Third way democrat relative says progressives and liberals
are foolish not to put entitlement cuts on the table.
Here is his fb post:
"In the recent election, voters endorsed balance and compromise and sacrifice from all but the destitute. They want our government to stop posturing and function. If progressives decide that voters chose only the liberal view, they are as delusional as the tea bag adherents became after 2010 and I will tear up my Democratic party membership and become an independent."
Any help in a response?
He is in his late 60's, had a steady government job and was able to retire. I don't think he understands how impossible such a life is for younger generations. How betrayed younger generations feel at the idea of cuts after a lifetime of less secure job situations, no pensions, longer hours etc etc. The working class has already made sacrifices and continues to do so in this horrid economy accepting less and working harder. I say no discussion of further cuts to entitlements until the wealthy and corporations are made to pay their fair share, until defense spending has been cut and there is more oversight of defense contractors spending. Only after such sacrifices have been made by those who have sacrificed nothing can we discuss further cuts to entitlements.
I'm sure he wouldn't give up his ss or medicare. Why is he asking younger generations who are already looking at the very real possibility of never being able to retire to give up theirs?
Any help appreciated.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Like so many other words (like "liberal"
, people like Frank Luntz have instructed their clients that the word should never be spoken without a sneer on their face.
Whether it's easier to just adopt a new phrase or attempt to take the old one back, I don't know.
Truly he has been a life long democrat. My reaction is pretty much the same as yours. Personally insulted and disappointed in him but trying to find a better way to say that. 
Two actually. One from his first marriage and his adopted adult daughter. Also raised his grandchild when things went bad for her mother and father. She's now in college. Really it's confusing and a bit heartbreaking that he would make such a statement. I do agree with this article though:
"It's now clear that ordinary citizens will also be subjected to a full bore messaging campaign to persuade them that they should regard this counterproductive sacrifice as good for them," notes leading econoblogger Yves Smith at Naked Capitalism. She also notes, correctly, that "most Americans have a simple response to the notion of 'reforming' these popular programs: Cut military budgets and raise taxes on upper income groups".
I have my problems with a lot of the over the top hysterics at Naked Capitalism and their attacks on Elisabeth Warren but this is spot on.
And this (also from the article):
The idea of a bipartisan plan to grow the economy by balanced deficit reduction is understandably quite popular. It ranks right up there with the pizza-beer-and-ice-cream-heart-healthy-weight-loss-diet plan: The perfect solution for a fact-free world. But, as a recent letter from 350 economists points out, "[T]oo many in Washington are fixated on cutting public spending to balance the budget, not on how to put people back to work and get our economy going", but "there is no theory of economics that explains how we can deflate our way to recovery". To the contrary, as they pointed out, the opposite is true: "As Great Britain, Ireland, Spain and Greece have shown, inflicting austerity on a weak economy leads to deeper recession, rising unemployment and increasing misery."
No one in government is talking about how to put people back to work. I hear this baloney about a skills gap. It's fiction. There's no skills gap. There is a wage gap. Why take a job that will not allow one to survive? In my industry jobs are fast disappearing because of subsidies offered by other countries. Jobs are being bribed away from our shores. Who proposes to address this?
During the election I was encouraged to see the president talk about returning manufacturing to the US. But what about tech jobs? Or entertainment jobs? Or any once good paying job that is fast disappearing as companies seek to slash the cost of labor while enriching CEO's and stock holders?
Anyway....sorry for the rant. 
edited to add: Special thanks to Petrus for linking to that article
I should know. 
I'm just insulted at being called a tea bagger for not wanting further cuts to social programs. He and his wife (who again are life long democrats and I adore them) also claim these changes wouldn't effect me only my kids. First I don't think that's true and second why on earth would I be OK with that?
Do they not notice that none of their kids or their kids cousins is able to afford the same standard of living as they enjoy even though the families received more education and have two working parents? But we should bargain away what little is left of the social safety net? It's OK to burden our kids even more. Ugh. It's frustrating.
They also claim the commondreams article is meandering and unfocused. I'm about ready to give up this conversation but if you have any other suggestions please let me know.
You are so right about NAFTA.