Well, according to this Business Insider, we should thank the Third Way -- for queuing up this softball, that even a Warren-Wantabee could have smashed out of the park.
This Third Way think-tank exec, made the rookie mistake of taking on Social Security, with Pete Peterson fervor ... in a WSJ Editorial, no less.
There's A Brewing Democratic Civil War, And Elizabeth Warren Is Leading The Charge
by Brett LoGiurato, businessinsider.com -- Dec. 9, 2013
[...]
Last Tuesday, the president and senior vice president of Third Way [Jim Kessler], a centrist think tank, published an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal lambasting Warren's plan to expand Social Security as "Exhibit A" of "populist political and economic fantasy."
Warren's response? On Wednesday, she wrote a suggestive letter to bank CEOs "encouraging" them to voluntarily disclose their donations to think tanks.
"When you use corporate resources to support think tanks, there are only two possible outcomes from public disclosure -- those contributions do not influence the work of the think tanks or those contributions do influence the think tanks' research and conclusions," Warren wrote.
"Either way, shareholders have a right to know how corporate resources are spent, and, even more importantly, policymakers and the public should be aware of your contributions and evaluate the work of the think tanks accordingly."
[...]
Thanks Third Way! You keep lobbing in those Peterson Softballs -- we got a deep enough line-up to keep hitting them out of the park!
Slugger Warren was up to bat again today. AND the good Senator is NOT letting up on her avid defense of Social Security.
Imagine that!
Elizabeth Warren Fires Back at Centrist Dems on Social Security
by Erika Eichelberger, motherjones.com -- Dec. 9, 2013
[...]
"If we made no changes at all to Social Security," Warren said, "it would continue to make payments at the current level for about 20 years," meaning there is no immediate crisis facing the program, which assists some 58 million Americans. "Modest adjustments," she added, "will make certain… we could increase benefits for those who need it most."
One way to increase monthly benefits to seniors, Warren said, would be to broaden the program's funding pool. She did not elaborate on how, but one proposal that has been floated in recent years would raise the cap on the level of earnings subject to the Social Security tax. In 2013, for example, Americans paid a Social Security tax of 6.2 percent on wages up to $113,700. Earnings over that amount were not subject to the tax. Several members of Congress have introduced legislation that would lift or eliminate this cap, including Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Reps. Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), Pete DeFazio (D-Ore.), and Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). Harkin's bill would increase Social Security payments by $70 a month for low- and middle-income beneficiaries.
Another way to increase the program's funding base, tax experts say, would be to close loopholes that drain money from Social Security. Each year, for instance, employers misclassify millions of workers as independent contractors instead of employees, according to the IRS. That means employers don't pay their portion of the Social Security tax, and the $2.8 trillion Social Security trust fund is juked out of billions of dollars in revenue annually.
[...]
And Elizabeth Warren is not alone, on the "
Protecting Social Security" front. That's quite the back-up bench she has there, willing to stand up and be heard, when it comes protecting the American People's self-interest (ie their 'Retirement Insurance' security) from those who would "drain it way."
Taking aim at the coming "Austerity in-place of Security" battle are:
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), Pete DeFazio (D-Ore.), and Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.).
Way to Go, Progressive Populist Team! Way to stop the
Third Way in their Think-Tank tracks.
And sincere thanks to Senator Warren! Your bold and decisive leadership, is making a real difference in these National Dialog Playoffs. ... In more ways than many of us can even imagine, right about now.
"Speaking Truth to Stupid" on a daily basis, is one very admirable quality to have on our side, in this all important race for "the hearts and minds of ordinary Americans," wrt to getting the Benefits We Already Earned.
Bravo Elizabeth Warren. Keep at it. Someone needs to take this Austerity War on Americans, public. In a very clear and populous way -- as you seem very adept at doing.
AND it seems the Third Way execs, have decided to nominate you our "Progressive Team Captain." All in favor, say Aye!