General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: FFS... the PURPOSE of ENTITLEMENT REFORM is to REDUCE benefits [View all]bhikkhu
(10,715 posts)but if they did I would ask myself why, and try to see what was actually being voted on. As when Obama suggested it as one means of reforming Social Security, it was only suggested with significant and obligatory details, which effectively protected (or increased) benefits for those most in need, while reducing benefits for those with large incomes and other resources. If implemented in that way, it would effectively reduce income inequality and make the program financially stronger. Both of which are valid goals.
I'd say that erecting ideological sacred cows makes managing programs very difficult, and the whole idea of primarying people based on some purity test comes from the tea party anyway. That worked so well for them that you'd advocate adopting their tactics? Personally, I'd vote against anybody that advocated any kind of purity test, as that's just stupid. Its easy to just draw a line and stop thinking, but that makes you kind of an idiot; its much better to try to understand the issues, the backgrounds of the issues, and the reasoning processes that go into the decisions that people make.