Download a copy of these talking points
These powerful talking points were delivered by Martha Holstein, Co-Director of HMPRG's Center on Long-Term Care Reform at the Chicago Rally on May 18, 2011: Social Security – Keeping the Promise to All Generations, co-sponsored by HMPRG and The Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans.
Martha Holstein:
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is committed to supporting vulnerable populations of all ages. We’re in for whatever struggle lies ahead to assure a stronger Social Security. To that end, we suggest the following actions:
- Reject language of crises whenever and wherever you hear it. Crises set up conditions for radical, often non-reflective change or change that benefits the class that pays lobbyists to have prepared solutions in times of co-called crises. That’s not us. Social Security is not in crises. We have time to determine how to address its long term sustainability.
- Beware of the accepted wisdom that “entitlement reform” is the key to solving the deficit problems. It is only if you are willing to “solve” this problem by tossing some people under the train while giving new millions to private money managers and insurance companies.
- Reject the myth and the language of “greedy geezers.” We must rage against that phrase whenever we hear it. It is humiliating and plain wrong. In large part because of Social Security there are fewer poor older people than poor younger people but being less poor does not mean affluent. Large numbers of older women especially are one man and one Social Security check away from poverty.
- Do not let the words—well, it won’t be there when I need it—go uncorrected. Threats to Social Security are political not financial. Defeatism or pessimism threaten needed political support.
- Vigorously reclaim the importance of government and government programs as the bulwark of equality and security without which freedom is impossible.
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