Dean Baker: The Washington Consensus Wants To Cut Social Security Benefits With A Chained CPI

[MineralMan]

16. 'All the inside Washington types seem to agree'

Whenever I see a lead like this in an editorial, it's a signal that the writer is just using his own ideas, rather than actual information. It's an old trick, and a common logical error. Who are the "inside Washington types" to whom Baker is referring? He doesn't really say. In editorial writing, that means he's pulling it out of his ass, rather than quoting real sources of information.

This is typical of FDL editorials. Opinions without backing information. When I see such tactics used, my journalistic background makes me go, "WTF? More bullshit!"

This "chained CPI" thing has been bandied about for quite some time, yet there don't appear to be any actual plans to implement any such thing.

My conclusion: More FUD. There's a lot of FUD being posted on DU as the election year progresses. Expect more, and from the same sources over and over again.