The Biggest Progressive Victory of 2014 So Far Was Against Obama, Not With Him

Since we are only seven weeks into 2014 I feel confident calling President Obama's decision to remove the chained-CPI Social Security benefit cut from his budget the biggest victory for progressives so far this year.

Since we are only seven weeks into 2014 I feel confident calling President Obama's decision to remove the chained-CPI Social Security benefit cut from his budget the biggest victory for progressives so far this year.

The change is bigger than simply the removal of a line from a budget. It symbolizes a victory over the entitlement-cutting "grand bargain" forces because it is an acknowledgement by Obama his hope is basically dead. This is a fight that has been going on for years against some of the best-funded organizations in Washington. A policy which would have hurt millions of Americans and made our retirement crisis worse appears to have been stopped - for now.

It is a sad comment about the current state of politics that the biggest progressive victory so far this year wasn't a victory with the Democratic President, but a victory against him. While Obama did technically remove chained-CPI, he was the one who put it there in the first place. He is the one who has been consistently pushing for a grand bargain for years. He was the one who forced the Democratic party to temporarily back such a destructive and deeply unpopular position.

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

© 2023 FireDogLake