[lbo-talk] Kerry/DLC vs. Social Security (the imperialism of theliberal)

[MICHAEL YATES]

John,  This is not a hostile question, but can you give us some evidence of Clinton's efforts on behalf of social security during the impeachment fight?  BTW, did you know that an AFL-CIO person (I think in Arkansas) once said that Clinton was the kind of person who would put his arm around your shoulder while he pissed down your pant leg. 

Michael Yates

  ----- Original Message ----- 

  From: John Lacny 

  To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org 

  Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 9:51 PM

  Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Kerry/DLC vs. Social Security (the imperialism of theliberal)

  Yoshie writes:

  > Democrats are better at big "structural reforms" like the

  > "Welfare Reform" than Republicans, since the latter have

  > a much less ability to manufacture consent among unions,

  > liberal NGOs, and the like -- and the next targets will be

  > Social Security and Medicare

  Meanwhile, back in the real world, Clinton fought efforts to privatize

  Social Security. Robin Blackburn in "Banking on Death" argues that Clinton

  fought as hard as he did because he wanted to shore up his base in the midst

  of the impeachment fight. But nevertheless, that was reality.

  Also in the real world, it is Bush who is talking about partial

  privatization schemes for Social Security, and it is Bush who is planning on

  turning Medicaid into a block-grant program. There's an easy explanation for

  why the Democrats are more quick to defend Social Security than they were

  AFDC: Social Security is universal rather than means-tested. In the case of

  Medicare and even Medicaid, there are also other people who get paid

  (hospitals, etc.), so that they're economically important programs with

  constituencies that include not only poor people but some elite elements as

  well, which makes it easier and more rewarding for the Democrats to defend

  them. The Republicans attack these programs regardless. That is the

  difference, and it means something.

  Yoshie is essentially making the "worse the better" argument here, and

  offering little in the way of evidence. Another way of putting it is to say

  that she is talking out of her ass.

  - - - - -

  John Lacny

  People of the US, unite and defeat the Bush regime and all its running dogs!

  ___________________________________

  http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk

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