TV "News" is covering up Bush's Social Security scam

[nodictators]

Kerry was in Florida over the weekend and pointed out that Bush's plan to "reform", read privatize, Social Security would reduce benefits by as much as 45%.

That would be avout $500/month for the average Social Security recipient. For a married couple on Social Security, it would be a $700/month reduction in benefits.

Kerry got his numbers from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

TV Liars coverage:

On Monday night, Peter Jennings was only worried about whether or not Bush had said the word "privatize" re his Social Security plan. That would be a big n0-n0 for a Repub.

Jennings gave NO info to his viewers about the huge reductions in their Social Security benefits.

This Thursday night, Brokaw was talking about the candidates were scaring the People. Brokaw equated the Bush-Cheney scare tactics with Kerry's warnings about Bush's plans for Social Security.

Again, there was NO coverage of the effects of Bush's plans if he retakes the WH.

Note: To read some of the many newspaper articles about Kerry's remarks in Florida go to the second page of Yahoo, and do a Yahoo News search on the 3 words: Kerry social security (no quotes). The search box is in the upper right side of Yahoo's second page. The Philadelphia paper has the most info. The AP article also decieved the People by saying that the reduction would be $500, but they neglected to point out that it would be $500/month.

[acmavm]

1. The majority of the people in this country understand that bush* just

wants to loot the social security funds. He wants to use it to cover his incompetence (which he's been doing for some time now), and the rest, well they gotta get the tax break money for corporations and the top 2% from somewhere.

[creeksneakers2]

2. The networks were shameless on this

They tried to make it look like everything Kerry was saying was based on an anonymous quote in an article that was unfavorable to Bush. Bush has been saying he's going to set up private accounts for years and even had a commission on it. Bush has to get $2 trillion from somewhere and pretends that he doesn't. Amazing how the networks can let something this big slide by.

[The empressof all]

3. Privatization Question

I personally find the whole idea of privatization repulsive but has anyone figured out how much would an individual making $50,000 per year would be able to invest monthly if Bush's plan was approved. I can't imagine we are talking about a great deal of money here individually.

If people understood that we are not talking mega bucks here that anyone will be able to invest individually -folks may begin to understand the stupidity of moving in this direction vs the cost of decreased SS benefits overall.

(Is this question clear?)

[Langis]

4. The problem is Bush does not use real math

He says young people can put some of their money into private accounts, without decresing benefits. We all know it's bullshit but that is what he is saying. The networks need to call him on it.

[Carolinian]

5. Why don't we blitz them with calls & emails asking about social security.

[creeksneakers2]

6. Part of the problem with the networks

Is that Factcheck.org said Kerry was misleading people on this. They base their assumption on the fact that Bush claims he won't cut SS. Bush needs to come up with $2 trillion for his plan. Bush says he won't cut taxes, won't increase the deficit, and won't cut benefits. I wrote an E-mail to Factcheck.org and asked them why they don't have an article about how Bush is misleading on this.

[AirAmFan]

7. The networks don't need Factcheck. They just need to know arithmetic

At least in part, this has to be an organized campaign deriving from White House talking points Jeff Greenfield on CNN, and a PBS panel including Brownstone (LA Times) and Tumulty.are doing the same thing--equating Kerry's $2 trillion statement about arithmetic with *'s completely invented whoppers. The media consensus seems to be that "both" are "equally" guilty of "deception".

[DeepModem Mom]

8. kick