‘Third Way’ Dems and the Road to Perdition

Why Any Deal to Cut Social Security,

Medicare or Medicaid Would be

a Moral, Economic and Political Disaster

By Robert Creamer
Huffington Post, March 28, 2011

Friday, the Democratic group Third Way published a memo arguing that Democrats should support "entitlement reform" -- by which they mean cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. I don't doubt the sincerity or intentions of their proposal, but I believe that if Democrats took their advice it would result in a moral, economic and political disaster.

Here's why:

The immorality of "entitlement reform." The very idea that seniors on Social Security -- whose average income is $18,000 a year -- should be asked to tighten their belts while the Federal Government still gives huge tax breaks to millionaires and subsidies to oil companies is just plain wrong.

The principle voices for "entitlement reform" are the multi-millionaires from Wall Street who argue that we need to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits as part of a bargain to reduce the long-term federal deficit and give the "markets" confidence. Never mind that Social Security in particular does not contribute anything to the deficit and has in fact generated a $2.6 trillion surplus that was paid for by workers and employers through Social Security taxes. Never mind that the Wall Street gang clamoring for "entitlement reform" demanded extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, subsidies for the oil companies, tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas and an end to the estate tax that only affects the sons and daughters of multi-millionaires.

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Siberia Solution: 'Ship Them Off to Freeze to Death and Die'

New Hampshire GOP State Lawmaker

Advocates Eugenics to Balance Budget

By Shira Schoenberg
Progressive America Rising via Concord Monitor

March 11, 2011 - A 91-year-old state representative told a constituent that he believes in eugenics and that the world would be better off without "defective people."

Barrington Republican Martin Harty told Sharon Omand, a Strafford resident who manages a community mental health program, that "the world is too populated" and there are "too many defective people," according to an e-mail account of the conversation by Omand. Asked what he meant, she said Harty clarified, "You know the mentally ill, the retarded, people with physical disabilities and drug addictions - the defective people society would be better off without."

Harty confirmed to the Monitor that he made the comments to Omand. Harty told the Monitor the world population has increased dramatically, and "it's a very dangerous situation if it doubles again." Asked about people who are mentally ill, he asked, apparently referring to a lack of financial resources, "Can we afford to bring them through?"

Harty said nature has a way of "getting rid of stupid people," and "now we're saving everyone who gets born."

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One Picture, One Thousand Words: The Right’s Wacko Priorities

We Are Not 'Broke,' We Just Need Progressive Tax Reform

Class Warfare, Illustrated

or Why We Need a Campaign to Turn Priorities Around

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Jobs for All Now! Get Your Member of Congress to Sign On to HR 870 Full Employment Bill

Help Put America

Back to Work:

Cosponsor H.R. 870

 

A Message From:

The Hon. John Conyers, Jr.

Bill: H.R. 870
Date: 3/3/2011

Let’s Put America Back To Work:
Become a Cosponsor of H.R. 870
'The Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century
Full Employment & Training Act'

 

Dear Colleague,

In order to expand job opportunities for Americans who have been unable to find work during this period of unacceptably high unemployment, I recently reintroduced H.R. 870, the “Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act.”  This bill would establish a comprehensive and innovative federal and local government job creation and training program that would create millions of new jobs for the nation’s unemployed.  

Under H.R. 870, the Department of Labor would work collaboratively with local and state governments, non-profits, and the private-sector to fund community based “fast track” jobs. This work could include renovating housing and schools, weatherizing homes, fixing our aging infrastructure, expanding access to broadband and wireless internet, neighborhood beautification projects, or other community initiatives in the health and education sectors. This direct job creation effort would be coupled with a significant increase in funding for job training programs authorized by the Workforce Investment Act. Funds will automatically continue to be disbursed from the Act’s Full Employment and Training Trust Fund until a level of “full employment” is reached in the economy.

Additionally, because we are living in a period when concerns about government debt loom large in many minds, my legislation will be fully funded by a tax on Wall Street speculation and will not add a dime to the federal debt.  Wall Street was responsible for the financial crisis that began in 2008 and continues to affect us today.  Having already received significant assistance from the federal government, it is only fair that Wall Street now pay Main Street back by helping put America back to work.   

If you would like to cosponsor H.R. 870, please contact Michael Darner (michael.darner@mail.house.gov) at (202) 225-5126.

Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.
Member of Congress

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