Living Proof, A Voice That Defies Bush's Rhetoric

Source: Democrats & Liberals: Archives (watchblog)
Posted by Bert M. Caradine at March 14, 2005 07:17 PM

40 Acres And A Social Security Check

Don't be alarmed here, but I should be dead right now, or in jail. I could justify by expanding the odds to include serving in the military, but it is a known fact that upon reaching the age of 30, a Black male has a 2 in 3 chance of likely being killed or incarcerated. Yet, by no measure should you assume I just 'lucked out'. I will forever appreciate the education provided me by the Chicago Public School system, thus by taking advantage of what my committed teachers provided, my chances of beating the odds improved dramatically.

However, now there appears to be a downside to such a personal feat - I am no longer considered an ideal benefactor of George Bush's Social Security Overhaul Plan.

Like much of Bush's current stealth propaganda campaign to employ the successful tactics behind the Iraqi Invasion, it's best not to ask the White House for more details. I've lost my chance to be that misplaced, fully vetted, affable Black panelist on stage with the President, sternly prepped in advance not to ask how having a supposed shorter life span is less imperative, than managing my own private account?

Paul Krugman of the New York Times fills in the details of what plainly is a desperately, abhorrent sales pitch, touting a plan that would actually do more harm to senior Black recipients. In addition, freshman U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) has obviously found his bearings, and has added a credible voice representing a constituency with high stakes in this debate.

Upon entering the Social Security debate recently, NAACP Chair Julian Bond articulated why his constituency's reliance on this entitlement in their later years, demonstrates the very intent of FDR's vision. One compelling point he offered is that twice as many Black married couples depend on Social Security as their entire retirement income (compared to White couples), while Blacks in their 50s' are twice as likely to become disabled.

During the just concluded legislative break, many Republican lawmakers went back to their districts only to find vocal, if not outright hostile opposition to Bush's plan and his proposed budget cuts. Facing a crowd not buying his flawed sales pitch, Bush's chief Social Security proponent in the U.S. Senate Rick Santorum (R-Penn) remarked how well organized the opposition appeared to be.

But, it also takes a substantive and factual argument to effectively counter the Republican propaganda, filtered through their conspiring minions in the MSM (Murdoch Seduced Media). The AARP's resistance and efficient education of its members, can be measured by the fact that those operatives behind the Swift Boat smear campaign have now been deployed to silence them. What must not be overlooked however is the strong footing the Democratic leadership has gained on this issue, by having equal success in connecting capably with wary Americans.

Bush's obvious failure to dupe the nation bodes well beyond protecting Social Security. It may be the startling alarm that finally wakes us from our long indifference.