A few months ago,
I read something here that stopped me dead in my tracks: Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush, talking about the possibility of privatizing Social Security, said “my brother tried, got totally wiped out...
the next president is going to have to try again.”
We all remember that fight very well. In 2005, President George W. Bush called for privatization in his State of the Union speech. Working together, the Netroots community and elected Democrats fought back against privatizing Social Security. And together, we won.
But Jeb Bush’s comments prove what we’re still facing: a broken Washington where billionaires and big corporations are trying to call all the shots, and haven’t given up their wish to privatize Social Security - one of the most important programs in our nation’s history.
As we build our campaign for Senate, I’ve made it a priority to travel the state and talk to as many Wisconsinites as I can. Recently, I had the pleasure of spending the day listening to Wisconsin seniors in Green Bay, Wausau, and Eau Claire -- and everything we talked about only reaffirmed my mission to protect Social Security -- and expand it.
We talked all day, and the same concerns kept popping up. And these concerns aren’t exclusive to Wisconsin seniors -- they’re on the mind of seniors all over the country. The economy hasn’t bounced back for everyone, and many people worry about being able to live comfortably once they stop working. Social Security is more important than ever.
Wisconsin seniors feel squeezed. They feel financial pressure. They worry that savings and Social Security won't be enough to live independently, and with dignity, through their retirement.
Seniors here in Wisconsin and across the country deserve a stronger safety net, and I’ve found few stronger allies in that fight than the Daily Kos community, so I’m asking for your help.
Please sign my petition to join me in standing for a stronger Social Security.
There’s work to do. Because we must make sure Social Security is solvent for generations to come, it’s high time the richest Americans pay their fair share into our Social Security system.
Despite such a clear path forward, Republicans like my likely opponent Senator Ron Johnson aren’t listening - they’re making the same tired, phony arguments we heard ten years ago. Worse than that, Senator Johnson regularly calls Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and called it “a shame” that the program was never privatized, which would have drastically slashed benefits. He’s wrong.
Jeb Bush’s comments about previous and future attempts to privatize Social Security tell us two things. First, huge corporate interests and politicians like incumbent Senator Ron Johnson will never stop trying to turn Social Security over to Wall Street. But second, and more importantly, Jeb’s comments about the last time Washington tried to privatize Social Security reminds us how to win: by working together.
If you’re fired up like I am, I urge you to take action. Sign my petition to join me in standing for a stronger Social Security.
Do you have something to add? I’d love to hear from you. I’ll be around to answer some of your questions and comments. Looking forward to the conversation!
Sincerely,
Russ Feingold
