Dennis Kucinich at Highline Community College

[eridani]

http://waliberals.org/dennis-kucinich-in-des-moines-on-social-security-taxation-war-trade-and-justice/2012/04/12/

Dennis Kucinich appeared in Des Moines, WA on April 14, 2012 at a forum on “The Threat to Social Security: An Issue for All Generations.” Video excerpts are below.

The main call to action was to contact our federal lawmakers and ask them to pledge to Scrap the Cap — eliminate the $110,100 limit on income subject to the Social Security tax. This action alone would greatly extent and strengthen Social Security. In fact, the Social Security Trust Fund will be able to pay 100% of benefits through 2036 even with no changes. There is no need at all to weaken benefits or postpone retirement age.

Millions of Americans, especially women, depend on Social Security for a substantial part of the retirement and disability income.

“It’s not broke. It’s so good we can make it better” by (1) scrapping the cap, (2) raising benefits for low income earners, (3) recognizing same sex couples, and (4) reinstating college benefits.

[JohnnyRingo]

1. K&R for DK

I'm from Ohio, and I know how hard he's worked for Cleveland, the state, and America, all his adult life.

There should be a medal.

[OnyxCollie]

2. K&R. nt

[eridani]

3. Good article from the Federal Way Mirror

http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/147341085.html

Social Security Works Washington, a new statewide coalition of labor and retiree groups, is hammering home the idea of "scrapping the cap."

That cap is the Social Security collection limit on incomes above $106,800 per year (that number becomes $110,100 in 2012). All citizens earning incomes at that level and below are taxed 6.2 percent.

An April 12 forum at Highline Community College promoted the lifting or outright removal of this cap. Doing so, proponents say, will increase benefits and strengthen Social Security by trillions of dollars.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered a fiery pitch for Social Security reform at Thursday's forum.

Kucinich, a Democrat, opposes the privatization Social Security. He also opposes a later retirement age or any cuts to benefits. He says lifting the cap is a simple solution that will make Social Security solvent.

[eridani]

4. Email commentary from a friend

The Threat to Social Security: An issue for all generations-

Main points:
•We have to vote for the whole liberal package not just Social Security. Healthcare as a human right, tax equity, cut the military, campaign finance reform, limit the Supreme Court, invest in green energy/infrastructure, eco-consciousness, regulate financers/wall st, affordable education ????
•Americans deserve full employment-government sponsored jobs programs
•Americans deserve tax equity
•Scrap the cap-high earners don’t pay taxes after a cap of $110,100. Thus lower earners pay a higher percentage
•Support groups and communities that support the right to organize
•Threats to Social Security are just the tip of the iceberg
•High healthcare costs are caused by for profit health insurance companies—90 billion in yearly profit!
•Non-profit health insurance (single payer) will preserve not only Medicare but Social Security too
•Without pensions the tax payer will pick up the slack
•Stand up for the post office, oppose privatization
•this nation or any nation of the corporations, by corporations, for the corporations shall not perish from the earth?
•Stop money to the pentagon for unnecessary wars
•Privatizing Social Security will result in trillions for Wall St profit, CEO’s salaries and bonuses
•Call to action-communicate with state and federal legislators and legislation for a commitment to scrap the cap.
•Other presenters talked about how crucial Social Security is to Latinos and women


Sponsors include:
Social Security Works—Washington at www.ssworkswa.org
Why Social Security is important?
1.1 in 4 today’s 20 year old will be disabled before reaching 67 (retirement age)
2.50% of the workforce has no private pension: 31% have no retirement savings
3.Without Social Security, half of American women 65 and older would live in poverty
4.“Scrapping the Cap” would protect and preserve Social Security for future generations

Health Care For All-Washington www.healthcareforallwa.org
Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans www.psara.org

Summary
It pleased me greatly to see a lot young people there as well as many organizers for other groups . I was, as usual, inspired by Kucinich and found that after the forum was an excellent time to network. I was late arriving and missed the time before the forum to smooze. In future forums I plan to arrive early and leave late. The main point I got was how important it is to discuss these issues with everybody in my life to organize and communicate with legislators and support legislation that commits to “Scrap the Cap”. Also it is important to participate in and support financially activist groups that promote removing the cap on social security and preserving it for future generations. It seems to me that all these different activist groups and liberals need to wake up to the danger ahead and organize a voting block to push these powermongers out of the government or we will lose in November. Ron Ragan Jr hit it on the head when he said at ast years 1090am Progressive talk forum, “If we lose this go around-we will never get it back”

Power to the people --Robert M.

[eridani]

5. Highlight video from Social Security Works coalition