Question For The Group, Re: Catfood Commission, Social Security, Medicare, Obama, Democratic Party

[WillyT]

I hope I'm wrong, I truly hope to god that I'm wrong...

But it SEEMS TO ME that the Deficit Commission, and the fact that the powers that be are trying to shoehorn it into a lame-duck session of Congress (AFTER the election, but BEFORE the swearing in of the next Congress) is NOT like many a commission designed to do nothing.

It seems that it's designed to do a MAJOR thing, and in the most cowardly of ways.

The way the political winds seem to be moving, is in a direction where the resulting recommendations of this commission will be about "shared pain and sacrifice".

And again... I hope I'm wrong.

But as a chronic cynic, I do believe that some/many in both parties are either already onboard for cuts to SocSec & Medicare, or at the very least, amenable to be swayed in that direction.

If the Catfood Commission actually does come out with some serious sounding, "painful but fair" list of recommendations that includes cuts in benefits in ANY MANNER...

I WILL BE SCREAMING "BLOODY MURDER"!!!

What I want to know, since I've been told that I'm paranoid, jumping the gun, out to ensure Obama's defeat (not on the ballot this year - btw)...

What I want to know from those who just can't imagine it, is...

what will you do if it does, in fact, happen?

Are you going to scream bloody murder as well, or will you decide that the "adults in charge" know what's best and support the cuts?

:shrug:

And as a btw... subtract 65 from 2010, and you get 1945. The year the boomers begin...

Interesting timing, no?

:shrug:

[sabrina 1]

1. Looking at how people caved on the PO

I think party loyalists will be armed with talking points issued by the privatizers and one of them will be 'look, we have to do SOMETHING about Social Security, it's running out of funds for god's sake'.

This is why people have to be armed with facts. They are counting on ignorance. That would be a lie, but a lot of people won't realize it.

I know what I will do, after Education and Health Care, and a few other things I'm barely hanging on to this party. This would be the final straw.

[laughingliberal]

3. Exactly what I expect. nt

[griffi94]

8. yep me too

i figure that's why we're getting the deficit hysteria now.

[WillyT]

4. + 1,000,000,000... What You Said...

:loveya:

:hi:

:kick:

[Luminous Animal]

2. I prefer to scream bloody murder in anticipation of what might happen.

I've let Feinstein, Boxer, and Pelosi know that cuts (in any way shape or form) in Medicare and/or Social Security are not acceptable. I am working, with other people, on forming a broad coalition and joining together with other coalitons to stop this before it happens.

[WillyT]

5. Me Too !!!

:yourock:

:hi:

[sabrina 1]

7. Good for you, that's what we have to do. I just moved to CA

so I called Pelosi on this but haven't heard anything so far. I will call again and tell her what you told her, because this should be a fight that they will never forget. What makes me furious are the choices of people who are on this commission. That alone says a lot. I'm wondering of Obama even has a say in anything anymore, because none of what's happening makes any sense.

[Luminous Animal]

11. I've called and emailed with no response, also.

Boxer is up for re-election. She should be dogged she takes a stance on Medicare & Social Security.

[sabrina 1]

17. It's a winning issue. All polls show that. Anyone who stands up

against messing with SS to fix problems caused by Wall St. gets overwhelming support across party lines. I will call Boxer also. If she makes this a central issue of her campaign, accused the rightwinger of wanting to take away SS from seniors and invest it in the Wall St. Casino, I believe her numbers would go up instantly. But she'd have to slam the Catfood Commision also, and I'm not sure any of them have the guts to do that.

[WillyT]

18. I'm Up With THAT !!!

:toast:

:hi:

[dana_b]

22. I've done the same

with the same politicians as you but I need to do it again. Once or even twice is never enough!

[katandmoon]

6. Screaming bloody murder. The "adults in charger" are fucking elitist swindlers.

[jtuck004]

9. The lame-duck target is how the original plan

came about.

The original proposal came from legislation proposed by Conrad and Gregg, but was voted down in 2009. Obama then signed the commission into existence in February, with some changes. Article here

"Mr. Conrad said he and Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, the senior Republican on the budget committee, have agreed on legislation for a task force of lawmakers and administration officials that would report recommendations by the end of 2010 — after next November’s elections. It would require Congress to vote quickly on the package, without amendments, during a lame-duck session. " Article here

What a ridiculous waste of resources.

I am still encouraging, where I can, that people set aside the wealthy person's obsession with deficits and
go about finding ways to create jobs like the Democrats should be known for. Spend as necessary. 'Cause
I think that will get us more power than anything else. And I would far rather have people upset because
of some "potential" problems with an overheated economy than the very real tragedy of over 30 million
people unemployed and underemployed, hungry, and hurting people and families we have today.

I am keeping this on my radar, with some phone numbers at the ready...

[sabrina 1]

13. Judd Gregg. Doesn't Obama know any Progressive

Democrats he can go to for advice on these major issues? Why is it always Republicans or Blue Dogs whose ideas he seeks out?

And people doubted the FDL article on the lame duck vote, so it was designed that way after all. And SS did not cause the deficit, that too is a lie. The financial meltdown caused it.

Thanks for the links. If it isn't a done deal already, maybe there's time to do something to stop them. I hope so.

[jtuck004]

21. I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that progressives weren't lining

up to jerk the safety net out from under old people who have already paid into these funds for years, leaving
them to subsist out of garbage cans and warm themselves by burning newspapers and trying desperately not to
burn down their cardboard shelter.

On the other hand, A. Simpson thinks of them as "lesser people", so he probably doesn't have the same qualms.

[sabrina 1]

24. You are probably right, so if Obama's own party were not

interested in destroying SS, why didn't leave it at that? Why then seek out Alan Simpson of all people to do it for him? That looks like someone who agrees with Alan Simpson rather than his own party, to me.

[whyverne]

10. You don't want to work an extra 5 years before you get your

Social Security to pay for the Bush tax cuts and two wars?

Now that's how to frame the question.

[leftstreet]

12. You gotta work five more years to pay for the wars and tax cuts to the rich

Yep, that's exactly how it should be framed

[laughingliberal]

14. That nails it! Now, who do we have on the national scene who can get this out there? Grayson? nt

[leftstreet]

16. Well, Obama still has the most political capital

He could take to the tv for a few spots and mobilize a helluva lot of citizens

:hide:

[metapunditedgy]

23. Use the Bully Pulpit??? Are you KIDDING? n/t

[WillyT]

15. Most Excellent Framing !!!

THAT... is PERFECT!!!

::applause::applause::applause:

:yourock:

:hi:

[corpseratemedia]

19. +3 trillion

recc!

exactly the way to frame it!!!!

[TBF]

20. They can't pay for their wars

and social security. Your guess as to which goes on the chopping block. I personally think it's a numbers game. They've got a lot of boomers retiring and that's a lot to pay out (Wall Street of course sees it and wants a piece of it so my guess is privatization is more likely than actual cuts ...)

[WillyT]

28. Whatever Happened To Al Gore's "Social Security Plus" ???

As I recall, he was for leaving the system "as is", but allowing people to contribute more into some sort of SocSec 401K...

IOW... any "privatizing" would be voluntary, and the original system would remain intact and kept solvent.

My initial Google search turned up mostly rightwing/conservative "think tank" hit pieces on it.

If the right hates it, it might just be a great idea.

:shrug:

[eridani]

25. What you can do about it

FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE CATFOOD COMMISSION!
Join the following organizations

Social Security Works
http://socialsecurity-works.org /

Social Security Matters
http://www.socialsecuritymatters.org/Home.html

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
http://www.ncpssm.org /

Fight the "deficit hawks" noise machine with facts

The Century Foundation reports on Social Security
http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=TP&topic=2

Behind the Myths of Social Security
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1381

Center for Economic and Policy Research reports on Social Security
http://www.cepr.net /

[jtuck004]

26. I will be linking to this one - thanks! n.t.

[Smashcut]

27. They'll defend it...whatever it is, they'll defend it

Or they'll say Obama had nothing to do with it (even though he created the commission and appointed its co-chairs) or that his hands were tied, or that the reductions in benefits don't actually exist even though they've been made plainly obvious, etc. etc.