Written by Carol Harvey   

On Thursday, Apr. 18, 2013, a 25-member Bay Area group attempted to contribute to the push to save social security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits by delivering to Nancy Pelosi's Federal Building staff a FedEx-ed copy of a local printed on-line petition bearing 2,926 signatures urging the House Democratic Leader to sign the Grayson-Takano letter. These California signers joined 35 Congresspeople and more than 200,000 on-line petition co-signers.

The April 9, 2013 Grayson-Takano letter warned Obama that congressional signatories would vote against any and every cut to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security – “including raising the retirement age or cutting the cost of living adjustments that our constituents earned and need.”

Pelosi had famously claimed to be 'agnostic' to the chained CPI Obama's budget proposed. The chained CPI is a gimmicky financial calculus that slashes long-term benefits by artificially lowering inflation rates, progressively dropping annual cost of living adjustments [COLA], thus plunging poor people, elders, and communities of color into a worsening world of hurt.

Press Associate, Matt Wall, 'Threll' and 'Amanda' from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and BoldProgressives.org – dubbed, “The Energizer Bunny Of The Left” by Politico.com -- organized this San Francisco group through e-mails and a New-York generated conference call.

These PCCC leaders outlined a two-pronged strategy to help Pelosi get religion:

1.Let people in her San Francisco office know Pelosi's constituents want her signature on the Grayson-Takano letter.

2.Generate Press so Pelosi will see from Washington that she's being pressured to sign this letter, and people not present will get news of the event.

“The group would meet outside the building at 11:40 a.m., proceed to Pelosi's office for a pre-arranged appointment, and deliver the petition to Director, Dan Bernault. “I called to confirm at around 10:15 a.m.,” said volunteer point person, Blair Moser, “An intern said they had no record of the appointment.” Bernault was out of town until April 29.”

New York confirmed a Go-Ahead.

On arrival, Security delayed and blocked petition delivery, limiting visits to pairs – impossible for people on lunch hours.

Pelosi's Deputy Director, Carmela Glendening, descended to the street for ten minutes indicating testily she had a noon call coming in. She took the petition.

“Explained Blair Moser, “We want to make certain that Representative Pelosi will absolutely commit to not allowing any cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.”

“You're preaching to the choir,” said Glendening. Leader Pelosi is your biggest supporter.”

“We are HER biggest supporters,” insisted a woman. “We are her constituents. She needs to respond to what we want.”

The group stood firm. “ Saying you're in favor of it, believe in it, and think it's a wonderful program isn't good enough. We want a commitment that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will not be cut.

“We want her to sign the Grayson-Takano letter indicating chained CPI is a fraud. No reputable economist says Social Security contributes to the deficit.”

“Representative Pelosi supports Social Security.” Glendening did broken record, giving no ground that Pelosi would sign the letter.

“What does she mean by 'agnostic?'

“That she hasn't decided,” Glendening said.

They extracted a promise from Glendening that the group would meet at Pelosi's office --- date and time to be determined.

PCCC organizers will easily organize the committed group members into a second foray onto Pelosi territory.

Wheelchair-bound political analyst, Denise D'Anne, stated, “They're using Social Security as a scapegoat to cover up the fact that most of the Federal budget goes to the military. They are constantly attacking social security and Medicare saying that's the problem when it's not. There is a surplus of 2.4 trillion dollars in Social Security,” which adds not one penny to the deficit.

Social Security is an insurance program into which people pay a FICA tax of around 6.2% each paycheck. D'Anne is “pissed.” She paid into it, wants it back, and does not want to be told, 'Sorry. The Trust Fund money has all been spent on war.'

The Payroll tax cap is $110,000. Moser believes everyone --- poor, middle class, or wealthy --- should pay the same 7% payroll income tax. This would easily tighten safety net strands for which we all bear equal responsibility. No cap. No Problem.

Petition signer, Nick Renault projected disproportionate cuts for single women with children --- income loss of about $20 a week, $80 a month, $1,200 a year.

Renault noted that the future health and welfare of women, especially women and communities of color, already hit by medical disparities and poverty, are most threatened by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cuts.

Said Bryndis Tobin, whose blind husband and disabled housemate both depend on social security disability, “That's a huge difference in your budget.” Wells Fargo is foreclosing their home because of the trio's low social security income.

A frail-appearing elder, designating herself an anonymous VUP --– Very Unimportant Person – reported she couldn't collect what she paid into social security as a government teacher because,“Reagan called it double-dipping.” Her eligibility for $78-worth of Medicare benefits, “Was my salvation.” Without her pension insurance and that $78, which covered a recent $11,000 office visit, ”How many times would I be able to see my doctor for lymphoma?”