"Social Security". It’s a phrase designed to inspire notions of stability and support—but of late, it has become a harbinger of uncertainty not only to those on the cusp of retirement, but for all current and future retirees. We’re aware that Republican leaders have been trying to privatize and cut Social Security for years—but this past summer, leading Democrats actually offered the Republicans sizable cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
If this doesn’t resonate, let’s consider those hardworking residents of our neighborhood who are having the proverbial rugs pulled from under their well-worn soles, waiting for checks that may never arrive…
We’ve been hitting the streets, collecting signatures, and talking with East Cambridge and Somerville residents about the issues that matter most to them. We met J* in Union Square—an articulate, soft-spoken local desirous of true representation in the state house and nationally—representation that supports the 99% first. He is still holding out hope that our broken economy and degraded society can be fixed.
J* is a local professor who has been working for over 20 years, and is being forced into early ‘retirement’. He is still years away from receiving Social Security. On his third round of chemotherapy, he drives a cab in an attempt to afford his mounting medical bills. He remarked, “I hope I can make it a few more years, and that there will still be a social security system to support me. Otherwise, I just don’t know what I’ll do.”
J* represents the thousands in our district who are on the brink of what should be their golden years after decades of service—struggling to survive for a system founded on broken promises.
Is social insecurity what we want for our seniors, ourselves, and our children? It’s not—and we need an independently-minded candidate supporting our retirees, near-retirees, and the industrious folks who have dedicated their lives to making the 26th Middlesex District vibrant. We need Mike Connolly for State Representative.
