tax cuts. No Democrat, at present, is going to say that they
plan to make significant changes; it is the consistent pattern of compromise and capitulation that has many (most) of us concerned that this is the beginning of the plan, to get us used to the bullshit idea that SS and Medicare must inevitably be cut. I posted a chronology of compromise and capitulation on another thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1457084&mesg_id=1457552 Also, Senator Sanders apparently shares some concerns:
Sanders: Obama proposal would impoverish 250,000
By Erik Wasson - 07/09/11 04:33 PM ET
The Social Security Administration estimates that a proposal floated by the Obama administration would put 245,000 people into poverty, according to an analysis released by liberal senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday.
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Social Security Administration’s Office of Retirement Policy estimated that by 2030, according to the report prepared for Sanders, there would be 173,400 more people living in poverty in the United States.
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"I am especially disturbed that the president is considering cuts in Social Security after he campaigned against cuts in 2008," Sanders said. "The American people expect the president to keep his word."
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/170543-sanders-obama-proposal-impoverishes-250000-peopleAnd what, in light of the chronology posted in the link above and in other similar cases that are well documented but not posted here, are we to make of the statement regarding social security and medicare below? The fact that a Democratic President even made such a statement is upsetting to most Democrats. When this statement is associated with previous circumstances and events, we have no reason to believe that there will not be significant cuts made to SS and Medicare. I'll gladly eat copious servings of delicious crow if SS and Medicare remain untouched after a budget resolution is passed. (I believe I made a similar statement prior to the Bush tax cuts being extended and was disappointed that I was not served my favorite political food).
The President:
"What I emphasized to the broader group of congressional leaders yesterday is now is the time to deal with these issues. If not now, when? I've been hearing from my Republican friends for quite some time that it is a moral imperative for us to tackle our debt and our deficits in a serious way. I've been hearing from them that this is one of the things that's creating uncertainty and holding back investment on the part of the business community.
And so what I've said to them is, let's go. And it is possible for us to construct a package that would be balanced, would share sacrifice, would involve both parties taking on their sacred cows, would involve some meaningful changes to Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid that would preserve the integrity of the programs and keep our sacred trust with our seniors, but make sure those programs were there for not just this generation but for the next generation; that it is possible for us to bring in revenues in a way that does not impede our current recovery, but is fair and balanced."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/11/press-conference-presidentThat's straight from the President's mouth to our ears; and that's a fact. A whopper of a fact.
If we were not still involved in 3 wars, and the Bush tax cuts had not been extended, my head would not be spinning quite as fast as it is over this statement.
I am, as so many other Democrats are, justifiably worried that this is the prelude to another ambush.
Trust has already been long broken.
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