Social Security Taken Hostage !!!

[WillyT]

Yes, Mr. Goolsbee, They Are That Insane, and They Know You’re Not
By: David Dayen
Sunday January 2, 2011 10:58 am

<snip>

I suppose it’s positive to see Austan Goolsbee in pugilist mode against those who want to use the debt ceiling as a leverage point, but I still think he’s not quite getting the Republican strategy:

“This is not…this is not a game. You know, the debt ceiling is not…is not something to toy with. That’s the…the…if we hit the debt ceiling, that’s the…essentially defaulting on our obligations, which is totally unprecedented in American history. The impact on the economy would be catastrophic. I mean, that would be a worse financial economic crisis than anything we saw in 2008.

“As I say, that’s not a game. I don’t see why anybody’s talking about playing chicken with the…with the debt ceiling.

“If…if we get to the point where you’ve damaged the full faith and credit of the United States, that would…that would be the first default in history caused purely by insanity.”

Um, the Republicans are talking about playing chicken with the debt ceiling because they know that the Administration won’t. They’re counting on exactly the take that Goolsbee’s making. They’re counting on the not-in-anger-but-in-sadness take. That’s because they fully expect the President to give in to whatever demands they make to protect the full faith and credit of the nation.

Just listen to Lindsey Graham, also from today, on Meet the Press:

MR. GREGORY: You talk about the budget, you talk about spending. How will you vote on the debt ceiling? Will you vote to raise it? Which is, which is a vote that’ll come up in relatively short order.

SEN. GRAHAM: Right. Well, to not raise the debt ceiling could be a default of the United States’ bond and Treasury obligations. That would be very bad for, for the position of the United States in the world at large. But this is an opportunity to make sure the government is changing its spending ways. I will not vote for the debt ceiling increase until I see a plan in place that will deal with our long-term debt obligations, starting with Social Security, a real bipartisan effort to make sure that Social Security stays solvent, adjusting the age, looking at means tests for benefits. On the spending side, I’m not going to vote for debt ceiling increase unless we go back to 2008 spending levels, cutting discretionary spending.

MR. GREGORY: All right, but let me stop you for a second, Senator.

SEN. GRAHAM: I think it’s an opportunity…

MR. GREGORY: That’s a big condition…

SEN. GRAHAM: Yes.

MR. GREGORY: …just on Social Security alone.

SEN. GRAHAM: Yeah, it is.

MR. GREGORY: Do you think Republicans are prepared to follow you in two things you said: Raise the retirement age, and means test benefits for older Americans?

SEN. GRAHAM: I would suggest that if we’re serious about taking America in a new direction, and you’re not putting entitlement reform on the table, you’ve missed a great opportunity to change the course of America’s future. And the last election was about change, Change that really will make us something other than Greece. I think Pat Toomey, Rand Paul, and other candidates who are new to the Congress have said during the campaign, “Everything’s on the table when it comes to making America fiscally sound.” Let’s see if we can find bipartisan reforms in Social Security before we raise the debt limit.

<snip>

More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/01/02/yes-mr-goolsbee-they-are-that-insane-and-they-know-youre-not/

:mad:

:kick:

[neverforget]

1. Hostage taking has been proven effective. See the tax cut fiasco

[freshwest]

2. I am sick of these... Well, probably can't use the words. I'll bet we know them, though.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. What a load of unmitigated horse shit - cuts in the defense budget

are not on the table, nor are increases in the marginal tax rates the wealthiest Americans pay.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. gFoolsbee's laying the groundwork.

This smooths the way for the Administration to say they had to give away SS in order to keep the lunatics from killing us all.

[Larkspur]

9. You got that right

This is a case where corporatist Dems like Obama and Republicans are united against the People.

[Doremus]

5. They really are going to kill SS, aren't they?

We are so truly fucked it isn't even funny. :scared:

I'm going to start now on getting dual citizenship for my DH (2nd gen Italian) so my kids will have it when the plutocrats succeed in turning this country into an uninhabitable hell for everyone but them.

[sarcasmo]

12. Maybe not kill it but watch them up the age you can start taking it from 62-65.

Don't worry American Idol will still be on TV.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. Each time you pay these fuckers a ransom to save the hostages, they up the stakes.

Democrats are a bunch of enabling wooses.

Now they're threatening to kill us all, and you really can't do anything other than pay the ransom.

I have a better idea. When they introduce a bill to cap the debt ceiling, amend the bill to explicitly say the intent is to default on the debt.

Call for a roll call vote. Arrest every single one of the motherfuckers who voted for it for treason. Send 'em immediately to fucking Guantanamo.

4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

I'm not kidding. We're a long way down the slide, climbing back up will take more than half-measures.

[xchrom]

7. The SOTU is going to be very interesting. Nt

[hootinholler]

8. Fine

Let's take the Pentagon hostage!

:grr:

-Hoot

[Jim Lane]

20. I agree with taking the Pentagon hostage

Here's Obama's speech the week before the debt ceiling is reached:

"Without Congressional action to raise the debt ceiling, we will be unable to purchase fuel, ammunition, and other supplies for our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. As Commander in Chief, I cannot allow these brave men and women to be left in place in a war zone without the means of defending themselves.

"Therefore, I have instructed the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to prepare plans for the emergency evacuation of all U.S. government personnel from those two countries, while we still have the money to get them out. We now anticipate that the current debt ceiling will be reached on ____ (a date, let's say it's a Thursday). I will order the immediate and complete withdrawal on Wednesday if by that time the Congress has not acted."

And then, if the debt ceiling hasn't been raised, he goes ahead and DOES it.

Well, I can dream, can't I?

[Hannah Bell]

10. liars, traitors, wreckers, pimps.

[hay rick]

19. vermin and varmints.

[sarcasmo]

11. Means test? If we means for you to get it you get it? What the hell is a means test?

[WinkyDink]

13. They will establish a savings limit, a threshold after which you cannot receive SS.

Your financial "means" will be "tested" to see if you qualify as "deserving", via income-tax returns.

IOW: Your career-long tax-paying won't matter.

[customerserviceguy]

14. Yes, if you saved for your retirement

while your next-door neighbor who made the same wages as you, yet pissed all his money away on toys, you won't get anything (or as much), but he'll get the full benefit.

[hay rick]

17. Means testing.

Means testing will be presented as compassionate conservatism- money saved by not paying full benefits to those who "don't need it" will help keep the program solvent for those who do need it.

It is, of course, a set up. If benefits are phased out for more people, the program will be viewed more as a welfare program as the link between contributions and benefits is weakened. Once that happens they can get really serious about dismantling Social Security.

Curiously, the Republicans and their fellow travelers lose interest in means testing as soon as it is applied to tax cuts for the rich. I guess the dollars saved via a lower tax rate are a whole lot different from the dollars not received via a benefit cut.

[sabrina 1]

22. And the moron questioning him? Did he remind him that

SS is a fund that is owned by those who paid into it? Did he ask him how much 'means' they would consider too much before you could get your full benefits?

If Democrats allow this to happen, if they are not all over TV slamming them for trying to cut SS benefits, then it's time to start looking for another party. IF this happens, I could see a real split in the Democratic Party.

I'd like to know at what level of income this 'means' test begins.

[WillyT]

15. Kick !!!

:kick:

[TBF]

16. K&R nt

[hay rick]

18. K&R

[WillyT]

21. Damn... If I'm Not Mistaken... Keith Just Gave This The Heave-Ho !!!

:wtf:

:banghead: