My response to a viral "kick out all incumbents" e-mail

[LuckyTheDog]

I got an e-mail that said this:

Gang
I don't often relay this kind of stuff...........and so dont fret about getting on my "list " for political BS.....but this one is so on target that I think it is worth your consideration. God bless America!!

Regards..................................Jim


Your U.S. House & Senate have voted themselves $4,700 and $5,300 raises for 2009.

1. They voted to not give you a S.S. cost of living raise in 2010 and 2011.
2. Your Medicaid premiums will go up $285.60 for the 2-years and
you will not get the 3% COLA: $660/yr. Your total 2-yr loss and cost is
-$1,600 or -$3,200 for husband and wife.
3. Over 2-yrs they ea. get $10,000.
4. Do you feel SCREWED?

5. Will they have your cost of drugs - doctor fees - local taxes - food, etc., increase. NO WAY. They have a raise and better benefits. Why care about you? You never did anything about it in the past. You obviously are too
stupid or don't care.

6. Do you really think they care about you? SEND THE MESSAGE--
You're FIRED. IN 2010 YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET RID OF THE SITTING CONGRESS: Up to 1/3 OF THE SENATE, AND 100% OF THE HOUSE.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE STILL MAD IN NOVEMBER 2010 AND REMIND THEIR REPLACEMENTS NOT TO SCREW UP.

It is ok to forward this to your sphere of influence if you finally tired of the abuse.


| NO INCUMBENTS IN 2010
| Don't re-elect anybody !!!

------------------

This was my "reply all" response:

My guess is that this is one of those "grass roots" e-mails that originated in some right-wing think tank or the offices of the Republican National Committee. Much of it is untrue or misleading. Let's correct the record.

Congress did not exactly "vote down" a Social Security benefits increase. The formula is based on the inflation rate. At this time, inflation in the U.S. economy is virtually zero or less (deflation). When Obama called on Congress to provide seniors with a one-time payment in lieu of a Social Security increase, guess who opposed him? That's right, it was the Republicans. The GOP has run dozens of filibusters in the Senate this year, with the intention of stopping progress on virtually every piece of legislation.

Likewise, Congress did not "vote themselves a raise." Congressional pay goes up automatically unless they actively vote it down. Now, I agree that they SHOULD have moved to keep the pay increase from taking effect. They were weasels not to do that. But, it is NOT true that they voted themselves a raise.

There is absolutely no way I will be voting to elect a Republican majority in 2010. The Republicans created the mess we are in. Even if the Democrats have been inept at cleaning up the mess, let's not forget who created it.

[redqueen]

1. Well done!

[NeedleCast]

2. Good, sane, fact-based response

[LuckyTheDog]

3. Thanks, please use/adapt it...

...if you get the same viral e-mail.

[classof56]

4. Good for you!

Recommended and bookmarked for future reference.

[LuckyTheDog]

5. If you get that same e-mail...

... please feel free to use or adapt any of that.

[classof56]

7. Will do and thanks! n/t

[Obamanaut]

6. There is also this. The last increase for soc sec was 5.8 %, which

is much larger than the usual 2.5% (+/-) that we usually see. And there was the $250 check in the spring of 2009.

There is a plan afoot for a similar $250 in the spring of 2010. This is quite close to being the equivalent of the normal 2.5% cola, based on an average soc sec amount of $1,000/month (12,000 x 2.5% = $300)

In the budget bill this past March was a tidbit that said congress will forego the normal cola increase for 2010 which would have come normally Dec 31, 2009. It remains to be seen if this will be true, but that's what it is so far.

I've had to 'truth' this soc sec vs congress pay raise several times amongst people my age on soc sec, and the response has usually been along the line of "I didn't know that."

[MattNC]

8. We need incumbents

A lot of them are experts in the respective fields, know how to negotiate legislation, etc. There are plenty who have been there too long, but we don't need to throw them all out. Besides, you'd just have the same problems crop up again eventually.