MoveOn: Save Social Security (e-mail alert)

[IndianaGreen]

Dear MoveOn member,

The threat to Social Security is growing. This weekend, Rep. John Boehner—who's hoping to become Speaker of the House—said he wanted to raise the retirement age, while advocating to extend the Bush tax cuts for the super-rich.1 And Dick Armey, who's leading the Tea Party movement, wrote an op-ed pushing Social Security privatization.2

What's worse, even some Democrats are jumping on board. Steny Hoyer—the second ranking Democrat in the House—recently said, "We could and should consider a higher retirement age."3 And he's not alone—other Democrats are lining up on the side of cuts.4

Benefit cuts could come up for a vote this fall. All of this adds up to the biggest threat to Social Security since George Bush's privatization scheme in 2005.

Congress can stop the drive to cut Social Security, but they need to know that voters won't tolerate benefit cuts. So we're working with our allies at the Campaign for America's future to get every member of Congress on the record about Social Security.

This fall, Social Security opponents are going to get a vote in Congress when the conservative-stacked Deficit Commission makes its recommendations on fixing the budget.5 Social Security is its biggest target, and they just might get their way.

Voters won't stand for politicians who want to cut Social Security. In fact, a new poll released today by the leading research firm, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research shows that 65% of voters reject raising the retirement age to 70, 52% of them strongly.

But right now, conservatives are gaining momentum in their fight to cut benefits, and Congress needs to hear from voters to make sure they do the right thing.

The people who want to cut it are spreading lots of myths meant to make you think there is a looming crisis. Well, it's not true—there is no Social Security crisis. The program's trust fund will have a $4.3 trillion surplus by 2023, and can pay all of its obligations for decades to come.6 Also, legally it can't contribute to the deficit—it only ever gives out benefits it can pay for.

Strengthening Social Security is easy—making the rich pay their fair share by lifting the cap on contributions by the wealthy would allow Social Security to pay all its obligations indefinitely.7

If we show Congress that voters won't stand for cuts to our benefits, we can make sure cuts stay off the table and instead focus on real solutions. Can you send a free fax to Congress today and ask them to stand up for Social Security?

http://pol.moveon.org/fax/oneoffs/index_1424.html?id=22525-1779395-caEc7vx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–-Nita, Daniel, Duncan, Marika, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Boehner, Pence: Raising Social Security Retirement Age An Option" Huffington Post, August 8, 2010

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89931&id=22525-1779395-caEc7vx&t=5

2. "Opposing view on retirement income: Let's upend Social Security," USA Today, August 9, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89939&id=22525-1779395-caEc7vx&t=6

3. "John Boehner: Raise Social Security Retirement Age to 70," CBS News, June 29, 2010

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20009192-503544.html

4. Republicans And Democrats Lining Up Behind Major Changes To Social Security," Talking Points Memo, July 7, 2010

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89838&id=22525-1779395-caEc7vx&t=7

5. "Groups line up against fiscal commission," The Hill, July 21, 2010

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89839&id=22525-1779395-caEc7vx&t=8

6."To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security," New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89703&id=22525-1779395-caEc7vx&t=9

7. "Social Security is sustainable," Economic and Policy Institute, May 27, 2010

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89707&id=22525-1779395-caEc7vx&t=10

[LWolf]

1. DU unrecs a call to save social security.

How progressive.

[DJ13]

2. Wall Street minions are not progressive

[LWolf]

4. No, but they sure like to claim they are.

At least those on DU.

[IndianaGreen]

but they are sensible

:P

[DJ13]

6. lol

:thumbsup:

[IndianaGreen]

3. Some people hate the great social programs from New Deal and Great Society

They would like nothing more than to gut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, in the name of deficit reduction while spending a trillion dollars maintaining a state of permanent war.

[LWolf]

5. And they are

"Democrats."