Please Vote Against Social Security Cuts in this CBS Online Poll

[jtown1123]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20029250-503544.html

Social Security did not cause our deficit and is in sound fiscal shape. We should not "change" or "cut" this program to reduce our deficit.

Have a great day!

[lonestarnot]

1. 83% NO!

I registered one fuck no!

[jtown1123]

3. Gotta love those strong numbers! :)

[Laelth]

4. Sadly, it will not matter one bit.

If the movers and shakers in the New York-Washington bubble decide to cut SS, it's going to happen, and there's not a thing the American people can do about it, even if 83% of us think it's a bad idea.

-Laelth

[lonestarnot]

5. You are right. We do not fucking matter. Only the top 1% matter.

[LemmingWarrior]

6. We shall see

oh ye of little faith B-)

[Laelth]

9. I certainly voted in the poll.

I am constitutionally incapable of "giving up." But I offer as evidence the TARP, which most Americans opposed, and the extension of tax cuts for the rich, which most Americans also opposed.

Our opinions on these subjects did not matter. They passed anyway. I suspect SS will suffer a similar fate.

But we shall see.

-Laelth

[jtown1123]

12. Today there are reports that huge liberal coalitions i.e. MoveOn, Howard Dean's group

and others are flooding the White House with calls today. If there is an enormous backlash, and it has to be ENORMOUS, I truly believe Obama and Congress would back off since all they really care about at the end of the day is getting reelected.

[Laelth]

15. Interesting. Did you see Chris Hedges' recent essay on this subject?

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/where_liberals_go_to_feel_good_20110124

I happen to agree with him when he says that corporate power "has a death grip on our political process, our systems of information, our artistic and religious expression, our education, and has successfully emasculated popular movements, including labor."

I suspect that the efforts of the groups and people you mention will do little or nothing to prevent "the powers that be" from gutting SS if that's what they feel they need to do.

Of course, I hope I am wrong about that.

-Laelth

[ladjf]

8. If I were a betting person, I'd say that your prediction was a correct

bet. However, considering the terrible state of corruption we find our political system in, the 83% of the people who voted to preserve SS has got to find some way to put their majority to power.

You don't have to remind me that the largest influence on public opinion comes through the media which is largely bought and paid for by big money. Yet, there may be some way to organize Americans outside of the media. I'm not sure how. But, I'm sure that we've got to try. It's our only hope to preserve any quality of life in America.

We have evidence that the rich are continuing to consolidate their influence in the media. They are attacking the Unions, public education, grass roots progressive thinking, environmental controls and alternative energy initiatives. All of that leaves the 83%ers without much of a foothold on public opinion.

We still have some leverage in the INTERNET until that is shut down.

I'm looking for ideas. Share yours if you will.

[Laelth]

10. I regret that I have very little to offer.

Here's what I think we will do: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Laelth/40

Here's what I think it will take to get significant change in this country (apologies in advance for the length): http://laelth.blogspot.com/2011/01/turning-american-ship-of-state.html

I wish I had more to offer. I too am open to suggestions.

-Laelth

[ladjf]

16. Laelth, thank you very much for sharing your beautifully thought out

and written political pieces. You, through those two essays, have already made a significant contribution to the American political situation.

Ultimately, I believe that it will be the political philosophers who are also gifted and courageous writers that will lead us out of our current dangerous and messy situation. I would rank you as one of those writers. As for myself, the best I might could do would be to present some ideas to the good writers in hopes that they might expand the ideas further.

I want to stay in touch with you. Please email me whenever you write more pieces as I would like to read them.

ladjf

[Laelth]

25. You are very, very kind.

The greatest honor you could give to my writing would be to spread it far and wide, if you feel that is appropriate. I certainly hoped it would be widely read.

DU rules prevent me from linking to the site where most of my political writing is now featured, but you can find the appropriate link at the end of the longer essay to which I linked above.

I do not normally post e-mail notices when I publish a new piece, but they will all appear on my new (and embarrassingly un-embellished) blog, to which I also linked above.

Thank you very much for the kind words.

-Laelth

[lonestarnot]

14. Freeway Blogger needs to make a comeback

[annabanana]

17. +1 . . . .n/t

[ladjf]

18. I'm not familiar with "Freeway Blogger" nt

[lonestarnot]

21. www.freewayblogger.com

[LemmingWarrior]

7. 84% now

:bounce:

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Done.

Thanks for posting.

[jtown1123]

19. You're welcome, Why the hell would anyone unrec this?

[pipi_k]

24. I neither rec'd nor unrec'd it, but...

perhaps the person(s) who did felt as I do about DUing polls and why a thread on attempting to skew a poll doesn't belong on the GP.

The utter futility of it. Waste of time and energy.

You know what online polls are? Busywork for the bored and naive.


People really think that voting in a poll is going to change things? Really?


please.

:eyes:

[TheCowsCameHome]

28. Who cares? The "unrec" will be history soon.

[bdamomma]

11. done

[Frustratedlady]

13. Why, when the financial sector, Pentagon and Wars get us in trouble...

the politicians blame Social Security and Medicare?

If they'd keep their heads and egos in check, we wouldn't have these problems.

Compare the cost of SS and Medicare vs the Pentagon and Wars. What cost the most and what gave us the biggest return on the dollar?

I sometimes think we go to war to cut down on unemployment numbers. Where would those numbers be if we weren't at war, today? Just curious.

We old folks are dying off as fast as we can. Don't rush us.

[DirkGently]

20. More than "why," is "how do they get away with . . . ?" As though pensioners crashed the economy.

[jillan]

22. Kicked and recommended! Leave SS Alone!!

[pipi_k]

23. I always wonder....

is there ever a real point in DUing polls?

Is it going to change the outcome either way?

[Petrushka]

26. K & R --- still 84% when I voted

:kick:

[felix_numinous]

27. 85% no to changes now