Former Senator Allan Simpson, who was the co-head of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility, often known as "Bowles-Simpson", is a crotchety old man who has great difficulty taking criticism, especially criticism of the "report" of his panel. I say "report" since it was never officially adopted. Here are some excerpts from a recent screed from Simpson reacting to a flyer, yes, a mere flyer:
Your little flyer entitled “Bowles! Simpson! Stop using the deficit as a phony excuse to gut our Social Security!” is one of the phoniest excuses for a “flyer” I have ever seen. You use the faces of young people, who are the ones who are going to get gutted while you continue to push out your blather and drivel. My suggestion to you — an honest one — read the damn report. The Moment of Truth — 67 pages, and then tell me if we’re not doing the right thing with Social Security. What a wretched group of seniors you must be to use the faces of the very people that we are trying to save, while the “greedy geezers” like you use them as a tool and a front for your nefarious bunch of crap. You must feel some sense of shame for shoveling out this bulls**t.
his attitude is appalling, but his sentiment is spot on.
ReplyDeleteHis report wasn't adopted because it required tough concessions from both politcal parties. It was common sense. However, in Washington, common sense, middle ground decisions don't win.
But attitude matters. Name-calling hardly adds to the debate; quite the contrary, in fact. Playing the "greedy geezer" game makes it apparent that he's out to keep his name in the news, not advance public policy.
ReplyDeleteI'd bet that Simpson hasn't read his report. But if he did read it I doubt that he wrote it.
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