Promise to defend Social Security

I pledge to myself:

Social Security belongs to the people who have worked hard all their lives and contributed to it. Social Security is a promise that must not be broken. If you pay in, then you earn the right to benefits for yourself, your spouse and your dependent children when you retire, experience a severe disability, or die.

We need to strengthen Social Security, not cut it. I oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including increasing the retirement age. I also oppose any effort to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part.

When Democrats come out in favor of "compromises," it becomes tempting for grassroots progressives to go along with those compromises. However, we simply cannot go along with the Democrats calling for "compromise" on Social Security.

The establishment elite has long wanted to cut Social Security. The only reason they have not done so to date is out of fear of a backlash from the American public, who is overwhelmingly opposed to any cuts. If we crack and decide it’s time to "compromise," then we will give the elites the grassroots cover they need in order to finally slash the program.

We can’t let that happen. To inoculate yourself from any future Democratic calls for "compromise," and to sign up to take future action to defend Social Security, sign this pledge.