Politicians, pundits, and
policy wonks falsely claim that Social Security is going-bankrupt-now! and
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:
- Social Security doesn't contribute one penny to the deficit, and is prohibited from doing so by law.
- Social Security benefits 56 million Americans, and keeps 20 million out of poverty.
- 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 Social Security benefits I have earned and will need to avoid poverty (no cuts), 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 now. (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 and saving for college tuition.)
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:
- Occupy
local Social Security offices.
- Go
holiday “caroling,” through local shopping districts and past our
electeds’ offices. (“Wet socks dangling over a camp fire….Jack
Frost’s gonna claim more toes….Just lost my crash pad, damn that barbed wire!
Wish I could find a place to doze…”).
- Hold
bake sales outside of lawmakers’ offices, at hearings on Social Security
reform, or in downtown shopping districts.
A big bake sale sign could read something like, “Janesville Senior Center
Bake Sale: Helping 56 million seniors live with dignity – one
cookie at a time.” Proceeds would fund senior services or community
organizing campaigns to expand Social Security benefits.
- Stitch
and bitch: Senior center members could add a decorative patch to the
scarves and hats they knit and sell at holiday bazaars, outdoor Sunday
markets, craft fairs and bake sales, as well as online. On each patch - a circle with a slash through it, superimposed
on a drawing of a grandma under a bus.
There are many ways to express
your opinions. Choose what works for your community. But do it now.
*Yes, today’s seniors
might be spared at least some of the cuts, but they are worried about their
children, who won’t be spared.
By the way, the picture above is of a grandma, thrown under the bus.
By the way, the picture above is of a grandma, thrown under the bus.
