Congress, Politics, Things That Tick Me Off

The Gang of Six and Their War on Main Street

Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty-Guest Blogger

It is probably just me, but it seems that every time we hear about a proposed deal to extend the debt limit and avert a government shutdown and a debt default, the plan does nothing more than cut the taxes on the wealthiest Americans and Corporations.  The latest proposal by the so-called Gang of Six is just one more example of Congress attacking the Middle Class.

“The cuts in the Gang of Six plan aren’t minor, either. It proposes a chained CPI adjustment to Social Security, which may not be a bad idea when combined with other measures to boost benefits and strengthen the program, but on its own is tantamount to a $1,300 cut each year for recipients over their lifetimes. Strengthen Social Security co-chair and former Obama adviser Nancy Altman has denounced the idea as an overly harsh cut. “The chained-CPI is poor policy, and given that seniors vote in disproportionately high numbers, it is equally poor politics,” she said.”  Think Progress  This latest attempt by both sides of Congress to claim victory over the imaginary debt crisis just seems to be another attempt to please their corporate masters.

Does it bother anyone else that a group of Senators from both sides of the aisle would call themselves the “Gang of Six”?  These Senators are doing their best to terrorize the Middle Class so maybe the moniker is appropriate. While some of the details of this proposed plan have not been agreed upon, what we do know troubles someone like myself who may be utilizing Medicare and Social Security in the next few years.  “These tentative changes include repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax and establishing three simple tax brackets for individuals, while cutting “tax expenditures” and adjusting the corporate tax rate to between 23 percent and 29 percent.”  Business Insider  How can a tax rate be lowered for major corporations who pay no taxes now?

The proposed cuts to Social Security retirees is especially disturbing.  “Lawmakers and the Obama administration are reportedly considering switching to a “chained” Consumer Price Index. According to the advocacy group Strengthen Social Security, the chained-CPI could lead to annual Social Security benefit cuts of $560 for those aged 75, $984 for those aged 85 and $1,392 for those aged 95.  “The proposal to shift to the chained-CPI is actually a stealth attack on Social Security,” said Joan Entmacher, director of family economic security at the National Women’s Law Center, during a Friday conference call with reporters.” Huffington Post    Is anyone surprised that the Congressional terrorists would be considering reducing payments to Seniors and reducing corporate tax rates?  Just why is Social Security being discussed when it has no impact on the Deficit?

I have a novel, Gang of America idea to suggest that would actually reduce the deficit and protect Social Security.  Actually, it is not my idea, but the idea of the vast majority of Americans who are repeatedly telling Congress to tax the wealthy and Corporations and to leave Social Security alone.  I realize my Gang does not have much lobbying power, but we have millions of votes.  Congress, it is time to get on board with the Gang of America’s ideas and you just might save the economy and your jobs.  Let’s hear your ideas to “fix” the imaginary debt crisis.

Respectfully submitted by Lawrence Rafferty-Guest Blogger

177 thoughts on “The Gang of Six and Their War on Main Street”

  2. Kdponzee,

    Then I guess your mission is complete…collect your paycheck and leave this site immediately….we will notify the Kochsuker brothers….They don’t like to get scammed…

  5. Blouise and Raff-

    I have to admit I exaggerated a bit on that one (except for the bobcats). The only time my hair was long was for a while in the 70’s- and that was not due to any hippie tendencies. More like too lazy to go to the barber shop. Or too broke. Or out of fear that the barber shop radio might be playing “Muskrat Love” or “Tie a Yellow Ribbon to the Old Oak Tree”. Yuck!

  6. HenMan,

    That mental picture is almost too much to bear … “be still my beating hippie heart.” (bare with me … 🙂 … word play )

  7. HenMan,
    You are on fire! My hair back in the day was too wavy for braids, but I did have a perm afro for awhile. It was awesome.

  8. Blouise-

    I may have had braided daisies in my blond afro, but I was no sissy. The daisies were surrounded by garlands of poison sumac. And, as you know, I always carried a bobcat under each arm.

  9. Hell … kderosa is just jealous ’cause HenMan got to poop on Nazis and can braid daisies in his hippie hair … envy is a common ailment in cellar-dwellers.

  12. raff and henman,

    I am glad the night shift showed up..He the shrew is taxing….slippery…as slippery as whale blubber on an Eskimo wedding night I am sure…the smell probably not much better…

  13. Kderosa-

    On your next talking point, if you surreptitiously key in the address of the cellar you are being held in, I will call your local police department. They can then raid the cellar where you and the other kidnapped typists are being held against your will. The testimony of you and the other enslaved typists will surely put an end to the Koch Brothers white slavery ring. Then you can begin the rehabilitation you will need to put this hellish episode behind you.

  15. So which are you a lefty then? Alls I can see is you cut and paste…Is that reciting?

  16. Sorry, Rafflaw, I thought AY said that. I’m not familiar enough with your views to opine on their sensibility.

  17. Actually Prof Turley holds mostly sensible views. In contrast, you don’t.

    Prof Turley holds mostly liberal views, mostly on social issues. The commentors in contrast are unabashed lefties. Liberals think, lefties recite.

  19. Why is this considered a left wing blawg….You mean that the right wing does not think for themselves….That is interesting…

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