Why IS Kent Conrad so obsessed with gutting Social Security?

[Ken Burch]

I could understand that from somebody in the "Put Grandma Out On The Ice Floe" wing of the OTHER party, but why would any DEMOCRAT be this fixated with destroying the greatest achievement of any Democratic president?

It's not like North Dakota gains anything from Wall Street getting to starve retirees to death.

Did an old lady punch him out when he tried to help her across the street as a Scout, or something?

[valerief]

1. He must be getting $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for his villainous position. nt

[DFLforever]

2. He's always been a deficit hawk

Since he appeared in the Senate in the late 80's.

I don't think he's going to get means testing of SS.
As you said, it would be a death knell for the program. Plus many government pension plans are now pegged to it, such as MN PERA for state, county, and municipal employees.

[Ken Burch]

7. Why do "deficit hawks" always assume that the deficit has to mainly be erased through cuts?

Is there a reason they don't get it that we wouldn't have a deficit if only the wealthy were taxed at the 1950 rate?

[DFLforever]

16. He was a major opponent of Bush tax cuts

(and Iraq War)on fiscal grounds. Both he and Dorgan of ND were ND's Tax Commissioner before they became US senators. Imo, that's the basis of their wide popularity in that Republican state.

[Bitwit1234]

21. You know something...I was thinking the same. He's got the

health industry money now he is working on raking in that wall street dough to get Social Security privatized so it can be pumped into wall street.

[Edweird]

3. Maybe he's not really a Democrat.

[Ken Burch]

5. Perhaps he also assumes he'll never get old.

n/t.

[dflprincess]

22. He knows he'll get old

but he has a real nice pension waiting for him.... and if he leaves Congress, he won't have to wait to get old to collect it.

[RC]

4. Can you spell "DINO"

Give him time and he will be caught cheating just like a true republican.
I don't trust anything he says anymore. I'm sure he's gotta be packing his golden parachute, 'cause he ain't getting another term in this state.

[Ken Burch]

9. Any chance what Conrad's doing will revive that old "Farmer-Labor" spirit in response

North Dakota had a left-populist tradition in earlier times. You'd think things like this might bring it back.

[David Zephyr]

6. Private "Retirement Accounts" means automatic commissions to Wall Street.

Which is why Wall Street and the Bushies were pushing it so.

Think of all the millions of dollars that would be "traded" everyday if even a portion of anyone's Social Security was allowed to be put into the market.

That's the entire impetus for this shit: automatic commissions to the brokerage firms.

Just like the insurance cartel getting 38 million new forced customers.

Same shit.

[havocmom]

10. Thank you for pointing that out

Why is it so many DUers miss that point? Wall Street/corporations (think ENRON) have already taken all they can from American middle class/working class investors who invested by choice. Now they need infusions of $$$ so their paid pols push for mandatory investment in The Street/Corporations.

Why people don't see that is beyond me.

[David Zephyr]

17. Beats the hell out of me.

And you really underscore this with this simple, but salient point: "Wall Street/corporations think ENRON) have already taken all they can from American middle class/working class investors who invested by choice. Now they need infusions of $$$ so their paid pols push for mandatory investment in The Street/Corporations"

It's all Ponzi. They "need infusions".

It's friggin' evil luring people to "invest" (gamble) a secure monthy check when they are old for a "chance" to play in a completly manipulated market.

Fox "News" does the drum beat to scare investors...after those at the top have put their "puts" on market decline and then afterwards Fox "News" will pump up the investor with "good news" but only after the options have been placed. They win up or down. They create the panic and the exuberance and all timed for their investments.

My home is paid for. My vehicle is paid for. As I told my daughter, if you can't afford to buy it, then don't. If you have to finance it, then buy something cheaper.

This "Private Retirement Accounts" crap is still alive and brewing.

[Ozymanithrax]

8. Perhaps talking like a conservative Tea Bagger is what will get him elected...

in North Dakota.

[Ken Burch]

11. But isn't North Dakota a state with an unusually elderly population?

You'd think this wouldn't fly with senior voters.

[Ozymanithrax]

15. Not according to their age Demographics...

http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/North%20Dakota/">North Dakota Demographics & Household Information

[Ken Burch]

20. I stand corrected.

n/t.

[ezmerelda39]

12. Social Security

Social Security is the last bastion of security for the American Dream. Wall Street has confiscated just about everything else, jobs, homes, retirement funds, college educations..and now they are coming after the only means left for the majority of seniors in this country. They want to 'play' with Social Security, shuffle it around behind closed doors. But, first we have to deal with the 'fear' factor that will be pounded into us. Social Security is going to be bust and there won't be any money for the next generation, they want us to believe. ( I don't imagine they have discussed 'scuffling' around and 'playing' with the funds already in Social Security to ensure that there will always be enough money.) They certainly have a way of coming up with trillions for themselves, even when they fail as they now know that we the people will always be there to bail them out. And, we can see where our taxpayer dollars have managed to make their way into private bank accounts for their 'golden years.' Even though workers pay into Social Security their whole careers it is still considered 'Entitlement' and entitlement is a very bad word, sounds like every senior in on 'the dole.' To Wall Street and the Banks-to-Big-to-Fail Social Security must drive them crazy, knowing that all that beautiful money could be put to better use in some cockeyed scheme to make even more money for them. We just witnessed thousands of retirement funds go up in smoke. So much for investing for retirement. But, this will be the next big issue and you can bet your boots that both sides of the aisle will be pushing very, very hard to eliminate the program altogether. Mr. Conrad is one of the first in a long line of Pied Pipers to be coming to a theater near you soon. Be very, very cautious of your esteemed Representatives and Senators, whether Democrat or Republican, doesn't seem to make much difference anymore, who begin yelling the S.S. program is Socialism which in their opinion leads to other isms that will lead to who knows what...

[HCE SuiGeneris]

19. I bet there is something worthwhile in this pile of words...

but it hurts my eyes too much to be bothered to weed through it.

[checks-n-balances]

25. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

That our senior citizens really aren't worth reading about?

That's a subtle way of discounting the Democratic message. Where'd you get your training?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

26. No. You are mistaken in your conclusion.

I am unable to read through multiple sentences without paragraph breaks -- such as in the comment above -- without it causing ME the onset of a headache.

[checks-n-balances]

27. Sorry, so you literally meant that.

Unfortunately, there are so many people on DU who are bit-by-bit tearing down any kind of progressive message that I took it you were trying to do the same thing. My apologies for jumping the gun and making an assumption about that.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

28. Not to worry.

Is is often difficult to ascertain exactly what is meant without the facial expressions or vocal nuances common in direct conversations.

Thank you for your considerate reply. :hi:

[dflprincess]

23. What they will never admit to is the system is going bust

sooner than it should because the trust fund was raided to cover needless wars and bank bailouts and filled with a bunch of worthless IOUs.

And there were those who mocked Al Gore for saying the SS trust fund needed to be in a "lock box".

[Nite Owl]

24. Wish I could rec your post

it's right on. We need to have a war tax to pay their deficits off then anytime we send our troops into combat it means an automatic tax. We would quickly become a peaceful nation. The right wingers obviously don't care enough for the troops but if their pockets got lighter they would soon become peace lovers.

[UTUSN]

13. Who is he and why do I dislike him so much?!1 n/t

[Ken Burch]

14. He's the senator from North Dakota that ISN'T named Byron Dorgan

And you dislike him so much because he's a tightfisted right-wing jerk.

Any other questions?

[lib2DaBone]

18. Something is up with Kent Conrad.. he is bought and paid for by some Corporation...

I saw him on C-SPIN last week. He was pushing HARD to destroy SS. He said things like, "We have no other choice, we must cut social security", we must cut back all welfare and social programs.

He has no problem with MILITARY spending, though.

I think someone has promised him a new missile base in North Dakota or something... he is DINO.

He is very dangerous... I hope Mr. Obama can reel him in before he guts whats left of this country.