General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWH Petition: No cuts to Medicare and Social Security Benefits
not cut Social Security and/or Medicare to simply keep taxes low on the wealthiest Americans
It is widely reported that the Democrats are about to finalize a deficit-reduction deal with Republicans. If true, it will cut Social Security payments over time. The cuts will increase as recipients grow older, reaching almost 10% at age 85.
As Presidents Reagan and Obama have said, Social Security has nothing to do with our countrys deficits. In fact, it is forbidden by law to contribute a penny to the deficit. It should not be cut in a deficit deal.
The wealthiest Americans received a windfall over the last decade, including more than $1 trillion in tax cuts which simply added to our debt. The rest of us got little but a terrible economy. True shared sacrifice means that the wealthy need to do their part this time; the elderly who are already hurting should not be hurt more.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/not-cut-social-security-andor-medicare-simply-keep-taxes-low-wealthiest-americans/wN1GL0PC
The President and other Democrats have stated repeatedly that Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022016846
They campaigned on protecting the program:
The President knows that guaranteed Social Security benefits are not handouts, but a bedrock of the commitment to retirement security America makes to our seniors. He believes that no current beneficiaries should see their basic benefits reduced, and he will not accept any approach that slashes benefits for future generations. President Obama stands firmly opposed to privatizing Social Securitythe future security of hard-working Americans should not be dependent on the fluctuations of the stock market. That is why the President has called on Congress to develop a bipartisan plan that follows these principles:
- Any reform should strengthen Social Security for future generations and restore long-term solvency.
- The administration will oppose any measures that privatize or weaken the Social Security system.
- While all measures to strengthen solvency should be on the table, the administration will not accept an approach that slashes benefits for future generations.
- No current beneficiaries should see their basic benefits reduced.
- Reforms should strengthen retirement security for the most vulnerable, including low-income seniors.
- Reform should maintain robust disability and survivors benefits.
Game Changer: Biden Guarantees No Changes in Social Security
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021226318
Now it's time to stand up for seniors against extremists.
What the millionaires want versus what the voters want
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/07/1162018/-What-the-millionaires-want-versus-what-the-voters-want
Republicans have no leverage, and it's time to stop throwing incentives and rewards at these hostage takers.
<...>
First, you can only have a bargain, even potentially, if each side is willing to offer something better than the other sides threat point what it could get without a deal. For Obama, the threat point is letting all the Bush tax cuts expire, then proposing a middle-class tax cut that Republicans almost surely would not be able to block. The trouble with this proposal, from Obamas point of view, is that it still doesnt raise as much revenue as he wants, and that it also doesnt provide stimulus via payroll taxes and extended unemployment benefits. But thats what he can get at minimum.
So what are Republicans proposing? A deal that offers even less revenue, no stimulus, and comes at the price of big social insurance cuts. Why should Obama be interested?
OK, there might be something here if Rs were willing to take the debt ceiling off the table. But they arent; theyre only willing to extend things for a year. And here again, this is worse than Obamas threat point: if theres going to be a debt ceiling confrontation, he wants it early in his term, when he knows public opinion is on his side and there isnt another election looming.
Oh, and my second point: Republicans are still demanding big spending cuts, but arent willing to specify any cuts in particular. Obama is supposed to do all the work. This from a party that ran against him for cutting Medicare in both 2010 and 2012, and will surely do the same in 2014 if given a chance. Theres just no way Obama can support Medicare cuts now unless the Republicans explicitly commit themselves to specific cuts in advance.
The Boehner-McConnell position, then, is still a joke, just marginally less funny than the previous joke.
- more -
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/no-deal-continued/
Thanks to Manny for helping to draft the petition.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Sign one.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)JHB
(37,161 posts)Cal it "compound theft".
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,378 posts)out of their Social Security benefits by eroding them with each passing year.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Response to nadinbrzezinski (Reply #4)
Luminous Animal This message was self-deleted by its author.
TDale313
(7,820 posts)Thanks.
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)Are you against chained CPI?
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)Because the cost of caring for the elderly goes down as they get older? Because in future everything will cost less? How can anyone seriously suggest such a thing?
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)No sense in prolonging the inevitable.
And Pete Peterson and the Koch brothers need the cash.
So it all works.
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)Well, signed the petition anyway hoping to prolong life and sanity...
Lugnut
(9,791 posts)doc03
(35,358 posts)thank God and the USW I have a pension and an IRA to supplement my income. If I had to live on SS alone I would have to either give up driving or my home and move into a Section 8 apartment. If I gave up driving I would have to give up my home and move into town anyway.
So with the Chained CPI if hamburger goes up what do we do go to hot dogs? If hot dogs go up change to cat food? If my electric goes up I could turn my thermostat back to 55º I guess.
kickysnana
(3,908 posts)jtuck004
(15,882 posts)xxqqqzme
(14,887 posts)finally!
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)Thanks for posting this.
krawhitham
(4,645 posts)Faux pas
(14,686 posts)Only 41 signatures (including mine) since yesterday?
JHB
(37,161 posts)Faux pas
(14,686 posts)JHB
(37,161 posts)Faux pas
(14,686 posts)OldDem2012
(3,526 posts)Faux pas
(14,686 posts)Seriously, why?
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)That said, signed.
OldDem2012
(3,526 posts)duffyduff
(3,251 posts)Congress can shoot down this destructive, nutball proposal.
DLnyc
(2,479 posts)Good petition.
Hard to log in though (had to find old password . . . ).
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)Shared.
peacebird
(14,195 posts)Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts).. but i signed anyway. I expect Obama to ignore our voices, as he always ('cept when wanting our vote or contributions) has in the past.
I would like nothing more than to be proved wrong.
jsr
(7,712 posts)for the Obama administration.
Sadly.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)Fuck the corporations, the 1-2%ers and their sockpuppets and their corporate and political enablers, the offshore tax evaders, money launders, leeches and middle/low income cash cow milkers and slaughterers.
We're always asked to shoulder the burden and make continuous sacrifices, tighten our belts, do without, pay more for everything and see little benefit from it all. We've heard it for too many years, nothing changes.
Keep the promises made to those whose votes you needed to win this past election! We're Democrats ffs.
Signed and shared!
ProSense
(116,464 posts)bury the lead balloon.
Dick Durbin: No cut in Social Security benefits
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022020805
DLnyc
(2,479 posts)TOTAL SIGNATURES ON THIS PETITION
1,763
amborin
(16,631 posts)DearHeart
(692 posts)Lone_Star_Dem
(28,158 posts)Explain it to the non rabid Republicans you know. It's not a complicated issue, and most people will support the premise if you take the time to give details.
I just had a right leaning family member tell me they signed. Yeah, it's one person. I did find their name/city a good ways back, so they're at least being honest.
Expand who you're discussing this with. This is an important issue.