[Occupymendocino] Social Security reductions

[Richard Karch]

Dear Rick, What amazes me is that the group that has to sacrifice is always the poorest, most vulnerable
without the energy or clout to fight.  AARP might come through, but we can never depend on their political
stance.  Come on millionaires with money hiding all over the place, come through for the rest of the country,
the common good and for future generations. 


 Richard 
On Dec 21, 2012, at 2:09 PM, Linda Jupiter wrote:

> Dear Rick,
> I strongly disagree with you. If seniors are better off than most other folks, it's due to the SS and Medicare benefits we get. Obviously, if you're getting $800 in SS and don't need it all, then you have other income as well and your home is probably paid for. A lot of the rest of us don't have retirement funds and are living day to day. Many of us are caught in the middle; we make too much for low-income benefits and not enough to live on. Those of us who are poor or low income seniors find the waiting list for low-income housing is several years long. What do we do in the meantime? Those of us who are working class are still working way past "retirement age" and may not get to retire at all. Every penny counts. I will oppose any candidate that wants to reduce SS benefits or Medicare benefits. 
> I applaud your working for the "common good," but please don't assume your "common good" is the same as mine.
> Peace,
> Linda
> 
> 
> On Dec 21, 2012, at 1:02 PM, Rick Childs wrote:
> 
>>     To my fellow OMers concerned about possible changes in the Social Security benefits.  Today's digest now included an on-line petition to Dem representatives that we'd put up candidates in primaries to oppose them for voting for any reduction in SS benefits.  I'm most uncomforable with this "SS is a sacred cow/red line in the sand" thing.  Telling good Dems that we'll vote against them if they modify SS benefits w/a primary fight (and all the rancor and divisiveness that creates) is just the self-destructive practice the Reps do.  Let's please not go there...
>>     Here's what I just sent to Norman Solomon who put out a similar clarion call this morning:
>>  
>> Hello Norman - perhaps you remember me....I was one of the leaders putting on the Occupy Mendocino Street Fair that you so graciously came to and spoke at.  We talked several times - including when you came to Jim Tarbell's Caspar event.
>>  
>> I write today about this "progressive" apoplexy about having Seniors take SS and Medicare cuts.  I'm a Sr. making $800/month in benefits - and am also on Medicare.  I'm Most Happy to give up a small percentage of this in the national interest.  
>>  
>> We DO have a very, Very serious budget deficit.  Seniors are better off in most ways than the rest of the population.  We shouldn't be sucking increasing-every-year money from the young, as we grow in numbers and live longer.   OK, put a floor under which seniors would keep their current benefits (take into account other retirement benefits and no reduction if total package is, say, $15 or $20K)...but the rest could easily afford a minor adjustment in benefits over that amount -- and help save the country future fiscal problems...freeing money for education, debt reduction, infrastructure, etc.  Too many Americans say Just Cut Others...no one wants to have to sacrifice - which is what we all need to do.  We old folks should be looking out for the future of the country, not worrying about a minor (and self-gratifying) $10/month income loss.  The minor modification in Cost of Living indices under discussion is negligible (and fair -- the current one overstates inflation)...let's be big and give it back to the young, the country, the future.
>>  
>> What happened to us liberals and our DNA of working for "the common good"...sharing sacrifices for the good of all??
>> 
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