $ is spent on goods that the rich control. Sure, some middle

men / women make a living from that consumer spending but then THEIR MONEY ALSO trickles up to those in control.

[wryter2000]

30. Why does McConnell get a pick?

[Wild blueberry]

32. K&R

THIS!
"What Biggs doesn’t want is for his billionaire donors to pay their fair share into Social Security. He doesn’t want the American people to know that if billionaires pay into Social Security all year long on all of their income, not only can we
protect Social Security—we can expand benefits."
Thank you.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

33. Anything MoscowMitch likes is dangerous to the rest of us.

MoscowMitch is the reason we no longer have a Supreme Court, but rather an Extreme Cult.


https://www.salon.com/2021/10/21/rachel-maddow-explains-origins-of-how-mcconnell-earned-his-moscow-mitch-moniker/

[Mr.Bee]

37. VOTE!

You are granted one power in this life, the power to vote. Use it, and vote them out!
1985, he's been there longer than some of you were born!

[PatrickforB]

38. Thanks! I just wrote to both of my US Senators. n/t

[IcyPeas]

39. ... and now please enjoy a musical interlude from Rihanna....

Bitch better have my money
Bitch better have my money
Pay me what you owe me

[LoisB]

40. It is interesting to me that the people who hate Social Security the most are the ones who need it the least.

I would be willing to bet half the farm that they are all collecting theirs because they are "entitled" to it but the rest of us are not.

[DENVERPOPS]

44. Actually

most of the wealthy, esp the Uber wealthy don't pay into social security, and therefore don't get anything out.

They don't have what is referred to as "EARNED INCOME" and the SSI only collects from people who EARN income........(wages, salary etc)

The rich mostly have investments and capital gains which are not considered Earned Income. And the Republicans have succeeded in having capital gains taxed at a much lower rate than earned income.

I remember what I was watching in the 1980's and screaming my head off, but few were listening.......I was watching Reagan, (actually HWBush and cronies were the ones TRULY running the Reagan Years) It was hysterical......First HW had Reagan pretend he was going to SAVE SSI.......he literally DOUBLED the withholding from 7.5% to 15%..............The massive increases started showing up on the Federal Gov't's balance sheet........So then, HW (Reagan) Republicans passed HUGE tax cuts to the wealthy because they used that increased money coming in to say the Federal Government was taking in much more than was needed. It was truly a double whammy to all, esp the middle class. The middle class lost an additional 7.5%, and the upper classes got Mega tax cuts.................

That little escapade was only one of many I could name just off the top of my head like destroying the Unions.....All aimed directly at destroying the Middle Class.

I have often said, that the perfect title for a book about the past 45 years would be: WHILE THE NATION SLEPT

[orthoclad]

42. The rich want us poor and desperate.

SocSec removes a lot of fear and anxiety from working people. Fear and anxiety is the whip of the rich.

[live love laugh]

43. Like they're doing to the Postal Service and other agencies like Agriculture.

[WyLoochka]

45. President Biden could withdraw this nomination

Biden and his team must not have done their due diligence before nominating this creep in 2022.
Biggs helped orchestrate the Dubya Bush Administration attack on Social Security from which Harry Reid was most instrumental in saving us from. Biden was in the Senate at the time -2005.

Nominating a known arch enemy of Social Security to the Social Security Advisory Board? WTF, Joe?

Better late in the game than too late and we wake up to find Social Security has been done in-
President Biden - withdraw Andrew Biggs from nomination to the Social Security Advisory Board - today!

[Oopsie Daisy]

46. I'm very much looking forward to watching his funeral on TV.

[senseandsensibility]

47. Very important post and I hope Senate Dems

have their %$$# together enough to oppose him.

[GiqueCee]

48. McConnell is a soulless pervert without a shred of decency

Mitchie, Mitchie, Mitch… WHY are you so fucking evil? It’s small wonder that even your children despise you.

Get this through your thick fucking skull: Social Security is NOT the government’s money! It belongs to the hardworking people who pay into the system for their entire working lives. It is deferred wages held in trust, and you have NO RIGHT to fuck with it. There is NO conceivable reason for scum like you to deprive elder folks (like me!) of their own goddamn money in the autumn of their years. Well, there is one. You, and the filth like you on the Dark Side of the Aisle, just get your rocks off by hurting people.

The greedy oligarchs whose asses you kiss are psychotic monsters who have more money than they could ever spend, and yet, they feel they have the right to fuck over everyone on Earth for their own sick and twisted amusement, and you’re all too happy to help them do it.

Rainbows and bluebirds will fill the sky on the bright sunny day that you die.

[Puppyjive]

50. Ass wipe republicans don't pay into social security

They have no skin in the game. They are tax dodgers. You get out of social security what you pay into it. They cheat the government. They don't care about social security because they don't pay into it.

[grumpyduck]

51. Of course.

Those fucking asshole shitheads are already set for life.

Fuck them all.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

56. Maybe we need wealth limits

More taxes on the rich.

We need to find a way to tax or regulate oligarchy out of existance.

The oligarchy steals wealth.
Treat them like the criminals they are!

If they destroy our democracy...there are more of us then there are of them,and guillotines exist for a reason.