"Raising the retirement age would inflict further hardship among a group of workers who are likely to face health and economic problems in their 60s." –Doug Hart, President, Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
"Of all the lies and confusion that still surround the Affordable Care Act, perhaps the greatest is that it is bad for seniors." - Dave Meinell, President, Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans
"My father died when I was three. Because of Social Security (survivors) benefits, my Mom, my younger sister and I survived." – Diane Fleming, DC Alliance Member
"We fear that Congress will balance the budget on the backs of the 98 percent, which is working Montanans and retired Montanans. We simply cannot afford these devastating cuts to vital services such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid," –John Forkan, President, Montana Alliance for Retired Americans
"Along with national parks and Social Security, Medicare is one of the best ideas we Americans have ever devised." -Tim Cunningham, New Mexico Alliance Member
"Seniors have earned and deserve their Social Security checks, and they shouldn't have to go to Congress every 10 years and beg for the program to be renewed." –James Parent, Alliance for Retired Americans Regional Board Member
"Today's retirees paid Medicare and Social Security taxes in every paycheck we ever earned. Now that we are retired, these programs help us to be able to stay healthy and pay our bills. They are the promise we make to people who worked hard all their lives, and we need to keep that promise for today’s workers." –Tony Fransetta, President, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
"Today's seniors want to lower the budget deficit. We do not want a large debt to be the legacy we leave to future generations, but we should not punish people who have paid Social Security taxes all their lives." –Jim Moore, President, North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans
"Social Security should remain what it has been for 77 years – a solid, reliable way that generations of workers have been able to retire with dignity, economic security, and peace of mind." –Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
"The fight for Social Security and Medicare is part of a larger fight for justice and fairness"—Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
"The health insurance reform helps not just seniors, but also middle-class families and young Americans, who are just starting to see the benefits. Don’t let Republicans take all that away." –Don Rowen, President Emeritus, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
"Honoring the promise of Social Security and Medicare should not be a partisan issue. Honoring the contributions that we make throughout our working years so that we may feed and clothe ourselves, keep a roof over our heads and those of our family, there is no reason for that to be a hotly contested partisan issue." –Edward Coyle, Executive Director, Alliance for Retired Americans
"We need to make sure that people who need Social Security to make ends meet will have it, and not fall victim to ill-informed and unnecessary cuts to these vital programs."
–Barbara J. Easterling, President, Alliance for Retired Americans
Seniors Celebrate 77th Birthday of Social Security, Shed Light on Romney-Ryan Plans to Cut It
August 14, 2012
Higher Retirement Age and Privatization Plans Threaten Future Birthdays
For Immediate Release
August 14, 2012
The following statement was issued today by Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans:
“On Tuesday, August 14, Social Security celebrates its 77th birthday. This week, retirees across the country celebrate the program that they can rely on for modest benefits when they need them most. Before Social Security, seniors worked until the day they died, because they could never afford to retire. The program is more important than ever with the decline of defined-benefit pensions, the plummeting value of 401k plans, and scanty savings.
“How ironic that just as seniors celebrate Social Security’s birthday, Mitt Romney has named in Paul Ryan a running mate who wants to decimate the program.
“Romney and Ryan aim to cut Social Security dramatically even though it is self-funded and has not added one dime to the deficit. Rep. Ryan has wanted to privatize it since at least 2005. The Ryan-Romney plan would raise the retirement age and turn Social Security over to Wall Street, where it would be subjected to the whims of the stock market.
“While the Romney-Ryan team is a match made in heaven for billionaires, big banks and insurance companies, it could spell disaster for most seniors. In response to these political threats, the Alliance’s campaign will include birthday celebrations in local communities, educational briefings at senior centers, and protests outside offices of lawmakers who have voted against the needs of local retirees.”
For more information, please call 202/637-5275 or visit: http://www.retiredamericans.org/issues/Lets_not_be_the_Last_Generation_to_Retire.
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Contact: David Blank (202) 637-5275 or dblank@retiredamericans.org
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