I don’t write many diaries and the ones I have written are usually not opinion-based, but more about Cystic Fibrosis or some news item. I am however an active trusted user who reads a lot of what is written on DK.
I have been reading a lot of diaries lately about the current debt and deficit debates going on in DC and DK. I agree with a lot of it but not all of it. Maybe it is not meaningful for me to add my voice or opinion to that debate with so many better writers here at DK, but I just felt the need to write.
I have already written Senator Durbin (one of my senators) about my extreme disappointment in the Gang of Six proposal. I thanked him for the recent Capital Tour one of his staffers gave my family and 2 weeks ago when we visited DC, but told him that if Social Security is cut back at all, he and President Obama would never have my vote again. And I do mean that.
I have never been happier (politically) than when MSNBC announced that Barak Obama was the 44th President. I still remember how my wife and I got tears in our eyes. (We are liberal, Chicagoans, mid-40’s, straight, white, married w/ 2 young daughters that have Cystic Fibrosis). I thought, finally after 8 years of horrible, one-sided leadership, our opinion would be taken into account and actually fought for by a President.
Many things could be done to fix the country by this truly great man. Gay/lesbian rights would be moved forward. Women’s rights would be protected. The economy would improve. The wealthy and corporations would cease to be given tax breaks that only pad their pockets and help no one else. Finally Health Care would be a priority. Maybe we could pack the Supreme Court with liberals to offset the right-wing ideologues that were in control.
Initially, it all seemed wonderful. Lilly Ledbetter was passed! A liberal, Latina woman was added to the Supreme Court. A stimulus package was passed (agreed not big enough but a good start). Many other things were done that I liked.
Slowly other issues were addressed. DADT was being dismantled (again, the pace and rhetoric could have been more to my liking). DOMA was being fought against. Another liberal woman was added to the SC.
I haven’t mentioned Iraq, Afghanistan, or Guantanamo Bay. The progress has been slow but we are pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan. I wish GB was shut down. I am mature enough to realize I can’t have everything I want.
And then there was Health Care. I would have liked Pres Obama to fight harder for it, but he did get something passed. Now none of us may like it, but how many had tried before him and gotten nothing.
Caution -Tangent ahead:
I am almost finished with Robert Caro’s Master of the Senate book on Lyndon B Johnson (a very fascinating book, BTW). LBJ was a total jerk who only cared about power (at least through his senate career). He only wanted to be President someday. His mentor (Dick Russell) was an avowed white supremacist from Georgia. He would only help underprivileged people if it somehow would help his ambitions. He knew that he needed to pass a Civil Rights bill in 1957 if he was to have any chance to be the Democratic nominee in 1960. He had to show that he was not just a Southern Senator, but a national figure.
The current bill being considered was a very sweeping bill that covered many areas and had full military enforcement. There was no way the Southern Democrats would not filibuster it and kill it has they had done for 80 years since Reconstruction. LBJ knew this. But he also knew that they felt wrong (at some deep level) that Blacks were denied voting rights (in violation of the Constitution – that they loved deeply). He got the bill amended to be just about voting rights (and to allow state jury trials of those who violated it). The South didn’t filibuster it (well Strom Thurmond did against the wishes of the Southern Democrats), and it eventually became law.
I tell this over simplified version because LBJ knew that once you get a bill into a law, it is easier to change it over time. But ‘breaking the virginity’ was the hardest part.
That was true with the initial Social Security law that covered very few people and it was true with Civil Rights. I believe it will be true with Health Care. So, while disappointed with the Health Care bill, I was willing to accept that Pres Obama had done something historic that would be made better over time.
But then early this year, I began to be worried. The tax cuts for the rich were extended with Obama’s blessing. And in fact, a lowering of the SS payroll tax was put in place. This hurts the long-term stability of SS as less money is coming in. To get rid of that tax break will hurt poor and middle-class more than the wealthy and will be hard to let expire. I predict it will not be allowed to expire and continue to hurt SS.
Then this debt ceiling and deficit debate came around. SS has nothing to do with this debate, yet Obama is making it part of the debate. He is suggesting gutting programs that help the poor and sick. He is suggesting putting more seniors in poverty or closer to it.
These are my parents and in-laws. They need every dime they get from SS. To cut $1000-2000 a year from their income could be devastating especially if they will then owe more in Medicare (or co-pays). Who will cover the difference? My brothers, sisters and my family. That will put give us less and with about $10,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses a year, we can’t afford that either.
So, seniors and sick are hurt. The poor and lower-middle class are hurt. The rest of the middle class are dragged lower helping those below them. Only the wealthy are not hurt and in fact they may not even help the deficit with additional taxes.
I hope beyond hope that Lawrence O’Donnell is correct. He said the other night that Obama is just talking about this plan. He hasn’t signed anything yet. He is giving the Republicans all they could ask for knowing that the Tea Party will not allow them to take it. Then he can implement what he wants and say that he tried to work with the Republicans and they turned down a great offer. Gawd, I hope O’Donnell is right.
If he is wrong and President Obama really wants to be the President that bucked his own party to reduce the deficit more than anyone else ever did, then I will be truly more disappointed than I have ever been in my life about anything. I will not vote for anyone in 2012. I will not vote for any senator or representative who voted for this abomination.
I know President Obama will most likely be re-elected without my vote, but he will also be re-elected without my volunteering or money (what little I was excited to give in 2008). He will also be re-elected without my support. He will have lost a true disciple. And he will have ruined my belief that there are some politicians who truly care about the less fortunate in America! I will continue to fight for liberal causes, but I will do so knowing that I am fighting a losing battle against the wealthy/corporate ruling class.
I am not there yet; nothing has been passed or signed. Maybe O’Donnell is right (I have to hope that he is). We will all know in less than 1 month. I am dreading the next month.
I know only a few DK users will probably have read this far, and fewer still will even Recommend it. That is ok with me. It felt good to put my hopes and fears down in writing.
Thank you!