“We are now in the midst of the fiercest and best-financed attack against Social Security in our lifetimes. […]
Despite right-wing misinformation, the program that benefits 55 million seniors, disabled Americans, widows, widowers and orphans has a $2.7 trillion surplus. Social Security, which is funded by the payroll tax, has not contributed one nickel to the deficit and, according to its trustees, can pay 100 percent of all benefits owed to every eligible American for the next 21 years.
Despite Social Security’s overwhelming success, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan has been a proponent of privatizing the retirement program by putting seniors’ savings into risky Wall Street investments. Even before tapping Ryan as his running mate, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney had said he wants to begin the process of privatizing Social Security. He also would gradually increase the retirement age to 68 or 69. And he favors slowing the growth of benefits for persons with ‘higher incomes.’ Under a plan floated by Romney’s allies on Capitol Hill - Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) - someone making about $45,000 a year today who retires in 2050 would receive 32 percent less in annual Social Security benefits than under the current formula. By that definition, the top 60 percent of all wage earners would be considered ‘higher income.’”
I was all “FUCK THIS IS SO OUTRAGEOUS” the whole time I was reading this and then I got to “Bernie Sanders” and the rage became a halo of joy around my being because Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich are the one each (and it’s rare that there’s even that much) that the dual chambers of Senate and Congress get in honesty, integrity and Atlas-like endurance and patience. Calm, peaceful and poignant people, sometimes roused to indignation by shit that’d rouse anyone with a soul.
I love you Bernie Sanders, as much as you’re a party politics shill in your own way. Keep up the good fight from within the belly of the beast, and may you live a thousand years…because it might be another thousand before even one U.S. state gets in even one representative half as amazing as you. Shoulder the nation’s woes and carry on, mighty champion. Speak your truth to power, but more importantly keep speaking it to the people. Power already knows, and hates, the truth.
