Today marks the 73rd birthday of the single most successful government program in the history of our country, Social Security. As such, it is rightfully being honored by the Alliance for Retired Americans (AAR) at events all across Wisconsin. They will be holding noon events in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison. AAR is the same organization that was very quick to respond to U.S. Senator John McCain when he called Social Security “a disgrace.” They followed up their initial reaction by calling on McCain to return his own check if it is such “a disgrace” and then ran both a web and TV ad highlighting the issue. Here is the actual McCain quote:
“Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that’s a disgrace. It’s an absolute disgrace and it’s got to be fixed.” -John McCain, July 8, 2008 town hall
When John McCain made those unfortunate comments, he once again revealed just how out of touch he really is on many issues. Most people that earn a paycheck for a living already know that they are paying into the program and that present retirees collect the benefit. So is McCain really suggesting that most people don’t already know that? Maybe it was news to him but most working people are already aware of how the system works and how it will continue to work for them when they retire. Even more troubling, doesn’t this mean that McCain feels that Social Security is a disgrace because it is working exactly the way it’s supposed to?
Read More »Sen. John McCain used to make no secret of his support for a privatized Social Security run by his investment donors on Wall Street. He backed off of that this summer, but now he's come roaring back on the privatizing wagon.
In 2006, McCain voted convert Social Security surpluses into a private account, but then in mid-June of this year, he told a New Hampshire audience, "I am not for quote 'privatization of Social Security.' I never have been, never will be.”
Read More »Although the media is trying its best to paint him as something different, Congressman Paul Ryan continues to prove that he is from the same polluted conservative mold as the most unpopular president in history. While the rhetoric around Ryan may suggest otherwise, reality and his actual record have proven him to be nothing more than a rubber stamp of the worst kind. The latest example came only yesterday when he voted against a bill with massive bipartisan support. The bill postponed a planned cut in payments to physicians who treat Medicare patients. If the bill is not passed before July 1 doctors that treat Medicare patients will take a 10.6 percent hit. Such a dramatic pay cut could easily jeopardize access for both seniors and the disabled. Why would Paul Ryan vote for that?
Ryan’s vote is even more peculiar when you consider that 129 of his fellow Republicans joined with the Democrats to support the bill. There are only two explanations for Ryan’s hard line against this measure. Either he is just that loyal to a grossly out of touch president that has promised to veto it or he has a deep desire to protect big insurance at all costs. The cut to doctors was replaced by a reduction in payments to private insurers that participate in the Medicare Advantage program. According to a congressional advisory commission, those companies get some 13 percent more than it costs Medicare to offer services itself. For a guy that prides himself on his imagined budgetary prowess, it seems an odd thing to defend. Someone should corner Ryan and ask him exactly why he would rather cut doctors and seniors rather than slow down the gravy train for big insurance.
Having looked all over my house for my missing driver’s license, it was clear that I needed to make a trip out to the DMV in Madison to get a replacement—a perfect chance to spell out what goes into a trip to the DMV, like thousands of Wisconsinites will have to do if state leggies and “voter ID” advocates Jeff “Poll Tax” Stone and Joe “Can’t Prove a Voter Fraud Case” Liebham had their way and passed a ridiculous voter ID law in Wisconsin.
The DMV office in Madison I went to is open from 8:30-4:15 MWF, and from 10-5:45 Tuesday and Thursday – not exactly convenient for a 9-6 working man. But hey if I want to vote, I need an ID, right Jeff? So I bit the bullet and took off from work at 3 pm on Thursday. So I’m already being charged for my right to vote – losing at least 3 hours of work time, and using 3 hours of my vacation time. So far, total estimated cost: $50.
On “normal” days, I walk to work. But today, since I need my car to get to the far-east side DMV, I had to pay to park - $6 more.
Read More »Senator McCain told the Wall Street Journal in March that he supported the privatization of social security. When the Journal pointed out that this contradicted McCain's campaign website, he promised that the website would change to accord to his view on the subject. Months later, not only has McCain failed to clarify his position, he has reversed it again. In an interview on Live with Regis and Kelly, McCain insisted that his plan was not privatization, but "partnership". Now, Republicans seem to have settled on a Goldilocks solution: transition to private accounts without using the social security trust fund to help fund them (Scroll to Retirement Nest Egg).
A little bit of explanation and history is in order. Social Security currently pays out benefits to retirees from a trust fund whose coffers are filled by payroll taxes. To ensure the security of the trust fund itself the only investment option is U.S. government securities. Since there are far more people in the work force than there are in retirement, the social security trust fund has expanded in the past decade. This fund pays for both present and future expenses. Also, while social security payments are pegged to earnings over a person's lifetime, the funds provided are not directly linked--your earnings impact what you will receive in retirement but don't directly pay for it. Republicans have proposed a system of private accounts (similar to Chile's National Pension system) where individuals would invest for their own retirement and be given the option to invest in instruments other than government securities. Republicans argue that this will allow for a higher average return (compared to the roughly 2% annual return on treasury bonds). Read More »
Thanks to WSJ yesterday for this great response to the Supreme Court's Indiana voter ID ruling. The editorial noted:
Wisconsin votes at just about the highest rate in the nation. Seventy-three percent of Wisconsin's adult population cast ballots in the 2004 presidential election.
...
Wisconsin is virtually the best state in the nation at voting. Our Legislature should strive to keep it that way.
Looks like I got my amen.
In the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling that Indiana's voter ID law is constitutional, about 12 Indiana nuns were turned away Tuesday from a polling place because they didn't have state or federal identification bearing a photograph.
Another person who attempted to vote with a federal ID card was turned away because the card had no expiration date on it, and a woman who was newly married was turned away because her driver's license name didn't match the one on her voter registration record.
You can check out the full story here.
Read More »Residents who are interested in helping this effort should attend the next neighborhood meeting on May 10th, 2008 at the Center Street Library. (27th and Fond du Lac) at 10:15 AM.
This meeting is open to anyone who cares about what is happening in our city and believes that residents should have the opportunity to compete for the jobs our money creates!
On Monday the Supreme Court upheld Indiana’s strict voter ID law. The most direct and accurate analysis of this decision was by Representative Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee). She said that the decision was “an unconstitutional solution in search of a problem.” This is such a good statement because it is accurate and gets directly to the heart of the matter.
There is simply no widespread voter fraud problem in Wisconsin, Indiana or in the country as a whole. An exhaustive study was done on the slew of allegations made by Republicans in the 2004 presidential election and the vast majority was found to be totally without merit. In fact, in giving an example of significant voter fraud, one of the concurring justices in Monday’s decision had to reach all the way back to 140 years ago. Not even the State of Indiana was able to present evidence of the type of voter fraud that the law was supposedly devised to deter.
Read More »In the wake of the 2004 election, Indiana passed a voter ID law, citing the need to preserve electoral integrity and curb the rampant voter fraud that allegedly happens during presidential elections - despite the fact that several studies have shown this problem simply doesn't exist in Indiana, here in Wisconsin, or on a national level at all, for that matter.
Several organizations representing historically disenfranchised groups - namely, African-Americans, senior citizens, and the working poor - challenged this law in the U.S. Supreme Court, saying that it unduly burdens a citizen's right to vote. You'd think the Supreme Court would reject an argument made by lawmakers that this legislation is necessary to protect democracy by targeting a problem that doesn't exist and disenfranchising thousands of people in the process. Read More »
March 25, 2008
For more information contact:
Jennifer Epps 414-443-0682
Fed up with Injustice, Milwaukee Residents "Rise Up"
More than 1,000 city residents unite to solve Milwaukee's economic crisis
Milwaukee is facing harsh economic times. In response, residents are "Rising Up." At 5 pm on Saturday, March 29th, just 3 days before the critical April 1st elections, more than 1000 residents will gather at the Rave for "Rise Up Milwaukee: Rhythm For a Reason" -an event to unify diverse areas of the city in recognition of the common need for family-friendly jobs with fair wages, where workers can work free from fear with safe and healthy working conditions. The event is organized by "The Milwaukee Unity Cam-paign," a coalition of local community organizations, labor unions, and residents working together to address the economic crisis facing Milwaukee's residents, particularly in African-American and Latino communities. Read More »
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