Working people did not cause the nation’s debt, but the president’s deficit commission is trying to force workers to pay for it.

The commission’s co-chairs have proposed an increase in the social security retirement age, cuts in social security benefits, increases in Medicare co-pays, and many other changes that would destroy our best programs won through decades of struggle.

Join a nationwide call-in day on Tuesday, November 30, 2010, to let Congress know that the people say “no” to any cuts in Medicare or Social Security.

Please call your Congressperson and Senators at (202) 224-3121.

Tell them:

“No cuts in Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits. No raising of the age of retirement.” You could also add that one of the best ways to rein in costs is to pass single payer health care, HR 676.

The Washington State Labor Council (WSLC), the AFL-CIO state affiliate, led the way last August when their convention noted that efforts to cut social security and Medicare are “…supported by the Peter G. Peterson’s Foundation, funded by billionaire Peterson’s Wall Street fortune, as well as by traditional corporate opponents of social insurance such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers….” The WSLC’s resolution explains that “there is no short-term funding issue with Social Security, as there is a surplus of $2.5 trillion in the Social Security Trust Funds, and full benefits are projected to be payable until 2037 if nothing is changed…” The WSLC’s resolution states: “…we strongly oppose any efforts to diminish lifeline programs including, but not limited to, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, as these programs are more important than ever because of our damaged economy…” The Washington State Labor Council also advocates the lifting of the cap on the Social Security tax so that those who earn above $106,000 will pay the tax on all of their earnings just like those who earn less than that. The full resolution is here: http://www.wslc.org/00resolu.htm#05 Make your calls on Tuesday, November 30. Let’s create a groundswell of protest to block this enormous effort to make workers pay for the problems caused by the wealthy corporations.