Robby on the issues ...

Social Security: Principles - and a Pledge

By Robby Stern

As a significant number of Democratic and Republican politicians prepare the political landscape to apply the “Shock Doctrine” of cuts in life-line services to the American people, organizations across the country are preparing to fight back.

The ruling elites in many European countries are also using this world wide economic crisis to attack the entitlement programs and living standards of working people. Recent general strikes in Italy and Greece demonstrate the determination of people to put the blame where it belongs – the banks, financial institutions and investment houses that have caused this terrible recession. Yet rather than holding the wealthy interests accountable, many politicians are increasing the misery of working and poor people by cutting programs for which we have paid all of our working lives.

In the U.S., the government has prosecuted two unpopular and unnecessary wars while providing huge tax breaks to the wealthiest in our society. And the deficit chickens have come home to roost. After all this reckless and unnecessary spending, they now want to steal from the Social Security Trust Fund to cut the deficit. These same politicians are also threatening to cut other lifeline programs -- Medicaid, the paltry housing subsidies, education, etc. -- and to privatize government services, gutting the wages and benefits of thousands of public service workers.

In response to the central goal of this elitist agenda, a group of organizations, including PSARA, have coalesced to form Social Security Works / Washington. This new coalition has adopted the following Principles:

We join together in support of the right of Americans to Social Security, a promise made to Americans of all generations. Social Security represents the best of American values – rewarding work, honoring our parents and caring for our neighbors. Social Security was established because American workers demanded it. Social Security belongs to the workers and their families who have worked hard, paid taxes in, and earned its benefits.

Due to a loss of employment, wages, private savings and pensions, Social Security has become more important than ever. It is a legacy we are committed to passing on to future generations. In this, Social Security’s 75th Anniversary year, we are united in support of the following principles:

1. Social Security’s financing is sound, now and into the future. For 75 years, working Americans have paid into the system. Their contributions have both supported benefit payments and built a $2.6 trillion Trust Fund. Social Security did not cause the federal deficit and benefits should not be cut to reduce the deficit.

2. Social Security has stood the test of time. It should not be privatized in whole or in part.

3. Social Security is an insurance policy and as such should not be means-tested. Workers pay for this insurance, and they and their dependents are entitled to it regardless of their income or savings.

4. Social Security provides vital protection to Americans of all income levels against the loss of wages as the result of disability, death, or old age. Those benefits should not be reduced in any way, including changes to the cost of living adjustment or to the benefit formula.

5. Social Security’s retirement age, already scheduled to increase from 66 to 67, should not be raised further. Raising the retirement age constitutes a benefit cut. The present age limits already impose a hardship on Americans who work in physically demanding jobs or those unable to find or keep employment.

6. In order to modernize and strengthen benefits and assure long-term stability for future generations, Congress should act to eliminate the earnings cap on contributions.

7. Social Security’s benefits should be strengthened and modernized to reflect the dignity of all work regardless of income, to better cover health and care costs, and to improve fairness. This can be accomplished by: changing the benefit formula to replace a higher percentage of low earnings; providing a care-giving credit for at least 5 years; guaranteeing elderly survivors 75% of the couple’s benefit; and allowing benefits for state-recognized same-sex couples and family members.

In the spirit of these Principles, the Coalition will ask all Washington’s Congressional delegation and viable candidates for Congress to sign this pledge:

Social Security is the only dependable source of income for retired Americans and supports millions of families through its disability and survivors programs. Every working person pays into it and earns benefits.

For 75 years, Social Security has been America’s most trusted institution. It is frugally administered and soundly financed to continue providing a foundation of economic security for future generations.

In the interests of my constituents – the men, women and children who are Social Security’s current and future beneficiaries – I pledge to:

1. Defend the integrity of Social Security against efforts to reduce its benefits or weaken its protections;

2. Support responsible efforts to strengthen Social Security benefits;

3. Oppose any and all efforts to reduce the federal deficit by failing to fully honor obligations to the Social Security Trust Fund, built by the payroll contributions of working Americans.

To win this fight, we will need the active participation of PSARA members, together with millions of Americans across the country. Join us at the 75th birthday celebration for Social Security on Aug. 16th. Help us as we fight for a decent future for the many generations that deserve the benefits of Social Security.