Pro-Privatization Social Security experts on TV were paid by the right

[Liberty Belle]

Pro-privatization Social Security experts on TV are paid for by the right

(Posted 2/25 at MediaMatters.org)

A Media Matters for America analysis of guests who have appeared on cable or network news since the November 2, 2004, election to discuss Social Security failed to find one independent expert with a graduate degree in economics who supported allowing workers to divert Social Security payroll taxes into private accounts.

Media Matters found eight guests who held graduate degrees in economics; three supported privatizing Social Security, and five opposed it. While all five opponents of privatization are supported by independent universities and organizations, all three privatization proponents are funded by right-wing organizations and foundations.

(The latest paid pundits are:

David John, interviewed on CNN, has ties to the Heritage Foundation;

William W. Beach, featured on NBC and Fox, is a director of a Heritage Foundation organization;

Stephen Moore has ties to several right-wing groups and is currently president of the Free Enterprise Fund, a Republican lobbying group! Moore has been on CNN, NBC, MSNBC.)

Full story:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200502240008

[Sandpiper]

1. Ok now, all together...

1

2

3

WHAT A SURPRISE!

[cthrumatrix]

16. Soc Sec managers testified they were FORCED to say "untruths"

and share how soc sec was in a crisis.

They testfied in front of congress...no rethugs attended

[applegrove]

2. No surprise. Now if they would just put PEN TO PAPER & show us

the SS plan we could then debate it. Rather than having the debate before we know what the assumptions are?

[Up2Late]

11. I think most of us here knew , if someone actually started looking...

...into these people, this would be the case.

Now, I keep hearing everyone say that know one actually knows what the "Plan"is, but I heard an interview with a guy from the CATO Institute a few weeks ago on NPR's Fresh Air, And HE seemed to know what the plan was, If you listen to the full hour, the Cato guy, Michael Tanner, is first, then the 2nd half of the show is a sort of rebuttal by Economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.

Check it out:
<http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=02-17-2005>
Social Security: Private Savings
Michael Tanner is director of Health and Welfare Studies at the libertarian think tank the Cato Institute. He launched the Project on Social Security Choice at the institute, which first looked at the possibility of turning the system into a private savings program. He supports Bush's Social Security plan.:crazy:

Social Security: Dangerous Math
Economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. A professor of economics and international affairs at Princeton University, Paul Krugman opposes Bush's Social Security plan, and has written about it in his columns. He's also the author of Fuzzy Math, on the Bush tax cut.

[Erika]

3. Ah, the RW extremists are pimps for the GOP

Duh. They depend on the intellectually challenged and greedy to vote GOP.

[Kimber Scott]

4. I really miss my CNN. I used to be a junkie. No use watching anymore,

once I realized it was all BS, I couldn't make myself watch it. The truth is the goose that lays the golden eggs and the MSM has cooked it.

[Robert Oak]

5. yet they can mesmerize the masses

it's so disgusting...

why are Americans so fucking dumb?

[Erika]

6. The masses aren't watching

They have the innocence to believe their government will assure SS for them. They don't realize that Bushco stole their taxes to support war-mongering while giving a tax break to the rich. They are out in the cold and need to be told so. The poor and the needy can damn well die under Bushco.

[The Zanti Regent]

17. Millions believe Jesus is coming next week

Millions of sheeple don't care. They are brainwashed by Jesus TV. They really are dumb enough to beleive that Jesus is at the Alpha Centauri Howard Johnson's eating fried clams with Michael Landon. As soon as Jesus finishes his Peppermint Stick Ice Cream, He'll climb into his Rolls Royce SUV to head for Earth and trigger the rapture.

[LosinIt]

18. mmmm, Fried Clams

she says in her best Homer voice...

[The Zanti Regent]

20. and don't foget the Howard Johnson's ice cream...

...oh I loved that chocolate marshmallow Howard Johnson's ice cream...

[GetTheRightVote]

7. Why am I not surprised by it all, repub criminals at work again

NeoCons suck

:kick:

[Toucano]

8. Does "has ties to" = "is paid by"?

I'm just asking.

If it does, I think it's more clear to just say plainly "X is paid by..."

[Liberty Belle]

9. Some were clearly paid, and maybe all.

One is listed as a fellow for a right-wing think tank. I wasn't sure if fellows are paid or not.

[Toucano]

10. Thanks for the clarification.

I may be a little thick-headed.:)

[AuntiBush]

12. I'm in SHOCK! Kidding...

You'd have to be a complete Freepin-Idiot, or from the Planet Faux not to know that one!

[Up2Late]

13. I Shocked! Shocked I tell you!

The NEXT thing they're going to tell us is, all those enthusiastic crowds out on the SS Campaign trail are NOT just random AVERAGE Americans, who never seem to disagree with *, AND that those QUESTIONS they ask * are, some how, SCRIPTED!:crazy:

WELL, I Never!:silly:

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. They found this kind of conflict of interest on the panel that voted

for those drugs the other day. Article was in the New York Times. At least I'm glad that people realize that this conflicts of interest are WRONG! These people are not independent, not honest brokers, not objective.

[lonestarnot]

15. These same group chanting? n/t

[DrZeeLit]

19. Mon Dieu! Quel surprise! and Hush my puppies! (duh) n/t