BOTV #100
I’ll be hosting Bonfire of the Vanities #100…
I probably should do something special for the 100th… send ideas. 
MoveOn Watch: Sometimes the Truth Slips Out
You can see the winning video here.
Sometimes the truth manages to slip out despite the left’s best attempts to hide it. The video starts that there is no social security crisis. But then suggests a solution of removing the $90k cap (gee, didn’t President Bush mention this one too). Why suggest a solution to a non-problem? Perhaps, maybe, because there is one?
Lastly, and this has been mentioned elsewhere, gambling on a index fund isn’t such a problem as people make it out to be. You won’t be able to invest in stocks, just index funds, and let’s be honest if the Dow tanks (and by tank I mean go to 0) I think we’re all screwed long before we hit retirement. That would mean essentially the biggest businesses just outright don’t exist anymore with the attending fallout that would lead to (i.e. employment = 100%). Retirement won’t be my chief concern then. Index funds are low fee funds and even after 9/11 and index fund still produces profit over the long term. Most people plan their retirements with 401(k)s, and people hold them more secure by far than Social Security.
If MoveOn has to deceive about basic facts then it is obvious they aren’t contributing to the discussion and aren’t interested in the problem. Why listen to what a deceiver has to say?
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Dear MoveOn member,
In his nationally-televised prime time press conference, George W. Bush
showed his cards — embracing massive cuts in Social Security benefits
as part and parcel of Social Security privatization. Today, we’re
announcing the winner of Bush in 30 Years — a grassroots contest to
find the best Macromedia Flash animation or game that explains the
Republicans’ Social Security scam.
Lots of brilliant Flash animators worked long and hard, and they created
hilarious, bold entries. More than 140,000 MoveOn members voted to
decide the ten finalists. Our panel of celebrity judges — actor John
Cusack, comedian and radio host Al Franken, columnist Arianna
Huffington, filmmaker Richard Linklater, and animator Aaron McGruder —
chose a winner.
And the winner is…”If it ain’t broke, don’t privatize it!” by Andy
Menconi of San Francisco, California. Both the judges and MoveOn members
picked “If it ain’t broke” as their favorite — a popular and critical
smash hit!
See the winning entry in our Bush in 30 Years contest at:
[snip link]
With subtle humor and clean visuals, “If it ain’t broke” makes things
clear: Bush’s private accounts will do nothing to strengthen Social
Security. Instead, they’ll cut benefits and add trillions in new debt,
all to gamble on Wall Street with your retirement savings.
With your help, this animation could inspire tens of thousands of new
people to join the fight to protect Social Security. Help get your
friends, family, and co-workers involved by passing along this winning
animation today.
Watch the winner, then pass it along by clicking here:
[snip link]
Later this week, we’ll advertise the winner on The New York Times
website and MySpace.com, a popular youth website, reaching millions of
people who are making up their minds about Social Security
privatization. You can help run those ads by donating at the link above.
The president has been campaigning hard to privatize Social Security
since his State of the Union address in January. That’s nearly four
months of non-stop, election-style campaigning. Yet everywhere the
president goes, the poll numbers show that the public widely disapproves
of his proposal to cut benefits and privatize Social Security. This
looks like a win in the works — but we need to stay vigilant.
Thanks for all that you do.
Sincerely,
–Laura, Noah, Eli, Tom and the MoveOn PAC Team
Monday, May 9th, 2005
P.S. Please contribute to help pay for the web ads at:
[snip link]
PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
