Santorum finds many minds made up on Social Security (Rude Seniors Alert)

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | February 22, 2005 | Maeve Reston

[rightwingintelligentsia]

JOHNSTOWN -- Sen. Rick Santorum launched a 10-stop tour of Pennsylvania yesterday to advocate for changes to the Social Security system, but landed -- even at his very first stop -- at the center of an already-roiling debate about the proposals. This week, Santorum and other Republicans members of Congress are hosting a series of town hall events around the country at which they hope to convince the public that Congress must act this year to address the Social Security program's long-term financial difficulties. . . .

But minutes into Santorum's first presentation at Duquesne University, jeers and skeptical questioning arose from a considerable segment of the crowd. Some of the most pointed questions came from older workers whose benefit payouts would not be altered under the president's plan. A brighter spot for Santorum, though, was that a number of younger participants -- including college students -- said his presentation had sold them on the concept of personal retirement accounts. . . .

It was clear from some questions posed by the audience, and especially by the off-microphone mumbling within the crowd, that beneath the opposition to Bush's Social Security plan, anger is still smoldering about the mounting costs of the Iraq war, the $1.9 trillion in tax cuts that Bush aims to increase by making them permanent, and the president's 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit. Those concerns led to several outbursts while Santorum was talking yesterday. At one point, when he showed charts illustrating the causes of the nation's rising deficits and referred to discretionary spending on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan as one-time costs, audience members responded loudly with boos and catcalls.

[jwalsh07]

It was clear from some questions posed by the audience, and especially by the off-microphone mumbling within the crowd, that beneath the opposition to Bush's Social Security plan, anger is still smoldering about the mounting costs of the Iraq war, the $1.9 trillion in tax cuts that Bush aims to increase by making them permanent, and the president's 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Which is why president Kerry is currently touring Europe.

[NutCrackerBoy]

So Santorum encountered people angry that their socialist/pacifist view of the world keeps getting contradicted by the only grownups in politics.

[motor_racer]

I've been wondering why seniors, who have been assured that their social security won't change, seem so desparate to oppose a plan intended only to improve things for younger people.

Is it because this shines a light on the system, revealing it once and for all as a welfare plan, and they feel humiliated by having the fact made public?

[michaelt]

Santorum spoke at Widener University today. My wife attended. Her description of that event sounds exactly like this story.

The AARP is mobilizing their ancient minions to dog Santorum's tour, and probably every other Republican out there speaking on Social Security.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

This is something that was correctly labeled "custodial democracy" a number of years ago. The government takes care of the population in a custodial fashion - and the voting block of (seniors in particular) beneficiaries drive the bus. Ugh.

[patriciamary]

Remember who he was talking too, People from Pittsburgh.A true dumb blue city.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

This reminds me of the time back in the mid-nineties when a bunch of oldsters started ransacking a Republican headquarters, screaming about their SS and Medicare.

I'll bet the Clintons were laughing their asses off that day.

[daviddennis]

That's a good question.

I think they're worried that if private accounts are adopted and the fundemental injustice behind Social Security is understood by the man on the street, the political momentum behind the program will dimiinish, and their benefits will be in danger.

I understood the problems with Social Security about a decade ago, and my anger over it has not faded. If people currently working understand what it really does, I think they would be as angry about it as I am. That could be a huge problem for seniors currently dependent on it.

A government program meant to help has created an irreconcilable divide between generations, and most people don't even realize it.

D

[NorCalRepub]

the poor seniors get scared by AARP and the media...my Dad is 85 and life long Repub and doesn't fall for their crap but alot of them are very easily scared out of their wits, mainly the ones on a very fixed limited income

[stopem]

Nothing in that entire article mentioned the word seniors
so the title "rude senior alert" is untrue.
The article said older WORKERS.
The only reference to seniors was toward the end of the article were it said the seniors agreed with Santorum.

It appears that the seniors fears are that they will have their benefits cut, otherwise the ones I speak with are all for the private accts. of course I only speak with conservative seniors so that could be the reason ;)

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Actually, the parentheticals are mine and I was planning to delete them but the article posted before I could hit "edit." My apologies if it was misleading. However, the presentation was scheduled at 10AM on a workday (yes, it was President's Day, but most non-governmental workers--i.e., real people--were at work). My best guess is that many in the audience was either college students or retirees.

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

Seniors are one of the greediest and ignorant groups of people in this country right now.

[stopem]

No problem. I know it wasn't meant to mislead anyone, my comment was just an observation.

[1stFreedom]

I'd say many minds were closed....

Older folks simply can't process this info...

[B.O. Plenty]

.......seem so desparate to oppose a plan intended only to improve things for younger people.....because they are stubborn obstinate old bastards that are concerned only for their own welfare. That's why they are called slang names like geezers, codgers, crumudgeouns etc.

BTW....I will be 70 years old in two years....so I know old.....and I can recognize a geezer when I see one. I am not really old yet, but I can see it from here.....and I pray that the SS system is changed so that you whipper-snapers can at least break even if you decide to pack it in.

[Vigilanteman]

Is it because this shines a light on the system, revealing it once and for all as a welfare plan, and they feel humiliated by having the fact made public?

You nailed it!

[Ken H]

This reminds me of the time back in the mid-nineties when a bunch of oldsters started ransacking a Republican headquarters, screaming about their SS and Medicare.

Could you be thinking of Congressman Dan Rostenkowski from Chicago? I remember a clip (from the late 80's, I think) of some oldsters pounding on his car as it was pulling away. Funny as hell!

[Txsleuth]

I think there are two things that aren't true, but dems play them up like they are for their power over the people--

One is, that all veterans NEED DESPERATELY the veteran's benefits to survive--

Now I know that a lot do, but my husband is a Viet vet and he has a lot of friends and co-workers that are, and none of them have ever used anything but the GI Bill for college and we bought our first house with a VA loan---

My husband and I and others have planned for our retirement, we have health insurance and are doing fine. NOw, having said that, I am delighted that Bush has increased the veteran's benefits as much as he has, after the way Clinton treated the military, but I hate to see politicians get up and try to vote down a good bill by saying that we haven't done right by all of the vets---

Second, the misconseption that all seniors citizens are POOR, and need help---I dare say that having lived a modest middle class live with a stay at home mom and a veteran father that died way to young at the age of 58, my mother, never lacked for anything--because they managed THEIR own money well--

I may not be making sense, but I wrote and told AARP that they are hurting the very people they say they represent by not being honest with them about their SS benefits and trying to tell them that the RX drug benefits are bad, and don't use them.

[georgiarat]

Just as the liberals are able to get out young voters to protest against Bush the AARP is able to get out their liberal element to protest against private accounts. I am a member of AARP and regularly send letters protesting their stance on many issues. We need to protect current benefits (not enhance them) while transitioning the System to private accounts. I personally do not need SS but many people do and that included my parents who are now deceased.

Let's work together on this and not let them divide us by generational issues. Stick together as conservatives and moderates and let's transform this System!