Yes, deficits matter. We all agree that US Debt growth is unsustainable. But then the question becomes what is the sane and moral solution.
Let's review our Major Deficit Problems.
- The US Military and Spy Complex spending is simply Out Of Control (more on this below).
- The Obama Administration gave away Trillions to Bailout the Banksters whose malfeasance crashed the world economy. The Bank CEOs all awarded themselves historic bonuses courtesy of the taxpayers. And the Obama Administration forced the taxpayers to gobble up all of the Banksters bad debts (credit default swaps). Three cheers for unregulated, Laissez-faire Capitalism. That worked out well.
- Then on January 1, Obama made a deal which made Permanent, 95% of the Bush Tax Cuts for the Rich. This was a wet dream come true for Repubs. What is mind boggling is that Obama did not just let the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010, or even end them in 2009 when he had majorities in the House and Senate. Regardless, this move alone ensured that the Bush tax cuts continue be a major driver of federal budget deficits.
Obama's solution: Fix the deficit by robbing desperately needed Social Security benefits from seniors. Social Security is the center piece of the New Deal -- the Democrats Crowning Achievement. To be dismantled at the hands of a Democrat President is Shameful and Mean Spirited. Not to mention that Social Security has NOTHING to do with the deficit.
Someone commented yesterday that "Hey you voted for Obama and he did what he said he would do. Why are you acting surprised?". Well, not quite. The truth is that campaigner Obama repeatedly said he wanted to "Strengthen Social Security" -- his exact words. If he had been honest and said "I will make Cuts to Social Security and Medicare.", he would not have been elected to a second term. Period.
The current benefit level makes Social Security more of a Survival Net than a Safety Net for seniors. How would you survive on $11,500 per year? Could you get by on that? Stop and really Think about that for a minute. What do you spend on rent, heat, phone, electric, food, etc? And by submitting a budget with Social Security cuts, Obama apparently feels seniors on Social Security can afford to tighten that belt a few more notches.
[1][4]
And before someone posts a comment saying Chained CPI is not a Cut. Please see this analysis from Senator Sanders office.
[2]
Grandma and Grandpa are NOT your Budget Problem.
THE Budget Problem Is The Bloated, Insane Defense Budget -- Stupid!
On Real Time with Bill Maher last week, Senator Bernie Sanders was asked by a wingnut on the panel "Ok, if we don't cut Social Security where are we going to make cuts instead?". Senator Sanders immediate reply was "How about the military?".
So yes indeed, how about the military?!
We spend more on military and our spy complex than the next 10 countries combined. This is the choice of our Gifted Leaders, not the choice of the Taxpayers.
[3]
We Cannot Afford Endless Pointless War
These beautiful children died because of the US appetite for Endless Pointless War. Endless militarism is not keeping us safer. It is making the world more dangerous for Americans.
These children were not terrorists when they were killed by a drone. But I can guarantee that their deaths grew the numbers of people with a hatred of the US: Their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers, their aunts and uncles, their cousins, family friends. How would you feel if some rogue country dropped a bomb on your family?
Were any of the US invoked Middle East wars worth their costs? Be honest with yourself when you answer that question.
The US is the biggest debtor nation by far. We simply cannot afford continued "Wars of Choice".
Please make the Moral Choice Mr President. Live up to what you campaigned on. Don't chose robbing Seniors of their Survival Net in favor of further enriching the Military Industrial Complex. Stop the Endless Pointless Wars that are bankrupting the American People.
We know that you already know all this Mr President. These are your words.
"Our military spending has gone up every year that I have been in office. We spend more on our military then the next 10 countries combined. China , Russia, France , UK , you name it." -- Obama @ 2012 Romney debate.
And these are your words President Obama. You said
"I will not make cuts to Social Security." Remember them -- live up to your Promise.
There are a few in Congress who dare to call Obama on his immoral choice. Is your congress person one of the few? If not, it's time to tell them you are watching. Now before it's too late.
Sources:
[1]Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
[2] Senator Bernie Sanders
[3] International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
[4] 2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines, Families USA
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DailyKos Blogathon -- Week of April 8th
(All times are Eastern, diaries published by the Pushing back at the Grand Bargain group)
Monday, April 8
10:00 a.m. Roger Fox
12:00 noon eXtina
2:00 p.m. Guest crosspost by Yves Smith
3:00 p.m. poopdogcomedy
4:00 p.m. Horace Boothroyd III
6:00 p.m. slinkerwink
8:00 p.m. joedemocrat
Tuesday, April 9
10:00 a.m. Guest crosspost by Bill Black
12:00 noon Livestream Event diary/Team
2:00 p.m. joe shikspack
4:00 p.m. Roger Fox
6:00 p.m. Priceman
8:00 p.m. TomP
Wednesday, April 10
11:00 a.m. Liveblog budget announcement press conference
12:00 noon Words in Action
1:00 p.m. bobswern
2:00 p.m. One Pissed Off Liberal (OPOL)
4:00 p.m. Puddytat
6:00 p.m. Tool
8:00 p.m. SouthernLiberalinMD
Thursday, April 11
10:00 a.m. Letsgetitdone
12:00 noon CitizenofEarth
1:00 p.m. Words in Action
2:00 p.m. Liveblog event diary
3:00 p.m. LeftHandedMan
4:00 p.m. Unitary Moonbat
6:00 p.m. cosmic debris
8:00 p.m. angelajean
Friday April 12
10:00 a.m. joanneleon
11:00 a.m. Roger Fox
12:00 noon jamess
1:00 p.m. joejoejoe
2:00 p.m. ek hornbeck
3:00 p.m. Seneca Doane
4:00 p.m. poopdogcomedy
6:00 p.m. Jim P
7:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. Roger Fox
* If you would like to join the blogathon, contact joanneleon or Lady Libertine by kosmail.
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1. Call your senators and representatives and tell them "Hell No!" with a priority on contacting senators. U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. You can find email contact information here
2. Contact the White House and tell them "Hell No!". Switchboard: 202-456-1414. Email contact page is here.
3. Petitions. There are a number of petitions available. Choose from the following or preferably sign them all.
a. White House petition calling for no cuts to Social Security.
b. AFL-CIO petition calling for no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and calling for more jobs, repealing the sequester and ending tax loopholes for the wealthiest individuals and corporations.
c. Sen. Harkin's petition telling Pres. Obama not to cut Social Security.
4. Social Media. Share this diary and promote this blogathon on Facebook and Google+ using the buttons at the top of the diary. Send this out on Twitter and add the hashtags #HellNo and #NoGrandBargain.
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Blogathon diaries you might have missed
Monday:
Hell No! #NoGrandBargain: "Pushing back at the Grand Bargain" by Roger Fox
Hell No! Chained CPI will reduce eligability for EITC #noChainedCPI by Roger Fox
Hell No! Dan Pfeiffer: "The President's Budget Shows That He is Serious About Solving Deficits" by eXtina
Guest Crosspost, Yves Smith: Obama Wants to Be the President Who Rolled Back the New Deal by Yves Smith via joanneleon
IA-Sen: Tom Harkin (D) Needs Our Help Telling Obama Hell No To The Chained CPI by poopdogcomedy
Hell No! Stop crushing the poor by Horace Boothroyd III
Hell, No! Social Security Contributes Nothing To Deficit by slinkerwink
Hell No! No Grand Bargain: Chained CPI: Social Security Means So Much To So Many by joedemocrat
Tuesday:
Bill Black: “Wall Street Uses the Third Way to Lead its Assault on Social Security” by Bill Black via joanneleon
Hell No! Livestream. Petition delivered to White House. Millions of signatures. 12:30pm by Lady Libertine
Hell No! No Grand Bargain. Are "Progressives" Destroying the New Deal? by joe shikspack
#HellNo ! #ChainedCPI : $65 billion income tax increase on working families #noChainedCPI by Roger Fox
Hell No! Chained CPI is a Cut. You Either Care About People or You Don't. by priceman
Hell No! No Votes or Money To Dems Who Vote To Cut Social Security. by TomP
Wednesday:
Hell No! No Grand Bargain Liveblog 2014 Budget press conference by joanneleon
Hell No! No Grand Bargain: Are We At War With Our Own Neoliberals? by Words In Action
Hell No! “Progressives Rage...Over Plan to Cut Social Security” (Pt. 1 of 2) by bobswern
Hell No! Pam Martens: “Progressives Rage...Over Plan to Cut Social Security…” (Pt. 2 of 2) by bobswern
Hell No! There's No Way to Vote Against Goldman Sachs by One Pissed Off Liberal
Hell No! Hands Off Social Security - This Has Gotten Personal by Puddytat
Hell No! Expand Social Security - Don't Cut It by Tool
Hell No! "Do You Think That Democracy Is Part of the Problem?” Attacks on Soc Security& Democracy by SouthernLiberalinMD
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