Note to Incumbents on Social Security

[Samantha]

24. Politically yes

I do not think the Democratic base will forgive anyone who supports this running in 2014, and some Dems will go so far as to defect from the party itself. That means less support and less contribution to those Dems remaining. This is not the casual cut supporters paint it to be. The research I did on this issue last year showed a Boomer retiring in 2011 who collected Social Security 25 years would lose $18,000. It seems like a small loss at the beginning, but when one factors in the current CPI does not reflect Boomer expenses, and then add in continuing loss in COLAs over the Boomer's lifetime, it is thousands Boomers lose.

And the gross outrage of this controversy is that this is what Republicans demand, Social Security and other entitlement cuts. It was their guy, George W. Bush* whose policies continue yet to impact our economy adversely. Republicans say we cannot blame President Obama's predecessor (despite the fact he dug this tremendous financial hole for all American citizens....) but we must make cuts in earned benefits (which they call entitlements) to offset Bush's 10.5 Trillion Dollar Deficit (the number at hand he kept off record when he departed the Oval Office). And some Dems are ready to give Republicans this -- cuts in Social Security to pay for the unfunded Iraq War and other prongs of the Bush* residency in office. I don't think so.

Sam