Alan Greenspan today linked the Federal Deficit to Social Security. Though in fact any objective analysis will note that Social Security is of course still in surplus and that Bush spending sprees have sent the Deficit and Debt skyrocketing once again.
Greenspans solution? The same as always. Cut social security benefits. And the republicans immediately jumped on board. It is a little comical that Bush parroted Greenspans words on Social Security cuts when it isnt unlikely at all that the far righters who want social security eliminated wrote both their scripts.
But the republicans , as usual, have an addendum to the script. They are once again trying to sneak in their voodoo economics fantasy of dumping social security funds into the stock market. Of course anyone actually paying attention when they suggested this policy noted that after Bush successfully crushed the clinton economy the social security fund would have lost trillions of dollars. But that doesnt matter to the press who with a smile and a wink immediately began trumpeting the far rights' wet dream. And we can of course expect to hear the pundits this weekend screaming for 'social security reform!" or as we rational human beings know it.. the plunder of social security to fill the pockets of stock market speculators.
They've tried this before of course and it failed resoundingly. So much that the gop, as usual, pretended they never really meant it. So do they expect to win the battle now? Well they control the government now so if they wish to, they quite simply can. But the political costs might be tremendous. And republicans arent known for courage. So what is it they are really trying to do? It is likely they are using a standard republican tactic. Push for a radically foolish policy only to "compromise".. and end up getting what they wanted in the first place.
Over the next few weeks expect to see republicans spout the old tired theme. Expect to see the DLC democrats suggest moderation. And expect, in the end, the Democratic party sell us out once again to NeoCon voodo economic.