Ok, I am perhaps too furious at listening to the types that tell us that we can't raise the Cap on taxable earnings for Social Security above the 110K threshold.
Tonight, I listened to Jonathan Alter on "All in with Chris Hayes" say it wasn't going to happen. Then, I listened to David Axelrod parrot the Pete Peterson dogma that something had to be done about Medicare and Social Security, which we all know is code for cut benefits. After Rachel suggested raising the cap, he dismissed the idea out of hand.
But why should this be?
We have the Pete Peterson ilk all over the place, saying that we have to "cut Entitlements", but what about a program to go after all who oppose raising the cap? I personally want to scream when I hear this, as they don't want you to consider that many of us have paid into the system for over 30 years and we haven't yet gotten close to collecting a dime. "Entitlements", hell no! "Earned Benefits" YES! If we do nothing else, we have got to stop the parroting of the phrase "Entitlement". When it's spoken, we should jump on it as "a nasty code, not reflecting the nature of Earned benefits". But I digress. Why can't we score Senators and members of the House on the one isssue that Seniors really care about--which is Medicare and Social Security? As Lawrence demonstrated tonight on "The Last Word", everything related to Social Security and Medicare comes down to the power to tax. That is as we know a political tool and all that's missing to make Social Security solvent beyond 2037 is the willingness to tax.
Every member of Congress should be forced to stand (or fall) on the idea of raising the Cap of earnings which are taxable for Social Security. If they say no or even fail to support the idea, we should as a force, go after them. After all, if they aren't for us on this issue--they are against us.
I'm fed up with Donating to Obama and other Corporate Democrats who smile for me at election time and then stab me in the back the way Obama has with Chained CPI. Before you start, I don't want to hear about Obama playing 11th dimensional chess. That dog don't hunt! Obama shouldn't get anything from us with the proposal, but contempt and I know he won't get anything more from the Repugs. Oh, they are already saying nice things about Obama's willingness to cut earned benefits, but they are firm against raising revenue.
And what is Obama after, in this so called "Grand Bargain"? He isn't going to get massive WPA funding that would jump start the economy and cause me to consider it. He's not even asking for that, but he's offering up seniors for what? PEANUTS. For that alone, he should get nothing but contempt!!
No, I know this is a rant--but why should we take it? Why shouldn't we organize around the principle of you either support seniors and those of us who have paid into the system for 30 to 40 working years?
What's wrong with organizing to oppose any Politician who won't support raising the Cap? Why should it be a foregone conclusion that we can't raise the cap? One thing I'll put into the pot is my willingness to raise the amount taken in social security taxes from my paycheck. I'm sure most of you who care about this issue would be willing to add a percentage or . That in itself would make the system more solvent, the way it was done in the 80's. Speaking of the changes in the 80's, did we agree to something, only to have that money also stolen?
Granted, we won't have the resources and talking heads that Pete Peterson is bringing to the table, but what's wrong with organizing around this issue? I know that we could get AARP on board....well, maybe not the leadership--but the members at large--HELL YES!
While I write this, there are manyg Social Security Diaries on Daily Kos which tells me this is a potent issue, even with Gun Control and Immigration on the stove at the same time, so the sentiment is there for this.
I know we have Senators Sanders and Warren on our side, which is a great start. But where are folks like George Soros? Anyone have any contact with him or other Progressive Funders?
I'm not saying that I have the answer and anyone who wants to point me at a direction has my interest.