2016 Postmortem

ellenrr

(3,864 posts) Tue Oct 22, 2013, 06:17 AM Oct 2013

Absent Progressive Uproar, Social Security and Medicare Face Axe

If U.S. citizens are increasingly concerned that the Democratic Party is no longer willing to fight off the right-wing attack on Social Security, Medicare, and other key social programs, Sen. Dick Durbin, President Obama and other party leaders have recently offered plenty of evidence to increase that worry.

Since the end of the government shutdown and standoff over the debt limit ended last week, Obama has repeatedly said that he wants to find a "balanced" solution to the ongoing budget debate with Republican lawmakers.

Unless a broad-based populist movement against such a deal manifests—and soon—the American public should expect some scenario in which programs like Medicare and Social Security receive long-term cuts in exchange for a short-term budget deal with Republicans.

In his first public remarks following the reopening of the government, Obama said his goal would be a "balanced approach to a responsible budget" and later declared: "The challenges we have right now are not short-term deficits; it’s the long-term obligations that we have around things like Medicare and Social Security."

https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/10/21-4#.UmVzgkPAJS0.facebook

(cross-posted to Seniors)

5 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Absent Progressive Uproar, Social Security and Medicare Face Axe (Original Post) ellenrr Oct 2013 OP

more from FDL on axing ellenrr Oct 2013 #1

Well, this is a corporate whore Democratic party so... polichick Oct 2013 #2

"broad-based populist movement" - YES, that's what we have to become! polichick Oct 2013 #3

Democrats and the Obama Administration has not and will not cut SS and Medicare. nt tridim Oct 2013 #4

Right. Gotcha. They won't sign the TPP either. polichick Oct 2013 #5

ellenrr

(3,864 posts)

1. more from FDL on axing

Reply to ellenrr (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 06:24 AM

Oct 2013

FireDogLake's DSWright fired off a post which included:

(in response to Harry Reid saying Social Security would be insolvent in 20 years, which is incorrect and also a Republican meme.)

"If this is what Democrats do after they win a budget standoff I would hate to see what they do after they lose one.

A truly progressive Democratic Party would be calling for – at least in their first offer on a conservative television network – expanding Social Security not cutting it.
Which could easily be done by removing the cap on Social Security taxes so those making over $113,000 a year simply continue paying Social Security taxes on all their income like the rest of us. This would not only ensure solvency for Social Security well into the future but could easily provide additional benefits to current retirees. More revenues and benefits!

Even if you think removing the cap is too progressive, wouldn’t you at least start there?

And 20 years? We have record poverty, unemployment, and stagnant wages today. It’s time for the Democratic Party to prioritize and not open the negotiations by buying the Republican’s framing of the argument and offering cuts to historic promises. Especially without even offering a progressive alternative. Otherwise what was the point of winning the budget showdown – to reopen a conservative government?"