'Why Elect Progressives? THIS': Shredding of Social Safety Net Blamed as Bankruptcies Soar

[guillaumeb]

'Why Elect Progressives? THIS': Shredding of Social Safety Net Blamed as Bankruptcies Soar for Older Americans

From the article:

A study of rising bankruptcy rates among older Americans places blame squarely at the feet of a hollowed-out safety net and policy changes that have left people without adequate retirement savings, paying huge out-of-pocket medical expenses, and seeing their funds dwindle due to the student loan crisis that many people mistakenly believe affects only younger generations.
When comparing the rate of bankruptcy filing among Americans 65 and older now versus in 1991, "the only explanation that makes any sense are structural shifts," Deborah Thorne, lead author of the Consumer Bankruptcy Project's recent study, told the New York Times.

To read more:

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/06/why-elect-progressives-shredding-social-safety-net-blamed-bankruptcies-soar-older?cd-

[frazzled]

1. Every Democrat opposes shredding the safety net

So this discussion is moot.

We don’t need to elect any new breed of “progressives” to protect and/or reverse the social safety net. We just need to prevent Republicans from controlling Congress. Slamming Democrats ( especially with false or exaggerated claims) does nothing but help insure continued Republican control to shred whatever they choose.

So stop.

[guillaumeb]

2. What we need are people who point this out.

And it was not so long ago that then President Obama talked about a chained CPI. So yes, we must keep pushing the terms of the debate.

Edited to add:

Also from the article:

Since President Donald Trump took office in 2017, his administration and Republicans in Congress have pushed to offer short-term health insurance plans that leave patients responsible for the cost of prescriptions; limit the amount of income Americans can save each year in retirement accounts; and made it harder for defrauded students to get loan relief.