Check in here if you will call the White House at 202-456-1111 TODAY to save SS.

[Faryn Balyncd]

The White may have thought it could dress up a 112 billion dollar cut to earned SS benefits as a mere "technical" accounting adjustment.

The White House may have thought that Americans would not realize that the $112 billion cuts (to current beneficiaries in the next 10 years alone, & based on low inflation projections) will grow exponentially in following decades, especially if inflation heats up.

The White may have thought it would be good politics to repeat the CPI book cooking scam perfected by the Boskin Commission in the 1990's, which has resulted in CPI calculations that (as returning Congressman Alan Grayson pointed out in his recent DU post) ALREADY UNDERSTATE inflation.




But that scam has been long ago exposed: A few years after the Boskin Commission slashed SS benefits by rigging CPI to understate inflation, Greg Mankiw, chairman of George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers from 2001-2003, seeing no reason at the time to continue the charade, publicly admitted the truth everyone already knew: “The debate about the CPI was really a political debate about how, and by how much, to cut real entitlements.”

And the White may have thought it would be good politics to offer up Social Security cuts in a deal with Republicans to partially preserve historically low income tax rates on the 1% (rates that were only achieved by raiding Social Security surpluses to finance income tax cuts)...




But Republicans have shown that their strategy is for DEMOCRATS to cut Social Security, and for DEMOCRATS to own he issue and bear the blame...

Because Republican leaders know that Americans across the board, even their own Republican bas, side with the Progressive caucus, the House Progressive Caucus, with the AFL-CIO, the AARP , MoveOn.org,and oppose cutting Social Security by cooking the CPI calculation books.

Even Republicans recognize that Americans are not willing to be fooled by mischaracterizing a $112 billion cut to Social Security as a "technical" accounting change.... and the overwhelming position of Americans across the board shown in the December Washington Post/ABC poll :

"In order to strike a budget deal, would you accept Changing the way Social Security benefits are calculated so that benefits increase at a slower rate than they do now or is this something you would find unacceptable?"


60% of all adults oppose (60% to 34%)
57% of registered voters oppose (57% to 36%)
68% of Democratic voters oppose (68% to 26%)
54% of Republican voters oppose (54% to 40%)
56% of Independents oppose (56% to 36%)
65% of liberals oppose (65% to 29%)
57% of moderates oppose (57% to 38%
58% of conservatives oppose (58% to 33%)

So when even Republican leaders are afraid to cross the American people on this issue (as demonstrated by their refusal to include "chained CPI" in their own proposal, isn't it time for the White House to stand with the House Progressive Caucus, and with the American people, and reject the slashing of Social Security benefits as part of a deal to finance general fund deficits by continued raiding of Social Security surpluses?




So who is willing to flood the White House phone lines at 202-456-1111 TODAY?

Who is willing to demand that the White House stand with the House Progressive Caucus, with Democratic principles, and with the American people?

[oddoneout]

1. i will

n/t

[shintao]

2. Where is the Toll Free Number??

I just started a thread on these toll numbers in order to support various propositions. Why isn't there a toll free number?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022078927

[Faryn Balyncd]

5. Here is the website... It only shows area code 202 numbers...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/write-or-call#call

[haikugal]

3. I will...

I'm getting a busy signal...I hope it's because others are calling as well.

[SugarShack]

4. already called, these poll results above need to be on billboards! TV! Radio!

They are not because we are not witnessing a government representative of the people. The polls above are proof of that!

[limpyhobbler]

6. wow

considering public opinion...

60% of all adults oppose (60% to 34%)
57% of registered voters oppose (57% to 36%)
68% of Democratic voters oppose (68% to 26%)
54% of Republican voters oppose (54% to 40%)
56% of Independents oppose (56% to 36%)
65% of liberals oppose (65% to 29%)
57% of moderates oppose (57% to 38%
58% of conservatives oppose (58% to 33%)

it seems like cutting Social Security is not just a horrible idea, it's also an assault on democracy.

[Demo_Chris]

7. +1000!

[sabrina 1]

8. I will try again later. They are busy right now.

[WillyT]

9. K & R !!! - Will Do !!!

[grahamhgreen]

10. I called last week, yesterday, and I'm picking up the phone right now. Also, Call your Rep!

Congressional switchboard - just give em your zipcode - [phone]







PS - there is a typo above: "even their own Republican bas,"

[forestpath]

11. Done!

[sabrina 1]

12. Tried twice already and was put on hold. I will keep trying.

It seems they are all getting swamped with calls.

[HiPointDem]

13. i will.

[eridani]

14. Try faxing if you can't get through

White House fax: [phone]

You can send 2 free faxes a day through http://myfax.com/ Must have a valid emai address.

[midnight]

15. K&R....