June 7^th

George Will’s column today purports to instruct us in socialism and in Senator Bernie Sander’s views about it. Will tells us that Senator Sanders is not an independent because he caucuses with the Democrats. Furthermore Will claims that everybody is now a socialist so the label “socialist” has no meaning; he says,  “If he (Sanders) is a socialist who isn’t?” He goes on to tell us that Republicans are socialists because they do not object to “regulation of commercial activities, government provision of a ‘social safety net,’ and redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation and entitlement programs” consequently the term is meaningless because everyone is a socialist. This will be interesting news to many Republican presidential candidates who have been campaigning to decrease social security payments and various other benefits, farm subsidies and oil subsidies excepted of course.

Will points out that socialist countries like Greece are in very bad shape; he doesn’t mention Denmark which was recently singled out as the happiest country surveyed, nor does he want to consider Sweden, Norway, Germany and many other countries whose social programs make ours look like they were designed by Ebenezer Scrooge. We have no mandatory maternity leave; it seems we are too busy condemning all abortions to bother caring for expectant mothers or providing healthcare for children once they are born. Will and his right wing buddies are big on protecting embryos; protecting children not so much!

He doesn’t bother to tell us that of these socialist welfare expenditures, about half are for Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. Will claims that Sanders, by proposing to increase Social Security payments and them increase payroll taxes to pay for that, is transferring wealth to the “most affluent age cohort.” The over-67-year-olds are the most affluent age cohort? That’s absurd, George. The average family income for this group is about 35 thousand dollars a year and that includes their Social Security payments. For 64 percent of people in this group, their SS payments are half or more of their income. The bright spot is that income for the elderly is the fastest growing of any age cohort. Perhaps that’s what George meant; if he weren’t so eager to condemn all government help programs he might get his facts straight. Still, anyone, even George Will, who maintains that the over-67-year-olds are the most affluent age group must be on some sort of silly sauce! Given that medical costs are skyrocketing and that medical costs are highest for the elderly, even with Medicare, this increased income is of limited help.

He says, “Hectoring Hilary Clinton about her…reticence on public policy issues is unfair, she will tell us what her convictions are when she decides, or is told, what her convictions are.” My goodness George, have you any evidence, any evidence at all, that Hillary Clinton’s opinions are bought and paid for? That would be wonderful political ammunition if you did, but typical right wing nastiness if you don’t. I would have thought a crack like that was beneath you, but I was wrong; pity!