Robert Neeld
Democrat for Congress
The Issues
I will strongly oppose any attempts by Republicans
to ruin Social Security.
Not Cuts.
No Privatization.
No Means Testing.
No Benefit Reductions.
I am especially wary of Federal Reserve Chairman
Alan Greenspan’s ploy to intimidate Congress with the false
case that, without cuts in Social Security, soaring budget deficits
could lead to a debilitating rise in interest rates that would,
as a result, threaten the economy in coming years.
Of course, the Bush Administration and this GOP-controlled
Congress must be held accountable to the American people for causing
a massive $610 billion budget deficit and for squandering the
$700 billion budget surplus. To turn on our senior citizens and
propose cuts in their Social Security benefits in order to deal
with Bush’s and the GOP’s fiscal irresponsibility
is dead wrong.
Social Security protects people from the scourge
of poverty in their later years. It also helps permanently-disabled
people make ends meet when they are prevented by debilitating
illness or injury from earning a regular paycheck.
I believe that the philosophical roots of this
great program go back to the Preamble of our Constitution: “We
the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect
Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide
for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity …”
None of these basic freedoms can be enjoyed if and when people
are forced to live in poverty – especially after they’ve
paid hard-earned money into the program.
The government made a contract with the American
people back in the 1930s which states: when you pay a portion
of your earnings into an account for your later years, government-guaranteed
money will be available to you when you retire or when you otherwise
need it.
In the spirit of Claude Pepper, that great Floridian
and Congressman, I will fight to preserve, protect and maintain
Social Security benefits. I will hold government to its word regarding
this unalterable contract with the people.
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