Just when I think I can't loathe rethugs any more than I already do, they pull shit like this (with the help of the so-called "Dems" on the committee) and my contempt for them is multiplied. They actually have the audacity to do this while the peon 99% are marching in the streets AROUND THE WORLD! This just tells me they believe there's not a damn thing WE THE PEOPLE can do about the power they wield. They are a bunch of arrogant SOBs who will do whatever they want to do to line the pockets of the already OBSCENELY wealthy, with even MORE money.
If anyone still questioned who owns Washington, the congressional supercommittee charged with reducing projected deficits by $1.2 trillion seems determined to end any doubts. According to press accounts, both the Republicans and Democrats on the committee support a plan to reduce average Social Security benefits by 3 percent.
While whacking our parents and grandparents with a big cut in Social Security benefits apparently draws bipartisan support, the supercommittee will not even score a plan to tax Wall Street financial speculation. No committee member from either party is prepared to make a simple request to the Joint Tax Committee of Congress that would allow a speculation tax to be one of the items considered in the mix.
It’s hard to know which part of this picture is worse. The plan to cut Social Security benefits at a time when seniors are more dependent than ever on them is incredibly pernicious. The people who would see their benefits cuts under this proposal paid for their benefits contributing to Social Security over their entire working career.<snip>
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This contempt for the 99 percent coupled with protection for the 1 percent is the reason Congress has an approval rating of 9 percent. When both parties in Congress work against the interest of the overwhelming majority in order to protect a tiny elite, it is not surprising that most of the country would return the contempt.Much more at link:
http://www.nationofchange.org/supercommittee-one-percent-won-t-even-think-taxing-wall-street-1320154351