How many "the parties are the same" folks would be happy living without Social Security?

[BzaDem]

Of the people that aren't that enthusiastic about voting due to some perceived similarity between the two parties, let's assume Republicans take power.

The makeup of the Republican caucus will clearly be much more skewed towards libertarian, tea-party types than it was in 1995. They will certainly force a government shutdown.

In a total government shutdown caused by the Republicans refusing to pass acceptable appropriations bills, it is very likely that Social Security checks will simply stop coming at some point. This would continue until Obama and the Tea Party nuts agreed on an appropriations bill. Do you really think the Tea Party is ever going to agree with Obama on an appropriations bill? At the very least, do you think it would be short and quick for that to happen? Even if Boehner WANTED to end the standoff, do you think that today's elected Republican party would actually let him in any reasonable timeframe?

I think the people who say "there's little difference between the two parties" (and who don't vote because of it) are going to be in for a huge, in-their-face wake-up call in 2011.

[bobbolink]

1. LOL FAIL.

[Meeker Morgan]

2. Do you really think the Republicans would eliminate Social Security?

After all, they've been in power several times since the 1930s and didn't do any such thing.

[BzaDem]

3. They can't eliminate it (which takes 218+60+president). But they can shut down the government

which means ultimately the Social Security check-writers run out of money, and the checks would eventually stop coming if it lasts long enough.

My point is that the ability for Social Security checks to start coming again would be contingent upon today's Republican party capitulating to the President and re-opening government. Why would anyone really want to rely on that?

[mdmc]

4. perhaps the cat food comm. can take care of it for them?

looks, imho, like the dems are willing to thread down that middle path..

[BzaDem]

6. Even if we accept the bullshit narritive that Obama is going to sign large cuts to Social Security

even these narritive-peddlers are only claiming that they are considering raising the retirement age a few years over a long period of time (as opposed to cutting off checks entirely).

So even if one believes the the biggest bullshit narritive about the cat food commission, they are in for an unbelievable wake-up call should Republicans get power.

[mdmc]

11. you realize that the GOP will at some point return to power

If we slash "entitlements", they will slash and burn entitlements..
I think Obama will do a little cutting, just to try to find more votes in the middle.
Then we have opened the door to cut and slash..

[BzaDem]

19. There's a difference between them returning to power NOW and returning to power after the tea party

has died out and doesn't make up such a large portion of their caucus.

[mdmc]

13. I will be happy if they let me collect at 75

but I've always thought that the corporatations would take all of my SS before I would collect..

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Statistical]

16. Juar likw when Republicans shut off social security in the past?

Oh wait that never happened despite them being the majority multiple times.

[BzaDem]

20. They actually tried and almost succeeded when they shut government down in '95.

The only reason it didn't happen is because eventually the Republicans capitulated to Clinton. But that was in '95, with the Republican party of '95. We are now in 2010, where the tea party nuts and those similar make up a much larger percentage of the Republican party.

Are you really willing to rely on the ability of today's Republican party to capitulate as they did in 95?

[movonne]

5. Different times...the money now is all at the top...corporations owns

America and soon the world...

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DJ13]

8. Repubs propose policies, Dems enact them

The GOP doesnt have the backbone to follow through on their radical ideas, but the Democrats always do it for them.

NAFTA, welfare reform, telecom deregulation, financial deregulation, China MFN status, all were GOP proposals before Clinton helped get them passed.

[Junkdrawer]

10. So the parties are NOT the same after all....

I agree with your post. It's the niche the DLC found during the Reagan revolution: "We can enact as "compromise" what you would never be able to do in fear of awakening the masses."

[DJ13]

14. Great quote

:thumbsup:

[Swamp Rat]

12. The 'in-their-face wake-up call' happened a year ago.

No bailouts and healthcare for YOU, poor, disabled, unemployed Americans.

[BzaDem]

21. If you think a year ago was somehow a "wake-up call," I feel sorry for the actual wake-up call

you are about to receive.

People saying "well we were betrayed a year ago" just indicates how clueless these people are about what's coming.

[Swamp Rat]

26. My wake-up call was August 29th, 2005 after Hurricane Katrina

when my city was destroyed, friends and pets killed, personal belongings lost, and we were abandoned by our government, with many denied assistance to this day. Since that time, I also realized I would never get my fractured ankle, and other medical issues treated in the USA.

I've had other wake up calls too, like when BP poisoned by back yard and food supply, and I was told by the FDA to smell my seafood for chemicals before I eat it. Just this morning, my neighbors in Chalmette woke up to fine white powder covering all their houses, cars and streets from a refinery that is belching out polluted dust as I write this... oh don't worry, we were told it will only harm people with respiratory problems, and to ignore the red eyes, skin rashes, constant coughing and dead animals.

Maybe you need to re-evaluate who is "clueless" in the grand scheme of things.

[bobbolink]

28. OMG!!! That is worse now than I knew.

YEt, NO federal (Dem) relief from it all..... where is the shame emoticon when we need it?

I really don't know how you keep your head up at all.... that is horrible beyond belief.

:hug: for the little it is worth... :cry:

[Xipe Totec]

15. I would love to vote for a 1935 or a 1965 Democrat again nt

[Riley133]

18. I did, I did!

I campaigned for a 60's Democrat! Too young to remember the Dems from the 30's. :)

[Xipe Totec]

24. The first Democrat I voted for was Ford

Yea, I know he's a Republican. But by today's standards...

:evilgrin:

[Riley133]

17. Really? The Debt Commission is bipartisan.

Bipartisan, bipartisan, bipartisan.

10 Dems
8 Republicans

[BzaDem]

22. Last I checked no one on the debt commission was considering stopping Social Security checks. n/t

[Edweird]

23. Hm, I seem to recall *'s attack on Social Security FAILING, while Obama's is going to succeed.

FAIL.

[BzaDem]

25. What you misremember is that Gingrich's attack on Social Security almost succeeded

and was only stopped because he could find enough Republicans to capitulate to Clinton and end the government shutdown.

Do you really want to rely on them being able to find enough Republicans in the 2010 Congress to end the shutdown?

[xchrom]

27. Unrec. It's unfortunate - but you are great evidence

For people who don't see the creeping Thatcherism in
The dem party.

[BzaDem]

29. Perhaps people don't see Thatcherism in our party because it doesn't actually exist?

Notwithstanding your statements to the contrary?

That would make a lot of sense. I am evidence that most people in the party do not see something that doesn't actually exist. You have managed to make a coherent statement out of your incoherent ramblings.

[xchrom]

30. You're funny. Nt

[bobbolink]

31. Pathetic, yes. Funny, no.

[girl gone mad]

33. Look into the mirror below..

[Donnachaidh]

32. fearmongering FAIL n/t