Progressives to Clinton: Pledge to Never Cut Social Security—Now

[eridani]

If you are a Clinton supporter, this will carry extra weight--please sign.

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/02/04/progressives-clinton-pledge-never-cut-social-security-now

Hillary Clinton is under pressure from progressives to pledge never to cut Social Security—and to do it before the New Hampshire primary on February 9.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) launched a new national push this week demanding the former secretary of state confirm her allegiance to the program that provides benefits to roughly 60 million Americans, which she has yet to do. The campaign includes a petition calling on Clinton to make the promise, and will introduce new tactics in the coming days.

"We challenge Hillary Clinton to promise before the New Hampshire Primary that she will never cut Social Security," PCCC co-founder Adam Green said on Tuesday—just a day after the Iowa caucuses unexpectedly ended in a "virtual tie" between Clinton and her chief rival Bernie Sanders.

Clinton has said she would "fight efforts" to weaken or privatize Social Security. However, as the 2016 presidential election approaches, her ties to Wall Street are still a major concern for many voters, particularly as Sanders gains on her national lead without the help of big-money donors. The senator from Vermont on Wednesday said cuts to Social Security would "of course" not be considered under his administration.

[cali]

1. It's sad that people feel the need to have her pledge this.

I'd feel better if she did.

[mdbl]

7. It's more sad that I think she'll pledge it and not do it anyway

[djean111]

8. That was my first thought. And second, third, and fourth thoughts.

Why would ANYONE believe her?
This "pledge" actually seems like just another rhetorical campaign blather device, easily discarded and even smiled or laughed at, later. And another "accomplishment" to be added to the pointless list of "stuff Hillary has said at one time or another".

[mdbl]

9. With the help of her husband, the middle class is being triangulated out of existence.

We need to try something different before the transition back to a serf society is complete.

[Enthusiast]

29. That is the first thing that came to mind. Such is the level of my trust in Hillary.

[eridani]

2. At the link to the petition, there is a box to check if you are a Clinton supporter

She especially needs to hear from supporters on this issue.

[Hoyt]

3. Heck, figure out a way to pay my rent, food, health care, etc., they can slash my Social Security.

The pledge is nice, but circumstances can change. At least Clinton is honest enough to recognize that. Like Obama, I trust her on Social Security, no matter what the critics say.

[eridani]

5. There are no circumstances that would ever justify cutting Social Security

And no, that the military empire wants more money is not one.

Social Security pays for my rent and food, and Medicare for a lot of my health care. Replacing them with programs that would do the same thing means that we essentially get both of these programs back.

[Hoyt]

10. So the economy tanks, 25% unemployment, or worse -- you wanna stick young folks with paying my

Social Security without some kind of adjustment. I'm not for it, hope it never happens, but the "pledge" is worthless. I can definitely see circumstances where some adjustment might be necessary for people at the higher end.

I so agree that cutting SS should be far down the list in a response to an economic disaster.

[eridani]

12. Young folks are fucking well not paying for your Social Security

That's why the FICA tax was raised in the 80s--to create a big surplus in anticipation of Baby Boomer retirement. That is what is paying for Social Security now.

[Hoyt]

14. Actually they are. Without their money going into the system, it dries up pretty quickly.

[eridani]

17. Nope. Not at all. The surplus is being reduced because of

--payments to boomers. What the kids are paying for is their own Social Security.

[Hoyt]

46. See what happens if unemployment/underemployment gets worse. You are deluding yourself.

[eridani]

47. That's the best time to Scrap the Cap n/t

[Chemisse]

27. I paid my Social Security

All through my working years. It's not our fault that they pissed away the money.

[merrily]

4. There is always a loophole, always a claim that a cut is not a cut (e.g., chained CPI), always a

claim that circumstances changed after I made that pledge, etc. So, pledges are not of great value to me.

You have to pick a politician whose very core will not allow him or her to go New Democrat after inauguration, one whom you trust. That, IMO, is Bernie, not Hillary.

[eridani]

6. Agreed, but getting a commitment from her would really reinforce the point n/t

[merrily]

11. Or give voters a possibly false sense of security about her potential Presidency.

[Divernan]

16. Clinton$peak: It depend$ on what the meaning of "cut" is!

Last edited Fri Feb 5, 2016, 08:05 AM - Edit history (1)

[merrily]

24. During the last few days, I posted something about

George Orwell's New Democrat Speak New Speak. I enjoyed posting that, but I may like "Clinton Speak" better.

[A Simple Game]

30. I have no doubts that Hillary would consider privatization an "enhancement." n/t

[Hortensis]

13. Yes, Eridani. And I call on you to pledge to

not text threats to send ISIS after Hillary, to stop dumping your personal waste in Flint's drinking water, to renounce kicking puppies, etc.

[eridani]

15. There are quite a few people around here for whom Social Security is not a joke.

Maybe you missed the Clinton dogwhistle in the first debate, but I sure didn't. She took the Pete APeterson line of "Well, we need to take care of the people in the lowest income quintile." What that means is cutting Social Security, and then putting some or all of the cuts back for the lowest quintile. That's what the Catfood Commission meant in 2010, anyway.

[merrily]

26. Morph Social Security into welfare, then end welfare as we have come to know it. That is

the long range plan of Peterson and his ilk.

There is enough goodwill around the term "Social Security" and enough ill will around the term "welfare" that they think this is the easiest way to go.

[Enthusiast]

33. I see it exactly the same way. Once they can demonize Social Security as "welfare" it will be dead.

This is their goal.

Means testing is the death knell of Social Security.

[merrily]

34. And the death knell of Social Security will also be the death knell of a number of humans.

[Divernan]

18. Hill'$ Wall Street/banker BFFs jone$ing to privatize social security

This will be Job One for a Hillary Clinton administration. The penultimate quid for those millions in pro quos they have paid to her as a candidate, paid her as a not-yet declared private citizen for her speeches, and paid the Clinton crime family, oops, I mean Clinton Family Foundation. Have no doubt in your minds - the necessary legislation has already been drafted and co-sponsors lined up by banking/Wall Street lobbyists, awaiting the possibility of a Clinton administration, i.e., a president who will not veto it.

It's the most lucrative remaining venue for transferring wealth upward. Wall Street goes orgasmic at the prospect of privatizing tens of millions of individual social security accounts!
As one banker explained it to me, every time an adjustment/change would be made to how the funds are invested - say increasing the percentage invested in one kind of bond versus another, a fee would be charged to every single social security recipient.

With over 50 million collecting SS and SSI, not to mention the tens of millions of accounts of those actively contributing to SS, at a dollar each (for the sake of argument) per investment tweak, times several tweaks/adjustments/changes per month? My god how the money rolls upward! It will be the last great tsunami of wealth transfer to the One Percent. And it will profit them as long as social security exists. We've already achieved permanent war status; social security privatization means permanent rip-off of workers status.

Because what do we average folks have? Like so very many, I lost nearly all of my retirement savings in the 2008 debacle. We were left with our mortgages on our homes and our social security accounts.
Along came CDOs and the mortgage bubble, and having been bailed out once, Wall Street is now pushing "bespoke tranch opportunities." (See the film, The Big Short) Now the only low-hanging fruits left are our social security savings.

Social Security updates its statistics every month in the Monthly Statistical Snapshot, although the updated figures are not as precise as the numbers published in the Annual Statistical Supplement. As of December 2012, according to the Snapshot, the retirement rolls had reached approximately 39,613,000, with an average benefit of $1,193.94. Disability beneficiaries had reached approximately 10,889,000, with an average benefit of $1,130.34.

[Enthusiast]

35. I'm in 100% agreement with you. I hope everyone reads your post and understands the danger.

[erlewyne]

19. I can't sign it

I will vote for her if I have to

but it is not an easy task

I do not trust her

She is a DINO

[joshcryer]

20. At least she said she wouldn't "put it on the table" like Obama did, in 2008.

[merrily]

36. What the hell does that mean, anyway? A table that you wipe, like with a cloth?

It's fine if one trusts her, as you seem to. Many people do not trust her, including me.

[MrMickeysMom]

21. Chuckles and Rachel NEVER brought THAT up last night...

Goodness knows they had the opportunity to do so.

BTW, just how weak a statement is it to commit "fighting efforts" to weaken SS? Just about as weak as telling Wall Street to "cut it out", I think!

[tomm2thumbs]

23. cut it out!!!

LOL!!!! That oughta show 'em

[merrily]

28. No sense pretending MSNBC anchors are anything resembling journalists.

They are there to help us see that the Emperor's New Clothes are gorgeous and very well made.

[Enthusiast]

39. That should be carved in stone. MSNBC anchors are a sad excuse.

[merrily]

41. If I knew how to carve stone, I'd oblige.

Fifteen....Ten, ten commandments

[MrMickeysMom]

45. LOL!

I know where THAT came from!

[madokie]

22. The one thing that she will pledge too

is that she will not pledge to anything. Waffle is her first name, bullshit is her second one

[erlewyne]

25. You people are killing me

I love waffles

[madokie]

32. Me too

spread some butter then peanut butter and cover all that with a healthy dose of maple syrup and it is to die for

[Enthusiast]

40. Huge +1!

[peacebird]

31. Her pledge will carry no weight at all. Pretty sure her rich bank$ter buddies will decide for her

[merrily]

37. Their minds have been made up about Social Security for a long time.

[Enthusiast]

42. They will not consider any alternative. Look how quickly Obama instituted the Catfood Commission.

It was a very high priority. Obama had embraced the Republican meme that Social Security was responsible for the deficit (utter bullshit).

[PonyUp]

38. She'll look into that. n/t

[FailureToCommunicate]

44. That retort of her's last night may well haunt her awhile. "I am disinclined to acquiesce to ..."

Welcome to DU BTW!

[Enthusiast]

43. K&R! I would love to see this receive hundreds of recommendations!

This is an issue we must take very seriously.