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WELCOME OUR SPECIAL GUESTS

Strengthen Social Securitys Nancy Altman, Eric Kingson & Alex Lawson

THREE MAIN POINTS:

1. We built our Social Security system and it works well 2. Our Social Security is threatened

3. Our voices are needed

SOCIAL SECURITY WORKS

We have a program that provides vital economic security to working

Americans and their families

We have a program that Americans value We have a program that is in surplus now and affordable in the future We have a program that never has, and by law cannot, contribute a penny to the federal deficit But we have politicians and pundits say that Social Securitys benefits must be thrown into negotiations about the deficit?

SOCIAL SECURITY IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN MONEY

It is about the values we hold and the kind of society we want Reward for hard work Concern for Parents, neighbors, family Legacy Strengthens connections that bridge families, neighbors and generations Dignity

Social Securitys Benefits & Costs are Modest

Average benefits in 2011 for all beneficiaries are $13,000, less than full

time, minimum wage work

Social Securitys benefits are low compared to other industrialized countries Social Securitys benefits are declining under current law Social Security is extremely efficient, returning in benefits more than 99 cents of every dollar collected.

SOCIAL SECURITY IS AFFORDABLE

Social Security as a Percent of the Economy (GDP), 2010-2085
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5% 6% 6% 5 0 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 2055 2060 2065 2070 2075 2080 2085

Percent of GDP

NASI Social Security Brief No. 35

P.S. You cant repeal population aging

THE WAR AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY

From Alf Landon to George W. Bush
From worthless IOUs to worthless IOUs

Deficit Mania distracts from real problems

unemployment, wage and assets inequality, wars, Wall street/corporate domination of nations politics

Social Security defined as budget problem Deficit Negotiations

Todays Politics of Austerity Threatens Social Security and the Middle Class
History:

1994-5 Entitlement Commission

Budget Control Act of 2011 Ryan/House Budget A Perfect Storm for Lame

Pete Petersons $1 Billion

Bowles-Simpson Commission 2011 Debt-Ceiling Negotiations/Hostage

Duck/2013
Automatic sequestration Expiration of Bush Tax Cuts, Payroll Tax Holiday, and UI Debt Ceiling

Growing pressure for Grand Bargain

AUSTERITY FOCUS DISTRACTS ATTENTION FROM REAL PROBLEMS & HIDES TRUE AGENDA

Jobs Cutting taxes for the rich Waging two wars on credit cards Increasing inequality Growing political influence of corporations Rising health care costs Shrinking middle class

UNDERMINES MIDDLE CLASS

Attack on Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid

Attack on public employee unions

Wedge strategies

Washingtons view of Strengthening Social Security

Cut Social Security benefits

Raise the Retirement Age (a kind of benefit cut)

Cut everyones Cost of Living Adjustment Means-test Social Security Change the benefit formula to decimate middle class benefits Deeply cuts future benefits by stealth Do this in the name of protecting future generations Payroll tax holiday

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WITH US.

But their confidence has been shaken and they are confused about where their leaders stand; what is the truth.

MAINTAINING BENEFITS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

According to the Pew Research Center (6/14/12): 58% of Americans say it is more important to avoid cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits than it is to reduce the deficit. All age groups agree that Social Security benefits should not be cut even if it eliminates one option for reducing the deficit. Six-in-ten or more of Generation Xers (31-46), Baby Boomers (47-65), and Silents (66-83) want to avoid any future cuts in Social Security benefit

amounts.

REMIND SENATORS, REPS & PRESIDENT THAT THE AMERICANS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY ON THE SIDE OF SOCIAL SECURITY
Public support for Social Security is very high and opposition to cutting

the program is strong.

All demographics Union & Tea Party households, and Democrats, Independents & Republicans strongly oppose by 70 to 80 percent any benefit cuts (Lake Research Partners, 2010). Bipartisan majorities support scrapping the payroll tax cap If Democrats support Social Security cuts or fail to provide full throated support they are likely to suffer large losses at the polls in 2012,

especially for the U.S. Senate and House.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Call and tell your Senators, Reps & the President, dont break your promises to the American people Letters, call-ins, district visits, talk-shows
No cuts to COLA No cuts to Social Security Go after hospitals, insurance companies, drug companies not beneficiaries

Join the Strengthen Social Security Campaign

www.strengthensocialsecurity.org

TAKE ACTION WITH FIREDOGLAKE

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/stop-ftd

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/biden-guarantee

QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD

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THANK YOU