The Real Right To Life: Venezuela Expands Benefits for Elderly while the U.S. Pepper-Sprays Them.

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SUN NOV 20, 2011 AT 03:00 PM PST
byJustinaFollowforAnti-Capitalist Meetup

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."
Mahatma Ghandi


In Chicago on November 7, 2011, hundreds of senior citizens joined with Occupy Chicago and their union supporters to protest the Congressional Super Committee's proposed cuts to social security and Medicaid. Forty seven seniors were arrested, along with four persons in wheel chairs for refusing to move from the street.


In Seattle, Dorli Rainey, age 84 was pepper-sprayed in the face, when she dared to stop to observe Occupy Seattle actions on November 16, 2011. while 87 year old Francis Goldin was pushed back in a crowd by police during an Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York City.

While the oligarchs in the U.S. are arresting and pepper-spraying senior citizens and the disabled for daring to assembly to demand no cuts in their already minimal social security benefits, last month the socialist government in Venezuela launched a massive program, fueled by a comprehensive new law, to improve the quality of life of their senior citizens and disabled, by guaranteeing pensions, medical assistance, adequate food and housing and many other services to all in fulfillment of the mandate of section Venezuela's Constitution of 1999 which guarantees the rights, including the right to a quality life, to the elderly and disabled. (see http://venezuelanalysis.com/...)

The pensions must equate with the current minimum wage, which has been increased every May 1st for the last ten years, until Venezuela has the highest minimum wage in South and Central America. Previous to this initiative in Venezuela, social security benefits were only provided to those who had accumulated a certain number of work credits in formal jobs. These benefits will apply to all, whether they have worked in the formal economy and accumulated work credits or not.

MORE:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/20/1038411/-The-Real-Right-To-Life:-Venezuela-Expands-Benefits-for-Elderly-while-the-US-Pepper-Sprays-Them?via=spotlight