Liberal economists say Democrats also eyeing cuts to Social Security

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

By Sahil Kapur
Monday, August 30th, 2010 -- 8:21 am

ssbenefits Liberal economists say Democrats also eyeing cuts to Social SecurityProminent progressive economists are warning liberals and senior citizens not to take Social Security for granted simply because Republicans are out of power, arguing that structural incentives are propelling Democratic leaders to support scaling back the cherished program.

"Social Security faced its greatest danger when Bill Clinton was in the White House," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, in an e-mail. "The reason is that the Wall Street Democrats can be counted on to oppose cuts coming from Republicans for partisan purposes. When they are in power, they have no reason to oppose these cuts."

Baker, a respected economist and strong opponent of Social Security cuts, has long challenged lawmakers of both parties who advocate reductions in the program, and regularly criticizes the mainstream media for what he views as cowering to elite misinformation on the issue.

"The immediate threat to Social Security is plans to cut benefits by either changing the benefit formula and/or raising the retirement age," Baker argued last week in the Huffington Post. "This threat comes not just from the Republican Party, but from the top levels of the Democratic Party as well."

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/0830/liberal-economists-social-security-siege-democrats/

[Downwinder]

1. In this economy any cuts are going to greatly impact Main Street. n/t

[closeupready]

2. Which Democrats support cuts? I mean, names.

??

[Demeter]

3. Barack Obama, for One

Just look at who he put on the commission. And whose lead he's following.

[pattmarty]

4. Do NOT let the "Catfood commission" cut SS OR Medicare at all.............

............Call your Congressperson & Senators now, as this will be "handled" in the lame duck session of this Congress AFTER the elections.


Tell them: DO NOT FUCK WITH OUR SS AND MEDICARE!!!

[blueworld]

5. WTF is a Wall St. Democrat, exactly? I am sincerely completely confused.

If cuts are made to SS, where will the "savings" go - to larger janitorial squads who will be sweeping more senior citizens out of the gutters at busy intersections?

Social Security doesn't IN FACT make anyone without a trust fund socially secure! It holds off the worst effects of absolute poverty. My mother had to live with me, and her father had to live with her and my parents-in-law had to live with my sister-in-law and yadda yadda. Most of them had so-called "pensions" in addition to SS (insert laugh track here).

I'm a geezer. But most of my family have been union-supporting straight-ticket Democrats for all of my life. Because Democrats cared & fought for working people. Not perfectly of course, but they were consistent & loud & kept trying.

At this time when thanks to the freakin-GOP we have high unemployment, higher underemployment, a world-wide economic nightmare, jobs deported to those foreign regimes we aren't currently bombing, our children are dying in wars...isn't this the perfect time for Democrats to fight for American workers and old people & sick people? Why would any Democrat even consider cutting SS instead of taxing fat, bloated rich tax EVADERS??? My head will explode in the near future, I think.

[unblock]

8. i think he mispoke and meant "fiscally conservative democrats"

"fiscally conservative" and "wall street" are not necessarily the same thing.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. "Fiscally conservative" Democrats are politicians.

Wall Street Democrats are their owners and puppetmasters.

[chill_wind]

19. Political harlots.

aka The New Democrats

September 2009
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aMigi3hvZ3es

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Where's the Unreccing Crew?

Stories like this cannot be allowed to stand! Bring forth the Deniers Guild.

Obama would never stand for cuts in SS. He will defend the elderly with all the energy we saw him pour into retaining the Public Option and avoiding oppressive mandates in health care legislation. He will charge into the fray with the same fervor he brought into the opposition to offshore drilling and the prosecution of his predecessors" war crimes.

[Demeter]

7. I Hear You

Unfortunately, I'm always in the minority...

[Fumesucker]

10. I'm sure Obama will be a fierce advocate for saving Social Security..

Just as he is a fierce advocate for gay marriage..

Oh.. wait..

[area51]

12. +1

Just like he was a fierce advocate for a public option ("I won't sign a bill without a strong public option"), and before that, an advocate of single-payer health care.

[Hawkowl]

13. When Obama cuts SS

Then we will know for certain that he never intended to be President for more than a single term. If that is truly the case, then the left/progressives have no power over him at all. He is simply catering to the wealthy who will sponsor him for the remainder of his life with multi million dollar speaking and book deals. Hmmm. Who does that remind me of?

[Fumesucker]

11. K&R, thanks for posting..

[Faryn Balyncd]

14. K&R ...That the Simpson/Bowles Commission is, behind closed doors, crafting the gutting of SS to....

... be voted on WITHOUT AMENDMENT, by a lame duck Congress, before January 11, 2011, thanks to a special rule literally sneaked into the war funding bill in July, and that most Americans are unaware that this is occurring, is just the latest indictment of our lapdog corporate "press".




Thanks for posting.


:hi:



:kick:

[xchrom]

15. Recommend

[d_b]

16. I'd have to leave the party.

[fascisthunter]

17. the well-off cutting social security

all while giving the mega wealthy tax cuts during the time of war. Yeah Congress has our best interests in mind alright.

[tomp]

18. what on earth gave them that idea?

file under: no shit, sherlock.

and don't you love the term "elite misinformation"?

[BeFree]

20. All we have to do is...

...redeem the bonds that SS issued to the feds.

There is about $3 Trillion owed to SS, sitting there in treasury bonds.

All we have to do is move those bonds into cash and problem gone.