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Showing Original Post only (View all)Now do you understand why so many of us termed our vote as being for the lesser of two evils? [View all]
The president lied to us. That shouldn't be surprising, politicians lie all the time. But it is disappointing, especially when it comes to bedrock Democratic positions such as protecting Social Security. Here is what Obama had to say about Social Security just a couple of months ago on the campaign trail.
"He believes that no current beneficiaries should see their basic benefits reduced, and he will not accept any approach that slashes benefits for future generations."
Now, here we are, just two and a half months later, and the president has put a chained CPI for Social Security on the table, and we're still not sure what else is coming down the pike.
This is why so many have termed a vote for Obama as a vote for the lesser of two evils. No, he won't privatize SS like the Republicans want, but instead he will inflict a death of a thousand cuts upon Social Security, a chained CPI here, raising the retirement age there, before you know it, Social Security will be a pale shadow of its former self.
As I've stated before, at this point it is better to go over the fiscal cliff, and that is far more true today than when I wrote it a couple of weeks ago. Imposing a chained CPI is going to lessen the quality of life upon my elderly mother and upon millions of others who depend on SS for their retirement income. Year in, year out, as inflation rises and the chained CPI fails to keep up, more and more people are going to suffer, now and in the future.
This is the very definition of the lesser of two evils.
For decades I've compromised my principles, my positions and voted for the lesser of two evils. Over those same decades I've watched as Democrats have abandoned basic Democratic principles, assaulted them in fact, leading us to where we are step by step. Yes, Republicans are a horrible, evil party wanting to drive us back into a feudal society, but guess what, the Democrats have aided and abetted them every step of the way.
No more, not one more vote will I cast for the lesser of two evils. If Obama and the Democrats do this devil's deal and cut Social Security benefits in direct repudiation of their promise not to, I'm through with them. I will not support a party that works directly against my best interests. We laugh at Republicans who vote against their own best interests, I'm not going to become a laughingstock for doing the same.
The sad thing is, this deal simply doesn't need to be done, in fact it would be better if it isn't done. The only thing that really needs to be addressed before the end of the year is implementing the Alternative Minimum Tax patch, that's it. Everything else can be addressed in the new Congress. A new bill reinstating tax cuts for the middle class can be passed, sequestration, that contrived Congressional boondoggle that led to this madness can be addressed, and the world will not end.
But it seems as though both parties are now using this contrived crisis to do what they really want, renew the assault on the poorest and weakest among us. I won't support that, and neither should you.
Actions have consequences, and so should breaking promises. I won't vote for the lesser of two evils anymore.