Social Security is a covenant that must not be broken

[NothingRight]

We've already seen the House GOP pass a budget proposal that destroys Medicare and places even more people at risk of poverty.

History shows us that it is not just Medicare the GOP target. Social Security can't be far behind. Privatizing the safety net established over 75 years ago has been a priority of theirs for years now.

We all know the Ryan debacle won't pass the Senate, but each time they bring this type of crap up, it gets closer to becoming a reality.

Progressive leaders should be capitalizing on these moves by the GOP to illustrate the need for a progressive Congress.

Read the article here.... http://wp.me/p1mIkk-eK

[Vincardog]

1. LIBERAL leader should be capitalizing on these moves by the GOP to illustrate the need for a LIBERAL

Congress. I am tired of conceding our language to the RW NUTZ

[NothingRight]

2. A rebranding of that term will be necessary

I completely understand what you are saying, but unfortunately the term liberal has been damaged. The damage has primarily done by conservatives who have equated liberal to immoral, or amoral.

This has been part of the failure of those on the left (liberal, progressive, democrat, whatever) to hold the narrative. The vary nature of the GOP standing for Grand Old Party should have painted them as a relic, but their ability to hold the narrative in the fundamentalist crowd still keeps that term relevant, a tie to tradition and fundamental principles.

We have failed to illustrate the inherent values in liberalism, in a progressive society with democratic ideals, and therefore we struggle to have a specific identity.

Call us whatever you will, we just need to have more people calling for us.

[Zenlitened]

4. Beautifully stated:

We have failed to illustrate the inherent values in liberalism, in a progressive society with democratic ideals, and therefore we struggle to have a specific identity.

:applause:

[swilton]

8. I would also argue that the term liberal

has been weakened by members of our own Democratic Party who have been bought off by corporate interests and are doing their own damage by weakening social security and and managing national health care through the failed health insurance industry.

[cognoscere]

3. "each time they bring this type of crap up, it gets closer to becoming a reality."

Generally, yes. In this case,however, Ryan's proposal was so blatantly insane,it's surprising that one of his own party didn't snag a gun from somewhere and cap his sociopath ass...unless we realize that this is how republicans operate. It's the same model that businesses use. If they want to raise the price of gas by fifty cents, they run it up to a buck and then bring it down to their target price and the sheeple all breathe a sigh of relief at the "falling" gas price. So if the republicans really want about half of what's in Ryan's bill, they start out demanding a lot more knowing that the democrats' model of negotiating is just the reverse: If you want half a loaf, ask for a quarter and then be stunned and pissed when you only get an eighth. I'm told it has something to do with three dimensional chess.

[txlibdem]

7. 11 dimensional chess but otherwise dead on

But the next question becomes: when our congress critters see this outcome time after time after time, why don't they learn? Why don't they change their strategy?

The only answer is that "our" congressmen and women like the changes the evil Republicans are making.

[Citizen Worker]

5. DUers should be capitalizing on these moves to begin building an alternative to the two business

parties.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Already happened when they instituted means testing

[Enthusiast]

9. Ryan's debacle can pass the Senate.

With help from corporate blue dogs and budget reconciliation.

It might be necessary that Obama veto it. I think he would be reluctant to veto it in the interest of cooperation and bipartisanship.

Another possible scenario is Democrats agree to raising the retirement age and cutting medicare as a means to "save these cherished programs'.