Would you pledge to abandon *any* pol that votes to cut entitlement benefits?

[MannyGoldstein]

Poll question: Would you pledge to abandon *any* pol that votes to cut entitlement benefits?

Would you sign an ironclad guarantee to not vote for any politician that votes for any cuts in benefits whatsoever?

It would send a clear message to elected Democrats to end their triangulation fantasy of cutting entitlement benefits. It would send the same message to elected Republicans too, but I'm not sure that they'd listen as it would need to compete with the many voices in their heads.

While it runs the risk of getting some Republicans elected if only Democrats sign such a pledge, if Republicans sign the same pledge (and even a majority of Tea Partiers are against cutting benefits) it could work against Republicans.

[Brickbat]

1. The fact that we even have to have this discussion fills me with despair.

[Sherman A1]

2. Yes,

and I have told them as much in my emails to them. Screw with SS or Medicare and I simply will no longer vote for you (whoever you are). I am not terribly pleased with what will be the top of the ticket on my ballot in 2012 at this point, so if they want to lose my vote for certain, it just takes cutting these two programs.

[scheming daemons]

3. Take the word "entitlement" out of your subject and change to "insurance" and I'll agree with you

SS is *NOT* an "entitlement".

[didact]

6. Agree

eom

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Technically it is an entitlement, but I understand, appreciate, and

agree with your thinking.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Yes. Among other things equally important.

Like escalating lost wars to get tough guy PR.

[Ozymanithrax]

5. Already said it many times on this site.

There is a clear line, drawn in steel reinforced concrete.

[denverbill]

7. Depends on the cuts.

I'm not all that opposed to taking Medicare and SS away from billionaires and millionaires. I'm also not opposed to eliminating Medicare waste, like buying scooters for people who don't need them or paying for expensive medication that generics work just fine for.

But I completely oppose cutting SS or raising the retirement age or eligiblity age for Medicare. That would be a deal breaker for me.