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Presented By: Eleanor Strickland Sue Michalson
MYTH DEMOCRATS ARE
THE PARTY OF “BIG SPENDERS”
INCREASES IN THE NATIONAL DEBT
The RED and BLUE bars tell the story. in the last 35 years, Republicans have run up huge debts while Democrats have held debt steady or reduced it.
FACT
WE CAN CUT THE DEFICIT BY
REDUCING SPENDING FOR SOCIAL
PROGRAMS
MYTH
BUSH’S TAX CUTS ACCOUNT FOR
48% OF THE DEFICIT.FACT
BUSH’S TAX
CUTS
BENEFITED
EVERYONE
MYTH
< 1 % 2.3% 7.5%
THE TAX CUT BENEFITED THE WEALTHY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR
$120.000
$20 $740
FACT
(MORE)
25%
25%
25%
28%
15%
TAX CUTS THE ECONOMY
“The main reason for our growing economy is that we cut taxes and left more money in
the hands of families and workers and small business owners.” — President Bush,
November 4, 2006
BOOSTMYTH
WHAT GROWING ECONOMY?FACT
Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
2001-2007 ECONOMY WAS WEAKER THAN AVERAGEONLY CORPORATE PROFITS GREW RAPIDLY!
MYTH
OBAMA WILL RAISE YOUR TAXES
FACT
Source: NY Daily Times Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner Interview
Obama wants to allow the tax cuts on the wealthy to expire. This would only affect people whose annual incomes are greater than $250,000. The rates would return to the 2000 rate of 39% - 40%.
Obama wants to extend the tax cut for the 95%of individuals with annual incomes less than$250,000
(MORE)
OBAMA IS NOT PROPOSING TO “RAISE” TAXES
There are many legitimate deductions and the wealthy know how to structure their estates to avoid the estate tax!
In 2008, the estate tax rate was 45%. However, the averageestate paid only 17%.
Surviving spouses are not taxed.
Source: irs.gov (MORE)
THE “DEATH TAX” APPLIES ONLY TO THE WEALTHIEST 2%
FACT
ESTATE TAX repealed
BUSH
OBAMA
CLINTON
$675,000
$3,500,000
$1,000,000
55%
45%
55%
ENVIRONMENT
GLOBAL WARMING IS A
HOAX…
MYTH
Source: Environmental Defense Fund
Measurements include:
Surface Temperature Atmospheric Temperature Sea Level Ice Cores Tree Rings Coral Reefs
FACTINDEPENDENT SCIENTISTS CONSISTENTLY PAINT A PICTUREOF A RAPIDLY WARMING WORLD
(MORE)
Source: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
The planet has just come through: the warmest decade the warmest 12 months the warmest 6 months, and the warmest 3 months on recordSeveral nations have already set their all-time temperature records in 2010:
111 degrees – Russia117 degrees - Chad118 degrees – Niger121 degrees – Sudan126 degrees – Saudi Arabia126 degrees – Iraq127 degrees - Kuwait130 degrees - Pakistan
GLOBAL
WARMING IS
NOT CAUSED BY
CO2 EMISSIONS
MYTH
1.THE SUN2.EARTH’S REFLECTIVITY3.GREENHOUSE GAS (primarily
CO2)The changes both in the SUN and the planet’s EARTH’S REFLECTIVITY point to a cooling period … not a warming one.
What is left? CO2!Source: Environmental Defense Fund
FACT THREE FACTORS AFFECT THE EARTH’S TEMPERATURE:
(MORE)
TEMPERATURE
CO2
Source: Environmental Defense Fund
400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
THOUSANDs OF YEARS AGO
For 800,000 years, CO2 has ranged from 180 to 300 ppm and the temperature trend has followed closely behind.
Today, CO2 is around 390 ppm and the temperature is rising accordingly.
TEMPERATURE FOLLOWS CO2
Current Temperature is 58.1
GLOBAL WARMING DOESN’T EFFECT
ME!
MYTH
1. Glaciers melt 2. Ocean levels rise 3. Land areas become uninhabitable 4. Large populations have to relocate 5. Territorial wars develop 6. Oceans become more acidic 7. Sea creatures die 8. Weather patterns change (more storms, droughts, fires, floods) 9. Food production is disrupted10. Diseases spread
Source: 350.org
FACT
THE FLORIDA SOLAR ENERGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM IS “DEAD IN THE WATER”
MYTH
On August 13, The Florida Energy and ClimateCommission agreed to use $13 million in stimulusfunds to pay for solar electric panels.
The Florida Solar Energy Incentive Program was originally intended to pay up to $20,000 per home. However, the program received nofunds from the legislature after 2008.
The backlog is $52.7 million (more than 15,000 households)
The $13 million will be paid to those submitting their applicationsbefore June 2009. (MORE)
Source: Florida Energy and Climate Commission
FACT$13 MILLION IS NOW AVAILABLE TO REIMBURSEHOMEOWNERS FOR SOLAR PANELS
The Public Service Commission requires the five investor-owned utilities in Florida to offer renewable solar hot water and photovoltaic programs through the Energy Conservation Cost Recovery Clause.
SECO is not investor-owned but Progress Energy is.
… AND JUST ANNOUNCED
Progress Energy will receive more than $1 million per year and will offer its customers:
• $550 rebate for a solar hot water heater• $2.00 per watt for a new photo- voltaic system (limit $20,000).
HEALTHCARE
1790PUBLIC
SCHOOLS? SOCIALISM
1808PUBLIC WATER?
SOCIALISM
1842PUBLIC
HIGHWAYS?SOCIALISM
1905PUBLICPARKS?
SOCIALISM
2009PUBLIC
HEALTH? SOCIALISM
UNDER HEALTH CARE REFORM, MEDICAL CARE
WILL BE RATIONED
MYTH
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ALREADY RATION HEALTH CARE – AND FOR A PROFIT
(MORE)
Consumer protections in the new legislation would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on a pre-existing condition or revoking coverage when someone gets really sick.
FACT
Profits for the 10 largest insurance companies increased 250 % from 2000 to 2009, 10 times faster than inflation.
In 2009, the
5 largest health insurance companies
took in combined profits of $12.2 billion,
up 56 % over
2008.
Source: AOL Daily Finance
UNDER HEALTH CARE REFORM,
MEDICARE BENEFITS WILL BE
CUT
MYTH
CUTS APPLY ONLY TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAMS …
CUTS WILL NOT AFFECT 75% OF RECIPIENTS
Medicare Advantage is more akin to private insurance because it's administered by a private company, yet subsidized by the government.
That subsidy costs the government an additional 14% per person compared to a person with traditional Medicare.
The Medicare Advantage users will receive the exact same care as those in traditional Medicare.
Source: Kaiser Health Service.
FACT
UNDER HEALTH
CARE REFORM, WE
WON’T SEE
CHANGE UNTIL
2014
MYTH
1. Children can remain on their parents’ health plans until the
age of 26.
2. Children can no longer be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions.
These are but a few of the changes we'll see before the complete health reform goes into effect in 2014.
Source: New York Times (MORE)
FACT
4. Small businesses can qualify for tax credits to offset the cost of health premiums.5. Insurance companies cannot set lifetime limits on health care coverage or cancel a policy once someone gets sick.
3. Adults denied coverage for pre-existing conditions will have access to high-risk insurance programs provided by the government.
(MORE)Source: New York Times
6. The Medicare doughnut hole gradually phases out:
2010: Persons falling into doughnut hole will receive a $250 rebate
2011: Persons falling into doughnut hole will receive a $500 rebate, a 7% reduction on generic drugs and a 50% reduction on brand-name drugs.
2013: Drug prices will be reduced
2020: The doughnut hole is GONE!
The doughnut hole occurs whena Medicare Part D patient has spent $2830 a year for prescriptions.Medicare does not cover any otherprescriptions until the total reaches $4550.Source: New York Times
IMMIGRATION
CAN
CAN YOU
GET ME
SOME
HUDDLED
MASSES
YEARNING
TO BUST
THEIR
BUTTS FOR
$5 AN
HOUR?
ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS
DON’T PAY TAXES
MYTH
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COME TO THE
U.S. FOR WELFARE
MYTH
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
ABUSE THE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM
MYTH
ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS
ARE MORE LIKELY
TO COMMIT
CRIMES
MYTH
Employers of undocumented workers deduct all the federal income and other taxes fromall employees -- legal andillegal. 84% pay income tax and 0% file a return
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PAY THE SAME TAXES AS YOU AND I PAY
Source: National Immigration Forum
FACT
THE U.S. MAKES A PROFIT ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS …
This is because so many illegal immigrants pay taxes, Social Security and Medicare … without being able to retrieve any of that money or benefits.
(MORE)
(average $80,000 in a lifetime)
FACT
Source: National Immigration Forum
Studies show that only 2% of Mexican immigrants have ever used welfare or social security and only 3% have ever used food stamps.
Illegal immigrants pay >$50 billion every year in Social Security … none of which they can claim.
U.S. law prohibits those here illegally from obtaining welfare, food stamps or any other type of public assistance.
Source: National Immigration Forum
Source: National Immigration Forum
UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO ANY TAXPAYER- PROVIDED HEALTH CARE EXCEPTEMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT.
FACT
A recent RAND Corp. study states: "The foreign born (especially undocumented) use disproportionately fewer medical services and contribute less to health care costs in relation to their population share."
Numerous reputable studies have shown that regardless of their legal status, immigrants are not the source of substantial crime.
Undocumented individuals have a very high incentive not to break the law.
Source: National Immigration Forum, Bureau of Justice Statistics
FACT IN LARGEST IMMIGRANT AREAS, CRIME RATE IS LOWEST IN 4 DECADES
(MORE)
IMMIGRANTS SHOULD APPLY TO
LEGALLY ENTER THE U.S.
MYTH
"If you are a Mexican wanting to get a legal visa to work in a low-skilled job in the U.S., you would be dead before you get your visa.''
THE DEMAND FOR LOW-SKILLED WORKERS IN THE U.S. LABOR MARKET IS 500,000 A YEAR THE CURRENT U.S. IMMIGRATION QUOTA IS 5,000 FOR THAT CATEGORY
Source: National Immigration Forum
FACT
A FENCE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND MEXICO WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM
MYTH
(The fence we are building now on our Mexican border is only one of two fences in the world separating states: the other one is the Israeli-Palestine wall.)
Sources: www.politifact.com, Urban Institute
FACT
(MORE)
First: “For every 15-foot fence there is a 16-footladder or a shovel to dig underneath.”Second: 40% of those undocumentedin the U.S. entered legally and overstayed their visasThird: Only 57% of all illegal immigrants arrive from Mexico.
“They say they’re building a wall because too many of us enter illegally and won’t learn their language or assimilate into their culture.”
PLYMOUTH ROCK
INDIANS
PILGRAMS
RELIGION
SAME SEX MARRIAGE
MARRIAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
ABOUTONE MAN AND
ONE WOMAN
MYTH
From the 5th to the 14th centuries, the Roman Catholic Church conducted ceremonies to bless same-sex unions which were almost identical to those for heterosexual unions.
FACT
Source: The Marriage of Likeness: Same-Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe, John Boswell
Through the Ming dynasty in China, both females and males bound themselves in contracts with persons of the same gender.During the Roman Empire, same sex marriages were common … even Emperor Nero himself married a man.
CIVIL UNIONS AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS ARE THE SAME AS MARRIAGE
MYTH
Source: lesbianlife.about.com
DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS AND CIVIL UNIONS DO NOT PROVIDE THE BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS OF MARRIAGE
(MORE)
FACT
THEY:1. Can cost thousands of dollars in legal fees whereas a simple marriage license usually costs less than $100.
2. Can be challenged in court. In the case of wills, legal spouses always have more legal power than any other family member.
3. Are not universally recognized. Marriage laws are universal. Physicians, judges, etc. may not recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships.
The Federal Government provides at least 1,049 benefits and protections for married couples not provided to domestic partners or persons in civil unions: survivor benefits through Social Security sick leave to care for ailing partner tax breaks veterans benefits insurance breaks family discounts family insurance through an employer visiting a spouse in the hospital making medical decisions
Source: General Accounting Office
SOCIAL SECURITY
MEDICARE
SOCIAL SECURITY IS GOING BROKE
MYTH
It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next 25 years with no changes whatsoever.
After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits --and again, that's withoutany changes.
Source: National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
BY 2023, SOCIAL SECURITY WILL HAVE A SURPLUS OFFACT $4.3
TRILLION
SOCIAL SECURITY ADDS TO THE
DEFICIT
MYTH
NOT ONE PENNY OF THE DEFICIT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO
SOCIAL SECURITYBy law, Social Security funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way.
Source: National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
FACT
IOUTHE SOCIAL
SECURITY TRUST FUND HAS BEEN RAIDED AND IS FULL OF “IOU”S
MYTH
President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market (which would have been disastrous) but luckily, he failed.
(MORE)Source: National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ISN’T FULL OF IOUs …
IT’S FULL OF U.S.
TREASURY BONDS
FACT
HOWEVER, THOSE TREASURY BONDSARE PART OF THE $10.7 TRILLION DEBT
(MORE)
40%of the U.S. debt is
money borrowed from Social Security … that is our money!
WE OWESocial Security
The newly appointed deficit commission is charged with finding a way to CUT THE DEBT! And guess where the members of that committee plan to go for cuts … SOCIAL SECURITY!
DEFICIT COMMISSION
(MORE)
Co-chair, Alan Simpson, expressed his view ofSocial Security when he sent an e-mail to theNational Older Women's League ExecutiveDirector comparing Social Security to "a milk cow with 310 million tits!"
James Roosevelt, Jr. defended Social Security: “Social Security should be out of the reach of the Budget Deficit Commission because it is not part of the Federal budget. Since Social Security has not contributed in any way to the deficit, it makes no sense to consider it as part of the solution.”
Source: Nationional Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; politify.com
TEA PARTY
THE TEA PARTY IS A
“GRASSROOTS” ORGANIZATION
MYTH
THE TEA PARTY IS AN
“ASTROTURF” ORGANIZATION
FACT
(MORE)
It was founded and funded primarily by the Koch brothers of Koch Industries … with support from Exxon/Mobile, Massey Energy and others.
(MORE)Source: Alternet.com
The money is funneled through conservative think tanks such as Dick Armey’s Freedom Works and Americans for Prosperity.
THE TEA PARTY IS A PROFESSIONALLY COORDINATED CORPORATE POLITICAL ACTION TOOL.
Koch Industries is a privately-owned $100 billion Conglomerate with business activities in:
• petroleum• chemicals• energy• Asphalt• natural gas• plastics• fibers• minerals• fertilizers• ranching• pulp and paper• finance and commodities trading.
(MORE)Source: Alternet.com
In 2008, the Koch foundations gave money to 34 political and policy organizations, some of which they founded and several they direct:
•
The founder was active in the Birch Society and both brothers (Charles and David) now managing the business are Libertarians.
They oppose taxes and government regulation. Much less oversight of industry and fewer environmental regulations mean more profits for Koch Industries.
It is not suprising that Koch Industries:• Advocated for the coal, oil and tobacco industries and • Campaigned against climate change and health care reform.
Source: Alternet.com
The Justice Department charged that Koch Industries was responsible for more than 300 oil spills, which released 300 million gallons of oil into lakes and rivers and, later, leveled a 97-count indictment against Koch for covering up the discharge of 91 tons of the carcinogen, benzine.
The University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute named Koch Industries as one of the TOP 10 Air Polluters in the U.S.
A Greenpeace report found that Koch has been a “kingpin of climate science denial,” and “vastly outdid” ExxonMobil in giving money to organizations fighting legislation related to climate change.
A Senate committee minority report found that a trust financed by Charles and David Koch “may have played a decisive role in four ofsix federal races (running attack advertising).”
(MORE)Source: Alternet.com
For more information, see the August 30, 2010 issue of the New Yorker.
The founder of the Center for Public Integrity, Charles Lewis, told the New Yorker:
“The Kochs are on a whole different level. There’s no one else who has spent this much money.
The sheer dimension of it is what sets them apart. They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation.
I’ve been in Washington since Watergate, and I’ve never seen anything like it. They are the Standard Oil of our times.”
Source: Alternet.com
TEA PARTY PARTICIPATION IS
SPONTANEOUS
MYTH
FACT THE TEA PARTY IS PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED
In reality, the Tea Party is managed bythe very conservative PR firm,King Media Group, whose slogan is“the art of persuasion … the science of media”.
It is no accident that all the bannersand slogans look alike or that the participants all say the same thing.
A leaked memo from details exactly howMembers should conduct themselves in town hall meetingsand rallies … they are mere puppets of Koch and friends.
Source: Alternet.com
MYTH WELFARE IS
ONLY FOR THE
POOR
Source: thefreemanonline.org (MORE)
THE WEALTHY ALSO RECEIVE WELFAREWALL STREET: Bailouts
BANKS: Cheap money through TARP to Goldman Sacks, Bank of America, Citigroup and other heavy hitters.
AIRLINES: Small Business Administration(SBA) awarded contracts to the 13 largest government contractors rather than to “small” businesses.
AGRI-BUSINESS : Agricultural price supports (72%) are distributed to the top farmers, not the family farmer. Congress rejected a cap of $250,000 per recipient.
AUTO: Takeover of General Motors
HEALTHCARE: Pharmaceutical companies are subsidized for developing drugs for profit.
OIL: Oil companies receive subsidies and tax breaks for drilling.
FACT
“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it,And eventually they will believe it.” Adolf Hitler
DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR! google.com factcheck.org snopes.com wikipedia.org truthorfiction.com
“A house divided against itself
cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln