CALL TO ACTION
The following phrases are being used widely in media discussion of
Social Security:
Social Security is in crisis
Social Security is an investment
The Bush White House uses these phrases to con Americans into seeing Social Security as bad, and to convince them to support phasing it out.
Social Security is one of the most successful social programs of all times, is healthy, and continues to protect millions of Americans in times of need.
If you or someone you know have heard these phrases being used on television, radio or in print media, please go immediately to
Frameshop for advice and recommendations.
WARNINGS:
Failure to stop use of these phrases will result in the public airwaves being used to promote Bush's war on Social Security.
Failure to fight for Social Security will lead to the total dismantling of all remaining social programs and the destruction of health, welfare and environment for generations.
IMMEDIATE ACTION:
Stop saying: Social security is in cr---s
START REPEATING: Social Security is Successful
More policy recommendations will follow soon.
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Frameshop is open.
[This Frameshop is specifically to mobilize for action based on the last discussion. While suggestions for framing the Social Security debate are always welcome, please use this diary thread as a chance to post things that can be done. In particular: we need a list of email addresses and contacts to get this message out. All emails listed in the comments will be brought up to the list at the end of the diary. --JF]
Where these phrases are turning up
They're popping up all ove the media, so be vigiliant.
This morning I woke up to a long piece about Social Security on NPR's Morning Edition. It was a good report overall, and they gave airtime to AARP's spokesperson who is against the "Pension Risk Act."
But there were two clear problems in how the issue was discussed that we need to address RIGHT NOW.
First problem: Social Security in Crisis
While the AARP rep did not talk about Social Security being in crisis with panic in his voice, he never clearly refuted this claim. He spoke only in terms of fixing. The interview did not spend anytime talking about how Social Security is working, but spent all it's time on how Social Security is broken.
Grrrrrrr.
Social Security is not in crisis (that's a Con frame).
George W. Bush's war against Social Security is the crisis (our frame).
Social security will work fine for decades and decades in a healthy economy. Minor adjustments only are required.
Social Security is healthy and strong. The only thing that will send it into cardiac arrest is a wreckless infusion of debt and restructuring as proposed by President Bush.
Second problem: Social Security is an "Investment"
This same AARP spokesperson suggested that the government "invest" Social Security money in the markets on behalf of the country.
Grrrrrr.
This means that that the AARP is thinking through the Con frame of Social Security as investment rather than the Progressive frame of Social Security as insurance.
Con frame: Social Security is an investment that earns citizens wealth (wrong!)
Progressive frame: Social Security is insurance that protects our citizens (Correct!).
Conservatives want us to think that Social Security is an investment and that individuals are better at managing their money than the government. This is such a lie.
Sure, Americans have long since agreed to invest their taxes in a trust fund to help Social Security weather the next generation. But that "investment" was a moral investment. It wasn't a get rich scheme.
Social Security is insurance that protects people from risk. It's not capital that grows by exposing it to market risk.
Today's task: Get these two messages out
Get these messges everyone, but especially to NPR and the media.
Here's some suggested language:
Dear [blank]:
Kudos for your story on Social Security, which was informative and insightful.
But why do you speak about Social Security using only the deceptive codewords supplied by the Bush administration?
For example, you only talk about Social Security being "in crisis." This idea that Social Security is "in crisis" unless we introduce radical change is not true. Economists agree that Social Security will continue to be strong and function well for decades and decades in a strong economy, with only minor adjustments needed. The only thing that will send Social Security into cardiac arrest is an assault from the White House.
Please talk about Social Security as one of the most successful social programs of all time. Hard working Americans deserve to hear this from the media.
Also, Social Security is not an "investment." This idea that Social Security belongs in the hands of individuals so they can better manage their "investment" is not true.
Please talk about Social Security as insurance for seniors and other citizens when they need it. Citizens of all ages deserve to hear this from the media.
In these uncertain times, it is disheartening that our President has chosen to wage a war on Social Security--a strong and successful social program that helps so many Americans in times of need.
"Successful." "Insurance." "There for all Americans."
Please continue to talk about this issue. But please use words that tell the public the truth about Social Security, not words that"sell" irresonsible Bush policy to an unwitting American public.
Thank you,
[your name]
Where to send them
Here are a few suggestions:
- NPR Morning Edition: morning@npr.org
- Hardball: hardball@msnbc.com
- Countdown: countdown@msnbc.com
- Randi Rhodes: rrhodes@airamericaradio.com
- Air America (online form)
- Aaron Brown: NewsNight@cnn.com
- William L. Watts, CBS MarketWatch (online form)
- Hon. Nancy Pelosi: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov
- Senator Harry Reid (online form)
- Email Any House Rep
- Email Any Senator
- Meet the Press: mtp@msnbc.com
- LA Times: letters@latimes.com
Please supply more emails in the comments and I will bring them up to this list.
I'll put a challenge out there: By 5pm, let's see if we can have 100 LTE email addresses to respond to 100 TV, radio and print stories on Social Security.
Let's get on this, right now!