For politicians: "'How-to Manual' for Betraying Seniors and People with Disabilities"

[madfloridian]

From Huff Post by Nancy Altman of Social Security Works and Eric Kingson of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

This paints a pretty sad picture of the Democrats who are in a quandary right now over the cuts in Social Security which are being called something else.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-altman/our-howto-manual-for-betr_b_2322950.html">Our 'How-to Manual' for Betraying Seniors and People with Disabilities

They want to be counted as among the "serious people in the room." You know, the folks who are willing to "compromise" the well-being of everyday Americans and vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities to claim credit for striking a "grand bargain."

But they're in a bind. Most, including President Obama and Speaker Boehner, have acknowledged that Social Security has not and cannot contribute a penny to the federal debt. Nearly all are on record as promising that they will never, ever cut the benefits of today's seniors and people with disabilities. They've seen those pesky polls showing that the American people, Republicans, Independents and Democrats, alike, strongly oppose benefit cuts. Constituents understand that playing around with the way COLAs are calculated is a benefit cut, pure and simple. They state their opposition in polls; some have expressed their opposition by calling or even paying visits to the offices of those elected to represent them.

Yes, pity those poor politicians. They don't want to be held accountable, they certainly don't want to lose the next election, but they don't want to take their constituents' side in opposition to Wall Street CEOs, elite media, and others pushing for bad policy. These politicians sorely need a "way out" and we are pleased to help by summarizing five lessons from our path-breaking new book, "Betraying Seniors and People with Disabilities: A How to Manual for your Garden Variety Politician."

Be sure to read all five of the "lessons", and you will see just how it is all playing out right now.

Number 4 of the five lessons they quote is the one that really caught my attention.

Lesson Number 4: Explain that it could have been worse. Float even worse policy ideas like increasing the nation's health care costs by throwing those aged 65 and 66 off of Medicare. Draw as much attention as you can toward those numbskull ideas, hoping that Americans will be relieved that you didn't do worse.

You can follow Nancy Altman's campaign FOR Social Security at Twitter:

https://twitter.com/NoSocSecCuts">NoSocSecCuts

Crossposted at https://twitter.com/madfloridian">Madfloridian's Twitter page

Also Crossposted at DU3

[Enthusiast]

1. Thanks, Mad!

I've been wary since back when the President created the deficit commission. Why place two anti-New Deal Pete Peterson soldiers at the helm? It guaranteed there would be a recommendation to cut social spending. Funny how the commission's own recommendations couldn't pass a vote.

Why don't they just come out and say it? "There are too many useless eaters."

[formercia]

2. Blackmailed by the Wealthy Elite

in a quest to get contributions for re-election.

Perhaps this may seem a simplistic solution but...TAKE THE FRIGGIN MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!!!!!!

Is anyone listening????

[No Elephants]

3. Seniors, the disabled, and widows, widowers and minor children of deceased workers.

OASDI stands for Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (emphasis on insurance--something you bought with money taken out of your paycheck or your business earnings, whether you wanted to buy it or not).

IMO, we should go back to referring to it by its full name.