Today is the 73rd anniversary of this solemn promise made to our seniors on August 14, 1935:
Presidential Statement of FDR signing THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
Today a hope of many years' standing is in large part fulfilled. The civilization of the past hundred years, with its startling industrial changes, has tended more and more to make life insecure. Young people have come to wonder what would be their lot when they came to old age. The man with a job has wondered how long the job would last.
This social security measure gives at least some protection to thirty millions of our citizens who will reap direct benefits through unemployment compensation, through old-age pensions and through increased services for the protection of children and the prevention of ill health.
That small measure of security in an increasingly insecure world has become all the more important over time as workers like the 62,000 that have lost jobs in my district since Robin Hayes took office have seen pensions busted and jobs outsourced for the cynical profit margins of millionaires. Even my multi-millionaire opponent, Robin Hayes, who’s seen thousands put out of work by his family’s own Cannon Mills, has repeatedly stated the importance to protect Social Security from privatization – that is, before President Bush asked him to change his mind.
In 2001, Hayes voted in favor of President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security.
Hayes helped the U.S. House of Representatives take the first step towards a privatized Social Security plan by voting against a bill that would have stopped the White House from implementing the Social Security privatization plan being developed by President Bush's sham Social Security Commission. [HR 2590, Vote #273, 7/25/01; CQ Bill Watch]
Earlier this year, we celebrated the anniversary of the actualization of Social Security’s promise - the first check delivered to Ms. Ida May Fuller on January 31, 1940 – which also happens to be my birthday.
Today, the anniversary of the promise of Social Security happens to be the birthday of Robin Hayes. He’s 63 today. Unlike most of us, when Robin Hayes is 64 - or 65, he won’t have to worry about his financial security in the coming years. But for the next few months he’s still in DC, he does need to worry about ours.
Please call Robin Hayes today at 704-795-2000 to wish him a happy birthday, and remind him to keep America’s promise to our seniors and NOT his promise to President Bush.
Social security must be protected from privatization.