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Jan 11
2012
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Help the Gray Panthers Fight Truth Decay!Posted by GrayPanthers in Social Security |
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For over three-quarters of a century, Social Security has remained a promise of economic protection and stability for the Americans who have paid into this program. Social Security is America's most successful social insurance program and remains the most fiscally responsible part of our federal budget. Yet, it still remains a primary target for budget cuts. Social Security and other vital safety net programs are in clear and present danger and are at risks of imminent cuts. So we must continue fighting to ensure that Social Security is not weakened.
In the spirit of our Gray Panthers’ legacy, we launched our Fight Truth Decay Social Security Media Watch!
1. Become familiar with the truth and facts about Social Security. That way, as soon as your hear a lie or falsehood about the program, you will be ready and able to fight back with the truth.
2. Recruit and orient other activists to become Social Security Media Watchdogs.
3. Pay close attention to the multiple media sources (i.e., website, blog, Facebook, video, etc). When you hear a lie about Social Security, document your observation (who, what and when).
4. Contact media source and demand that corrections be made! You can do this calling, writing a letter, submitting an op-ed, or even visiting the office of the media source.
5. After you have taken action, please report the lies you catch and your response to us here or send us an email at action@graypanthers.org. Watchdog reports will be posted on our website.
We are counting on you to help us Fight Truth Decay by challenging news media to make corrections and report the truth about Social Security! Social Security is facing perhaps the greatest threat in its history, and we need you to join us in our effort to dispel the Right Wing's myths and lies about the program. We believe that getting the truth out about Social Security will help galvanize public support to strengthen, not weaken it.
In the spirit of our Gray Panthers’ legacy, we launched our Fight Truth Decay Social Security Media Watch! Our founder, Maggie Kuhn, said we need to be “watchdogs” that bark when danger is near. Gray Panther media watchdogs are needed to report and challenge lies about Social Security they observe in news media.
In order to Fight Truth Decay, first you have to know the facts! Click here to see our resource about some of the common lies and misconceptions often spread about Social Security. Once you are armed with the truth, here are the simple actions you can take to help Fight Truth Decay through our Social Security Media Watch:1. Become familiar with the truth and facts about Social Security. That way, as soon as your hear a lie or falsehood about the program, you will be ready and able to fight back with the truth.
2. Recruit and orient other activists to become Social Security Media Watchdogs.
3. Pay close attention to the multiple media sources (i.e., website, blog, Facebook, video, etc). When you hear a lie about Social Security, document your observation (who, what and when).
4. Contact media source and demand that corrections be made! You can do this calling, writing a letter, submitting an op-ed, or even visiting the office of the media source.
5. After you have taken action, please report the lies you catch and your response to us here or send us an email at action@graypanthers.org. Watchdog reports will be posted on our website.
We are counting on you to help us Fight Truth Decay by challenging news media to make corrections and report the truth about Social Security! Social Security is facing perhaps the greatest threat in its history, and we need you to join us in our effort to dispel the Right Wing's myths and lies about the program. We believe that getting the truth out about Social Security will help galvanize public support to strengthen, not weaken it.
Comments (11)
Sam Ray: Chair, Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit Social Security Committee
August 24, 2011
Ms. Jackie Calmes
New York Times
Dear Ms. Calmes,
I’m writing to express my concern about one phrase in your August 13 Economic Analysis. . . .
“future savings from Social Security, and the Medicare and Medicare entitlement programs, whose growing costs are stoking projections of mounting debt.” In fact, Social Security is not a cause of the federal government’s long-term deficits, since it is prohibited from borrowing and must pay all benefits out of dedicated tax revenues and savings in its trust funds. In short, not one dime of Social Security benefits goes to the national debt.
It is interesting that Op-Ed Columnist Bob Herbert, in the January 24 New York Times Opinion Page, stated that Social Security “ . . . is being dishonestly lumped together with Medicare as an entitlement program that is driving federal deficits . . . “ Mr. Herbert had it just right!
I urge you to make clear to the readers of your excellent economic analyses that Social Security, our most successful government program, is not a cause of federal deficits.
Thank you for your interest.
Samuel N. Ray
41360 Fox Run Road, #307
Novi, MI 48377
Ms. Jackie Calmes
New York Times
Dear Ms. Calmes,
I’m writing to express my concern about one phrase in your August 13 Economic Analysis. . . .
“future savings from Social Security, and the Medicare and Medicare entitlement programs, whose growing costs are stoking projections of mounting debt.” In fact, Social Security is not a cause of the federal government’s long-term deficits, since it is prohibited from borrowing and must pay all benefits out of dedicated tax revenues and savings in its trust funds. In short, not one dime of Social Security benefits goes to the national debt.
It is interesting that Op-Ed Columnist Bob Herbert, in the January 24 New York Times Opinion Page, stated that Social Security “ . . . is being dishonestly lumped together with Medicare as an entitlement program that is driving federal deficits . . . “ Mr. Herbert had it just right!
I urge you to make clear to the readers of your excellent economic analyses that Social Security, our most successful government program, is not a cause of federal deficits.
Thank you for your interest.
Samuel N. Ray
41360 Fox Run Road, #307
Novi, MI 48377
1
August 26, 2011
National Gray Panthers: New Report submited by "Fight Truth Decay" Media Watchdog - Clare Walsh
Aug 15, PBS TV station in Houston aired the PBS show Nightly Business Report. A commentator from Wall Street was talking about debt ceiling policy, and he began his comment with the phrase "unsustainable entitlement programs."
I called the local PBS station - www.houstonpbs.org at 713-741-4444 and left a comment saying social security is not unsustainable and it is not an entitlement, we pay for it. I asked them to stop broadcasting distortions and lies about soc security and medicare.
Clare Walsh
1622 Havelock Drive
Spring, Texas 77386
I called the local PBS station - www.houstonpbs.org at 713-741-4444 and left a comment saying social security is not unsustainable and it is not an entitlement, we pay for it. I asked them to stop broadcasting distortions and lies about soc security and medicare.
Clare Walsh
1622 Havelock Drive
Spring, Texas 77386
2
September 02, 2011
National Gray Panthers: New Report submited by "Fight Truth Decay" Media Watchdog - Marilin Engelman, Gray Panthers of Suffolk County
I contacted Senators Gillibrand & Schumer as well as my Congressman Tim Bishop and was told the following message being circulated via e-mail is a viral message & not true:
MEDICARE PREMIUM INCREASE
For those of you who are on Medicare, read the article below. It is About the monthly amount of money you are going to pay in Medicare premiums in 2011, 2012 and the huge increase you will pay in 2013. It's a short but important article:
Congress will not allow an increase in the social security COLA (cost Of living adjustment); However, the per person monthly Medicare insurance premium will be increased from the 2009 premium of $96.40 to $104.20 in 2012, $120.20 for the year 2013 AND increases to a wonderful $247.00 in 2014.
Thank You "Obamacare" Congress also gave themselves a $3,000 a month Cost of Living Adjustment!
Send this to all seniors that you know.
REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER 2012
3
September 02, 2011
National Gray Panthers: New Report submited by "Fight Truth Decay" Media Watchdog - Randy Block, Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit
Earlier this week, I heard Matt Lewis, a regular contributor to "The Daily Caller", an on-line news website based in Washington DC, state (as if it were an undeniable fact) on MSNBC's Al Sharpton program that entitlements must be cut in order deal with our national debt. Unfortunately, Sharpton didn't even challenge that statement. I Googled Matt Lewis and discovered that there was a talk back tool that would allow me to express my view in relation to one of his articles.
Here's the response I posted on Matt Lewis' website:
Here's the response I posted on Matt Lewis' website:
On the Al Sharpton show earlier this week you stated that U.S. must cut funding for entitlements in order to deal with its debt crisis. Polls show that the majority of Americans (including Republicans) oppose cutting Social Security or Medicare to reduce the debt. Majorities of the public express the moral position that it's more fair for wealthy Americans to pay more taxes. I also believe that our bloated military budget needs to reduced. Social Security does not contribute one penny to the national debt. Raising the ceiling on SS payroll taxes and encouraging job development are better ways to protect SS for future generations. Please express these views in your future comments on solutions to the national debt.
Best wishes,
Randy
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September 02, 2011
National Gray Panthers: Report submited by "Fight Truth Decay" Media Watchdog - Randy Block, Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit
Media Source:TV Station- NBC
Program Title: Meet the Press
Date:7/31/11
Description of Social Security Lie:
David Gregory, moderator of Meet the Press, asked Republican John Thune: “Washington is not really dealing with what really drives this debt, that’s entitlement spending”.
Action & Media Response:
Sent an on-line message David Gregory that challenged him to see that Social Security does not contribute to the national debt. Rather its the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, corporate loopholes and bloated military spending that have contributed most to the debt. I emphasized that polls have shown that the American public, by large margins, does not want to cut Social Security or Medicare in order to deal with the debt but they do support raising taxes on the wealthy. (This was an action alert issued by FAIR.)
Program Title: Meet the Press
Date:7/31/11
Description of Social Security Lie:
David Gregory, moderator of Meet the Press, asked Republican John Thune: “Washington is not really dealing with what really drives this debt, that’s entitlement spending”.
Action & Media Response:
Sent an on-line message David Gregory that challenged him to see that Social Security does not contribute to the national debt. Rather its the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, corporate loopholes and bloated military spending that have contributed most to the debt. I emphasized that polls have shown that the American public, by large margins, does not want to cut Social Security or Medicare in order to deal with the debt but they do support raising taxes on the wealthy. (This was an action alert issued by FAIR.)
5
September 03, 2011
Dr. Margot Smith: Letter to the Editor published in the San Francisco Chronicle!
The following letter was published in the San Francisco Chronicle on Sept 29, 2011:
Raise the Social Security age to 70?
Pushing Social Security eligibility age to 70 would be a disaster.
The author of "Push eligibility age to 70" (Open Forum, Sept 26) only notes the success of the self-employed. Given the discrimination against older workers, raising the age of Social Security would mean more homeless and people living on the street, more on welfare, more on Medi-Cal and living in poverty.
As it is now, Social Security saves many of those over 65 from desperation. The author does not recognize the health problems of those who do hard physical labor, who work for many years for low pay - how many Walmart greeters would be hired under her plan? Has she visited nursing homes, homes for the aged, board and care homes, Section 8 housing? She only observes those ambulatory and visible. She is incredibly naive.
Those wishing to cut Social Security and raise the eligibility age have a plan for the aged - they are proposing homelessness, poverty, untreated illness and misery. (They can't see these problems from within their gated communities.)
Margot Smith, Berkeley
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/...z1ZS9yoqGu
6
September 30, 2011
Randy Block: Chair, National Gray Panthers Issues Committee
Letter to Editor Published in Detroit Free Press:
Let Gov. Perry Keep His Schemes in Texas
Sep 12, 2011 |
97Comments
During the debate among the Republican presidential candidates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry insisted that Social Security was a giant "Ponzi scheme." Even Republican conservatives former Vice President Dick Cheney and political operative Karl Rove disagree with that statement.
Why would Gov. Perry choose to frighten the people of this nation with such an unsettling claim about a program that has provided a bedrock of financial security to all Americans for 76 years?
Follow the money. Gov. Perry has stated that he would like to turn Social Security into a state-run program. No doubt the governor has many friends in Texas financial institutions who would like to get their hands on the people's money.
Randy Block, chair, Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit
Let Gov. Perry Keep His Schemes in Texas
Sep 12, 2011 |
97Comments
During the debate among the Republican presidential candidates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry insisted that Social Security was a giant "Ponzi scheme." Even Republican conservatives former Vice President Dick Cheney and political operative Karl Rove disagree with that statement.
Why would Gov. Perry choose to frighten the people of this nation with such an unsettling claim about a program that has provided a bedrock of financial security to all Americans for 76 years?
Follow the money. Gov. Perry has stated that he would like to turn Social Security into a state-run program. No doubt the governor has many friends in Texas financial institutions who would like to get their hands on the people's money.
Randy Block, chair, Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit
7
October 03, 2011
Sally Brown: Twin Cities Gray Panthers
Minnesota Public Radio
September 28, 2011
Gray Panther Watchdogs listened to Minnesota Public Radio show on Social Security, with fact sheet in hand, and sent online challenges to various misrepresentations and biased questioning by host and speakers; such as Social Security will be out of money in 2037 - not true; "but don't we HAVE to cut entitlements?" - no. We sent online comments to correct the misstatements.
Sally Brown - convenor Twin Cities Gray Panthers
September 28, 2011
Gray Panther Watchdogs listened to Minnesota Public Radio show on Social Security, with fact sheet in hand, and sent online challenges to various misrepresentations and biased questioning by host and speakers; such as Social Security will be out of money in 2037 - not true; "but don't we HAVE to cut entitlements?" - no. We sent online comments to correct the misstatements.
Sally Brown - convenor Twin Cities Gray Panthers
8
October 12, 2011
Flo Smith: Treasurer, Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit
This letter to the editor was published in two Michigan newspapers: Spinal Column - West Oakland (10/12/11) and the Novi News (10/20/11):
Social Security is secure
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has called Social Security a Ponzi scheme yet nothing could be further from the truth. Throughout its 70-year existence, even in times of war and during recessions, Social Security has never failed to deliver monthly checks. In its present state, the system is solvent until 2037 and with a few minor changes, it will continue to be solvent far into the future.
There is a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about the Social Security system. If you would like to learn more about Social Security, a three-page booklet of facts is available for the price of a postage stamp. All the information is valid and sources for additional information are included. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your request to: Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit, P.O. Box 37033, Oak Park, MI 48237.
Flo Smith, Wolverine Lake
(Note: This refers to the National Gray Panthers Truth Decay report.)
Social Security is secure
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has called Social Security a Ponzi scheme yet nothing could be further from the truth. Throughout its 70-year existence, even in times of war and during recessions, Social Security has never failed to deliver monthly checks. In its present state, the system is solvent until 2037 and with a few minor changes, it will continue to be solvent far into the future.
There is a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about the Social Security system. If you would like to learn more about Social Security, a three-page booklet of facts is available for the price of a postage stamp. All the information is valid and sources for additional information are included. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your request to: Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit, P.O. Box 37033, Oak Park, MI 48237.
Flo Smith, Wolverine Lake
(Note: This refers to the National Gray Panthers Truth Decay report.)
9
October 29, 2011
saraka607: Dr Dre Beats
January 31, 2012
Dr Dre Beats: Dr Dre Beats
February 09, 2012
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Gray Panthers encourages frank discussion of issues, and welcomes contrasting viewpoints. Our issues are controversial and we learn from each other's opinions and views, freely expressed. That said, abusive posts, such as those involving personal attacks, bigotry and the like are not welcome, and they will be removed. Because Gray Panthers is a tax exempt organization, partisan political activity--campaigning for party candidates, soliciting donations, etc.--will not be accepted. Gray Panthers reserves the right to edit content it deems inappropriate.
Gray Panthers encourages frank discussion of issues, and welcomes contrasting viewpoints. Our issues are controversial and we learn from each other's opinions and views, freely expressed. That said, abusive posts, such as those involving personal attacks, bigotry and the like are not welcome, and they will be removed. Because Gray Panthers is a tax exempt organization, partisan political activity--campaigning for party candidates, soliciting donations, etc.--will not be accepted. Gray Panthers reserves the right to edit content it deems inappropriate.
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