Dean Baker

Voters have a right to know whether candidates to Congress will protect Social Security from cuts. If members or candidates refuse to sign a pledge against cuts, then it is reasonable to assume that they support cutting Social Security.

The deficit hawks have held up the threat of borrowing from China as an excuse to cut Social Security and Medicare. In reality, the budget deficit has almost nothing to do with borrowing from China.

President Obama’s deficit commission has been plotting in dark rooms to cut Social Security. Rather than have this issue be debated in the election, they intend to spring their scheme on Congress after the election.

The Washington Post really really wants to cut Social Security and can’t resist getting its view in almost every news story that touches on the issue.

The two main competing views of government are clearly on display in the foreclosure crisis. Those who believe that it is government’s responsibility to redistribute money to rich people favor modifications that use government money to keep underwater homeowners paying banks.

The Washington Post believes that it is the exclusive role of government to redistribute income upward to the rich. They hate it when government acts to benefit ordinary workers.

According to rumors in recent news reports, the deficit commission plans to cut Social Security benefits for middle-income beneficiaries.

George Will threw some ill-informed mud at President Obama’s economic agenda this morning. Fortunately for Will, his pieces run in the fact-free zone of the Washington Post.

The Washington Post thinks the Democrats would be better off running for re-election with a higher unemployment rate.

Alan Simpson is just the most visible of the deficit hawks who don’t have a clue about the issues they are discussing.