This is a call to
action. We have a problem - the fake "Social-Security-Is-Going-Bankrupt!"
problem.
Politicians, pundits, and policy wonks falsely claim that Social Security is going-bankrupt-now!, adding-to-the-deficit!, and destroying the Futures-of-Our-Children-and-Our-Children's-Children! They argue for "reforming" Social Security, by which they mean cutting benefits. Other politicians, et al. dignify this malarkey by treating it as if it merited consideration. Some examples:
This exchange, during the 10/11/12 vice presidential candidates' debate, between moderator and ABC journalist Martha Raddatz, and vice presidential candidate Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI):
Martha Raddatz: Both
Medicare and Social Security are going broke and taking a larger share of the
budget in the process. Will benefits for Americans under these programs have to
change for the programs to survive, Mr. Ryan?
Representative Ryan: Absolutely. Medicare and Social Security are going bankrupt. These are indisputable facts.
The Simpson-Bowles Commission's deficit reduction "plan," which proposed a combination of cuts that would reduce the average annual Social Security benefit for middle-income workers by up to 35 percent. (Note: There is no official Commission plan because only 11 of the Commission's 18 members voted to endorse their own work, three short of the 14 needed to send it to Congress.)
Social Security
recipients are not cheating future hard-working, tax-paying,
by-the-rules-playing citizens, as some people seem to suggest. Rather, cuts
proponents are proposing to cheat future benefit recipients by raiding Social
Security. People who say otherwise are being poopy-heads, and here is why:
1)
Social Security doesn't
contribute one penny to the deficit, and is prohibited from doing so by law.
2) Social Security benefits 56 million Americans, and keeps 20
million people out of poverty.
3) Social Security's surplus in 2011 was $2.7 trillion; it can operate
at current benefit levels for at least 20 years -- without any "reforms."
These are indisputable facts.
If ever there was a time
to expand Social Security's capacity to protect the "average citizen and his
family against " poverty-ridden old age," as FDR said, it is now. Yet we are told that Social Security is in
crisis and needs immediate cuts so that it will "be there for people who need
it" several generations from now, that we
must remember The Children, etc.
Translation: If I (a
Baby Boomer under 55) insist on receiving the uncut Social Security benefits I have earned
and will need to avoid poverty, a Terrible Burden could be visited on
The Children 40-some years from now. Motivated
by guilt and a sense of urgency, I am supposed to happily forfeit my benefits -
right away. (Unless I act now, I might realize something: If reformed Social Security
benefits no longer cover my rent and food, it is my children who will feel obligated
to pay for these essentials -- while also paying for their kids' child care, saving for college tuition, and who knows what else.)
Remember the 2011
protests that shifted the national policy focus from the deficit to the
destitute and near-destitute? It's time to protest again. We need to call out
politicians who continue to insist that during the worst recession in 50 years,
they need seniors' stay-out-of-poverty money to pay down a debt largely due to
tax cuts for the rich. We need to call out people who pit our needs against our
children's.
Picture this: Throughout
December, voters show up at their U.S. senators' and representatives' offices,
daily, to demand Social Security benefit increases. Senators and
representatives are deluged with emails, letters, and phone calls, all advocating
this same position. At town hall meetings and other public events, they are urged
to increase benefits. When they go downtown, they are greeted by demonstrators
demanding more benefits. Each time they check the news, there's another letter
to the editor, op-ed, or interview, about increasing Social Security benefit
levels.
If they don't hear us,
we turn up the volume. Local senior groups*, Occupy chapters, and others who
care about seniors join forces and:
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