I read this fascinating article, linked from the ever awesome buzzflash aggregation site, and felt it was worth sharing. It speaks to much of the current debate over the Obama administration's budget proposal, and I find very much to agree upon within it. It begins as follows:
Since late last week, we have been fed a steady diet of grandma on catfood and the eeeebil Obama that is trying to make that happen. As usual, focusing on the method of inflation adjustment (that isn't simply applicable to Social Security but all of government), our venerable Leftist talking heads are missing the forest for the trees. Well, more like they're missing the forest for the branches. While people are howling at a revised method of calculating inflation, they are completely missing broader perspective on how this president is devising a more expansive social safety net.
So let's get some perspective. This president has expanded the social safety net in more broadly than anyone since the passage of Social Security - through health care reform, through expanding children's health insurance, through student aid expansion and through Medicare reforms. Let's talk about those.
It goes on to list and discuss in great detail about the proposals in the budget, notwithstanding the increase of taxes on the rich which is a worthwhile end in itself, that are of great benefit to large swaths of the 99% population and more than offset any losses from the chained CPI. I find these arguments compelling.
A bit more, and discussion of course, below the break.
The article goes on to conclude:
The above, keep in mind, only focuses on the permanent safety net expansions in this president's agenda. We haven't even touched on his commitment to the temporary safety nets in hard economic times via unemployment benefit extensions, federal help to states to keep teachers, firefighters and police officers employed, and temporarily reducing the payroll tax.
As we can see, this president has expanded benefits under social investments and safety nets at every stage of life, and continues his effort to expand it more. So why is it so important to look at the president's commitment to the social safety net over the lifetime of individuals rather than just the pre-existing safety net structure of the elderly, the indigent and the disabled? Because the opportunities and safety nets available at the early stage of life always has a great impact on the net needed at a late stage. Because a successful social safety net is one that lifts the boat of opportunity for all as well as cares for those in the greatest need.
There is no going back from health care reform, student loan reform, and SCHIP expansion. And if we can help him pass it, there will be no going back from universal preschool.
So let's not sit on our hands and pout about a government-wide adjustment of the measure of inflation. Let's focus on the broader issues of the social safety net. Let's help this president pass universal preschool, even if it requires compromise. Let's not hound the president who has done the most for the middle class and the poor since FDR and accuse him of forcing granny on catfood. Instead, let's help him continue to make smart investments in our country.
Fascinating stuff, and intelligently written. Very much worth checking out. What say you?