Stop The Steal!

Am I Picking On The Republicans? I have accused of picking on the Republicans unjustly. What do you think, should I stay quite and not post articles like this?

Social Security has been in the Republican sights ever since it was created and once again they are flexing their muscles to do away with it.

Opportunity Wisconsin: ICYMI – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson says Social Security “was set up improperly”
WisPolitics.com
Press Release
August 19, 2022


According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [The article is behind a paywall.] on Friday, Senator Ron Johnson “is doubling down” in his criticisms of Social Security, saying that the essential program for Wisconsin seniors “was set up improperly” and that Wisconsin seniors’ retirements should have been subject to the whims of the stock market.

Miranda Stark, Opportunity Wisconsin Deputy Program Director:

“Senator Johnson must stop his attacks against Social Security, saying that the program should be handed off to his rich Wall Street friends instead of guaranteeing a secure retirement for Wisconsin seniors. It’s unconscionable that Senator Johnson would say this bedrock retirement safety net ‘was set up improperly’ and that Wisconsinites who work their whole lives paying into Social Security should lose that guarantee and have it subject to the whims of wealthy Wall Street and big corporate investors. Coming on the heels of his statements that Social Security should be subjected to the whims of the congressional budgeting process, it’s clear that he does not have the program’s — or Wisconsin seniors’ — best interests at heart. We need Senator Johnson to stop playing politics with Social Security.”

That is just what they want have all the money in the sticky hands of their billionaire friends. The Washington Post wrote:

Johnson, however, has suggested that Social Security and Medicare be transformed from entitlement programs, in which budget outlays are decided outside the congressional appropriations process, to programs that Congress decides how much to fund.

Johnson and other Republicans have argued that to save Social Security, changes must be made in how the program is run.

Stop right there!

The Republicans like to call it an entitlement programs… THAT IS A BIG LIE!

Social Security is not an Entitlement Program
The Albany Gazette
By Dr. Charles Garrett Guest columnist
December 22, 2021


It irritates me when I hear politicians, news outlets and other “experts” refer to Social Security as an “entitlement.” I guess you could call it a “pet peeve,” of mine; not sure, but it certainly is an inaccurate characterization!

Social Security is a mandatory contractual retirement benefits trust fund program administered by the United States Government. Employers and employees do their part by paying into the trust fund. The government upholds its end of the contract by paying those to whom benefits have been promised. 

When politicians include Social Security and Medicare with “entitlement” programs, they generally include “means tested” welfare system programs consisting of 80 plus federal programs providing cash, food, housing, medical care, social services, training, targeted education aid to the poor and low-income Americans. These include TANF, SNAP, Medicaid and Pell Grants. The costs in 2020 was $838.8 billion. These programs provide an important safety net for many Americans and are “entitlements.” Conversely, Social Security reflects a contractual agreement between those making and receiving contributions backed by the United States Government and managed by the United States Treasury Department.

[…]

Congress contractually, will need to take steps to shore up Social Security’s finances, as it did in 1983, the last time the fund nearly depleted its funds. Social Security is binding contract between our government and its citizens. It is not an entitlement!

The Republicans think that if lie often enough people will think that it an entitlement program. They want to steal our money!

On Speaker’s Nancy Pelosi official website…

Republicans just can’t shut up about their contempt for the sacred guarantee of Social Security.  On Wednesday, Sen. Ron Johnson once again showcased the Extreme MAGA Republican contempt for Social Security as we know it — echoing the dangerous plans to dismantle Social Security and Medicare constantly put forward by House and Senate GOPers. 

Plans to cut off millions of Americans from these livelihood-protecting programs are thriving in the House GOP as well:

Last year, nearly 65 million Americans received Social Security benefits.  Yet, the Extreme MAGA Republican Study Committee, which represents 157 out of 211 House Republicans, holds slashing Medicare and Social Security as a core tenant of their proposed budget, regardless of the fact they would be leaving their own constituents high and dry. 

While Republicans plan to end Social Security in five years, Democrats are doubling down on our plan to lower kitchen table costs for the American people.  With the Democrats’ enacted Inflation Reduction Act, the cost of health care will go down and Medicare will be empowered to negotiate lower prices for seniors on prescription medications.  Congressional Democrats remain committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare from the devastating agenda of Extreme MAGA Republican politicians: keeping People Over Politics.

It took them fifty years to make abortion illegal and during the same time they have been trying to do away with Social Security and Medicare. They want Wall Street and the mega insurance companies so they can pile on the fees!

There is a lot of talk right about the Social Security fund going broke but that can be fixed. Right now if you make over $147,000 a year your Social Security payroll tax is capped at that amount, take the cap off and make the company and employee each pay the 6.2% tax, that will go a long way to getting the fund back into the black. The Republicans don’t like that because their billionaires will have to pay more.

I don’t about you but I paid in to Social Security and Medicare for 50 years and they want to yank that protection out from under us!

Stop the Steal!