‘We should be talking about expanding Social Security benefits’

[ProSense]

‘We should be talking about expanding Social Security benefits’

By Steve Benen

For much of the political world, there are effectively three competing ideas for the future of Social Security. First, there are Republicans who would like to privatize the program out of existence, but will settle for benefit cuts. Second, there are Democrats who insist Social Security should be left alone. And third, there are other Democrats who would tolerate some cuts, but only in exchange for concessions from Republicans.

Recently, however, a fourth idea has started to gain traction: why not increase Social Security benefits?

Greg Sargent flagged a speech from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) yesterday, in which she not only criticized the “chained CPI” measure Republicans demand and the White House would consider, but pushed for expanding benefits beyond the status quo. For those who can’t watch the above clip online:

“Over the past generation, working families have been hacked at, chipped, and hammered. If we want a real middle class – a middle class that continues to serve as the backbone of our country – then we must take the retirement crisis seriously. Seniors have worked their entire lives and have paid into the system, but right now, more people than ever are on the edge of financial disaster once they retire – and the numbers continue to get worse.

“That is why we should be talking about expanding Social Security benefits – not cutting them…. Social Security is incredibly effective, it is incredibly popular, and the calls for strengthening it are growing louder every day.”

Warren isn’t alone on this. I believe Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) got the ball rolling on this several months ago, but since then, Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) joined them. A companion measure in the House has 40 Democratic sponsors.

Any objective legislative assessment would suggest this isn’t going to pass anytime soon – Senate Republicans would no doubt filibuster the idea and the House Republican majority wouldn’t consider it. But part of the push is about changing the nature of the conversation. If the Beltway assumes Social Security cuts are sensible, and the debate is limited to those who want to preserve the status quo vs. those who want to undermine it, making the substantive case for expanding Social Security helps broaden the discussion in progressive ways.

- more -

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/expanding-social-security-benefits

[vi5]

1. Haha..yeah, right.

Sure, we SHOULD do that but all the serious people who control the dialogue including President Grand Bargain have already bought into the "crisis" con game hook, line, and sinker.

[ProSense]

2. "all the serious people who control the dialogue"

That's part of the problem, ceding the debate to a few.

Warren, Sanders and other can change the dialogue.

In fact, Harkin and Begich have mentioned this and push their bills for most of this year. Elizabeth Warren has gotten more press on this issue than both of them combined all year.

[vi5]

4. Exactly

We need to push them to keep trying to change the dialogue. But like on so many issues, at this point they(Warren, Sanders, etc.) are lone voices in a vast wilderness of mushy middle, "centrism", "bipartisanship" and "seriousl people".

The problem is that as a party our Democratic leaders have internalized and accepted too many of the Republican's terms of debate. On education, on Social Security, on taxes, and many more. We're at the point where not only do we have to try and pull the opposition party in our direction, but we've got to attempt to pull OUR party in that direction.

Unless we make enough of a stink and let it be known that we want more Warrens and Sanders speaking for us and directing our dialogue within the party and fewer Landrieus, Baucuses and their ilk it's never going to happen.

[Laelth]

3. k&r for economic justice. n/t

-Laelth

[feathateathn]

5. Absolutely

SS starting at birth for everyone. $50k/year/person. Poverty eliminated.