Tell Harry Reid and the Democratic senators on the Super Committee: Absolutely no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits

As the clock counts down to the deadline for the Super Committee to pass a deficit reduction deal, the Democrats have followed the tragic but all too common pattern of responding to Republican intransigence by caving on core issues.

The Democrats seem to think the Republicans really want a compromise on deficit reduction.

But the Republicans aren't primarily concerned about the deficit at all. What they want is to give tax cuts to the rich and pay for it by dismantling the social safety net.

Yet in a display of shocking naivety, the Democrats have tried to meet the Republicans halfway by agreeing to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

We can't let Senate Democrats sell out our social safety net.

Tell Harry Reid and the Democratic senators on the Super Committee: Absolutely no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits.

If even one Democrat on the Super Committee votes with the Republicans, it would be a huge blow to the 99 percent. And we have cause for concern.

Two of the Democratic senators on the Super Committee, Max Baucus and John Kerry, have a history of cutting bad deals. In the name of "bipartisanship," Kerry crippled climate change legislation and Max Baucus killed the public option and was the Democratic senator most responsible for the Bush tax cuts.

In the face of massive unemployment, rampant foreclosures, a sputtering economy and widespread anger that the country is systematically prioritizing the needs of the ultra-rich and wealthy corporations over the needs of the other 99% of us, it should be easy for Democrats to reject a plan that makes it harder and more expensive for seniors and the less fortunate to get medical care or pay for their basic living expenses.

This is especially true when these brutal cuts are proposed in only to free up money for lavish tax cuts for the most comfortable and economically secure people in the country.

Even absent the thousands in the streets decrying the inequality in our society, the rank injustice of taking away from the have-nots to give even more to the haves is palpable.

But Democrats on the Super Committee seem to think it's more important to appear reasonable than it is to fight for economic justice. Style is more important than substance. And not coincidentally, the interests and attitudes of the social, political and economic elites are given much greater weight than the needs of the overwhelming majority of Americans.

They need a wake up call.

With less than a week left, everyone needs to speak out and tell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democrats on the Super Committee not to cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits.

To be clear, we support some reforms to these programs, but not cuts in benefits. It's also worth remembering that the debate happening in the Super Committee is not about reasonable reforms. Rather it's a deliberate strategy to shred our social safety net couched in the language of reform.

And the Democrats appear to be falling for it hook, line and sinker.

According to recent reports, Democrats on the Super Committee have floated a proposal that would not only make deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, it would also pave the way for the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to be made permanent.¹

It's far preferable for the Democrats to stand strong, refuse to cut a terrible deal and allow the automatic cuts triggered by the failure of the Super Committee to take effect.

Tell Harry Reid and the Democratic senators on the Super Committee: Absolutely no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits.

1. "Deficit Panel Seeks to Defer Details on Raising Taxes," Robert Pear, New York Times, Nov. 13, 2011. 2. "Read the Dems' 'Super Committee' Proposal," RJ Eskow," Huffington Post, Oct. 28, 2011

Sign the petition

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The petition reads:

"Draw a line in the sand. Don't agree to any cuts to Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits."