CNN sells “deficit hysteria,” to help undo Social Security, etc.

[Echo In Light]

CNN Links Arms with Billionaire’s Project to Fleece Social Security and Other Bedrock Social Programs By Bill Scher, Campaign for America’s Future
Posted on April 10, 2010, Printed on April 10, 2010

Unless we successfully pressure CNN to change course, it will air Pete Peterson’s anti-Social Security, anti-Medicare anti-public investment deficit propaganda film “I.O.U.S.A” along with additional propaganda “commentary” from people who work for the Peterson Foundation on Saturday.

CNN did this last year, and it was a completely one-sided presentation, when in fact, there is an actual debate going about how serious a problem is the national debt, and whether Social Security and Medicare really need to be gutted to reduce the debt.

Now, maybe CNN was actually clueless last year, and was not aware that many of the nation’s most prominent economists do not traffic in deficit hysteria, insist that Social Security is fundamentally sound, and broader health care reform (which just passed) is the way to protect Medicare.

http://markcrispinmiller.com/2010/04/cnn-sells-deficit-hysteria-to-help-undo-social-security-etc/

[LetsgoWings13]

1. its tough to argue that SS is fundamentally sound

when the US debt clock has the total SS liability at $14 trillion. im not saying get rid of it,not at all! but something has to be done.

[ananda]

2. But it's easy to argue for wars and other defense spending..

.. that really are totally unnecessary?

[Echo In Light]

3. !

[Towlie]

6. What would you do, tell all the folks who've been paying into it that they're not getting it back?

The commitment has already been made and the money taken from paychecks. To default on that obligation and keep the money is not an option. So what would you do?

[LetsgoWings13]

14. If we cut back our DEFENSE spending to give good DEFENSIVE ability.

then we could save a lot of money. I'm 22 and because of the situation i don't plan on getting SS. And i know that I'm only 22 and there are millions of others who have been paying for 30 years who wont get that much. But we have to do something about it, right now we are giving out more money for SS than we are taking in. not good in the long run.

[WCGreen]

16. Listen, if SS goes the country goes with it...

Who do you think is carrying all that debt?

If all that money is taken from the economy, made to go away, there will be a depression worse than the 1930's.

There are millions of people that depend totaly on SS. If that money doesn't get to them, what are they going to do?

All that money out of the economy. Poof. Millions thrown out of work.

[LetsgoWings13]

19. how much can we borrow with out going under?

i understand what your saying, those people do need that money. I'm just wondering where it comes from, and how long can we sustain things the way they are.

[WCGreen]

20. If we get into any period of sustained growth...

This concern will disappear.

[LetsgoWings13]

21. ya, we need to tell our politicians to actually put the money in a LOCKED box.

[gatorboy]

8. It would be foolish for any politician to come out against Social Security.

Bush and co. tried it when they suggested privatizing the program. Even the conservative voters turned their nose up to the idea.

[rudy23]

9. Let's see what our side does when Obama tries it.

I'm starting to think his purpose is to sell us things that Bush never could b/c of his image.

[DURHAM D]

4. It doesn't help that the White House is pushing the same line. nt

[SOS]

5. CNN was silent as Bush added $4 trillion to the national debt

"With no fanfare and little notice, the national debt has grown by more than $4 trillion during George W. Bush's presidency.
It's the biggest increase under any president in U.S history."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-4486228-500803.html

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. They would dare say anything against their Bush

[pinboy3niner]

7. It's not just CNN

This is a concern even on the left, tho fixes are fairly simple, contrary to doom-and-gloom scenarios from the right. 'Course, it's a SOCIAL program, which, to the right, is "socilist," therefore spawn of the devil . . .

[Echo In Light]

10. .

[Odin2005]

11. K&R

[Grand Taurean]

12. Fox "News" Channel's sister network CNN.

Pete Peterson is a right wing Wall Street hustler. Hedge Fund managers are shysters, that is all.
The solution for SS is simple.
-Eliminate the FICA cap to bring in more revenue
-Raise the Capital Gains tax to 40%(seeing that speculation does not produce much value to the market, those who do so can pay more)
-Cut defense spending and stop getting into criminal wars such as the one in Iraq.

[cutlassmama]

13. I watched the show last night. The ideas didn't seem too radical or far fetched

at all. There were actually some good ideas in there.

[clarence swinney]

15. REMOVE THE CAP

WHY SHOULD BUFFETT ETC PAY 1/1OOTH EVEN 1/1000TH
COAL MINER PAYS 100%

REMOVE CAP SOLVENT FOR 75 YEARS.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. must be worrying for CNN that today it was announced that the deficit has gone down!