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Category Archives: Network News/Events
Seniors, Social Security and scare tactics
By Sheila Jackson, Greer SC
SC Alliance for Retired Americans
There is an attempt to frighten us all into accepting political prevarications. It goes like this: Don’t pay any attention to what we are trying to do to Social Security because its not going to be there when you young people retire anyway. We’re trying to save it. We’ll privatize it and the wonderful, infallible free market system of the purely motivated moguls of Wall Street will take good care of you. As opposed to the wasteful inefficient federal government which never does anything right.
Medicare is poorly administered and is therefore too expensive. We’ll get rid of it and give you vouchers to buy insurance on the open market. And for-profit insurance companies will gladly insure you at a reasonable, never increasing premium rate regardless of your health.
I have received my Social Security check on the third Wednesday of every month for the past 10 years. It has never failed to be there. Medicare has never failed to pay what it has promised to pay. Both administered by the federal government.
There are politicians who are funded and controlled by people who profit from the continuing redistribution of wealth from the shrinking middle class to the top 1% — who already control over a quarter of the nation’s wealth. These politicians oppose allowing the top tax rate to return to 39% even though it would hurt no one and preclude raiding the self-funding Social Security trust fund. They prefer instead to yell panic, accuse seniors of being greedy and to do all that they can to destroy something that has worked so phenomenally well to produce a healthy middle class.
Alliance for Retired Americans sends joint letter to President urging him to protect Social Security
President Barack Obama
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write you as the national officers and the presidents of the state chapters of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a national organization of four million members dedicated to securing a better quality of life for all Americans in retirement. We believe that you have the opportunity to renew the nation’s commitment to the Social Security program during the State of the Union Address next week.
Mr. President, Social Security, which just celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2010, is the nation’s premier social insurance program. It has provided economic security for millions of Americans of all ages across the last 75 years. From the nation’s youngest, who have lost a parent, to the oldest, who live in retirement, Social Security has been a constant, positive force in our nation’s life. Now, Social Security benefits go to nearly one in four American households.
Without the guaranteed benefits of the program, nearly half of older and disabled Americans would live in poverty. No other program, funded entirely by worker and employer contributions and without government funds, has had such a long lasting positive impact on American life. We are concerned, Mr. President, that many in Washington will try to take advantage of the nation’s current debt situation and cause permanent damage to the Social Security program.
As the Co-Chairs of the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform recently pointed out, the Social Security program has not contributed at all to the nation’s debt. While we disagree with many of the Co-Chairs’ Social Security recommendations, such as raising the retirement age and cutting benefits for current and future retirees, the fact remains that the current debt situation should not be a political cover for attacking the Social Security program. We strongly urge you to resist such efforts.
We urge you to speak forcefully in favor of a strengthened Social Security program. We recognize that long term efforts will be necessary to keep the program financially sound as well as being able to provide benefits that are adequate to maintain a dignified quality of life. However, the debate over the current debt situation is not the forum for debating the future of Social Security. We applaud your leadership on vital issues such as health care reform which has benefited our members. We believe you are now in a position to demonstrate that same leadership on behalf of the Social Security program.
Sincerely,
Barbara J. Easterling, President
Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer
Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director
Douglas Hart, President
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Nan Brasmer, President
California Alliance for Retired Americans
Vivian Stovall, President
Colorado Alliance for Retired Americans
Cal Bunnell, President
Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans
Tony Fransetta, President
Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
Kenny Bradford, President
Georgia Alliance for Retired Americans
Al Hamai, President
Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans
Barbara Franklin, President
Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans
Elmer Blankenship, President
Indiana Alliance for Retired Americans
Don Rowen, President
Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
Mike Vivirito, President
Maryland/DC Alliance for Retired Americans
Dan Mikel, President
Minnesota Alliance for Retired Americans
David R. Meinell, President
Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans
Mike Owens, President
Missouri Alliance for Ret Americans Ed Fund
Bob Biel, President
Nebraska Alliance for Retired Americans
Scott Watts, President
Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans
Charlie Balban, President
New Hampshire Alliance for Retired Americans
Barbara Pardo, President
New Mexico Alliance for Retired Americans
Jim Wood, President
New York Alliance for Retired Americans
John Newman, President
North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans
Dave Friesner, President
Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans
Jerry Morris, President
Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans
Jean Friday, President
Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans
John Pernorio, President
Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans
Julie Harbin, President
South Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans
Shane Fox, President
Texas Alliance for Retired Americans
John Bloch, President
Vermont Alliance for Retired Americans
Mike Warren, President
Washington Alliance for Retired Americans
Sterling Ball, President
West Virginia Alliance for Retired Americans
Leon Burzynski, President
Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans
Public invited to luncheon forum on Social Security and Medicare Jan. 19 in Myrtle Beach
In politics, if you aren’t sitting at the table, you’re probably on the menu. Today, seniors are on the menu. They need a seat at the table.
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and state health programs are on the chopping block. Come learn the facts at a public forum Jan. 19, 12:30-2pm at the Myrtle Beach Recreation Center, 800 Gabreski Lane, Myrtle Beach.
The program will lay out what’s happening in both Washington and Columbia that impacts the health and welfare of SC’s seniors.
“This is a great opportunity for retirees to find out more about policy decisions that stand to affect them and their families,” said SC Alliance for Retired Americans President Julie Harbin. “We want to inform and empower seniors to be their own best advocates.”
Brett Bursey, SC Alliance for Retired Americans Vice-President, will talk about pending cuts to Medicaid and a South Carolina grassroots campaign to stop them.
Robert Kearney and Bill Cea of the national Alliance for Retired Americans will discuss threats to Social Security and health care reform, and what the Alliance is doing to protect them.
The public is invited to enjoy free East of Chicago Pizza and tea.
For details, call 803-957-8740 or email scalliance@mindspring.com.
MLK Day 2011
Galas usher in new administration
Peasants and corporate fat cats mingled at the 2011 Inhogural Ball Jan. 12 at The Big Apple in downtown Columbia, enjoying cake, Kool-Aid and tunes by The Trickle Downs, while across town celebrants paid $250 to rub elbows at Nikki Haley’s $600,000 Inaugural Ball.
“The Inhogural,” snorted host Col. Hamton Pigney, “was a big, fat success! The highlight, of course, was the surprise appearance of Sarah Palin, who had a little something to do with getting our new governor elected. We were thrilled.”
The galas usher in a new administration for the Palmetto State. If the governor stays true to her campaign promises, the coming years will be very, very good for big business. What they hold for the rest of us remains to be seen.
For more photos, click here.
Listen to Col. Hampton Pigney on the radio.
Don’t miss the largest gala of the year!
A Celebration of the Rich Getting Richer
“This is a great day for the wealthy citizens of this state,” said Col. Hambone Pigney, a sponsor of the Jan. 12 Inhogural Ball. “We have a governor who understands how poor people are dragging down our economy.”
“The Inhogural Ball offers those of us at the top an opportunity to show our appreciation to the workers for voting against their own interests,” snorted Pigney, CEO of the I Got Mine Company.
Pigney, who made 821 times more than the workers in his factory, laughed all the way to the bank when asked about slashing his workers’ benefits. “It’s grand being in the 1 percent of Americans that holds nearly half of the country’s wealth.”
Chairwoman of the Race To The Bottom Committee Ms. Ima Ripoff said, “We’ve managed to keep wages flat for the last 30 years. With Gov.-elect Haley declaring war on unions, we expect to drive wages down to Third World levels.”
Pigney and Ripoff chortled with unbridled glee at the new administration’s plans to cut government services as well as taxes. Ripoff noted, “South Carolina’s 44 percent discount on capital gains kept nearly a quarter-billion dollars in the pockets of my rich friends. The more we have, the more we can trickle down on the peasants.”
The Inhogural Ball will be held 7-9pm, Jan. 12, at the Big Apple in Columbia. The gala is $10 for those making less than $200,000 a year; free to those making more.
The evening’s entertainment includes sketches by Members of The Idle Rich (a Trustus improv troupe) and speechifying by special guests. Dance to live music by The Trickle Downs, and have your tea (party) leaves read by the beguiling Lady Christine.
Dress is Black-tie or peasant-casual. (For costume needs, see Hip-Wa-Zee in Columbia’s 5 Points.) Cake, Kool-Aid and other beverages provided by generous corporate donations.
For more information, call the SC Progressive Network at 803-808-3384 or email network@scpronet.com.
See story in Columbia’s Free Times.
SC Progressive Network part of emerging coalition preparing for looming budget crisis
Jan. 8, 10am-1pm
SCEA Building, 421 Zimalcrest Dr, Columbia
A coalition of labor, faith and community organizations – including the SC Progressive Network – are holding the second annual ‘Ties that Bind’ conference, a chance to build a shared agenda of policies that can make a difference in the lives of everyday South Carolinians.
This year, our focus is on the state budget. With record-breaking shortfalls, the debate is sure to be contentious. But budgets are moral documents. They reflect our shared values and our commitment to each other and to our communities.
Learn more or register online. It’s free.
Protest the celebration of the Lost Cause
The Sons of Confederate Veterans are celebrating the 150th anniversary of South Carolina’s secession from the Union and the start of the Civil War by holding a $100-a-ticket “Secession Ball” on Dec. 20 in Charleston.
The NAACP and allies will protest the event by holding a candlelight vigil followed by a meeting and viewing of part of film Birth of a Nation. Park at the Emanuel AME Church at 110 Calhoun St.; please arrive by 4:15pm. The vigil will take place at 4:30pm at the Gaillard Auditorium. For details, call 843-813-3363.
A preview of the ball? SC Sen. Glenn McConnell with re-enactors at the National Federation of Republican Women’s Conference in September.
Bumpy road ahead for America’s seniors
By Becci Robbins
SC Alliance for Retired Americans
For advocates working to protect the health and well-being of America’s seniors, the recent failure of the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform to muster the votes to send its proposal to Congress was a relief, although that’s likely to be short-lived. The proposal included cuts to Medicare and Social Security, as well as raising the retirement age to 69, a move that would hit hardest those with physically demanding jobs.
Such disregard for older Americans is unbecoming of such a wealthy nation. But it’s no surprise, as the report echoes the larger problem of Congress choosing at every turn to promote the interests of Wall Street over Main Street. Sadly, US Rep. John Spratt, who served on the Commission and supported the proposal, betrayed the retirees in the 5th District who helped keep him in office 28 years.
It was a missed opportunity. As Chairman of the Budget Committee, Congressman Spratt knows better than most that Social Security has not added a dime to the deficit and shouldn’t be used to fix a problem it didn’t create. He could have opposed the proposal as a parting gift to his constituents — and to inspire his Democrat colleagues to stand for the Party’s core values of protecting the least of us. Instead, he squandered his key vote to appease the Washington establishment.
While the report was DOA, lawmakers and pundits say it provides a road map out of the deficit ditch. Seniors would do well to buckle up for what promises to be a bumpy ride. Just Friday, amid talk of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, Congress rejected a one-time $250 payment to retirees who, for the second year in a row, have been denied a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
That’s not being fiscally responsible. It’s being morally bankrupt.