Fact & Fiction on Social Security

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Wednesday June 29, 2011 · 1:34 PM PDT

2011/06/29 · 13:34

I'm writing a series of posts as a blogging fellow for the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 270 national and state organizations.

Republicans (and some Democrats) have started a full-scale assault on the social safety net that has made America the great country that it is. They are doing what they can to dismantle the safety net and leave the masses to the whims of the so-called "free" market. This market doesn't actually exist in the real world and it never has on any significant level. The market that exists in the U.S. is rigged. Under the safety net, the market was "rigged" by government in favor of the people, particularly those who are in need. Republicans are seeking to change that and instead rig the market in favor of the rich and corporations. They can't tell people that, so they are using all kinds of lies and falsehoods to convince people that what they are really doing is based on some higher philosophical principle, whether that be "keeping government off our backs" or allowing people to "keep their own money" or by attacking government programs by saying that they don't work or can't work or cost too much. Almost across the board, these arguments are almost always wrong.

I wanted to take a look at a few of these arguments they make and debunk them. None of this is new information, but I haven't seen it talked about much on the Florida blogs and it's been a while since I've seen the info in one easy-to-find, easily-digestible format.

T Rex

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Thursday April 21, 2011 · 5:08 PM PDT

2011/04/21 · 17:08

I'm writing a series of posts as a blogging fellow for the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 270 national and state organizations.

Here's why:

The Strengthen Social Security Campaign launched a new campaign today "Don't Make Me Work 'Til I Die" designed to take on the bad assumptions and false solutions for the manufactured "crisis" in Social Security. Check out their launch video:

T Rex

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Sunday March 27, 2011 · 7:45 PM PDT

2011/03/27 · 19:45

I'm writing a series of posts as a blogging fellow for the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 270 national and state organizations.

While many of us in Florida are rightfully concerned and focused on the actions of Gov. Rick Scott and the legislature, we can't forget that Congress is in session as well and that bad things are happening in Washington, D.C., as well. Based on the fact that we have a Democratic president and a Democratic senate, though, we have much more likelihood of successfully fighting back against what's happening in Washington. This is a time when your phone calls can have a strong impact.

T Rex

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Tuesday March 15, 2011 · 8:05 PM PDT

2011/03/15 · 20:05

I'm writing a series of posts as a blogging fellow for the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 270 national and state organizations.

*Anti-cuts rallies at 75 offices / World / Home - Morning Star: It is good to see people getting angry enough to fight back against right-wing assaults on Social Security.

(There's more...)

T Rex

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Monday March 07, 2011 · 5:23 PM PST

2011/03/07 · 17:23

I'm writing a series of posts as a blogging fellow for the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 270 national and state organizations.

FactCheck.org gets it wrong on Social Security:

Here's what they say:

Some senior Democrats are claiming that Social Security does not contribute "one penny" to the federal deficit. That’s not true. The fact is, the federal government had to borrow $37 billion last year to finance Social Security, and will need to borrow more this year. The red ink is projected to total well over half a trillion dollars in the coming decade.

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The Effects of the House Republicans Assault on Social Security in Florida

T Rex

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Tuesday March 01, 2011 · 6:16 PM PST

2011/03/01 · 18:16

The Strengthen Social Security campaign released a series of press releases that highlighted the effects the the budget proposed by House Republicans would have on the states...

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Social Security Round-up for 2/28

T Rex

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Monday February 28, 2011 · 9:03 PM PST

2011/02/28 · 21:03

The latest stories and commentary in the battle to save America's most successful government program.

I'm writing a series of posts as a blogging fellow for the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 270 national and state organizations.

(Okay, finally caught up on these, after this post, only new stories with my commentary added...)

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Social Security Roundup for 2/22

T Rex

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Tuesday February 22, 2011 · 1:35 PM PST

2011/02/22 · 13:35

I'm writing a series of posts as a blogging fellow for the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, a coalition of more than 270 national and state organizations. This first post is an introduction to the series of posts I'll be writing which will keep you informed about Social Security, the impact of the program and proposed changes on Florida and the future of the program. There will be posts that include both commentary and round-ups of the latest news.

Before going forward, I want to talk about the basic principles that will guide my series of posts and my commentary:

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Bringing Sunshine to the Netroots Nation

T Rex

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Wednesday August 12, 2009 · 7:12 AM PDT

2009/08/12 · 07:12

By: Kendrick Meek

As a candidate running to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate and as a four-term member of Congress with a 15-year public service record, I have taken great pride in representing my constituents to the best of my ability. In recent years, there has been an explosion of new technologies that help elected officials stay more in touch with their constituents. Later this week, in Pittsburgh, the top people behind the creation of that technology and the best practitioners of this new media will be gathered at Netroots Nation. I'll be there with them learning from the best.

Netroots Nation is one of the most important annual events in the progressive movement and it is both a place where I can reach out to some of the key opinion leaders in the online world and, hopefully, a place where I can learn how to more effectively use new media tools.

T Rex

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Thursday May 28, 2009 · 8:40 AM PDT

2009/05/28 · 08:40

Last week, 2008 congressional challenger Annette Taddeo suggested she might be interested in a possible run for CFO. This would be a very good idea.

If you already know about Annette and agree, go sign the petition and encourage her to jump into the race. You don't have to be a Floridian to sign the petition, either, we want to show her that people across the country support her. And, trust me, you want talented, progressive Democrats in charge in Florida, it'll help everyone.

Taddeo ran a strong campaign against Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Florida's 18th District. Despite widespread support and much excitement generated by her candidacy, she was unable to overcome the popularity of the incubment, who had the vast resources of her office and long career in politics to hold off the newcomer. Taddeo did establish herself as a progressive politician to keep an eye on, though.

T Rex

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Wednesday May 27, 2009 · 8:26 AM PDT

2009/05/27 · 08:26

Netroots Nation 2009 is fastly approaching. The annual convention of progressive and Netroots activists takes place in Pittsburgh this year from August 13-16. There are few events that I look forward to more each year than this one. There are few times it feels more exciting to be a blogger or a progressive activist than when one is at the meeting formerly known as Yearly Kos.

If you are an activist who uses the Internet to try to change the world, there is no better place for you to be. What could be better than being surrounded by thousands of like-minded people, all of whom are dedicated to the same things you are, all of whom have ideas and strategies on how to make change come alive. Regardless of the official program, the key reason you should be at Netroots Nation is the opportunities you get to interact with an undending stream of people from whom you can learn about how to better do whatever it is you do. It's also a great place to make contacts and connections that will further your own activism and your own career.

T Rex

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Monday March 02, 2009 · 11:26 AM PST

2009/03/02 · 11:26

Florida currently is in the early stages of a U.S. Senate race to replace congressional waste of space Mel Martinez. Provided that Governor Charlie Crist doesn't jump in the race, the seat should be a solid pick-up opportunity for the Democrats. But we certainly don't want just any Democrat replacing Martinez, we want a progressive Democrat who will fight for our values and will work his or her ass off to make America a better place. That's why I'm personally endorsing Dan Gelber and will do what I can to help him win the primary.

Why Gelber?

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Fact & Fiction on Social Security

I Really Don't Want to Work 'Til I Die

Time for Floridians to Take Action on Social Security

Social Security Roundup for 3/15

FactCheck.org Gets It Wrong When They Say Democrats Are Wrong on Social Security and the Deficit

The Effects of the House Republicans Assault on Social Security in Florida

Social Security Round-up for 2/28

Social Security Roundup for 2/22

Bringing Sunshine to the Netroots Nation

Draft Annette Taddeo for Florida's CFO

Netroots Nation

FL-Sen: Dan Gelber is the Man