This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
At the Seoul, South Korea G-20 summit, Obama asked Democrat party leaders to hold off criticizing necessary "tough choices," adding:
"Before anybody starts shooting down proposals, we need to listen, gather up all the facts, and be straight with the American people." What, in fact, he hasn't done on all administration policies since taking office, nor is he doing now, proposing enormous harm to working Americans, while showering benefits on corporate favorites, bankers most of all. Wall Street, in fact, is spending millions of dollars promoting NCFRF's proposal.
AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, hardly a legitimate rank and file supporter, said the proposal amounts to telling "working Americans to 'Drop Dead'. Especially in these tough economic times, it is unconscionable to be proposing cuts to the critical economic lifelines for working people, Social Security and Medicare."
Even the conservative Americans for Tax Reform expressed criticism, saying:
"It confirms what everyone has known - this commission is merely an excuse to raise net taxes on the American people," ordinary ones, that is.
If approved, in whole or in part, proposed changes will become effective in 2012. Deficit hawks want it accomplished before the 112th Congress convenes in January. Public anger is needed to stop it, a thinly veiled scheme to take from the many for the few, the administration very supportive. Rhetoric aside, coming debate will determine whether congressional Democrats concur. At this point, it's not a done deal. Clearly, however, political sentiment favors cuts on the backs of those least able to afford or contest them, ordinary people always betrayed, Obama again proving more ruthless than Bush.
The Myth of the Social Security Crisis
Ending it is ultimately planned, preceded by benefit cuts and privatization, a scheme based on bogusly claiming future insolvency if remedial action isn't taken. In fact, Social Security sound and secure, the most conservative projections showing all scheduled benefits can be paid for the next 27 years with no structural changes. Saying it's going broke is a lie. Using that excuse for Medicare is another canard. Both programs are fiscally sound if properly administered.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
3
2
1
