The Democratic Party Is Bad Enough, But Even The Least Horrible Republican Is Much More Toxic

We Need To Always Push Back On Lesser-Of-Two-Evils Politics

Sen. John Curtis (R-UT)

Utah Republican John Curtis was elected last year to replace Mitt Romney in the Senate. He had 3 opponents and with Trump’s endorsement MAGA crackpot Trent Staggs won the GOP convention nomination. Curtis, though, won the  206,094 (48.7%) to 138,143 (32.7%), besting Staggs in every country but 2 extremist bastions in the southwest, Washington and Iron counties. Staggs had been endorsed by the whole Mar-a-Lago crowd: Rick Grenell, Kash Patel, Kari Lake, Tommy Tuberville, Mark Levin, Charlie Kirk… Since winning, Curtis has, for a Republican, been relatively independent-minded in some small ways. Yesterday on Meet the Press though, he indicated that the Republican Party has been lying about Social Security.

Kristen Welker noted that “DOGE, these attempts by President Trump and Elon Musk to cut the government. Republican lawmakers, as you know, are facing backlash at town halls across the country. We saw that play out in your home state just this week. I want to show our viewers a little bit, get your reaction on the other side.”

[BEGIN TAPE]

REP. MIKE KENNEDY:

I’m trying to answer the question, but when it comes to Medicaid – [OVERTALK]

CROWD: But you’re lying to us!

CROWD: Grow a backbone!

CROWD: Tell the truth!

KENNEDY: I’m very invested in making sure that program works.

REP. MIKE KENNEDY:

– I’m very invested in making sure that program works.

REP. CELESTE MALOY:

So, what are we doing to make sure DOGE doesn’t do anything illegal? We’re holding the purse strings.

CROWD:

No, you’re not!

[END TAPE]

“Let me ask you,” said Welker, “because Elon Musk ruffled some feathers when he referred to Social Security, something that he's also eyeing as a part of his DOGE efforts, as a Ponzi scheme. Senator, do you see Social Security as a Ponzi scheme?

Curtis: “Well, I wouldn't use those words, but we're not being honest either with people, and that's why you'll actually see me in a couple of months, introduce a change to Social Security. We're not being honest when we look people in the eye and say we're not going to touch it. If we don't touch it, it touches itself. You know that, right? That's not being honest with the American people. And I think that's one of the things that makes them not trust us when we say something that they just know is not true… Let let let me look them all in the eyes symbolically right now: we don't need to impact the people that are in Social Security, but if we don't have a conversation about my kids, our— our 20-year-olds, our 30-year-olds, that's where the problem is. And so, we can't be afraid of this conversation simply because people think we're going to take it away from them. We all need to say, ‘Look, those in retirement and those near retirement, we're not going to touch it. You're safe.’ But let's have that conversation, because my kids don't think they're going to get it. So why can't we have a conversation with them about moving some of the variables around? And the sooner we do it, the less dramatic it has to be. If we don't do it, we have worse decisions thrust upon us.”

Curtis’ comments are the latest version of the same tired Republican game— pretending to “save” Social Security by undermining its core guarantee. The reality is that Social Security is not in crisis, and it is certainly not a “Ponzi scheme.” It is a lifeline, one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in American history, funded by the very workers who benefit from it. The so-called “reforms” Curtis and his allies push always amount to the same thing: cutting benefits, raising the retirement age, or introducing privatization schemes that would funnel money into Wall Street while leaving retirees at the mercy of the market.

The truth is, Social Security doesn’t need cuts— it needs expansion. The cap on taxable earnings should be lifted so that billionaires like Musk pay the same percentage into the system as working people. The retirement age should be lowered, not raised, because Americans deserve to enjoy their later years in security, not work until they drop. And instead of gutting Medicaid and other social safety net programs, we should be fighting for Medicare for All, universal childcare, and a robust system of social protections that ensure no one in this country is left behind.

The anger at Republican town halls isn’t just about Social Security— it’s about a fundamental divide in this country. The GOP and their billionaire backers want to dismantle every program that benefits working people, all while handing out tax breaks to the ultra-rich. The path forward is clear: progressives must go on offense. No more defensive crouch. No more letting Republicans frame the debate. Social Security is ours, and we should be fighting to expand it, not “reform” it into oblivion. The future of this country depends on it.

Curtis may be a tiny bit uncomfortable with Trumpism but he’s still a Republican and he still wants to privatize Social Security and Medicare. He’s more like a Paul Ryan Republican— and he’s as eager to slash and wreck Social Security as Elon Musk or anyone in the Trump cabinet. Here’s Ryan sounding kind of blunt… but don’t be fooled; he’s still one of them, not one of us.

Bernie, on the other hand, has a more American way of looking at this. Writing of the week he and AOC just spent on the road in Nevada, Colorado and Arizona, he noted that “The American people do not want Trumpism. They do not want oligarchy. They do not want authoritarianism. They are tired of massive income and wealth inequality and the greed of the billionaire class. They are tired of a corrupt political system that allows billionaires in both parties to buy elections and leaves working people behind. All across this country Americans are prepared to take on the forces that control our economic and political lives. They are prepared to fight back. They want a government and an economy that works for all, not just the 1%. And they understand that the Democratic Party isn’t going to save us. This fight is up to all of us at the grassroots level. What history has always told us is that real change only occurs when ordinary people stand up against oppression and injustice. That is the history of the founding of our nation when brave men and women took on the mighty British empire. It is the history of the abolitionist movement, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the environmental movement and the gay rights movement. Yes, the oligarchs ARE enormously powerful. They have endless amounts of money. They control our economy. They own much of the media. They have enormous influence over our political system. But, from the bottom of my heart, I am convinced that they can be beaten. But it won’t be easy.” 

Our job in the days, weeks and months ahead is to energize and organize. 

We need to hold meetings and rallies in all 50 states, and then do it again and again and again. And when those rallies are over, we need to organize the people who attend to mobilize in their communities and fight back in every way we can. 

We need progressives to run for office at all levels. I am talking about school boards, city councils, state legislatures and the races that are not in the news but make a tremendous difference in local communities. I’m talking about races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. 

But it’s not just running for office. At a time when many of our people feel lonely and isolated, we need to build community and bring people together. In the deepest sense we need to care for each other and give each other strength.

This is a pivotal moment in American history. What we do now will not only impact our lives, but the lives of our kids and future generations. In terms of climate change, it will determine the well-being of the entire planet.

Now is not the time for despair. It’s not the time to hide under the covers. It’s the time to organize and fight back.