I was very upset when I read that Kerry, who has been appointed to the “Super Committee” was talking about cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, so I called his office. The results were not reassuring.
I told the woman who answered the phone that there should be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. She then read me a script saying that revenues have to be part of the package and that we have to make sure that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are solvent, and that there was a coming demographic problem with the aging of the baby boomers. So I told her that there was no problem with Social Security, and that Social Security was solvent until 2037. She then said that there was a problem with Social Security after that. Then I told her that this projection was based on an extremely pessimistic view of the US economy – that it would grow more slowly than it has ever grown in the last century, including during the Great Depression. At this point, she decided that she couldn’t talk to me any more since she had nine other callers on hold. This, in spite of the fact that she answered my call on the second ring. She said I should email Kerry. I pointed out that Kerry limited the size of the emails he would receive, and she said that I could attach anything I wanted to the email. I told her that I had more to say and that she needed to listen to me. Then she hung up on me.
I was going to tell her the following:
1. Social Security is solvent.
2. Medicare and Medicaid would save enormous amounts of money if we had Medicare for all and could negotiate with drug companies on prices of drugs.
3. The top 1% of earners (over $450,000 per year) used to have about 8% of the total income in the 1970s. Now they have nearly 24% of the total income, and the top 0.1% has 11% of the total income. This is where the money needs to come from, as well as from increased corporate taxes.
4. I was also going to refer her to the comprehensive reports on Social Security and health care on the web site of the Sudbury Democratic Town Committee (sudburydemocrats.org). I even mentioned the web site before she hung up.
It seems that in Massachusetts we have a unique opportunity to shape history. Kerry is our senator. We should be calling and visiting his offices and putting other pressure on him to encourage him to play a positive role on this powerful and dangerous committee. Perhaps we could pay weekly visits to his office to enlighten him on these issues and discuss them with him or his staff.
Sue Offner
August 11, 2011
We have been foresaken.
Imagine what the corporations will “donate” to the people involved in this Constitution by-pass to get their way? Too, JK seems hot to replace HC as Sec’y of State, so he’s got to please the Boss. You are not a priority.
All of this bodes ill for the poor souls whose backs will be broken to support the Empire. Best not protest though, Uncle is already practicing “bringing democracy” to Beantown if the crowds get out of hand. Simulated gun runs, and at least one practice troop insertion (snipers?). You don’t have a chance. How long will it take to make Boston and Baghdad sister cities?
“Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale.” –Gore Vidal
They made a difference in Wisconsin and we can make a difference too.
In fact they did by appointing Baucus. As I recall in 2004 Kerry was ranked as the most liberal Senator by National Journal.
National Journal said the same thing about Obama in 2007, so I am not sure if that is a good indicator of what Kerry will do on this committee. I also find it kind of strange that in 2004 & 2008 they named Senators running for president as the most liberal.
Is Obama the most liberal senator?
This is pretty long and wonky, but the gist seems to be that National Journal is a DC insider publication like Politico. They also claim to be independent and non-partisan, but their ranking system certainly seems to indicate a conservative slant. Their ratings were also used by Bush/Cheney as a campaign issue against Kerry in 2004 & less effectively by McCain in 2008. I find it kind of absurd that Obama was ranked more liberal than Bernie Sanders or Russ Feingold.
It would seem Senator Kerry is no longer listening. I have written emails and snail mail and neither has was acknowledged. Sen Brown on the other hand responded with a letter topically related to those I had written.
Feels like we have a guy who thinks he is Senator for Life?
He’s only Senator for life because he ran a crap campaign for president.
Since Kerry sent around his YouTube video Q & A, I have recognized that he is now a crypto-Republican. I have blogged about him, have been emailing him, and have written a letter to the Boston Globe.
I have yet to get a response back from him.
You can see what I have blogged about this post and the other related entries at Call to Crypto-Republican Senator John Kerry – Not Reassuring
Kerry from Meet the Press last Sunday:
Very disturbing, as I wrote in a BMG comment the other day.
So long as we allow this false “austerity” narrative to go unchallenged, we will lose — politically, economically, and personally.
The phrase “reducing the debt” means “concentrating even more wealth in the already-wealthy”. It is the vast majority of people — to the tune of 98 percent who pay the bill for any reduction in our deficit or debt. It is the already-wealthy — those who hold T-Bills — who receive these “savings”.
It is easy to fix the long-term “problems” of Social Security — phase out the ceiling on payroll taxes. Fixing Medicare and Medicaid requires government-sponsored single-payer health care.
The primary “demographics” we need to pay attention to is how many people are getting screwed versus how many benefit.
apologizing and offering to talk on the phone. We will speak tomorrow morning (Saturday) and I will update everyone on what they say. But for everyone else, it can’t hurt to keep the pressure on – the more they hear from us, the more they have to listen. They don’t want a Wisconsin on their hands.
I don’t get the analogy? PO’d public unions vs. Union-reforming republican Gov, Senate and House = An handful of disillusioned BMG regulars vs. grandstanding bag-of-wind John Kerry?
Do progressives have an accurate view of their position on the national political spectrum? Or even here in the Commonwealth’s? There is zero possibility of a Madison, WI-like protest against Kerry, no matter what he says or does on the “super committee.”
Politicians can be pressured. The thought of losing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid has people very angry and frightened. We should channel this anger and fear into constructive channels that can save these vital programs. I really think that politically, things can change very quickly for the better in very unexpected ways if we make it happen. If you don’t give it your best, you’ll never know.