VOICE OF THE MAJORITY

'Economic nightmare for the poor, middle class'

Economic Policy
By Jean York, Braintree Forum
At a rare TV press conference recently, President Bush called on Congress to pass his privatization plan for Social Security after weeks of telling the public that he would be "open" to other ideas as long as those ideas included personal accounts.According to his past practice, President Bush has no intention of consulting the Democrats, who introduced Social Security to Americans under FDR, benefiting millions over the years.President Bush is systematically dismantling all of the major social programs instituted by the Democrats: Medicare, Medicaid, etc.President Bush talked about a "sliding scale" in his privatization plan, but offered no details. He said that he was concerned about lower wage earners getting a better return upon retirement, yet his administration refused to entertain a raise in the minimum wage, which would have helped the lower wage earners immediately and boosted their Social Security checks at retirement.No way is this president concerned about the lower wage earners who are barely making it and now have to contend with cuts in domestic programs, including health care. The "sliding scale" gimmick is a ploy to make Social Security into a second hand welfare program, and privatization will eventually starve the trust fund out of existence for lack of adequate contributions.President Bush isn't talking about his "Guest Worker Program," which will introduce millions of illegal aliens to Social Security. Countless numbers are already benefiting from the program.President Bush recently praised his "very good friend," Majority Leader Tom DeLay, for ramming his agenda through the House, an economic nightmare for the poor and the middle class.President Bush says that he depends on Mr. DeLay to get the job done (whatever it takes?), and that includes the passage of his Social Security plan.Make no mistake: President Bush is another Tom DeLay underneath that "good ole boy" exterior.The whole filibuster issue is a direct response to Mr. DeLay's threats against whom he regards as activist judges. A simple majority vote in the Senate will crush minority rights of dissent and install President Bush's ultra-conservative nominees in the court system for life, thus furthering the agenda of the extreme religious right that apparently is holding the congressional neo-conservatives hostage.The line is beginning to blur between the separation of church and state. One just has to observe those countries governed by religious zealots, where civil rights don't exist.Back to Social Security, President Bush wants to bring his proposal to Congress for a vote as quickly as possible, and he doesn't give a hoot that the majority of Americans reject his plan, according to every poll taken.When asked about AARP's opposition, a leading right wing legislator laughed and said that they don't have a vote in Congress," and evidently neither do the taxpayers.In addition, President Bush has warned the Democrats not to play politics with his plan, and that translates into "don't obstruct the legislative proceedings." Is this a move to deny the Democrats the right to propose amendments in an attempt to rescue Social Security from privatization? Have President Bush and his administration become so emboldened by their recent success at the polls that he can threaten a group of duly elected legislators with opposing views?Finally, the destruction of Social Security is one more effort to dominate the lives of American citizens. The country is gradually being robbed of its individualism and right of dissent by a new and dangerous ideology to the contrary, fashioned by a man named Karl Rove, special advisor to George W. Bush and shadow president of the United States.

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Thursday, May 12, 2005