I got this Freeper e-mail; PLEASE, y'all, help me respond...

[Jeebo]

I just got this e-mail from my younger brother in Florida, who is a Christian right-winger and votes for Republicans. He and I rarely discuss politics or religion because there is just an unspoken agreement between us that we won't because we're both afraid we'll start hating each other if we do. Anyway, we do send each other e-mails often about these subjects that we almost never talk about (he deletes a lot of mine unread; I always read his). I just got this one from him along with the question, "Is this true, and accurate?" And because he asked me this question, I want to answer it, but I'm really not sure how. I know it's total B.S., but I'm not sure how to articulate that sentiment persuasively. Y'all help me, please. Here's the e-mail:

SOCIAL SECURITY:

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month (or will be in the not so distant future) -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the federal government to "put away," you may be interested in the following:

Q: Which party took Social Security from an independent fund and put it in the general fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate.

Q: Which party put a tax on Social Security?

A: The Democratic party.

Q: Which party increased the tax on Social Security?

A: The Democratic Party with Al Gore casting the deciding vote.

Q: Which party decided to give money to immigrants?

A: That's right, immigrants moved into this country and at 65 got
Social Security. The Democratic Party gave that to them although
they never paid a dime into it.

Then, after doing all this, the Democrats turn around and tell you
the Republicans want to take your Social Security. And the worst
part about it is, people believe it!

Pass it on please! 2004 Election Issue This must be an issue in '04. Please! Keep it going.

[FARAFIELD]

1. THAT THING IS SO OLD!!!

My dad sent me that two years ago. You know how i answered that, simple

Q: What party proposed and funded social security?
A: The Democrats
Q: what party opposed its formation?
A: the republicans

pretty easy

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Ah, what would a right wing "talking point" email be without mention

of immigrants and they're sucking up of our American, hard-eraned tax money at the behest of the democratic "average-joe-hating" party.

Sigh.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Here - it's debunked rather nicely here

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/2002/10/09_GOPLies.html

October 9, 2002

A Cure For GOP Email Lies About Social Security

A BuzzFlash Reader Commentary
by Faun Otter

Help send out an antibiotic for a Republican viral email.

The Republican 'big lie' machine has generated an utterly false email that they have launched onto the internet to mislead less politically aware voters about social security.

Let us take a proactive approach to their mendacity. Instead of waiting to be copied on the right wing's propaganda and then replying with a rebuttal, we should go on the offensive and give them a dose of the truth. Here is an accurate and logical message that can be emailed and posted widely. If we act fast, the GOP email will look like a childish response to this statement. Please forward this to boards, news media and to your email friends. Feel free to edit for your specific audience:

__________________________

Q.* Which party put a tax on Social Security?
A.* The Republican party. Ronald Reagan signed the bill for taxing Social Security benefits.

"President Reagan appointed a blue-ribbon panel, known as the Greenspan Commission, to study the financing issues and make recommendations for legislative changes. The final bill, signed into law in 1983, made numerous changes in the Social Security and Medicare programs, including the taxation of Social Security benefits, the first coverage of Federal employees under Social Security and an increase in the retirement age in the next century."
http://www.ssa.gov/history/briefhistory3.html

Q.* Which party wants to privatise social security and cut

[Jeebo]

6. Thanks for the Buzzflash link...

I knew if I posted this here my fellow DUers would know EXACTLY how to respond to it. What amazes me is that I checked only two minutes after I had posted it, and ALREADY there were four responses here. I didn't think y'all would even have had enough time to READ it by then! I sent some of the Buzzflash stuff to my brother (and I clicked "REPLY ALL" because he sent it to a bunch of other people, too) and I also sent a link to the site. Thanks again, to ALL of you. Y'all are all the greatest.

Ron

[Crunchy Frog]

4. That thing is so old

they dug it out of the LeBrea Tar Pits.

Really, I wouldn't worry about your brother, he's going to vote for Bush anyway, why not spend your time talking to people who might be persuaded to vote for Kerry?

And really, that little piece won't convince anybody who wasn't already going to vote for Bush. It's pretty much just garden variety freeper crap anyway, no disrespect meant to your brother.

[Renew Deal]

5. Snopes.com takes care of this one...

http://tinyurl.com/bfrs

[flaminbats]

7. How odd...a Christian, a Republican, and a neocon!

Sounds like he's already given up on morality, the principles of Lincoln, or a solvent government for America. Based on that, what could we write to him that might sink in?

Try this...if you believe in linking accountability to performance why vote for a disaster? If you blamed Carter for weakening the military, voting against the Republicans should be easy. If you oppose increases in wasteful government spending, why increase what you pay in taxes just to enrich foreign bondholders? If you support the war in Iraq why not support the taxes to pay for it? If you support solvency in Social Security, why shelter income paid out by the program from taxes? When did having 85% of what you make taxable...mean that you pay 85% of your yearly income in taxes? Why turn Social Security into a risky investment program, when this is already available in the private sector? Why allow Social Security money to build up, when it could be used to help pay down our booming national debt?

Why vote for a party claiming more freedom of choice in the private sector..which opposes any legislation that would end discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions or allowing uninsured workers to buy into the FEHBP? Why not apply the principles of market competition..ie supply and demand, to how you pick our candidates for office? In other words, vote for the better and less expensive product before considering the low quality..overpriced product!

[ochazuke]

8. A relative forwarded me the same message

Just days earlier, she forwarded me that old one about the bill in congress to tax email (no such bill), and a stupid scheme to drive down gas prices by not filling up at Exxon stations.

Sorry, it probably doesn't help you refute his message, but it shows you what OTHER stupid things people will fall for.