Tell the deficit commission: Cut military spending, not Social Security

We need real solutions, not a manufactured crisis
Deficit commission almost done deciding to slash Social Security
Top 5 Social Security Myths

Matt Lockshin, CREDO Action

Submitted by Evergreene Digest Contributing Editor Thomas Sklarski

At a time when the country desperately needs more jobs, a powerful commission appointed by President Obama is meeting in secret to make recommendations to lower the federal budget deficit.

And, unfortunately, the commission has been stacked with people who have obsessed for decades over cutting Social Security benefits or transforming it from a broad-based program into a privatized retirement program.

From the public statements of commission members and leaks of the secret meetings, it is clear that the commission is avoiding serious discussion of the real causes of our deficit in order to create a sense of panic around Social Security.

Click here to automatically sign our petition to the members of the deficit commission telling them to make recommendations that significantly lower military spending, allow the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% to expire, and modify health care reform to include a robust public option to lower costs.

Today, we should not be cutting the deficit but instead investing in critical public goods that create jobs. After we strengthen our economy, it is appropriate to focus on lowering the deficit. The Commission would enhance public discourse by focusing on three critical drivers of long term deficits:

1. Burgeoning military spending — much higher than any other country — and magnified by two wars of choice.
2. The Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2%, and
3. Rapidly rising health care costs driven by an inefficient private insurance market.

Instead of productively focusing the nation's and Congressional attention on these factors, some in the deficit commission are focused on privatizing Social Security and cutting benefits.

Click here to automatically sign our petition to the members of the deficit commission telling them to make recommendations that significantly lower military spending, allow the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% to expire, and modify health care reform to include a robust public option to lower costs.

Thank you for standing up for Social Security.

Related:

Deficit commission almost done deciding to slash Social Security, Alex Pareene, Salon
The commission's report is not yet finished, but it is a foregone conclusion that what to do about the deficit will probably turn out to be "severely scale back the social safety net."

Top 5 Social Security Myths, Nita Chaudhary, MoveOn.org Political Action
We've put together a list of the top five myths about Social Security, along with the real story.