Those Who Want To Take Away Our Safety Nets Don't Want You To See This

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.upworthy.com/those-who-want-to-take-away-our-safety-nets-dont-want-you-to-see-this-5?c=wa1


CNBC invited AFL-CIO Policy Director Damon Silvers to talk about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid cuts. Then the hosts decided to defend the idea of hacking away at those programs. They probably regretted that later...

Published on Oct 21, 2013

AFL-CIO Policy Director and Special Counsel Damon Silvers takes on a laughably misinformed CNBC anchor and owns him. Turns out, working folks do know the figures. At 2:22, Silvers takes down billionaires who want to cheat out of paying taxes by cutting Social Security benefits.

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Category

Nonprofits & Activism
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[JoePhilly]

1. Very well done.

[rgbecker]

2. Silvers makes it clear....

When you say "people know that entitlements have to be cut" you mean "Rich people say that entitlements have to be cut".

[Cosmocat]

16. How fucking hard is that?

Seriously ...

He simply stuck to what is right and called bullshit.

You have every single fricken republican in the country spewing their bullshit while you can count one hand the number of democrats or otherwise who will do this person did (and I say otherwise cause Bernie Sanders is one of the very few).

[kenfrequed]

17. I wish I heard more people saying this.

Bernie Sanders is making a lot of sense on this too.

[BlueStreak]

19. Every Dem needs to study that. It isn't that hard.

Medicare depends on getting our health care industry under control. Do that and the system is solvent.

Social Security is already solvent for a long time and has absolutely nothing to do with deficits and budgets. It is self-funded. Very small adjustments will make Social Security solvent for the next 75 years. While it might make sense to look at a very gradual increase in the benefits age, (say 2 years, phased in over 20 years), the main change needs to be raising the income cap on contributions. That simple change is both fair and fiscally sound.

And the rest of it boils down to a question of austerity versus growth. Austerity is not working. Austerity is destroying the European economy. Austerity has caused our own recovery to be the slowest recover in the last 100 years. The way to reduce the debt is to grow the economy -- just as Clinton did. That is the only time in modern history that we have reduced our debt. Simply do what Clinton did and we will get the same results again.

It is not complicated.

[bowens43]

3. Excellent

[drynberg]

4. Loved Mr. Silvers words, and want all congresspersons to see this, then see it again.

Thanks for posting this, great way to start a Friday with a Silver's Home Run! Oh yeah, I'm going to share this on FB, as I recommend to the reader of this.

[fasttense]

5. A democracy of the idle uber rich.

They are the only ones who want to cut Social Security.

[Scuba]

6. Beautifully done. Silver called him on his "most people know" bullshit. Thanks for the post Steve.

[mtasselin]

7. Great

Now we just have to get our point across to the politicians who are taking their marching orders from the Koch brothers, Pete Petersen and that whole group who want to dismantle the big 3.

[Crowman1979]

8. And what's with the Tory bastard?

Jeez! Are we importing the Thatcherites to various news organizations?

[gopiscrap]

9. this needs to go viral

[antigop]

10. That was beautiful! Thanks, Omaha Steve. Rec. nt

[zeemike]

11. Well he won't be invited back.

His message was to clear and focused...they prefer others.

[summerschild]

12. Big K&R!!!

[stage left]

13. K&R

Who is the English Twit?

[DJ13]

27. Simon Hobbs

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838752

[ancianita]

14. This amplification and nullification of rich people's views as "most people" needs to go viral.

[reflection]

15. Damon Silvers

needs to be on the Team Of Explaining Things. Polite but brutal rebuttal armed with facts, and explanation of the opposition's motivations.

[99th_Monkey]

18. That was so refreshing to hear, someone actually standing up for the simple truth

someone besides poor Bernie Sanders, who seems to be doing
so much of the heavy lifting these daze.

Thanks Mr. Silvers for schooling the M$M dolts on what's "good
for the country".. bravo!!

[EnviroBat]

20. It's so simple, a 2 y.o. can understand it.

These mega-wealthy pricks wan to ensure that their bad business decisions will be bailed out and paid for by funding that currently goes to the Social Security program. They've got away with raping the middle class for years, and now they want to destroy the poor as well...

[BillyRibs]

21. This Tory Bastard

Needs the taste slapped out of his stiff upper LIP! BTW Why is it always Cut SS!? Why not get the Money back that was stolen by the wealthy.

[ljm2002]

22. More like him, please!

He was great, wish there were more people like him who are willing to go to the mat for these programs, and can express the issues clearly.

K&R

[mucifer]

23. K and R and I don't think Mr Silver is going to be invited to many MSM shows after that

[freshwest]

24. Kickety kick!

[IADEMO2004]

25. Another Gem from Omaha Steve

[Th1onein]

26. Hoo-ah! GREAT job, Mr. Silvers.

I love our unions.

[Enthusiast]

28. Kicked and recommended.

The assholes® insist that we must cut "entitlements". They act like it will just mean a simple "belt tightening" for seniors. Their perspective is that of a millionaire. They simply do not understand, our wiggle room is gone. They are the ones that have to give. This is perfectly clear.

I will not vote for any Democrat that even voices support for Chained CPI or similar measures.

[chervilant]

31. I totally agree.

Not even a sniff of support, and I hope the majority of those opposed to these ruthless assaults on SS and Medicare/aid will make the same commitment!

[Enthusiast]

29. It seems like there should be far more recommendations than there are.

WTF?

[Omaha Steve]

33. I agree

[tecelote]

30. Keep this man talking!

[valerief]

32. Silvers was terrific!!! His message was clear and spot on.

Rich people who don't want to pay more taxes spread lies about social programs. Period.