I Met Rep. Dennis Kucinich Last Night In Seattle

[eridani]

26. Des Moines does have a 981 zip code, so it's "Seattle" in a sense

Granted, the GD crowd probably mostly doesn't have a clue that there is such a place as Des Moines, WA. You might have met me also--I was the one selling the Scrap the Cap buttons. Dennis was scheduled for 12 minutes, but went on a lot longer. The audience didn't mind in the least! I did see Occupy folks there--mainly Occupy Federal Way, presumably?

Here are a couple of articles, one with video clips.

http://waliberals.org/dennis-kucinich-in-des-moines-on-social-security-taxation-war-trade-and-justice/2012/04/12/

Dennis Kucinich appeared in Des Moines, WA on April 14, 2012 at a forum on “The Threat to Social Security: An Issue for All Generations.” Video excerpts are below.

The main call to action was to contact our federal lawmakers and ask them to pledge to Scrap the Cap — eliminate the $110,100 limit on income subject to the Social Security tax. This action alone would greatly extent and strengthen Social Security. In fact, the Social Security Trust Fund will be able to pay 100% of benefits through 2036 even with no changes. There is no need at all to weaken benefits or postpone retirement age.

Millions of Americans, especially women, depend on Social Security for a substantial part of the retirement and disability income.

“It’s not broke. It’s so good we can make it better” by (1) scrapping the cap, (2) raising benefits for low income earners, (3) recognizing same sex couples, and (4) reinstating college benefits.


http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/147341085.html

Social Security Works Washington, a new statewide coalition of labor and retiree groups, is hammering home the idea of "scrapping the cap."

That cap is the Social Security collection limit on incomes above $106,800 per year (that number becomes $110,100 in 2012). All citizens earning incomes at that level and below are taxed 6.2 percent.

An April 12 forum at Highline Community College promoted the lifting or outright removal of this cap. Doing so, proponents say, will increase benefits and strengthen Social Security by trillions of dollars.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered a fiery pitch for Social Security reform at Thursday's forum.

Kucinich, a Democrat, opposes the privatization Social Security. He also opposes a later retirement age or any cuts to benefits. He says lifting the cap is a simple solution that will make Social Security solvent.