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October 8, 2010
Why I have a problem with Republicans
I guess I can’t call myself Independent now, having written so many articles that favored Democratic initiatives. And even when I try, only few would believe me. So, I won’t fight the label anymore and simply accept what I am in the eyes of people, i.e. a Democrat, Liberal, or even a Progressive. But uninformed Liberal I am not. For I write with passion, not out of emotion but out of reason. I do my research. I read. I listen to both sides and weigh the facts. Then, I pen my opinions.
I’m not a blind Democrat either for I see both the good and the bad in this party. I do know though, that they offer better programs and initiatives than the Republican Party does.
Let me start by asking if you’re one of those people forwarding emails carrying messages of supposed truths or facts aimed against Obama and/or the Democrats. A sample of such message is the one below. It was circulated by a friend who seemed to have made it her preoccupation to forward emails that are undeniably Republican propaganda. One such email was forwarded to me and the rest of her fifty-some other recipients not too long ago. It went like this: “We’ve got to get him out of the White House. He NEVER should have been elected. Here’s your “hope and change”.
HB 1388 Passed
Read this one…….and pass it on…..you be the judge…
You just spent $20,000,000 to move members/supporters of Hamas, a terrorist organization, to the United States; housing, food, the whole enchilada…
Needless to say, it’s a hoax. A lie perpetrated by an organized propaganda machine designed to fool unsuspecting and naïve voters. Here’s the link to the documented facts on this subject, provided by an unwilling recipient of the email. http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/barackobama/a/hr_1388_hamas_resettlement.htm
There were countless other forwards of this kind before. I have lost count just as I’ve lost interest in replying with rebuttals and links to snopes, factcheck.org and other sites that shed light and truth to the misinformation and lies. Really, just responding to these forwards can take so much of your time and energy. So I stopped answering. Anytime I get similar forwards, I simply delete them.
So there’s another one of these forwards making the internet rounds lately. It’s about Social Security, a hot button election issue where Democrats and Republicans are again split right down the middle. Republicans advocate privatization of Social Security (a revival of GWB’s proposal rejected by the public ) and Democrats who see no need to change the status quo. Here’s the email from the Republican propaganda machine:
LIBERALS DID WHAT?
Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent ‘Trust Fund’ and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Leftist Progressive Democrat controlled House and Senate.
LIBERALS DID WHAT?
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A: The Leftist Progressive Democrat Party.
LIBERALS DID WHAT?
Q: Which Political Party started TAXING Social Security annuities?
A: The Leftist Progressive Democrat Party, with Al Gore casting the ‘tie-breaking’ deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US
LIBERALS DID WHAT?
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A: That’s right! Jimmy Carter & the Leftist Progressive Democrat Party. Beginning at age 65, immigrants began to receive Social Security payments even if they never worked! The Leftist Progressive Democrat Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it!
Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Leftist Progressive Democrats turn around & tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away! .And the worst part about it is uninformed LIBERAL DEMOCRATS believe it!
THE CORRECT ANSWERS TO THE AFOREMENTIONED QUESTIONS (as quoted from the Social Security website; please check the link below)
http://www.ssa.gov/history/InternetMyths.html
Q1. Which political party took Social Security from the independent trust fund and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
A1: There has never been any change in the way the Social Security program is financed or the way that Social Security payroll taxes are used by the federal government. The Social Security Trust Fund was created in 1939 as part of the Amendments enacted in that year. From its inception, the Trust Fund has always worked the same way. The Social Security Trust Fund has never been “put into the general fund of the government.”
Most likely this question comes from a confusion between the financing of the Social Security program and the way the Social Security Trust Fund is treated in federal budget accounting. Starting in 1969 (due to action by the Johnson Administration in 1968) the transactions to the Trust Fund were included in what is known as the “unified budget.” This means that every function of the federal government is included in a single budget. This is sometimes described by saying that the Social Security Trust Funds are “on-budget.” This budget treatment of the Social Security Trust Fund continued until 1990 when the Trust Funds were again taken “off-budget.” This means only that they are shown as a separate account in the federal budget. But whether the Trust Funds are “on-budget” or “off-budget” is primarily a question of accounting practices—it has no effect on the actual operations of the Trust Fund itself.
Q2: Which political party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A2: There was never any provision of law making the Social Security taxes paid by employees deductible for income tax purposes. In fact, the 1935 law expressly forbid this idea, in Section 803 of Title VIII.
(The text of Title VIII. can be found elsewhere on our website.)
Q3. Which political party started taxing Social Security annuities?
A3. The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of a set of Amendments in 1983, which were signed into law by President Reagan in April 1983. These amendments passed the Congress in 1983 on an overwhelmingly bi-partisan vote.
The basic rule put in place was that up to 50% of Social Security benefits could be added to taxable income, if the taxpayer’s total income exceeded certain thresholds.
The taxation of benefits was a proposal which came from the Greenspan Commission appointed by President Reagan and chaired by Alan Greenspan (who went on to later become the Chairman of the Federal Reserve).
The full text of the Greenspan Commission report is available on our website.
President’s Reagan’s signing statement for the 1983 Amendments can also be found on our website.
A detailed explanation of the provisions of the 1983 law is also available on the website.
Q4. Which political party increased the taxes on Social Security annuities?
A4. In 1993, legislation was enacted which had the effect of increasing the tax put in place under the 1983 law. It raised from 50% to 85% the portion of Social Security benefits subject to taxation; but the increased percentage only applied to “higher income” beneficiaries. Beneficiaries of modest incomes might still be subject to the 50% rate, or to no taxation at all, depending on their overall taxable income.
This change in the tax rate was one provision in a massive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) passed that year. The OBRA 1993 legislation was deadlocked in the Senate on a tie vote of 50-50 and Vice President Al Gore cast the deciding vote in favor of passage. President Clinton signed the bill into law on August 10, 1993.
(You can find a brief historical summary of the development of taxation of Social Security benefits on the Social Security website.)
Q5. Which political party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A5. Neither immigrants nor anyone else is able to collect Social Security benefits without someone paying Social Security payroll taxes into the system. The conditions under which Social Security benefits are payable, and to whom, can be found in the pamphlets available on our website.
The question confuses the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program with Social Security. SSI is a federal welfare program and no contributions, from immigrants or citizens or anyone else, is required for eligibility. Under certain conditions, immigrants can qualify for SSI benefits. The SSI program was an initiative of the Nixon Administration and was signed into law by President Nixon on October 30, 1972.
An explanation of the basics of Social Security, and the distinction between Social Security and SSI, can be found on the Social Security website.
Flooding the internet, radio and television with misinformation of all kinds in a wicked attempt to discredit their opponents has become a way of life for the Republicans. And having been proved lying every single time, they have lost their last remaining ounce of credibility. But it is only a matter of time and like the boy who cried wolf, Republicans, too, will find nary a soul believing even if they have already spoken the truth.