Boxer Delivers Major Speech On Social Security (WH memo leak)

[stevedeshazer]

Speech Addresses Real Motivation Behind Privatization

http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=232056

<snip>

Is it true that Social Security is in crisis? Is bankrupt? Is collapsing?

The answer is a resounding NO.

<snip>

On January 6, 2005, the White House wrote a Social Security memo. Although marked “not for attribution,” fortunately, we have it.

The most telling sentence in the entire memo is this: “For the first time in six decades the Social Security battle is one we can win – and in doing so, we can help transform the political and philosophical landscape of the country.”

Imagine: for six decades – that’s 60 years – the right wing has been after Social Security.

The memo also lays out the first priority for the White House and that is to “establish an important premise; the current system is heading for an iceberg” – thus explaining the use of the words “crisis,” “bankruptcy,” and “collapse.” By the way, he has also used the phrase “train wreck.”

MORE: http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=232056

[papau]

1. excellent speech

On January 6, 2005, the White House wrote a Social Security memo. Although marked �not for attribution,� fortunately, we have it.


The most telling sentence in the entire memo is this: �For the first time in six decades the Social Security battle is one we can win � and in doing so, we can help transform the political and philosophical landscape of the country.�


Imagine: for six decades � that�s 60 years � the right wing has been after Social Security.


The memo also lays out the first priority for the White House and that is to �establish an important premise; the current system is heading for an iceberg� � thus explaining the use of the words �crisis,� �bankruptcy,� and �collapse.� By the way, he has also used the phrase �train wreck.�


So let�s talk about these scare tactics for a moment � the �iceberg� strategy. If someone told you that your family would be in solid shape for the next 38 years, you would probably breathe a sigh of relief because that would mean you had done everything necessary to prepare for the next 38 years to pay for your rent or mortgage, feed your kids, take care of your health care, and send your kids to college.


During those 38 years, keeping your eye on the future, you would have to try to earn more, save more, and prepare for that 38th year. You wouldn�t have to throw up your hands and sell your house. And you certainly wouldn�t call your situation a crisis. Frankly, we all face the fact that expenses go up over the years and our families need to prepare for those challenges.


When it comes to Social Security, President Bush not only wants to sell the house, but the car, the antique grandfather clock, and the wedding band. In essence, he is walking away from the foundation of America�s most successful insurance program using scare tactics.


Of course we should be used to this by now from this administration. They are the ones who told us that tax cuts to the wealthiest among us would bring unparalleled economic growth � which hasn�t happened.


They are the ones who told us that $50 to $100 billion of oil in Iraq would pay for all the reconstruction of that country � which hasn�t happened.


They are the ones who told us �Mission Accomplished,� when tragically it wasn�t.


They are the ones who told us that a booming economy would lower our deficits � and they are now the highest in history.


They are the ones who told us that the Medicare prescription drug bill would cost $400 billion over 10 years � when, in fact, it is now reported to cost $1.2 trillion.


So a message I have for the American people is this: beware of scare tactics and false information.


This isn�t the first time that this president has predicted the end of Social Security. In 1978, as a candidate for Congress, he predicted the end of Social Security by the end of 1988. He was wrong then, and he is wrong now.


But what is worse now, is the use of the full power of the presidency to do the following: scare the American people and hold out privatization as the savior of Social Security.


And if he succeeds, this is what will happen: he will turn Social Security from a guaranteed benefit into a guaranteed gamble.


Benefits will be cut an average of 45 percent. Millions will be thrown into poverty. Survivors, including children, who count on Social Security to protect them after the death of the primary earner will be left high and dry. Disabled workers who are protected by Social Security will be left to fend for themselves. Our budget will have deficits as far as the eye can see due to the interest costs on the trillions and trillions of borrowing that will be needed to make private accounts possible.


I can predict these outcomes because of studies that have been done on various privatization plans.


I was a stock broker once. I think there is an absolute place for market investments. But they should never be the basis of one�s retirement. They should be an additional piece on top of a basic, secure, guaranteed retirement benefit.


And, don�t ever delude yourself into thinking that this private account will make you rich. According to a recent study, a typical American who contributes to a private account for 40 years will get about $300 per month during retirement.


It is true that you can gain with a private account. But, you can also lose � and lose big. And when you have to pay the bills � including such urgent needs as food, shelter, and medicine � you can�t count on the stock market.

You can count on Social Security, and with every fiber of my being, I will make sure it is there not only for my generation, but for my children�s generation and for my grandchild�s generation.

[Just Me]

6. They should be BURNED on that political/philosophical shift they seek.

Empower the rich, throw away everyone else.

In their world, 95% of the American people (those who fail to fall in the top 5% economic bracket) have no fundamental worth deserving the support and protection of their government.

:mad:

[msongs]

2. have not heard about this speech in CA media.....glad I saw it here or

I would never have known about it.....:-(

wish it would run in the LA Times as an op-ed piece or something.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/dean4dnc.htm

[Toucano]

3. Where is the memo?

Is there a copy of the memo somewhere?

[Pirate Smile]

5. That 's what I want to know. The leaked memo should be getting some

more press.

[FtWayneBlue]

7. this is one place where I found it, via google

http://buffaloreport.com/2005/2005.01.07.wehner.ss.html

[Just Me]

9. No. That is dated January 3. Boxer refers to one dated January 6. n/t

[Toucano]

10. Though the date is different

the one cited does have the same language about the "six decades".

Maybe someone erred on the date.

I'd still like to see a scan on White House stationary.

[Just Me]

12. Yeah. I searched through and agree with you. Thanks, FtWayneBlue!!!

The bottom line is that the true intention of this administration is to DESTROY Social Security, NOT FIX IT!!!

Welcome to DU, Blue!!! :hi:

[stevedeshazer]

14. That's what I think

I'm sure Boxer refers to the same message, the dates are only slightly different, but the context is the same.

[Toucano]

11. You're good! Thanks. n/t

[stevedeshazer]

15. Thanks so much for finding that link

I am sure that's the one Sen. Boxer was quoting from.

[FtWayneBlue]

4. She also has a petition

that you can sign at her website to add your voice against Bush's privitazation plan.

[Just Me]

8. This administration's abusive use of deceptive propaganda is sickening!!!

The American people deserve BETTER!!!!

Shame, SHAME on this administration's deceptive and manipulative tactics against its own people!!! :mad:

The administration's use of such tactics is an abuse of power!!! :mad:

[Toucano]

13. They think that if a Democrat ever said

anything positive about "private accounts", it's an expression of support for their plan. What a striking lack of logic.

From the memo:

In one of his last public acts of an extraordinary public life, the late Democratic Senator from New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, co-chaired the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security. In the introduction of its report, Senator Moynihan (along with Richard Parsons, his co-chair) wrote, "the time to include personal accounts in such action has, indeed, arrived. The details of such accounts are negotiable, but their need is clear.

[caligirl]

16. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/02/

Boxer article on SS speech. Boxer at senior center in SFrancisco.

There is a large and very good picture of Boxer on the front of the business section today in the Chron. She is holding out the memo for all to see the print with yellow high lighter.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/02/12/BUG3SB9TIE1.DTL&type=business

[johnaries]

17. She read the memo on Thurs Fresh Air interview.

An must-hear interview:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4493675

[rodeodance]

18. multi million $ ad campaign coming at us!!

...Twenty-two years ago, a right-wing think tank created a blue print for the demise of Social Security. That blue print says to get banks and insurance companies who will reap the benefits of private accounts behind the effort.

And President Bush and his allies are doing just that. They are getting the financial interests to pour money into a multi-million dollar media campaign to promote privatization and scare the American people....

[stevedeshazer]

20. Thanks for that link

[paineinthearse]

19. Notice the key word: TRANSFORM

Do a search at any executive branch website. The Pentagon has its "Office of Transformation" - http://www.defenselink.mil/transformation/

Here are the results from the White House: Search whitehouse.gov by keyword Results for: transform - 854 results found

(first page of results)

Transforming the Federal Role in Education

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/education/index-new-edu.html - 38.3KB 55%
27 Jul 04


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27 Jul 04
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[Califooyah Operative]

21. Sign This Accompanying Petition!:

http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/petition.cfm