Happy Birthday Social Security

Today we are excited to celebrate the 77th birthday of Social Security -- a critical program that year after year has helped American women take care of themselves and their families. Social Security is one of America’s greatest promises; you pay into a system for your entire working life on the premise that one day it will pay you back. Women across the country have earned these benefits and depend on them throughout retirement. But, despite its successes for the 21,581,154 women across the country who rely on this program, extreme Republicans have their sights set on dismantling it. And these cuts would hurt women disproportionately -- they make up 56% of social security beneficiaries.

Now that GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has selected right-wing extremist Paul Ryan as his running mate, it’s even more important that we work hard to elect our Democratic women champions who will fight to defend this program. Ryan thinks Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme” and is determined to dismantle it after he’s done ending Medicare.

His election could prove to be devastating for Americans across the country -- millions of people will be affected in a real way in their everyday lives. Some members of the EMILY’s List community shared their personal stories with us -- Jeanne said she would “have to support my mother 100%, and we would be devastated by medical bills if the Ryan plan were in effect now.” Another supporter, Jennifer, knows how important it is for women to be able to provide for themselves. She comments, “My Great Aunt is on social security…She can’t afford Romney/Ryan’s policies. She paid in her entire working life and deserves the benefits she paid for. So do all our seniors. This isn’t an entitlement program. Seniors paid into this!”

This 2012 election is so critical. As the Republican War on Women and Families wages on, we need to do everything we can to elect the pro-choice Democratic women who will fight back against GOP extremism and advocate for women and families. 

So Happy Birthday Social Security, and let’s hope we’ll have many more to celebrate in the future.