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Dems Correct Not To "Bargain" On Social Security
A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Mike Reinholz
GOP pundits all over the country are crying foul because the Democrats are not
coming up with their own "plan" on Social Security. This attack on
democrats is ludicrous. Bush's plan contains multiple absurdities and is blatantly
dishonest. If the democrats throw Bush a lifeline on this issue, Bush is going
to wrap the line around their neck, tie it to an anvil and throw it overboard.
Bush has framed this discussion in such a dishonest way that to "bargain" with
him would be tantamount to bargaining with a serial killer.
Make no mistake about it; Bush wants to kill Social Security. Bush's "plan" would
hasten the destruction of Social Security by ripping 33% of the funding out of
the program. Bush and company are fond of saying only "4% of your money" will
go into private accounts. While this 4% is technically true, it is actually a
whopping 33% of Social Security funding. So Bush wants to "save" a
program he says is in "crisis" by cutting 33% of its financing. Yeah,
right, Mr. President. What are democrats supposed to do, cut off their arm because
they have a hangnail? Bush's constant use of the "4%" number is a dishonest
distortion of what he is actually doing.
Next is the fact Bush wants to borrow 15 trillion dollars over the next 40 years
to fix a "potential" debt of 3.7 trillion over the next 75 years (2
trillion according to the CBO) (http://dailyhowler.com/dh021805.shtml)!
The absurdity of this is breathtaking. It doesn't take a genius to "solve" potential
debt by borrowing more money than you "might" owe!
To the people who say Bush's plan doesn't mention this 15 trillion dollar borrowing,
I agree, it doesn't. Just like a used car salesman, Bush's ethereal plan mentions
nothing that might be negative. Just like the Medicare prescription drug bill
and the war in Iraq, Bush's plan is heavy on smoke and mirrors, while short on
actual facts.
The primary reason Bush fails to mention this 15 trillion dollars in borrowing
is because he wants to CUT PEOPLE'S BENEFITS 15 TRILLION DOLLARS. So instead
of borrowing all this money to make up for the shortfall created by "his" solution,
Bush wants to cut "your" future benefits. It is a naked bait and switch
that would make every common carnival huckster proud.
Bush wants to cut your Mom, Dad, brother, sister, sons' and daughters' future
benefits. These cuts will devastate the poor and middle class. As George Bailey
said: the poor and middle class "do most of the working and paying and living
and dying in this community." Is it too much to ask that they spend their
final years with the dignity and financial security of Social Security?
Bush is making a naked choice to pad the wallet of Wall Street, while drastically
cutting future benefits for people most in need, the poor and middle class workers
who built this country through their blood, sweat and tears.
Finally, the democrats are not bargaining with Bush on Social Security because
he is dishonest in suggesting this is the preeminent crisis in America. Right
at the top of the list of real problems is the exploding cost of healthcare and
consequently Medicare (http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/021705K.shtml).
Also more of a problem is the explosion in the deficit since Bush took office.
The fact Bush is pursuing a potential problem way down the list in priorities
is reason enough for the democrats to tell him to "shut up" and actually
tackle a real problem.
Bush jumped into this Social Security pool without a life preserver. I say we
let him thrash around a little while. Eventually he'll gather what little dignity
he has left, dog-paddle to the edge of the pool and we'll have an honest discussion
at that time.
Mike Reinholz
Seattle, WA
A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
(1) http://dailyhowler.com/dh021805.shtml
(2) http://www.progresoweekly.com/index.php?prog...
[BuzzFlash Note: Also, here's an interesting post on Talking
Points Memo comparing the Social Security debate to the Clinton
health care debate.]
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