Lindsay Graham: I Will Destroy America’s Solvency Unless The Social Security Retirement Age Is Raise

[ProSense]

Lindsay Graham: I Will Destroy America’s Solvency Unless The Social Security Retirement Age Is Raised

By Ian Millhiser

Although official Washington is currently fixated on the so-called “Fiscal Cliff,” the biggest threat to American prosperity is the debt ceiling, which must be raised in February to prevent economic catastrophe. If Republicans refuse to reach a deal on the so-called cliff, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that they will spark a new recession in 2013. But if Republicans block action on the debt ceiling, they will make that potential recession look quaint. Without raising the debt ceiling, the United States will be forced to embrace austerity so severe it will lead to “a bigger GDP drop than that experienced during the Great Recession of 2008.”

But in an interview on Fox News Sunday this morning, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) threatened to oppose this must-pass bill unless Social Security benefits are taken away from millions of future retirees:

I’m not going to raise the debt ceiling unless we get serious about keeping the country from becoming Greece, saving Social Security and Medicare (sic). So here’s what i would like: meaningful entitlement reform — not to turn Social Security into private accounts, not to take a voucher approach to Medicare — but, adjust the age for Social Security, CPI changes and means testing and look beyond the ten-year window. I cannot in good conscience raise the debt ceiling without addressing the long term debt problems of this country and I will not.

Watch it:

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This is extortion, plain and simple. It is the budgetary equivalent of threatening to break America’s legs unless Congress agrees to break the backs of millions poised on the edge of retirement. Graham’s position is that seniors should have to wait longer for their retirement benefits — even if they work in physically demanding jobs that literally tear the body apart by the time a worker reaches age 65 — and that those benefits should be reduced in the future.

And if Congress won’t agree to this deal, then Graham is prepared to thrust the nation into an economic calamity unheard of since the Great Depression.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. Fuck it then

Don't vote to raise the debt ceiling even though that's never happened before. I'm tired of this shit. You can't negotiate with hostage takers because they just take more hostages. Balancing the budget on the backs of seniors and the poor should a non starter.

I don't give a fuck anymore. Maybe it's time for our economy to just crash and burn. The GOP had no problem with voting to raise the debt ceiling when GWB was in office, now they can't do it?

Fuck it.

Let it burn then.

[The Wielding Truth]

2. So he didn't say that "It" would not "he" would destroy America’s solvency? If not then that is a

threat to our nation and he should be charged with treason!

[Flashmann]

3. I Will Destroy America’s Solvency

I cannot grasp how this is NOT treasonous,especially coming from a Senator,who as such,is in a position to actually DO it......

I mean hell,if you threaten to murder someone,that is a crime.....You threaten bodily harm,just THREATEN it,it's a crime.Specifically "making terroristic threats", and is a serious felony......
But threatening to RUIN the Country's solvency is NOT???

So,if he actually does it,then what??...Congressional Medal of Honor??......

Number one country,my naked ass!!!

[SomethingFishy]

4. Too bad he's not in charge.

Sorry Lindsay, you won't do shit...

[putitinD]

5. send him before the firing squad