this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2025
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Sanders Warns Musk's Call for $700 Billion in Cuts Is a 'Prelude' to Social Security Privatization (www.commondreams.org)
submitted 5 months ago by pelespirit@sh.itjust.works to c/politics@sh.itjust.works
17 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders warned late Monday that billionaire Elon Musk's new call for up to $700 billion in cuts to mandatory federal spending is an alarming step in the direction of Social Security privatization, a longstanding—and deeply unpopular—goal of right-wing politicians and corporate-funded think tanks.

Musk, who is spearheading a large-scale assault on federal agencies and workers, told Fox Business host Larry Kudlow on Monday that "waste and fraud" in "entitlement spending"—a category that includes Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—is "the big one to eliminate," estimating that up to $700 billion could be cut from such programs.

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[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 20 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Privatize Social Security? .... that sounds like an oxymoron - 'An oxymoron is a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or in a phrase that is a self-contradiction.'

Think about it .... let's pay a private company a fee to support people who need some social assistance ... basically, let's pay a rich guy to pay some of their money we give them to give to the poor and allow the rich guy to monetize and profit from this system as much as possible. What the hell do you think is going to happen?

The American model of using public tax resources ... let's pay rich people to distribute our taxes ... let's pay a middle man for no reason other than to profit to handle how public money should be spent

[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago

Privatized social security is pensions. What happened to pensions?

googles Oh. Oh no.

[–] blakenong@lemmings.world 6 points 5 months ago

They’re just going to close down social security. Anyone who wants it can buy it like insurance, but you better pay in now or by the time you’re old you won’t get anything. Oh, you’re old? Ahhh. Die I guess?

That’s the new America. Don’t get too excited Canada, you’re next. (Unfortunately)

[–] seeigel@feddit.org 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

It doesn't have to be a private company. Why don't workers privatize social security themselves and take the government and thus the influence of the billionaires out of the loop?

Create a cooperative that is owned by all working citizens who want to participate. There don't have to be profits.

[–] earphone843@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 months ago

Because humans suck and it won't be long before that system is abused by people who will gladly destroy others for personal gain.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 months ago

Except there is a huge boomer population, with gen x on the back burner, that is already depending on it. Definitely, that should be an added option.

My only worry would be that the greeds would somehow get a hold of that too. They don't like to see others content with having a source of income they can't control.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 18 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I don't normally do warnings like this, but once you lose a program like this, it's hard to get it back.

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 13 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I think there's a famous quote from some right-winger about how they need to oppose social programs because people like them, and once they see how good they can be it's really hard to repeal them. Can't find it right now, or I might have imagined it.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Relabel the program so even some people relying on it will be against it. Both sides of knowledge are powerful, education and ignorance.

[–] Kornblumenratte@feddit.org 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Like - Obamacare is evil, the Affordable Care Act good?

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yes, or even more broadly, "I don't want socialized medicine, keep government out of healthcare, and don't touch my Medicare."

[–] earphone843@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Rebranding vaccines would also work.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 1 points 5 months ago

It's an injection to strengthen your aura and balance your chakras.

Jesus, those are already a thing and the FDA has a warning out about them.

So they must work! :D

[–] ThanksObama@sh.itjust.works 9 points 5 months ago

[–] Dimmer@leminal.space 8 points 5 months ago

Greatest social experiment, or biggest open air labor camp, in 21st century is about to begin here in America.

[–] gibmiser@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Oh no, some ants are getting into the refrigerator! Let's solve this problem!

Republicans: WE MUST THROW AWAY THE REFRIGERATOR! NO REFRIGERATORS ALLOWED!

[–] alquicksilver@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

No, keep the refrigerator, just throw out all the food. After all, real Muricans order in with their copious amounts of money!