Social Security Debate: Why doesn't Bush mention WHY Blacks die sooner?

[David__77]

Bush met with a few right-wing Black flunkeys to espouse the Social Security, one of the few social benefits left unscathed by the fascist "conservative revolution," is "racist" against Black people due to the fact that they do not live as long on average as white people do in this country. It should be obvious that WHAT IS RACIST IS NOT SOCIAL SECURITY, BUT THE FACT THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE INDEED DYING SOONER! This is a national tragedy. Bush proposes privatizing Social Security in the name of "anti-racism" with one hand, while driving more Black people, young and old, into destitution by destroying the social services and by pushing the economy into a tailspin with his brutal, imperialist war against Iraq.

Bush makes an important point, but not the one he intended: Black people are dying in this country because of racism. Lack of access to health care due to centuries of an unequal playing field: Bush's solution--end affirmative action. High Black infant mortality: Bush's solution--close public hospitals. Let us discuss a real agenda for a "culture of life," one to save and protect the lives of Black Americans in this country. Abolishing Social Security in favor of a Wall Street giveaway won't save a single life or add a day to anyone's life, but it will make the elderly go hungry in the name of "personal responsibility."

And let us mention that huge mass of Black people behind bars. Of course this Social Security "debate" is not even the main issue for the hundreds of thousands of Black men languishing in American jails right now. Would Bush care to explain why it is that this country is locking up its Black men in wildly disproportionate numbers?

Bush doesn't want to go there. But he's opened up the "can of worms" and it's our responsibility to point out the racism inherent in the Republicans' ideology and mobilize people to defend the democratic rights of Black people.

[cthrumatrix]

1. the CBC gave a presentation on CSPAN on the Soc Sec usage

it was far more for insurance since black do live shorter lives.

SHrub is using thier data.

The WH is not going to privatize...they want a VAT to fund Soc Sec and reform our Income Tax.... in which this tax will further hurt low income families

[Cocoa]

2. their lives, and their problems

are but tools for Bush to advance his agenda. Like the lives of the soldiers and the Iraqi civilians.

[Judi Lynn]

3. He only WISHES we were all as stupid as his supporters.

Excellent post. He must be praying everyone will take his comments at face value and not bother their "beautiful minds" wondering about the cause for his claim.

[candy]

4. How can the Republicans be blamed?

You said yourself that blacks have not had an equal playing field for centuries. I would say that all political parties are guilty of racism.

[David__77]

6. All parties can be blamed.

But it is one party that is principally leading the assault on Black America. This is obvious and that is why Black people overwhelmingly rejected the regime last year--they know their interests, which is more than many can say.

[rfranklin]

8. Know your history...LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act and kissed...

the South good-bye. Nixon scooped up the racists into the Republican party and they've been played to ever since.

[louis-t]

5. R-i-i-ight, shrub

Youse people just gonna die anyway, so why does yins need a hospital. Yer gonna die young so invest in the market. What a cold, callous, non-compassionate thing to say. Oh, and don't forget: "Republicans aren't mean spirited".

[msgadget]

7. Great point.

:kick:

[Plaid Adder]

9. Thanks, David_77

Our country's failure to solve the racism problem after the 1960s is killing us now, in more ways than one, and I wish people on the left would pay more attention to that.

Over at

http://www.blackcommentator.com/121/121_cover_williams.html

they have an interesting article on Armstrong Williams (invitingly titled "The Biggest Whore of All") in which the author makes the claim that most of the African-American conservative pundits out there on the airwaves actually have zero credibility in the African-American community, and are there mainly to persuade white moderates that it's not racist to support policies that are inevitably going to screw African-Americans. Which would explain why guys like Armstrong Williams need payola, since they don't have enough of a following to survive the free market without it.

The strategy of neutralizing arguments like what David_77 is bringing up by finding the one lone member of the class you're screwing who is willing to smile and say s/he likes it is an old one, but Rove has really become a master at it.

Alas,

The Plaid Adder

[elehhhhna]

10. Black people do collect soc sec. Disability and Survivors benefits...

given lower life expectancies, doesn't it follow they have higher rates of disbility, as well? And if you DO die young, your minor children collect. Guess GW forgot those parts.

[Megahurtz]

11. I'm sure that

Bushitler knows full well what he's doing.
Cutting Disability and Survivor Benefits is just cutting costs to him.
Less money he has to pay back to SS!!!
In short, he just doesn't give a shit.

THIEF!!!:argh:

[Virginian]

13. ...if you DO die young, your minor children collect

Not if you haven't put enough in. Ten dollars a month won't keep them in Fruit Loops.

How does this work for young families who lose their breadwinner?

How does this work for the disabled?

Social Security is more than retirement.

[Virginian]

12. ...will make the elderly go hungry in the name of "personal responsibility

You are "personally responsible" to die before you run out of funds.

[sonicx]

14. I wonder if the "Liberal Media" has pointed this out...