[Occupymendocino] Social Security reductions

[Mark Safron]

Dear Rick, 
I think you've been sipping Kool - Aid from the Republican punchbowl. Although you mean well in making a sacrifice for the good of the nation; there are people a lot less fortunate than you and, unless you know the circumstances of these people don't assume they can make the same sacrifices as you.

But should we make any sacrifice at all? 
Why not raise Social Security contributions beyond $108,000?
Why give tax breaks to oil companies, agribusiness, and Pharma? (see chart below)
What about the 32 TRILLION dollars stashed offshore by the wealthy because they don't want to pay taxes?
What about all the loopholes in the current tax law and; why should hedge fund mgrs. pay only 15% tax on the millions they make?

Why take any money from people struggling to pay rent or a mortgage when there's so much income inequality in this so-called "classless" society? $10.00 means more to me than $10,000 to the head of BofA or AIG.

Your letter reminds me of the complaints the timber companies used to make when we refused to let one old growth tree be cut. They asked why we wouldn't compromise. Compromise? THEY'D ALREADY CUT DOWN 97% OF ALL THE OLD GROWTH TIMBER!

Regards, Mark 

HERE'S A (PARTIAL) LIST OF CORPORATE WELFARE: 














On Dec 21, 2012, at 1:02 PM, Rick Childs <rick at mcn.org> 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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