Sen. Warren Blasts GOP Social Security Scheme: "It’s ridiculous – but not surprising"

[kpete]

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is outraged by House Republicans' move to block a routine Social Security budgeting move to use as a bargaining chip in future entitlement reform negotiations.

On social media platforms Warren, in very clear terms, said the attempt by House Republicans to block the Social Security budgeting move that involves transferring revenues between the Social Security retirement trust fund and the Social Security disability program was flat out "ridiculous."

"It’s ridiculous – but not surprising – that on the very first day of the new Congress, Republicans are manufacturing a Social Security crisis to threaten benefits for millions of disabled Americans – including 233,260 in Massachusetts alone," Warren said on Facebook. "We can’t turn our backs on the promises we’ve made to our families, friends, and neighbors who need our help the most. House Republicans should stop playing political games to put America’s most vulnerable at risk."



More, plus her twitter feed:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/elizabeth-warren-house-republicans-leverage-social-security-transfer

[sabrina 1]

1. Don't worry, the Third Way will be along to put her in her place. I believe they mentioned

something about her NOT knowing her place recently, or words to that effect.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Apparently, Senator Warren can't hear them!

She doesn't seem to be backing off one bit!

[Autumn]

3. I know her place. Her place is in the White House.

[Liberalynn]

31. Exactly

[JDPriestly]

40. +1000

[Helen Borg]

60. +1000

[daleanime]

69. Amen....

[Thinkingabout]

4. So now the attacks on the Third Way is becoming a priority. Why is there a need to attack other

Democrats, is there a gain to be made on DU doing this?

[jeff47]

5. Well, Third Way keeps clinging to an outdated model of electoral politics

resulting in losses and also blocking implementation of liberal policies. While helping to enact conservative policies.

So yes, I'd argue there is a gain to be made on DU by fighting against Third Way style politics. Because it doesn't work, it doesn't get results we want, and it gets results we do not want.

[Thinkingabout]

15. What outdated "models" are you referring?

[jeff47]

36. Third way is predicated on a political alignment

that looks like an upside-down V. A large number of people in the middle, tapering off as you get more radical left or right. So moving to the right would theoretically get you closer to the peak and more votes.

We aren't like that anymore. The distribution is like an upside-down W now. There's two peaks, with a pit in the middle. Republicans are aiming at the right peak, and Third Way is aiming for the pit in the middle. Aiming for that pit creates a lot of disaffected voters on the left peak who don't turn out.

Third way politicians claim their success in the past means we should follow their strategy. But times change. Their strategy is not correct for our current environment, even if you ignore policy and only care about winning elections.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

119. Well explained. Funny the person who didn't understand the problem has nothing

to say in response.

[mazzarro]

91. +100% - indeed my friend! -- n/t

[phantom power]

6. Because 3rd-Way allows the Overton window to drift continuously to the right.

[DonCoquixote]

7. because the third way is attacking US

by eagerly cheerign on those who attack Social security under the guise of reform.

[Thinkingabout]

23. On the refirm would you rather Social Security be allowed to completely go broke or would you

Rather "reform" to increase the maximum on which FICA taxes are withheld?

[RunInCircles]

39. Thats just it 3rd way wants to cut benefits

There are many good proposals for shoring up Social Security like the one you have mentioned.
Third way is exclusively focusing on cutting benefits that we paid for. They must be fought at all times in every way possible.

[Thinkingabout]

46. Get off trashing the "third way", let us work together and tell Congress and President Obama we are

prepared to fight them on this issue, united we stand and divided we fall. The GOP has their own internal fighting going, we do not need to help them by crashing our plane and sinking our ship.

[LondonReign2]

57. You dodged

Yes, raising the FICA tax would be a great way to shore up Social Security. It's not, however, what the Third Way wants to do. Third Way wants to "reform" benefits.

When this is pointed out to you, you try to divert and say "get off trashing the third way".

Uh-huh

[Thinkingabout]

62. I did not divert, I wanted to know why the "third way" is getting trashed, all the other was

diversion, the trashing only helps the GOP, they want the DNC to fight among themselves, just as they have fighting with in the GOP, it does not help and is not one of the issues which should be important to having and keeping Democrat platform.

[DonCoquixote]

63. "and is not one of the issues which should be important to having and keeping Democrat platform."

SOCIAL SECURITY is not imprtant to having and keepign the democratic Platform?

Are you Kidding?

By the way, as far as the whole "should it go broke?" question you, as the other reply put it dodged, than simply RAISE THE CAP on ss. You may thibnk you do not need it, but in the crazed climate of our economy, where some CEO can trash your 401k, you will need thats security more than ever. here are plenty of ex-yuppies living off SS and food stamps who thought "this will never happen to me."

Seriously, FDR's star program not important to the democratic platform, god, that goes right up there with the WORST of Orwellian doublethink. Enjoy having the Koch Borthers grind you into Soylent green.

[Thinkingabout]

65. Maybe you have misread my statements but I quiet well know how important Social Security is

to working class people, at one time it was the pension of seniors but now we need a pension to assist seniors meeting their financial needs. I know there needs to be some reforms such as increasing the cap on collecting FICA. Social Security is a Democrat sacred cow, it is not an "entitlement" as preached by GOP for years. I am a recipient of Social Security myself. I still want to know what we are going to gain with the trashing of other Democrats, to continue to accuse "enjoying having the Koch Brothers", go and trash the GOP, Democrats needs to remain united, let the GOP continue their fighting, we do not need this.

[DonCoquixote]

66. because

when democrats talk about "reforming" social security, they are undermining the solidarity democrats should have. Many will feel that they have to worry about knives in the back as well as shots fired at them from the front.

[Thinkingabout]

67. Hey, I try to think about recipients in the future, I probably will not be here when the funds

runs out, over the years the cap has been raised, we make more money in 2015 than we did in 1945.

[Curmudgeoness]

70. You can easily fulfill that prophecy

about not having SS in the future. All you have to do is stop fighting for it now. And that sounds like what you are doing. Just give up? Are you kidding me? That is not going to happen with me, or with many other Democrats who are not buying the GOP talking points about SS going broke and not being there in the future.

You ask why people are trashing the Third Way. At least for me, it comes down to Democratic principles. The Third Way are moving away from those principles, and if they are sounding like Republicans more than Democrats, I have to speak out. They should know that we are not happy about the direction they are taking the party.

But in the end, as much as we hate the move to the right, most people here are still voting every election, and are still voting for Democrats. But the Third Way had better pay more attention, because that could change if we get any alternatives.

[Thinkingabout]

71. As for myself I have not moved away from Democrat principles, I just have not followed those on the

far left side, does not make me a republican or sounding like a republican. I disagree with movement of the Democrat party, I find it is moving further to the left and do not like the direction some wants to take the Democrat party. I read many post here on DU if this does not happen then they was not going to vote, excuses like the candidates is not putting issues "worth" them voting so they did not vote. We can continue to split the Democrat party and totally lose the principles we have fought so hard or we can get this party united, try to win the battles in which we can or the GOP and TP will rule our lives. I don't like the alternative of GOP rule. All in all, the trashing needs to stop, we do not need to do Rove's work.

[Curmudgeoness]

72. The GOP moves further to the right,

and the Democratic party is moving with them. Those of us who are still liberal are now being painted as the far left. I have been around a lot of years, and I have not changed my values. But I have seen my values go from mainstream Democratic to a leftist wingnut. No. It isn't me who had changed.

And as to the few people here who say that they did not/will not vote at all, they are definitely a problem. But I do sympathize with them because they have lost faith. Instead of criticizing them, we should be trying to help them get confidence in the party again.

[RiverLover]

73. Thank you. Great post!!

Why have 2 parties if everyone is on the Right (which is really, really wrong) ?

You might find this post interesting, Curmudgeoness~

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1277&pid=2771

[Curmudgeoness]

74. Yes, I saw that one.

And I chimed in.

[RiverLover]

76. So you did! I'm sorry I missed it.

That was good too. ..." If they have to pull money from the war machine to fund the peace machine, so be it. "

I guess I'm a fan!

[Thinkingabout]

78. I am more interested in uniting for causes, not dividing, the constant trashing is a problem, this

is what the GOP is responsible. The trashing of Third Way and when I ask what is there about the Third Way in which they do not like I don't get truthful answers. One I did receive was welfare reform, or the training of individuals in order for them to enter the workforce, this isn't bad. I see accusations of Democrats who think like republicans, there may be but apparently they still want to be defined as Democrats. We believe in raising the minimum wage, job safety, etc and still I hear trashing, I don't know why so many are so committed to trashing. We need to stay united, we will not get all of our issues handled in a year and some takes years, we have to be patient.

[Curmudgeoness]

103. I also wish that the party was more united.

I just disagree that the fault lies with the "far left".

Do not say that you don't get "truthful answers" about why we are opposed to the Third Way. You do get truthful answers, you just don't want to hear them. In fact, I gave you an example of one of the problems in this exchange with you.

Many Third Way policies sound just like GOP talking points. One of them is "personal responsibility". Yes, I agree that we all have some responsibility to do the best that we can, but in this economic climate, it is unfair to expect people to get ahead on their own when too many things are against them. The job market is against them, the banking industry is against them, the stock market is against them. Yet, we are supposed to blame them for their problems. Bunk.

If you really do care to know why we are not happy with the policies championed by the Third Way, read this article. And if you have a real desire to find answers, follow the links for more information. One of the points made here:

One of this faction's key goals is to roll back three of the Democratic Party's signature achievements: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. It is a measure of their power and influence that they've been able to get so many Democratic politicians to support Social Security cuts when public opinion is so strongly against them.

Edited to add the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/the-democrats-third-way-q_b_4410394.html

[RunInCircles]

162. From Pete Peterson's Web Site

There’s no real fiscal solution that does not involve changes to entitlements.

This is the stance that I will fight against with every breath I have. How about raising taxes on capitol gains a wall street tax. Closing the carried interest loop hole. These would solve the "long term debt crisis without changing the entitlements we are paying for and earning.
No If Democrats support these policies I will oppose them, I will vote against them, I will fight them on every front.
I do not support the Democratic party I support principles which used to be the principles of the Democratic party.

[Enthusiast]

86. Thanks for that.

The true "far Left" is so miniscule that it isn't even worth talking about.

[Art_from_Ark]

125. What is considered to be "far left" today

is where mainstream Democrats (not Dixiecrats) were in the '60s and '70s.

[Enthusiast]

126. That's what happens when the conservative establishment, for over 50 years,

seeks to stomp out anything that is in the slightest bit left leaning. They have done a good job of it. Can't say much good for the results.

[Art_from_Ark]

138. It started getting into high gear after the 1980 election

"Look how bad our butts got beaten! It's because we're too liberal! We gotta be more like them!"

[LondonReign2]

77. It is not "Democrat" principles, it is not "Democrat" platform.

It's 'Democratic"

[Thinkingabout]

79. I am a Democrat, I have Democrat principles, I have a Democrat platform, I am not a Democratic.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

122. There is no such thing as "Democrat" principles.

Odd that you don't know that the modifier is Democratic.

[Thinkingabout]

163. Maybe I can state this again, I am a democrat, I have principles, ergo, Democrat Principles.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

178. OK, so, you are a person. You have beliefs. Are they your "person beliefs" or

your "personal beliefs." It is an adjective that modifies the noun. And "Democrat" is a noun, not an adjective. The adjective is Democratic. And, as I hinted at earlier, that error is common with Republicans who seem somehow think it's cutting. I hate seeing Democrats using that incorrect, tainted phrase.

[Thinkingabout]

179. Do you know what a Democrat is?

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

180. Yes, it's a noun. Do you know what an adjective is?

Clearly not.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

120. The adjective you're looking for is Democratic, not Democrat.

Democratic principals. Democratic Party.

You know who else makes this error?

[LondonReign2]

75. The Third Way is being trashed because they want to cut Social Security benefits

the Third Way is being trashed because they are not Democrats. The Third Way are Corporatists, pure an simple.

The DLC, which was funded by the Koch Brothers, was the predecessor or The Third Way. The Republicans were already 100% beholden to Corporations, but the Democrats were not, not fully. So The Third Way was set up to infiltrate the Democrats and promote Corporatism under the guise of Democratic strategists. The are a Trojan Horse, nothing more. They deserve all the trashing they get and more.

[Thinkingabout]

164. Here is a link you may be interested in reading, it should put your thoughts on the Third Way

wanting to cut Social Security benefits. Those who are resistant to reform are the ones who want social security to die on the vine. You may not be here after 26 more years but perhaps some will be here and deserve the same benefits the retired folks gets today.


http://perspectives.thirdway.org/?p=934

[Enthusiast]

85. Third Way is trashed because they are working against the interests of the American people.

Essentially Third Way has been promoting the GOP cause.

[rhett o rick]

81. You are suggesting we should be united with The Third Way? They

are not looking to help the lower classes.

[lark]

47. It's not our choice

We'd (speaking for liberals) much prefer that all income be included for FICA. However, the Repugs and some DINOs, on behalf of Wall St., want to totally gut SS, but will settle for cutting it up, one little piece at a time. Of couse, they will then use this against any and all Dems. I can see the headlines in the advertisments - SS cut under Democratic president and bipartisan support - vote Repug - we'll protect your retirement (LIE).

SS is also NOT going broke. If nothing is changed, in xx years (forget when as it changed) SS will be paying out 75% of benefits. With raising the max level even to where it should be adjusted for inflation, SS can pay out benefits for the next 50 years. The cap needs to be removed totally IMO.

[Thinkingabout]

64. Actually SSI is running out of money, and needs another injection from the Social Security to

keep it funded. Removing the maximum salary in which FICA is collected would be a good start in shoring up funds in the future. Though there are those trying to privatize Social Security does not mean this is a "Third Way" agenda.

[lark]

106. Privatizing and removing the caps are opposite solutions.

3rd Wayers DO NOT want to remove the cap because they are protecting the ultra rich. They want to privatize so Wall St. can get a big cut of (and actually take) retirees money. Populists and liberals are the ones pushing to remove the SS max. cap.

[LondonReign2]

110. So let's see:

You support cutting social security benefits, privatizing social security, and support The Third Way.

OK.

[yeoman6987]

152. SSI and SSDI should not be part of SS

It should be a separate fund. If we separated the two accounts, we could raise Social Security for every senior a thousand dollars a month and still be ahead. I never understood why we allowed SSI and SSDI to be taken from our Social Security. Absolutely does not make sense.

[LondonReign2]

8. The Third Way are not Democrats

[Thinkingabout]

17. Uninformed huh, maybe you do not know what the third way stands on many issues.

[LondonReign2]

21. Third Way stands right where the Kochs want them to stand silly

[PoliticAverse]

44. The Kochs are not 'Third Way'ers. n/t

[LondonReign2]

56. Kochs helped fund the predessor DLC

They are fully aligned

[Thinkingabout]

48. So Democrats needs to be "silly" and fight other Democrats and preventing any group effort in

protecting issues like Social Security and allow Republicans to be elected where if this trend continues they will soon have control of the presidency and Congress, they will write off anything the Democrats has fought for years to have and continue to have. Stop this trashing, we do not need this. While we are focused on trashing other Democrats then we are not watching the hen house of the GOP.

[LondonReign2]

55. I repeat

>"we are focused on trashing other Democrats"

Third Wayers are not Democrats. Third Wayers are IN FAVOR of trashing Social Security.

[Thinkingabout]

97. I repeat, Third Wayers are Democrats, don't know if you are but they are, are you socialist?

[LondonReign2]

101. Nope, Third Wayers are Corporatists, pure and simple

Have fun supporting their effort to cut social security

[Enthusiast]

87. You should entertain the possibility that you have been hoodwinked by Third Way.

Third Way = Republican. Third Way should be trashed all to hell. Third Way's goal is to split the Democratic Party. Third Way pays for sockpuppet internet liars.

[Thinkingabout]

98. Third wayers votes Democrat. You are following the Rove Posters who wants to split the DNC so this

trashing does exactly what Rove wants to happen in the DNC, guess you want to help Rove huh. I am not hoodwinked, you might want to check to see who is hoodwinked by the Rove bunch.

[Enthusiast]

112. LMAO

[Thinkingabout]

113. That is what i think when I read the Rove post, yep here is another one of Rove's people.

[Enthusiast]

115. I'm one of Rove's people?

[Thinkingabout]

116. I have heard he has posters on DU and if you think Third Wayers are republican then I think you

Are helping him spread FOX type info and say Third Wayers are Republican.

[RiverLover]

123. Well everyone here who talks about how bad the Third Way is & how they are rethugs in plain sight

& there are alot of us wanting to rid the party of these posers, we must all be republican operatives??

!!! Wow are you revealing alot, but about yourself. Not us.

[Thinkingabout]

130. Just saying, if the analogy of Third Wayers are republican then the trashers must be FOX and Rove

posters since they continue to lie like FOX and Rove workers, as you say they are revealing lots about themselves.

[Enthusiast]

127. Third Way is often indistinguishable from Republicans in the positions they take.

Look at DU. Most of us on DU recognize that Third Way favors subservience to the corporations. That used to be a Republican position.

[Thinkingabout]

131. Saying Third Way is indistinguishable from Republincans is not true, this is what FOX or Rove

Would say so then you make yourself indistinguishable from FOX or Rove workers. Why does these posters continue to work for FOX or Rove?

[sabrina 1]

156. When has Fox criticized the Third Way? Fox attacks Liberals.

The Third Way is a Wall St Think Tank who published an artcle in the WSJ in December attacking Elizabeth Warren and the Left because Warren agreed with Sen. Harkin that Social Security should be increased.

They also want to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. In fact they agree with the Right that those programs should be privatized.

They are definitely not Democrats, they are a Wall St Think Tank whose board of directors are almost all Wall St Investors.

[Thinkingabout]

157. Yes FOX attacks liberals, why do the FOX attacks on DU to other liberals.

Where is your credible link the Third Way want to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?

[RiverLover]

158. Here's 3rd Way talking about their RW plans for SS, including raising retirement age~

Fixing Social Security is progressive

http://perspectives.thirdway.org/?p=934

Nothing like Republicans telling us their ideas are "progressive".

[Thinkingabout]

160. Did you read this article? It is making changes so the future after 26 more years will have some

opportunity to receive Social Security Benefits. We have survived the last reform of raising the retirement age, have survived an increase in the maximum cap on collecting FICA. What do you have against the future benefactors receiving Social Security benefits? I question anyone who wants to just see these benefits ending after 26 years and expect those who are not of the age to receive benefits to continue to contribute. These are the ones who wants to cease social security. I won't be here to see this come into play but I think about the younger generations. Social Security is a good thing, there is too much abuse of the SSDI benefits and Social Security is now up to transferring more funds to SSDI, the fraud needs to stop. You should praise the Third Way for wanting to keep social security going. What do you think should happen to keep social security going past the 26 years.

[RiverLover]

161. If we taxed corporations at a decent rate & they actually paid it(unlike GE), there wouldn't be a

problem.

Republicans & 3rd Way like to hurt citizens financially, but never corporations who might not be able to pay their CEOs' multimillion salaries.

But even given that, the majority of Americans are for raising payroll taxes if it means saving Social Security. We are against privatizing it for sure.

...The Third Way outburst against Sen. Warren was triggered by her statement of support for Sen. Tom Harkin’s bill to increase Social Security benefits. There, too, Third Way’s opinions diverge sharply from those of the mainstream. A poll by the National Academy for Social Insurance found that “Fully 74% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats agree that ‘it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means increasing Social Security taxes paid by working Americans.’”

A recent poll by United Technologies and National Journal reaffirmed the public’s support for Social Security. As with earlier polls, 76 percent of respondents opposed benefit cuts like the “chained CPI,” which Third Way has been pushing for some time.

The policy approach favored by “seven in 10 participants across generations and income levels” in the NASI poll included: lifting the payroll tax cap so that wealthy people and employers would pay more; increasing payroll taxes for all Americans; and increasing Social Security benefits. Considering the tax aspects of that plan, it is more liberal than the Harkin bill endorsed by Sen. Warren.

Taken altogether, the economic policies supported by most Americans are the same ones Third Way dismissed in its Op-Ed as the work of “left-wing populists.” And yet Third Way is given the same kind of “centrist” label previously accorded to Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, the two co-chairs of a presidential commission that failed to make recommendations for reducing the deficit.

...The Third Way outburst against Sen. Warren was triggered by her statement of support for Sen. Tom Harkin’s bill to increase Social Security benefits. There, too, Third Way’s opinions diverge sharply from those of the mainstream. A poll by the National Academy for Social Insurance found that “Fully 74% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats agree that ‘it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means increasing Social Security taxes paid by working Americans.’”

A recent poll by United Technologies and National Journal reaffirmed the public’s support for Social Security. As with earlier polls, 76 percent of respondents opposed benefit cuts like the “chained CPI,” which Third Way has been pushing for some time.

The policy approach favored by “seven in 10 participants across generations and income levels” in the NASI poll included: lifting the payroll tax cap so that wealthy people and employers would pay more; increasing payroll taxes for all Americans; and increasing Social Security benefits. Considering the tax aspects of that plan, it is more liberal than the Harkin bill endorsed by Sen. Warren.

Taken altogether, the economic policies supported by most Americans are the same ones Third Way dismissed in its Op-Ed as the work of “left-wing populists.” And yet Third Way is given the same kind of “centrist” label previously accorded to Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, the two co-chairs of a presidential commission that failed to make recommendations for reducing the deficit.

When will the media learn? Conservatives are not “centrists”!

[Thinkingabout]

165. Do you understand how Social Security works? The funds are collected through payroll taxes noted

as FICA, if you are employed you pay 6.2% of the paycheck and the company deposits this money along with 6.2%. The self employed pays a higher percent and is not matched. There is a maximum cap on how much salary this amount is collected. This was sort of explained in the link you provided to me, go back and read it again. For many years this trust fund was held separately from the general fund but was added. If you work for 40 quarters which turns out to be 10 years and currently when you reach the age of 62 you can elect to start receiving benefits from this fund. The retirement age used to be 70, and we are now in the process of the age going to 70. As the article stated this fund will run dry in 26 years unless some reforms are made, such as raising the retirement age, raising the wage cap and perhaps other items. This is not a tax which should be levied on corporations, this is a fund for our retirement, it should not be connected to the corporate taxes. Why do I say this? Corporations such as GE has relocated off shore and does not pay corporate taxes, but they still have to pay the corporate portion of the FICA taxes. If this was to change then they would not be contributing to the Social Security fund, it would just be the portion in which the employee pays, now would you want to decrease the Social Security fund by half and the future recipients receiving half of the funds they currently receive now?

[sabrina 1]

159. Republicans and the Third Way lie about the Social Security Trust fund. Both tell the

the exact same lies, both falsely claim, and the Right has told this lie for decades, that SS won't survive unless THEY cut benefits. For decades Dems have protected SS from those lies from the Right which clearly were lies because 40 years after they predicted SS 'won't be therie', the Fund remains one of the best Fiscal Programs ever.

Fox does not attack they Third Way, they agree with them. Can you provide anything showing Fox attacking the these two Third Way founders who wrote this article in December attacking Liberals, SS and Mayor de Blasio AND Elizabeth Warren?? I am willing to bet they were thrilled with that outright attack on Liberals.

You asked for a link, here is their shameful attack on good Democrats like Warren and de Blasio:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12772771

[Thinkingabout]

166. Here is a link provided by another poster to this, read it and understand Social Security is

only expected to last another 26 years. If this is during the time you expect to be receiving benefits maybe you will want to rethink your plans. If Elizabeth Warren does not get the reforms the Third Way wants I question her economic training.

I won't be here when it runs out but I do think about the future generations receiving benefits.

http://perspectives.thirdway.org/?p=934

[sabrina 1]

167. Wrong! And that is the lie that has been debunked over and over again. SS is good for at least

one hundred years and beyond IF we get the Third Way out of our policy making decisions in the Democratic Party.

THEIR POLICIES will destroy SS. THEIR POLICIES caused the crash in 2008, their deregulation of Wall St etc. And THAT lost people their jobs. AND their policies of outsourcing jobs will also contribute to destroying Democratic Social Programs. And that is what they want.

SS will survive with no problem when the American Working Class stops being screwed by the Third Way and their Republican buddies.

But even when unemployment was at its lowest, SS survived AND with a surplus each year.

They also DON'T WANT to make the Rich pay THEIR fair share of taxes. And will FIGHT Dems to prevent that and HAVE.

SS will be just fine as employment goes up and the we STOP giving Tax Breaks to the Wealthy.

There is a two trillion dollar surplus in the SS Fund, loans to pay for WAR and Tax Cuts for the Wealthy have been stolen from that fund. But those loans are backed by the Full Faith and Credit of the US Government.

What you doing is repeating Third Way Deceptions about SS which is what Elizabeth Warren is exposing and that is why they hate her so much.

Shame that these right wing lies about SS are makiing their way here of all places, but it only proves my point about the Third Way. They must be removed from any policy making decisions in this party.

Dems like Warren tell the truth about Dem policies, the Third Way lies about them.

[Thinkingabout]

168. Where is your proof it is good for 100 years.

[sabrina 1]

169. Why not just search DU many of us have written OPs debunking the lies coming from that Wall St

Think Tank.

SS will always need to be funded, it is funded when Wall St isn't crashing the economy and destroying the Working Class.

Lifting the Cap on SS, keeping workers working rather than selling out their jobs to outsourcing, and making the Wealthy pay their fair share.

The Third Way supports all the policies that will help PREVENT these things.

And they also support the TPP which will destroy even more Working Class jobs.

Thankfully at last, they have been exposed as the Wall St front in our party that they are.

Now we can start working to replace them with actual Democrats who work for the PEOPLE.

[Thinkingabout]

170. Do you know how social security is funded? Do some reseach to find where the funds are acquired.

Still I did not see your link.

[sabrina 1]

172. I do, do you? Do you know it has three sources of income, something left out conveniently, in

that link you provided. They state half truths. Whenever there is high unemployment, naturally there is less going into the SS fund. However, considering the economic disaster created by Third Way/neo Liberal policies leading to the Crash, SS continued to show a surplus.

Do YOU know how that happened? You made the claims that SS was in huge trouble and 'won't be there in 20 years' repeating a decades long Heritage Foundation/Third Way lie since we know it IS still here, and fully capable of meeting 100% of its obligations, WITH A SURPLUS.

Did you really read the link you provided from the Third Way site? It made MY point, they want to privatize SS and cut benefits for the elderly. Do you know they have NO RIGHT to touch that fund? It is NOT part of the Federal Budget, it is the PEOPLE'S fund.

The very fact they THINK they have any right at all to touch it shows how either ignorant they are of the issues, or simply so arrogant they believe they have a right to do so.

No Democrat would read that and not see why these people should be kept far away from any policy making in the Dem Partyl.

I am not going to write another OP just to explain what most Dems already know.

It would be a waste of time. Because if you trust A Wall St Think Tank and their deceptive writings more than a good Democrat like Elizabeth Warren, no one is going to change your mind. Which is fine, enough people have now identified the problem within this party that changes ARE happening which is why the Third Way are lashing out incoherently at this point, against Democrats. And exposing who they really are.

[Thinkingabout]

175. I know exactly how the SS is funded. On our pay checks if deductions are itemized there is a

Listing for FICA, this figure is arrived by multiplying the Gross salary by 6.2% up to the maximum cap for FICA for a year. When the employer makes the 941 deposit they also deposit 6.2% which matches the amount the employee pays. At one time the SS fund was a separate fund but it has been changed to be included in the general fund.

I do not see why you are so willing for future generations to lose SS? Perhaps soon Warren will explain SS and perhaps coming from her will be able to set the record straight and get the garbage off the table so we can do some more reforms like raising the maximum cap, perhaps push the retirement age out further since the life expectancy has increased since the implementation of SS.

Did you know the amount of benefits you receive is calculated on your 35 highest years of paying into the system? Also if a worker decides to stop working after 30 years the benefits are still calculated by dividing the total paid into 35 years? The amount is also determined by the year of life one decides to start their benefits.

I am quiet aware of the loss of jobs in the past few years, I have felt the loss of a job but for me technology displaced many. I still work in my "retirement", it is a minimum wage job but it is paying more than some of my early years of work.

[Thinkingabout]

171. Just to help you research this I went to the Social Security to get the correct information.

I do not know which source you have been gathering information but reading incorrect information on Du and reposting the correct information does not make it true. I also think Elizabeth Warren knows the correct information on the Social Security fund since she is an economist. I understand you do not like "Third Way" but on Social Security reform just maybe they are correct and are trying to protect the working people. I will not be here for the current projected end but I think about the younger generations and know they will need their SS benefits. At least try and help the younger generations.


Here is a Link to a site which can provide you correct information.

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/

[sabrina 1]

173. I don't need a link to that site, I have it thank you. And have used it many times to prove the

third way WRONG. Each year they issue a report on SS and it changes every year and always has. On its own it is merely one of many tools to use to understand this Program. Thanks anyhow.

[Mojorabbit]

54. +1000 nt

[rhett o rick]

108. That's a short and unsupported statement. Please give us your reasoning behind

that statement.

[LondonReign2]

109. See posts 81 and 75

[rhett o rick]

111. Thank you. I misunderstood the post. The Third Way are Democrats in name only. nm

[sabrina 1]

10. Maybe because of THEIR attacks on good Democrats like Warren and de Blasio?

Is there a gain for people who call themselves Democratic policy makers to be attacking popular and effective Democrats like Elizabeth Warren, telling her she doesn't know her place?

Or are you okay with the Third Way attempting to discredit elected Democrats?

I am DEFENDING Democrats. Who are you defending?

[Thinkingabout]

18. After the trashing which occurs against Democrats as HRC, if your analogy is correct then there

Probably are no any Democrats.

[sabrina 1]

27. The Third Way Praises Hillary. So why are they trashing Elizabeth Warren?

[Thinkingabout]

49. If we use your analogy then it is proper to trash Warren, for as you say you trash the Third Way

because they trash Warren, and because the Third Way praises Hillary. Do you praise Warren? I am saying it is not beneficial for Democrats to continue this crap, let it go, place energy on trashing the GOP, Rove has his crowd here on DU, we do not need to work for him for free. He would love nothing more than having a division in the DNC as they do in the GOP.

[sabrina 1]

52. I just said that the Third Way, who are political strategists for the Dem Party

are THRASHING DEMOCRATS. Not Hillary however.

As far as anyone else, voters etc, it is perfectly fine to criticize politicians but when you are hired to work for a Political Party it is NOT PROPER to do that.

Why are you trying to conflate Influential members of the Party to ordinary people?

[LondonReign2]

58. "the Third Way, who are political strategists for the Dem Party"

"the Third Way, who pose as political strategists for the Dem Party"

Fixed it for you

[sabrina 1]

59. Thanks, you are correct! n/t

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

121. Precisely!

[yeoman6987]

153. The DNC has one mission!!!!

Win seats. That's it. Their job is not to chose Third Way or progressive. That is not their job. Their sole job is to win seats.

[Liberalynn]

32. This

[mmonk]

14. Ask the Third Way. They are the ones who

fired first if I recall.

[Thinkingabout]

19. Show me.

[mmonk]

24. Seriously? I haven't forgotten all

the sit down and shut ups from these clowns such as Rahm Emanuel and others. So if your memory is short, I can't help that and we will keep going.

[Thinkingabout]

42. Is your answer to my post is because those like Rahm says sit down and shut up only will bring more

Last edited Wed Jan 7, 2015, 07:34 PM - Edit history (1)

attacks and trashing. Why are you allowing Rahm to dictate how you live the rest of your life?

[JDPriestly]

41. Pete Peterson has a lot of influence with the Third Way Clinton crowd, and Peterson is one of the

leading figures in the campaign to destroy Social Security.

That is why the Third Way and the Clinton crowd get blamed for these moves against Social Security. They do not support Social Security the way that Democrats, real Democrats believe is necessary.

[Thinkingabout]

43. Let me get this straight, you don't like Pete Peterson and then trashing Democrats becomes okay?

I might not like you but trashing other Democrats does not change my mind of whether I like you or not. This is getting out of hand. We can fight with other Democrats, trash other Democrats and allow the GOP to continue to put their people in office, how is that going to help Democrats.

[JDPriestly]

51. If other Democrats do not stand up for the ordinary working American people they deserve to be3

trashed. What is so remarkable about Democrats that they are to be immune from criticism.

If Democrats don't fully support Social Security, then I will not vote for them, and I will not help them get elected. In fact, if Democrats don't fully support Social Security and seek to increase the benefits and make the system very strong, I will try to prevent them from being elected.

The Republicans pretend to be for Social Security. Then they turn around and try to tear it down. If Democrats do the same, then Democrats are the same as Republicans for all of the most crucial intents and purposes.

I'm sorry if you don't understand the connection between Pete Peterson and the campaign to destroy Social Security. I have posted on it many, many, many times. Please Google it for yourself. Pete Peterson has strong, very strong ties to Wall Street and wants to destroy Social Security. Peterson organizes events and the Clintons have appeared at those events. That is one of the main reasons I am so opposed to Hillary Clinton. Anyone who mixes with Pete Peterson is no friend of mine. And I don't see how any Democrat can have anything to do with him.

I'm retired. My income is Social Security and a tiny bit that I earn from savings.

So Social Security is for me a litmus test. I think you will find that is true for many, many seniors who identify as Democrats. Unless the Democrats solidly support Social Security and Medicare, they can count me out.

I paid into Social Security and Medicare all my working life, and I have worked hard to support the Democratic Party --- really hard. I don't just get on DU and write. When I have time and the health to do it, I go to my Democratic Club meetings and volunteer many hours. So, Social Security is my litmus test. If a Democrat does not fully support it, yes, I will trash that person.

I also will trash someone who does not fully support unions and strong regulations on the financial sector among other things Fourth Amendment rights, and lots of other things. I am not a Democrat in name only. I am a Democrat in my convictions and I am a Democrat who can be counted on to work and get things done.

Enough nonsense about trashing Democrats. If they don't act and vote and talk like Democrats, then why shouldn't I trash them for pretending to be Democrats.

[Thinkingabout]

176. Just today i was referred to a very good site explaining some needed reforms

For SS and it is:

http://perspectives.thirdway.org/?p=934

Then because another poster did not provide a like to the SS Trust fund projection I went to the SSA to obtain the information.


http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/

I am also retired, I would hope someone steps up to make arrangements so future generations would also receive benefits as you and I receive but it isn't going to last in the current conditions. They want to increase the age of retirement but we both know life expectancy has grown since SS was first started. They want to increase the maximum salary cap, there are a couple of things changed in the last few years and the world still turns. I would wish the real truth to be given and not to rehash garbage which isn't true. If something does not happen to change the funding then future generation are paying for no return.

Right now the SSDI needs more funds transferred, I would like to see the fraud stopped with the fraudulent claims for disabilities which must are not true.

[okaawhatever]

174. +100 nt

[rhett o rick]

82. Glad you asked. The Conservatives in the Democratic Party are causing as much damage

as the Republicans. Maybe more because they call themselves Democrats.

[Thinkingabout]

95. I don't happen to be a conserative but currently the trashing is causing as much damage as the Rove

contributors are doing. In fact those "conseratives" you are talking about just might be Rove posters and you are going to assist this group to trash Democrats? Why should we help the Rove posters? It is not helpful but damaging, it divides, it encourages Democrats not to vote and we lose elections, just the results Rove wants.

[rhett o rick]

104. The war we are waging is a class war. The 1% vs. the 99%. The Conservatives favor the 1% and the

Progressives favor the 99%. That's not too controversial. Now wouldn't it be nice and easy for those that seek easy, to have all the Progressive be Democrats and all the Conservatives be Republicans. That way one wouldn't have to analyze what a person stood for but merely observe what party they are in. But the world isn't that simple. Many, many conservatives have distanced themselves from the Crazy-Assed Republican and now call themselves Democrats. That certainly doen't mean they changed their ideologies but merely changed their labels. So the war we are fighting to regain our democracy is between the progressives and conservatives.

IMO it's not enough to support social issues to be a non-conservative. If you also support the oligarchy domination you most likely are conservative even if you label yourself a Democrat.

I will speak out against those that support policies that weaken our democracy and economy for the 99%.

[Thinkingabout]

105. Then you need to stop working for Rove.

[rhett o rick]

107. That has nothing to do with what I said. It's just outright rude. Apparently you don't

have a decent response. I guess we are done. I don't alert on posts aimed at me, but I hope someone else alerts.

[another_liberal]

89. Who told you the "Third Way" supporters are Democrats?

They are merely proto-Republicans in waiting.

(Want to bet how they will really vote?)

[Thinkingabout]

96. I know because I support Third Way, I am a lifelong Democrat, I have read names of Democrats

who have been good Democrats and saying Third Way are not Democrats is fed by the likes of Rove posters trying to create a divide in the DNC and toooooo many are falling for the story.

[another_liberal]

114. To each her own . . .

But I do hope you change your mind.

[whereisjustice]

93. Because they are destroying the Democratic Party and the Nation. Seems obvious enough.

[CrispyQ]

102. It depends what your definition of "Democrat" is. -nt

[still_one]

29. Instead of complaining about "third ways", why not focus on Senator Warren's message. In fact I do

not find one Democrat in Congress supporting this republican outrage.

Perhaps you could point those Democrats out to me

[Thinkingabout]

45. That would be a good thing to do, encourage other Congressional members to support Warren in her

attempts to get our message across, the GOP is laughing all the way to the bank with this trashing, they hear us complaining about other Democrats and think it is great. Their party is having issues with the TP we don't have to follow them into the pits of hell in our party also. When I ask those complaining about the "Third Way" what about those do they have a problem with, I get very few replies so it tells me they don't really know.

[concreteblue]

117. "Get very few replies"

Really? I have read this whole thread up to this point. You either have a very low opinion of the cognitive skills of DU members or are being intentionally obtuse. At the risk of alert i will posit you are one of "Rove's people".

[Thinkingabout]

118. Not on your life or mine life am I or would i ever be one of Rove's people. I read other post and

See the FOX lies and think they might be Rove's troops. The trashing of Democrats could and may well be Rove's troops but you don't have to worry about me being anything but Democrat, a life long Democrat.

[DonCoquixote]

124. a democrat who supports attempts to take SS from poor people

Allow an analogy. A knife is a tool, that can be a weapon, an axe is a tool, that can be a weapon. When you say you are not GOP, but you want to help the GOP cut social security down, that is like saying "well, we are not using an axe or knife to behead the poor, we are using a Guillotine" That may be factually true, but the result is the same, death.

[Thinkingabout]

132. There is lots of fraud in the SSI, not everyone and I have a big heart for our disable, I do not

have a big heart for the attorneys and false claims. Maybe you do not know how SSI is funded, right now the working people are funding this. Is it going to be funded again currently, I do not know, Congress is filled full of republicans, this is one of the downfalls in republicans getting elected, elections does have results and this may be one of the results.

[DonCoquixote]

133. it woudl be funded if

people like the Third Way did not keep offerign to swing the hammer on us instead of working folks, but the way the third way does things, they guive the GOP what they want FIRST, and then act surprised when the GOP says "fuck you, I was not going to give you a dollar, and now I will take then pennies you have away!"

Asfar as false claims, that shows you tend toswallow the lide that most disabled on engaged in fraud, from those hard working yuppies who, will be the same people that fill the SS office when their emplyer dumps them, and leaves them with a list of diseases that make sure no one hires them again!

I sicnerely hope you never have to discover the truth of that, like so many former memeber of the burgeosie that drove to the SS office, glaring at everyone as if they owed us props just for waiting in the same line.

[Thinkingabout]

134. I stated there was fraud, I also know there are the truly disabled who needs help,

Talk about someone discovering the truth perhaps one of these days you will be able to recognize fraud. When an applicant files for having a bad back and soon he is discovered moving a piano up several floors it would appear to me there was fraud. Would you think it was a valid claim? This us a problem for me. Also where does the funds come from which gets moved to the SSI funding, it comes from people and their employers who pay into the FICA fund, if there wasn't several lawyers getting big payouts on claims it is a problem for me. If so much wasn't taken from the fund I just may get a bigger payout.

[DonCoquixote]

135. posts like this make me think of ignore

You have defended the right of the rich to condemn and despise the working/middle class with a paladin's resolve. If the demcorats focused on actually A) rasiing the cap and B) actually seeing that wages actually rose with inflation then the problem would eb solved, but no, it is always sympathize weith the rich, then act surpised when they boil you in the same glue piot as the rest of us. I will not ignore, because frankly, the third way has BOUGHT and STOLEN their microphones, whereby the usefulidiots of the centre right will speak and try to march us to our death!

[Thinkingabout]

137. Ignore is easy, you ignore the fraud which occurs in SSI, you deny it happens,

I am nit defending the right of the rich unless it is the money grubbing lawyers getting rich from cases with SSI. I am one of the working class, hell no I Sony despise myself nor the working class, I despise fraud. You are defending those who commit fraud.

[DonCoquixote]

139. DEFENDING?

excuse me, but nowhere do I defend people trying to get fraud. I am offended at the way a bunch of rich people try to kill Social security so that they can shove more billions into their pocket which they do NOT invest.

[Thinkingabout]

142. Last night 20 20 had a report of a guy claiming to be blind, he started receiving SSDI, he continued

To receive SSDI even though he returned to work and even drove himself to work with his blind eyes.
Those who commit fraud such as the example are robbing rose who are truly disabled. When the disability fund has to have new contributions which comes from the FICA paid taxes it also robs good hard working people of receiving higher benefits because of fraud. Fraud has to stop if the disability part ever hopes to survive. Son receiving SSDI has never paid FICA taxes and son at able bodied people.

[DonCoquixote]

146. so..

by your logic, the people who are literally near death and homelessness save for ssi need to suffer, whereas Wall Street is full fo fraud, yet the Clintons tell us off to back off wall street, and even pardoned marc Rich.

Your actions would do what the GOP wants, plain and simple.

[Thinkingabout]

147. So, do you think those are truly entitled to SSDI should be cut off from the finds they have been

Receiving because this is not the only one committing fraud and receiving undeserved funds? I guess this would solve the problem, it would halt the fraud and funds to those who need it. This is a separate issue from fraud in other places but if you think it okays the fraud in SSDI because there us fraud on Wall Street perhaps you can adequately explain this to needy individuals.

[DonCoquixote]

148. NOOO

It means that, unlike the third way, we realize that if it is a choice between grandmothers getting food, and wall Street types getting a tax cut, we do the former, because the damage done by fraud in ssi is not as great as the dfamage to the economy done by poverty, especially as the rich shovel their wealth to tax free shelters.

[Thinkingabout]

149. The money is being transferred from the Social Security side where most grandmothers are

Receiving their checks, they have to continue finding the SSDI of which has the fraud.

[DonCoquixote]

150. Oh I get it

The ssdi is saved, but screw over the disabled. Let me guess, you are a senior, and think those who happen not to be sniors are less deserving than you? The disbaled put their money into the system too, with the same good faith that the Boomers and most before them did. So after a typical 3-5 year process, the disabled need to be judged again, because some people Hillary's age tend to want to get theirs, lucky for them that the World War II generation never thought they were a bunch of dope-smoking good for nothings eh?, well they did, but they did not believe in screwing their children over.

As I have said, if she is the nominee, despite the best work of people that actually want someone who is not ashamed of being an FDR liberal, I will vote for her, however, this witch hunt of disabled people has all the trappings of a generations that knows their presidents are either a man that sold out much of FDR, or Bush, who was simply a coup of the Koch bros. If in the name of "fraud" you allow your friends on the GOP side of "centre-right" to kill SS (and make not mistake, that is what Erskine Bowles wants) then do nto be surprised if those of us left behind spit on the graves of Clinton and her generation. We Gen Xers do not have the sheer justifed hate the Millenials do, but we will helpthem remeber who got the ball rolling; the generation that for all the peace love dope said "I'm all right jack" when the moment of truth came.

[RiverLover]

151. Those talking points of his are straight from RW Heritage Foundation think tank

I don't know what they're doing here at DU. Thanks for fighting the GOOD fight DQ!!!

The Right Tries (and Fails) to Justify Its Assault on Social Security
1/9/15

...“IT IS SAD HOW MANY CAN WORK THE SYSTEM FOR A FREE CHECK THEY DO NOT DESERVE,” says one. (Again, there is no evidence of widespread fraud.)

Know what isn’t mentioned, either by Ms. Boccia or her commenters? Tax increases on the wealthy and corporations. Actual corporate tax rates – the amount they actually pay – are at 60-year lows. Billionaires pay less than half the tax rate they paid in the 1950s. Likely voters - including three-quarters of registered Republicans and an equal number of independents – want to increase Social Security benefits and pay for it by having millionaires pay into the program at the same rate as everyone else (“lifting the cap”).

They forgot to mention that.

One might think that the “Grover M. Hermann fellow in federal budgetary affairs in the Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation” would understand that a budget incorporates revenue as well as expense. The Heritage Foundation does understand that, of course. It’s just trying to change the subject.

With positions like theirs, you can’t blame them for trying.

http://ourfuture.org/20150109/the-right-tries-and-fails-to-justify-its-attack-on-social-security

[DonCoquixote]

155. Those talking points of his are straight from RW Heritage Foundation think tank

and what is sad is, this person probably not only believes he is Democrat, but thinks himself a TRUE Democrat, and therefore, fit to lead along with Queen Hillary aka (let me not say anythign to piss my donors off).

[DonCoquixote]

136. Congress is filled full of republicans, this is one of the downfalls in republicans getting elected

In other words, don;t keep fighting for the new deal to be saved, no, just wave that canard about so you can say "niow now, you have to vote for Hillary, she will punish you and take half your gurel, but you deserve it anyway.."

[sabrina 1]

92. Sure, the Third Way wants to do with SS what the Republicans are trying to do, which is why

they attacked Elizabeth Warren.

Try this http://www.democraticunderground.com/12772771 and read the linked article and see their comments on SS which are highlighted in that OP.

People are not concerned about the Third Way in our party for nothing.

They sure despise Elizabeth Warren and liberals in general.

[still_one]

99. Which Democrats in congress oppose what Warren says in this thread

I do not see it in the links you brought up

As for the WSJ view, that is exactly what it is, their view not the Democratic Party as a whole for sure

[sabrina 1]

144. Are you REALLY unaware of the influence of the Third Way on the Dem Party?

Well, it doesn't matter, as they expose themselves and the elected officials they run for office, the problem is now identified and that makes it easier to fix. For years we knew something was terribly wrong in the party, now people know what it was.

THEY choose your candidates for you. Not any more, for millions of Dems who wondered why they had to hold their noses each time they went to the polls.

And you asked the wrong question, which Democrats support placing SS on the deficit table, where it never should have been. Which Democrats are not speaking out against cuts to SS? That's how we know who is a Wall St candidate (The Third Way is a Wall St Think Thank) and who is not.

[Locrian]

143. thanks sabrina 1

Had not seen that thread. Lots of good info in the links.

[sabrina 1]

145. You're welcome, locrian ...

[Enthusiast]

84. Yes. Elizabeth Warren keeps making these outrageous assertions.

We need to shut her up, once and for all.

[Scuba]

9. This country only has one financial problem ...

An unwillingness to tax the people who have all the money.

[gelsdorf]

12. +1,000,000,000 (top .01%) n/t

[calimary]

22. Welcome to DU, gelsdorf!

Glad you're here! I'd add another +1,000,000,000 (top .01%)!

[Scuba]

26. Welcome to DU!

[stage left]

13. + a trillion

exactly so.

[msongs]

16. also known as the people who benefit most from things provided via taxation nt

[jtuck004]

20. 2. An unwillingness to train the people who give it to them that there are other ways.

We prefer to turn out employees, and then whine that they act like employees instead of the people we train to be wealthy.

[closeupready]

30. That would mean, of course, lawmakers raise their own taxes.

They are too crooked to even think about doing that.

[lark]

50. Think there's other financial issues as well.

"Those" people also see environmental and labor regulations as a financial issue as well, so they fight these tooth and nail as well.

[Recursion]

80. Bingo. Restore the Clinton (or, God forbid, Nixon) era tax rates

and most of our problems go away

[yeoman6987]

154. Well the problem is how the taxes are designed

For example, Romney filthy rich got criticized for not paying his fair share of taxes, but he didn't have a job in 2011-2012 so he didn't have income coming in. The only taxes he paid were on his interest on investments. Thank God he was not articulate when he was criticized about it. The tax program needs an overhaul.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. This is what Warren needs to be talking about and what her supporters need to promote.

This is an important issue and Warren is doing the right thing, but the thread is all about something else entirely. That's too bad.

[Cyrano]

25. Why aren't all

Dem congress critters standing up and shouting out alongside Elizabeth Warren?

And why, why are Republicans such dicks?

[LiberalLovinLug]

35. Especially the heir apparent

Absolute silence with Hillary on a host of important topics. Hardly leader material. Especially compared to Warren. Whether Hillary wants to be seen as a coward or not, that's what she looks like. Cowering away from taking any kind of stance that might disturb her sugar daddies' approval.

I wonder if Hillary's handlers are wringing their hands behind closed doors just wishing Warren would go away. Or are they banking on Warren being smeared by their friends in the MSM as a leftwing loon, thus elevating Hillary as the "sensible" choice. Hard to tell because all we hear from her are...

[tclambert]

28. Man, I thought we settled this argument in 1935. We need Social Security.

It makes the United States a better country and saves millions of lives. Before Social Security, 50% of America's senior citizens died in poverty. Many of them died OF poverty.

Yet Republicans want to wreck this program and force us to re-learn the lessons from 80 years ago. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

[Jackpine Radical]

34. They already learned the lesson of 80 years ago.

It is wasteful of money that could otherwise be stolen for profit if you keep feeding the workers after they have outlived their usefulness.

[tclambert]

38. You're right, there. It's the Scrooginess of Republicans showing.

They consider it "picking their pockets" to make them pay people for no work. If they won't work, "then let them die and decrease the surplus population." If they're too old or disabled, well, see the previous response. Why would any working people ever vote for them?

[turbinetree]

33. Here's Johnny

If any one did not see this coming in the last election and you did not vote, don't whine, and for all those that did vote its time to start and make phone calls to your right wing representative (all 246 of them) like we have in Maryland by the name of Andy Harris and let him know that he should not sign on to this legislation,----end of story.
We that got and have pay checks have paid into this system of insurance to help out those that need it and if we or yourself need it.
This back door shenanigans of irresponsibility by any republican and any democrat wanting to endorse this hypocrisy is outrageous, the program is solvent and the right wing hypocrites are not solvent.
These supporters of this right wing agenda want to give this program to Wall Street and say that government of the people is the problem, so give it to a corrupt oligarchy to solve, anyone remember the credit default swaps, look at the name: credit default swaps, if that does not smell like a Ponzi scheme I don't know what does.
It is absolutely amazing how people that don't vote whine the loudest, that government is the problem, well guess what you, are the government, and if you voted in these right wing jerks, this says a lot about character.
And now we get to see the orange guy drunk come out with his other right twits and announce Here' Johnny and this is what they are going to do----screw people, human beings, based on greed, welcome to no accountability.

Warren is correct in her logic and her responsibility to protect those that have SSDI, and I support her position

[Ferd Berfel]

37. ter·ror·ism - noun

Taking away a persons ability to pay the rent, or eat, is economic terrorism. This is economic terrorism. The Republican Party is a terrorist organization.

ter·ror·ism noun \ˈter-ər-ˌi-zəm\

: the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal.

[workinclasszero]

53. Republicans are economic terrorists

who hate with a religious passion, the working class, the poor, the sick and the (non rich) elderly.

The ironic fact is that many of those same people are faithful republican voters.

Or too busy to vote on election day because...oh they are all the same, the MSM says it all the time. SMH

[red dog 1]

68. K&R...Thanks for posting

[world wide wally]

83. In reality, in a real society where people cared about others, fixing Social Security is one of the

easiest problems to solve, but Republicans have always opposed it and keep seeking to destroy any vestiges of FDR.
All we have to do is the raise the earning that you have to pay on. As if a millionaire/billionaire is going to miss that extra 6% and actually, who fucking cares if they would miss it? Their only reason to miss it is pure, unadulterated greed and callousness for what happens to our aging population and the disabled.
Just raise the cutoff point for when you stop paying. Or you can even cut it off at 113,000 and then it kicks back in at 500,000.
This saves the program indefinitely.

[another_liberal]

90. Hear! Hear!

The whole "Social Security Crisis" is nothing but Conservative ideology translated into a political agenda.

[another_liberal]

88. Good for her!

It's about time we started hearing and seeing more from the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."

[Dont call me Shirley]

94. Called my Rep, Sen and WH to voice disgust in regard to this gop attack on vulnerable people.

This is the real death panel. Didn't the nazis seek to eliminate the disabled? Fuckin' gop monsters.

[Thespian2]

100. When we think

that Republican millionaires posing as US representatives can't become any more evil, they do. Here they are once again proving that they hate me and the pittance in Social Security I receive after 38 years of paying into the fund. While the millionaires and billionaires are raking in tax dollars in every illegal and unscrupulous way they can invent, I got a rise in my SS...almost enough to buy a bottle of cheap shite wine each week. Warren speaks truth, but do any of these corporate pigs have enough intelligence to listen? No.

[greymattermom]

128. so this new accounting thingie they have

where tax cuts are supposed to increase revenues. How will that affect social security projections? Could it actually help?

[Prophet 451]

129. I doubt it

It'll be carefully cooked to ensure that there's really a crippling crisis in SS so they have to abolish the whole thing right now.

[Enthusiast]

140. Flat out ridiculous!

[madville]

141. Been posting about this for a couple of years

If nothing is done SSDI payments would have be reduced 20% in 2016.

If they do let SSDI start drawing from the OASDI trust fund it will deplete it much faster as well. Right now the OASDI fund won't be depleted until around 2032-2033. If SSDI starts drawing from there it moves the depletion date up to around 2026-2027. They laid it out well in the 2013 SSA trustee report.

Drawing from OASDI is a short term fix to kick the can down the road. Bottom line, both programs need more revenue, they should start by raising the income cap.

[raging moderate]

177. Thinking About is showing many dysfunctional Republican traits.

Thinking About, I suspect you have been spending too much time in Republican circles, and you are starting to overgeneralize that experience to happenings here at DU. I really wonder about your remarks charging that anyone criticizing powerful Democrats must be Rove operatives. Democrats are generally not authoritarian. Hence, we are not held strictly to unquestioning support of the big-money interests, not expected to rubber-stamp a particular party line, and not as geared to devious undermining activities as Republicon operatives. Challenging the Third Way Democrats is only normal behavior among Democrats, and it does not mean that we hate them. We disagree with them and hope to change their minds. If a group entered my county Democratic meeting this week declaring, "YAHH! We believe everybody should wear only clothes made of banana leaves stitched together," we old Democrats would say, "That's nice. We will consider your ideas and perhaps someday find a good compromise solution. By the way, we're all going over to the burger joint after the meeting." I think you are seeing hatred where there is only argument. Over here, we argue all the time. Have you been drinking out of the Republicans' water cups?