• As to Social Security, the Republicans have called for an 8 per cent rise in benefits to be paid from “surplus” funds, the Democrats (White House faction) have called for 10 per cent to be paid for through higher taxes, and the Democrat (Robert the Kennedy) has called for—pshaw, it’s ridiculous —an increase of one hundred zillion quadrihyper-billion! Yes! It’s true! Social Security is going up up up! Congress, meanwhile, won’t pass the GOP bill lest the elections reflect the gratitude of the voters. And it won’t pass the Democratic bill because it will cost money and Who Wants That before elections? And Robert the Kennedy picks up the chips. He’s the only one who proposed a meaningful increase, and if no one took action that’s because we haven’t crowned him King yet. A jillion for your thoughts.
• Although the four-way gubernatorial contest in New York has copped most of the headlines, it is far from being the whole story on the Conservative Party. Everyone but the Conservatives has painted the gubernatorial fight as the sole effort of the year: if Conservative Paul Adams beats Liberal F. D. Roosevelt Jr., the Conservative Party takes Line C from the Liberal Party. Beyond that, the Conservatives report great organizational growth. They are endorsing more GOP conservatives than ever (more than fifty this year) and even a couple of conservative upstate Al Smith Democrats. They are running more candidates than ever—some 700, from gubernatorial candidate Paul Adams down to a full slate of delegates to the state constitutional convention. The Conservatives are the only party in the state to support the policemen’s position on the civilian review board. Win, lose or draw on the governor’s line, the Conservatives should be headed for another fine showing at the polls. And don’t think the major parties aren’t watching!
Comments