On the 75th birthday of Social Security, the American people got a choice from the two parties: Democrats resolved to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while Tea Party Republicans urged an end to these vital programs as we know them.
From speeches to rallies from sea to shining sea Democrats seized this moment to celebrate inter-generational compacts that secure our commitment to each other. I believe that Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid are as all-American as motherhood, baseball, and chocolate cake, so it was with pride that I stood this weekend at our Democratic National Committee meeting with my baby in one hand and policy paperwork in the other to argue for a resolution urging the President's Fiscal Commission on the Deficit to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid Benefits. The DNC resolution, led by retired steelworker and veteran Robert "Big Red" Rankin, placed a marker down on the side of dignity and security for America's working families by protecting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The full text of the DNC resolution is:
Resolution Urging the Fiscal Deficit Commission to Protect the Critical Benefits Provided by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as They Conduct Their Important Work to Reduce the DeficitWHEREAS, President Obama, by Executive Order in February 2010, created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (Commission) and the Executive Order directs the commission to reduce the annual deficits to 3% of the national economy by 2015; and
WHEREAS, we fully support the President on the critical need to reduce the nation's budget deficit; and
WHEREAS, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), most of the projected budget deficit over the next ten years results from President Bush's tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans and the effects of the worst recession since the Great depression; and
WHEREAS, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are three of the most successful federal programs in existence; Social Security has helped generations of Americans retire with dignity, has a $2.5 trillion surplus and has never contributed to the federal deficit; Medicare has helped reduce poverty among seniors by two-thirds since its inception in 1965; and Medicaid provides essential care for millions of Americans;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee recommend that the Commission do everything possible to protect the important programs of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
At the same time that Democrats were protecting Social Security, Tea Party Republicans led by Dick Armey were out to privatize it. Indeed, no sooner had I arrived home from the DNC meeting than I tuned in to the Tea Party maven go on MEET THE PRESS where Armey urged Republicans to have the "courage" http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/0810/Armey_GOP_needs_courage.html?showall to co-sign the Paul Ryan Roadmap to privatize Social Security, voucherize Medicare, and block grant Medicaid.
You remember the Ryan Roadmap, right? That's the top House Budget Committee Republican repeating the same privatization path that was proposed by President Bush and soundly rejected by the American people in 2005. http://www.roadmap.republicans.budget.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=8521
You would think after all the complaints about Wall Street recklessness causing Main Street pain that privatizing Social Security would be off the table - but you would be wrong.
So the next time someone asks you about the difference between the parties, just remind them that when Social Security turned 75, Democrats celebrated while Tea Party Republicans grabbed the ax.
Democrats resolved to preserve the Social Security Trust Fund, which is running a 2.5 trillion dollar surplus without adding a single penny to the federal deficit, while Tea Party Republicans urged privatizing a third of it, allowing Wall Street to once again wreak havoc on retirement. Democrats resolved to protect Medicare while Tea Party Republicans urged voucherizng it, leaving seniors to the mercy of the market. Democrats resolved to protect Medicaid while Tea Party Republicans urged block granting it, reducing the commitment to our seniors.
When faced with this choice, I believe the American people will stand with Democrats who resolved to reduce the federal deficit without raiding the Social Security Trust Fund or balancing the budget on the backs of our seniors, and reject Tea Party Republicans who urged putting retirement programs - not billionaires' tax cuts - on the chopping block.
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The very first American republic, the Continental Congress, under the Articles of Confederation, issued the Continental Dollar which was inflated to the point that by the end of the War for Independence, a single Silver dollar was worth 1,000 paper dollars... leading to the old saying, "Not Worth a Continental..."
Do you think our politicians learned anything from that? Leaving aside the episodes of "suspending specie redemption" during various wars, the current fiat money system, established with the Federal Reserve cartel at the beginning of last century, has overseen the depredation of the dollar by about 98% ... from $35 paper dollars to the ounce of Gold to over $1,200 paper dollars to the ounce.
It sounds to me that we are guaranteed "sovereign default on [USA] bonds, like some banana republic..." -- if you trust the US govt to pay any meaningful value against the the Social Security promise, you are trusting the whirlwind... and we know what we will reap from that!
Paging Miss Obvious, BUT: the Congress has passed a law that explicitly excludes Social Security from what is generally referred to as our "budget."
This year, as you would know if you read the papers or even held your Etch A Sketch up to the window, Social Security went into Deficit. The SSA gives the fund another 30 years before its out of money. The CBO, using the numbers that your mother gave them, can only stretch it to another 40 years.
Math is math. People who understand math beyond "I can get a Vente for only 10 cents more than a Grande?" realize that Social Security - as sold by the Democrats who love it - is insane.
Liberal math at its finest. We're losing 30 cents on every sandwich we sell, but we'll make it up on volume...
It's all moot, however, since Obama Care is going to break the bank long before Social Security becomes an issue. Eat, drink, and be merry.
Speaking of Obama Care, did you hear about the two people in NJ who actually signed up for it.
Two.
Only two.
Nice work...
BTW, the people who really love SS, regardless of political affiliation, are seniors... and they are the ones who most often vote.
Ah well...
2. Social security is not an investment like a mutual fund. It is an insurance program.
In fact, Social Security is in good shape compared to other private and public retirement plans. It is serving its purpose, which is to be a bedrock source of retirement income that is not subject to the market.
And that is why conservatives hate it. It shows what nonsense their most cherished beliefs are. The market is not always right. Government is not always wrong.
#2. ALL INCOME should be taxed with NO UPPER LIMIT. (wages, capitol gains, rents, leases)
#3. A RETIREE over the age of 65 years of age should NOT have to pay into social security UNLESS STILL WORKING.
#4. Any person RECEIVING over $200,000 per year in retirement benefits ARE REQUIRED TO TEACH IN COMMUNITY COLLAGES "HOW THEY BECAME SUCCESSFUL" FOR EXPENSES ONLY.
If these simple rules were implemented there would be NO TROUBLE KEEPING SOCIAL SECURITY AND IT'S COMPONENTS SOLVENT IN PERPETUITY.
Enough! If somebody wants to raise the retirement age, cap the coverage, whatever, just do something! I know that I will never see a dime of my 'cut of the pie'. I'm resigned to that fact and have made other plans for retirement. I'm just tired of the same old BS coming from both sides with no real solutions from either.
Ah well...
The Republicans doubled your SS payroll tax, they spent it all, and then turn to you and say "sorry, we're broke"
The stole your $%# Money, and Conservatives all over America are marching in the streets to let happen.
unphuckenbelievable
The Tea Baggers, for the most part, are comprised of folks already taking advantage of Uncle Sam's generousity ie. social security and such. Their problem is most are so old and dumb (absorbed by FAUX NEWS) that they don't realize what they're doing. Theiy're being goaded into helping the very rich keep from paying more taxes while shooting themselves in the foot. It's amazing.
The real problem with Social Security is---While some employers pay into it faithfully----Other employers look for and find loop holes to avoid paying their share into the Social Security fund. This is where the short fall comes from. It is as simple as that.
Some employers pay into the fund. Some employers find a way to get out of paying their share.
The answer is---figure the fraction there of, for every man hours spent on all items and services rendered and this very small insignificant droplet of a fraction of a cent will solve many to all problems related to everyone’s retirement. After 75 years, even a house needs modernized.
To get out of paying his share of your Social Security, someone is hiring and using scare tactics telling you that when you retire it will not be there for you because too many people are drawing it and not enough people are paying into it. He is right about not enough people are paying into it because he and many more like him make EVERY EFFORT TO GET OUT OF PAYING HIS AGREE UPON SHARE SINCE 1935 WHEN IT CAME INTO EXISTENSE.
To avoid paying benefits on their employees, employers use part time help instead of full time help, they invented independent contractors to do the same work as they did when they were their employees. They outsource their work. This way they are paying peace work instead of hourly work. They bought and paid outlandish prices for automation development equipment. All of this to maximize their profits and avoid paying employees benefits.
Remember, according to the government, SS is solvent for the next 40 years. But SS benefit calculations only take the highest 35 years of income into consideration when calculating the benefit. Right now, SS is solvent PAST the point where people NOT EVEN PAYING IN YET will start to draw benefits.