social security


Richard Eskow's picture

Social Security and Medicare: Behind the Numbers and the Spin

Here are some headlines you won't see after the government releases new figures on Social Security and Medicare later today:

"Social Security Trust Fund Even Larger Than It Was Last Year"
"Growing Wealth Inequity Will Lead to Social Security Imbalance Later This Century"
"For-Profit Healthcare Poses Threat to Medicare, Federal Deficit, and Overall Economy in Coming Decades" more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

Should We "Means Test" Your Auto Insurance? Then Why Do It For Social Security?

Picture this: You're driving down the road one rainy day as someone bearing an uncanny resemblance to Mitt Romney approaches you from the other direction in a Cadillac. One of you hydroplanes and there's a collision. more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

How "Centrist" Democrats Are Helping Conservatives - and Failing America's Moms

So a corporate Democratic lobbyist named Hillary Rosen made a gaffe about Ann Romney's resumé. So what? The reality is that Moms of all ages have been wounded by an obsolete and misguided consensus among Washington elites - a consensus that is too often mislabeled as 'centrism.' more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

The Real War On Youth - and Esquire's Dubious Achievements

In 2010 the men's magazine Esquire enlisted Lawrence O'Donnell, along with a panel of Republicans and economically centrist Democrats, to duplicate the anti-Social Security efforts of the Simpson/Bowles Deficit Commission. more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

War Without End: Hoyer Won't Stop Fighting Against Seniors … and the American People

Can't stop, won't stop. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer is determined to advance his own career at the expense of middle-class Americans - so much so that he's ignoring political common sense and the desires of most Americans, including most Republicans. more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

Forget Michigan. Worry About Rep. Steny Hoyer (Corporate Party - MD) and Social Security

Forget Michigan. Worry about Steny Hoyer.

While most political eyes are fixed on Romney's primary results, the middle class faces a threat to its financial security right in the heart of the Capitol.The Democratic Party does, too. more »

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Daniel Marans's picture

At CPAC, Romney's Calls for Cutting Social Security and Medicare Rankle Conservative Rank-and-File

Social Security Works spoke to several conservatives at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this past Friday, who were none too pleased to hear Mitt Romney he plans to cut Social Security and Medicare.

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Richard Eskow's picture

Social Security: A Tale of Two Mitties

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the year of protecting Social Security, and the year of cutting Social Security. It was the age of defending Medicare, and the age of ending Medicare. more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

Social Security: Mitch Daniels and the Millionaires' "Means-Testing" Scam

 Last week Republican Mitch Daniels once again pushed the "means testing" argument against Social Security, saying that we can no longer "afford to send millionaires pension checks" or  "pay medical bills for even the wealthiest among us."   more »

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Richard Eskow's picture

Do GOP Candidates and the Press Have a "Gentlemen's Agreement" Not to Discuss Social Security in Florida?

You'd think Social Security would top the list of subjects for a presidential debate in Florida. How many questions did Wolf Blitzer ask about it during Thursday night's Republican debate in Jacksonville?

Answer: None. The words "Social Security" never passed his lips.

It was almost as if there were a "gentlemen's agreement" among the five people on the stage. And we use that phrase advisedly, since Blitzer sealed the boy's club atmosphere by asking each of the candidates why his wife would make the best first lady.

The candidates did mention Social Security a couple of times, but only in passing and only in the most misleading ways possible. It's too bad there wasn't, oh, a journalist nearby -- one who was inclined to ask follow-up questions.

What was said that night? Rick Santorum and Ron Paul both attacked Newt Gingrich from the right on Social Security. Santorum suggested that the Speaker's proposals, which would cut benefits, were too expensive and would "create a brand new Social Security entitlement."

Not true.

Ron Paul said that Gingrich's claim to have helped cut the federal deficit was false -- which is true. But then he said that the reason it's untrue is because Gingrich "doesn't count the money he takes out of Social Security" -- which is false!

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