Where is the Democratc' momentum on Social Security?

[baby_bear]

I am surprised there is not a dedicated forum on this at DU yet. This is SO huge. I am constantly amazed that I rarely read, even in newspaper editorials railing against privatization, that one simple way to address the issue would be to remove or severely raise the cap on SSN payroll taxes. It's only about $89K now -- lots of CEOs and the like don't pay into SSN payroll taxes after about the middle of January.

I realize that employers pay equal amounts into the system. Wouldn't that be an incentive to keep the skyrocketing CEO costs DOWN? As they should be?

I read that Lindsay Graham is in favor of raising the cap, but the Dallas Morning News gave that short shrift:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/122804C.shtml
<snip>
Congressional Republicans are also debating a number of ideas on Social Security. Some legislators, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, have proposed raising the amount of annual income subject to the Social Security tax, though that suggestion seems to run afoul of Mr. Bush's pledge to not to raise taxes.
</snip>

End of discussion???????why??????

If the Dems don't grab this back by making huge noises that expose this ripoff for what it is - money for brokers and Wall Street in general - then who is going to do it?

As we (women) said in the 70s, we have to take back the night, only in this case, we have to take back the daylight, which no longer shines on our government.

b_b

[sophie996]

1. same place

it is on most issues--scrambling to figure out how to keep those corporate donations rolling in.

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[NuttyFluffers]

2. worried whether they should capitulate on this value too.

y'know, just for them centrist votes.

[Andromeda]

3. Good question.

Maybe they're preparing to fight Bush's plan as soon as he reveals his plan, which he hasn't done yet.

They have to figure out how they're going to fight against this "reform" as soon as they have some specifics.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

4. Assuming a prostrate position...

so it will be easier for the repukes to run over us again. They still have not woke up to the fact that this disaster will be the end of the party as an effective national influence and that they will all be out of jobs in their next re-election cycle. I have been a democrat all my life but if the party does not fight this to he bitter end I'll never vote again since it will only be a waste of my time. This is there last chance to sell-out on critcal working class interests so they better get a big pay-off. I am becoming very bitter.

[baby_bear]

7. Hear, hear, FreeStateDemocrat

For me, this is the issue that the Dems better use whatever political capital they can scrape up, even if it's from the bottoms of their shoes.

First they need to educate the public. So many people, those who are affected, either don't vote or don't understand the issue, or both. The Repugs haven't waited to start the propaganda machine, spewing out falsehoods about the future inevitable "insolvency" of SS, until Bush comes out with a plan. They jumped right in. What are the Dems waiting for? A sign from God?

Good Grief.

b_b

[bklyncowgirl]

5. Stuck in the mud as usual.

"Social Security is the third rail of politics. Not to worry. We've got them where we want them." I can hear them now.

Unfortunately the Republicans have been spending the past 20 years or so convincing people that Social Security is going belly up like tomorrow. If the Democrats think they can win this without clearly explaining what is going on, what is wrong with Bush's proposals AND coming up with a plan of their own, we are all going to lose.

You can't beat something with nothing and for most people that's what the Democrats have on social security--nothing.

[NoFederales]

6. The People's Interest, or "theirs"?

It may be that the Democratic Party is truly leaderless; unable to distinguish themselves from Republican 'virtues', unable to wean themselves from Pork teats, unable to remember that constituents are actually people--who would whack themselves away from such a pig's trough?

Social Security is a ready-made National Platform. Where are those election-season hardcharging and gallant heroes that purport to have the people's interests at home and heart?

I am so getting discouraged.

NoFederales

[txaslftist]

8. Bush is blindly selfish

And is putting policies in place that help his cronies and himself. Did you know that the Bush family dynasty is actually much richer than Kerry's? He's never going to need social security, so why does anyone else need it? Why not just jack it into insolvency and then talk about how it is a 'failed program'. Good talking points for his cronies.

[snippy]

9. Bush is keeping the details of his plan secret to prevent criticism and to

set a trap for democrats. One of Karl Rove's most fundamental tactics is to trick his opponents into talking about what he wants them to talk about when he wants them to talk about it. As long as the democrats are preparing a strategy for opposing Bush's plan when he finally reveals it, then I think the democrats are being smart by not saying much about the plan until they see it.

No one can express an intelligent opinion on Bush's plan since it is still a secret plan. Any one who praises it or criticizes it now is only guessing about what the plan will be. If democrats start criticizing the plan without knowing anything about the plan it will be extremely easy for the republicans to very effectively paint the democrats as just being complainers and obstructionists, especially if democrats were to criticize aspects of the plan which end up not being proposed by Bush. This is one aspect of the trap. Another is that if democrats were to start now saying where they will draw the line on changes to Social Security then republicans will know in advance how far they can go. Bush will be able to say that he has addressed the concerns of democrats in his plan and they therefore should support the plan.

One thing the democrats should be doing now is put pressure on Bush by referring to "Bush's secret plan" and asking why "he is keeping the details hidden from the public" even though "the public has a right to know what Bush intends to do to the safety net of Social Security." So far Bush has talked as though his plan will make everyone wealthier and not cause anyone any harm. By emphasizing that Bush is keeping the actual details of the plan secret democrats can challenge that perception and cause the public to start wondering just exactly what Bush is up to.