Bush Has Grabbed The 3rd Electrified Rail: Now Turn On The Juice!

[Itsthetruth]

CounterPunch
May 3, 2005

Social Security and Democratic Cowardice
Bush Has Grasped the Third Rail, Now Turn on the Juice
By DAVE LINDORFF

Having failed to attract much interest in his plan for privatizing Social Security and killing it off more or less directly, President Bush, in a rare, but typically scripted press conference at the White House last week, declared his intention to convert the 70-year-old retirement security program into a welfare program, pure and simple.

Congressional Democrats, who for years have warned that Republicans are out to ruin Social Security, now have it direct from the president's own mouth. If they cannot stand firm against the threat now that it's been clearly stated, they deserve to go the way of the Whigs.

The truth is, progressives have been handed a golden opportunity. Bush's espousal of an income-staggered retirement system opens the door for them to promote a genuinely progressive alternative--one which would not threaten the middle class or undermine broad political support for the basic program. That alternative is to call for an end to the cap on income subject to Social Security taxation (currently any income above $90,000 per individual is not taxed).

The only correct stand at this point is no compromise. Social Security must be not just preserved; it must be bolstered. The president has grasped that third rail. It's time to throw the switch and hit him with some high-voltage popular outrage.

http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff05032005.html

[Mr_Spock]

1. Yehai! ZZZZAAPPP!! Hey, I'd go for a tapered approach to income

above 90k - have the rate step or decline gradually to a significantly lower rate - perhaps only .25% above 200-300k would be fine with me.

[Itsthetruth]

3. Tax The Rich!

Why should someone who makes one or ten million dollars a year pay no more into social security than someone who makes 90,000 dollars year?

That's just not fair!

[Mr_Spock]

9. Hey, I'm with ya - I'll be hit but I don't mind

Why is it so bad for people who make more money to pay more?

[JohnnyRingo]

2. I like that "electrified rail" analogy.

And the juice should be turned up so high and leave such enduring scars as to discourage future generations of Republicans from going near it.

This is one of the reasons for my confusion over the very existance of "lunch bucket republicans".

Why would anyone who wears a name tag at work consider these robber barons for public office.

[NYCGirl]

5. The phrase referring to Social Security was coined by Tip O'Neill in the

1980s in response to the Reagan Administration's plan to cut retirement benefits.

[Skip Intro]

4. Exactly - I said this weeks ago

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you know what its really about is popular perception, which, as the bush regime has clearly demonstrated, doen't require facts.

the repukes are sooooo vulnerable on this issue, bush has touched the third rail, and we can control the voltage.

let them present whatver bill they like - we'll deem it doa and call it an attack on seniors.

over and over again.
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in a reply to this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3354924

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We could hammer it, yell about it, blow it out and up until it pops - all the while expressing, and inflaming, the public's doubts and fears about what bush and the republicans want to do. We win this.

But its more than that - its about what Bush and the republicans think of the people - middle America - in all its segments. WE, acting as shocked defenders of the average American's interest, could really hammer home the message of who really has their best interest at heart.

This issue cuts across all boundaries. When you're talking about how and if you're going to be able to eat and maintain shelter and pay protection money to the drug companies, you're no longer white or black or Baptist or Catholic or straight or gay - you're an American watching his republican-controlled government try to break the only promise its ever kept.

This is a winning issue, and we should milk it for all its worth. I think its lethal to the other side. Its not called the third rail for nothing.

We are the people, and should be, loudly, them - not giving an inch, in fact, calling for increases in SS spending, putting a human face on it, and at every single opportunity, show that WE are the ones on their, the people's, side, painting bush and the repubs as villains who throw money around with the pentagon and big corporations, but expect "the people" to sacrifice the one guaranteed bit of security they've always counted on.

Its us against them, only this time, bush and the repubs are "them."

There's so much more we could do here than just win the argument. We could use SS to slay the repubs. We could turn their world upsidedown. And we should. This is the issue.
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[FreedomAngel82]

6. From what I've seen

the democrats have NOT been cowards when it comes to SS. The republicans have never liked social security because it helps people.

[ibid]

7. A GREAT THOUGHT - end the cap must be our cry. :-)

A GREAT THOUGHT - end the cap must be our cry. :-)
I like it, I like it, I like it!

:thumbsup:

I like it, I like it, I like it!

:thumbsup:

:toast:

:-)

[Itsthetruth]

8. Lower The Retirement Age To 65

And if we "end the cap on the rich" we can bring the social security full retirement age back down to 65!

I think an overwhelming majority of people will agree with the idea that the rich ought to pay their fair share of social security taxes. That's what ending the cap is really all about.

I'm not sure what the most effective and easily understood slogan might be. It must be short, sweet and simple.

Any ideas on this? Here's a few rough stabs.

"The Rich Should Pay Social Security Taxes"

"Everyone Should Pay Their Fair Share"

"The Rich Should Pay Their Share"

Not very good ones. I'm sure other DU'ers can do better.