social security works

This last week we've seen how Washington's elites are able to suppress popular opinion, work against the public interest, and wrap it all up with a bow so that it looks like 'democracy in action.' It's not. What we're seeing isn't democracy, and it isn't a free press either. It's merely another cynical ploy to rob Americans of government programs they both need and want.

The latest assault is on Medicare. The "Ryan/Wyden plan" is a perfect case study in the cynical workings of an antidemocratic machine - a machine whose cogs are lazy journalists, whose gears are selfish politicians, and whose levers are pulled by the wealthy and powerful.

I held my fire on this for a few days, to see if more details would emerge on the proposal from Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Paul Ryan, who were initially (and deliberately vague) on its specifics. That turned it into Rorschach test for observers, and where the Washington Post sees a butterfly I usually see a vampire bat.

But Malcolm Gladwell would be pleased: It turns out that the first 'blink' impression of Ryan/Wyden is the right one. It's a Medicare-killing publicity stunt that undermines the financial security of the 99%. And if you happen to be reading this in the Nation's Capital, please note: The 'lefty' position on Medicare is supported by most Republicans.

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This holiday season, let's spare a kind thought for the decent people who toil inside Washington's legislative machinery. These good folk must live and work inside the dreamlike bubble that is today's policy and media world. Each day they strain to see reality through the reflected light of the false but colorful narratives projected against the bubble's surface.

Or would it be a better metaphor to say they're prisoners in some cold underground cell? No matter how many polls are conducted, no matter how many economic analyses are performed, no matter how many bitter lessons are taught and re-taught, there are those who hope to deny them even a glimpse of reality.

Instead these good people are forced to stare into the harsh glare of synthetic reality, hour after hour, as if were a naked lightbulb in windowless room. Only a few precious slivers of genuine sunlight penetrate the dank basement of illusion that imprisons them.

Well-intentioned staffers in Washington need good information to do their jobs well. Instead they're being inundated with confusing pseudo-facts and empty fear-mongering. This week's case in point? The Congressional "Super Committee." Did you know that unless they come up with their cuts there will be no Christmas this year? You didn't? Then you haven't been reading the Wall Street Journal.

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The Social Security Caucus, who could also be known as the “True Grit” Caucus began meeting today in the U.S. Senate as a new sense of urgency grew on the same day as the Tea Party Caucus met. more »

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s appearance on Meet the Press this Sunday was a rare positive moment in a very bad couple of months for Social Security advocates. Reid, who is not known for his gifted oratory, gave the most cogent rebuttal of calls to cut Social Security of any elected official in recent memory. With Democrats out of power in the House, and Obama poised to make Social Security cuts part of a “bipartisan deficit reduction package” ahead of the debt-ceiling debate, Harry Reid may be the only man standing in the way of disaster for America’s favorite government program. Take a look at the full transcript of his remarks below, or click here for a clip of the exchange. more »

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The Latest Battle to Take Social Security from the Middle Class, People of Color, and People with Disabilities more »

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Democrats won the news cycle yesterday when they slammed John Boehner for calling the economic crisis an "ant." But winning a news cycle isn't the same as winning an election. A new poll shows that the President and his party risk political suicide if they join in the mad rush to cut Social Security, and a sleight-of-hand move by the House leadership today suggests they're considering it. more »

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Peace activists and progressives are the only people that I've heard connect war spending in Afghanistan and Pakistan with our financial security at home - until now, that is. more »

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Over the last few months, Texas’ far-right Board of Education has been in the national spotlight as they prepare to debate new, highly ideological textbook standards for high school. more »

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This post is based on a brief written for the National Academy of Social Insurance, read the entire brief here.
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