USAction is doing some excellent work to make sure Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are protected and that the tax rate on income over $250,000 is restored to pre-Bush levels (remember, everyone would still get a break on everything up to and including $250,000; the cuts would expire on income over that, $250,001 and up).

USAction has a big event coming up on in a few days that will take place in 21 states and in Washington DC, and they’re hoping that a whole lot of us will get out there and make some noise.

They note that on November 6th, “We’re all in this together” defeated “You’re on your own” because, well, we are in this together. The election showed that Americans do not want Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits cut. Socialists!

Here is part of their post called “The Budget Wars”:

This campaign was aimed at laying the groundwork for a seamless transition from an electoral campaign to an issue campaign – raising taxes on wage earners who make more than $250,000 a year, keeping the promise of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, avoiding debilitating cuts in domestic spending and pushing for more job creation.

USAction was ground zero in this effort.

Our canvassers – while ID’ing voters and urging them to the polls –were also urging them to stay involved after the election. Some USAction affiliates even engaged in phone banking after the election (who does that?) to turn supporters out for “Budget showdown” events in local communities in key states right after the election. [...]

And now: We have an opportunity to topple a 32-year era in American politics – an era that began with Ronald Reagan and was populated by people like Grover Norquist and Bush/Cheney/Rove/Romney/Ryan.

32 years. Think about that.

And the public is with us… when it comes to raising taxes for wage earners who make more than $250,000 a year; protecting the promise of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and pushing for robust job creation – for example, through repairing roads, bridges and schools.  [...]

We must win this fight not just because it’s good public policy and the country needs us to be effective. We must win this fight because winning will make us and our President more powerful…. We win by winning.

And here is a press release on the event, in part:

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, USACTION AFFILIATES WILL ASK THEIR MEMBERS IN CONGRESS: WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON – AMERICA’S MIDDLE CLASS OR AMERICA’S MILLIONAIRES?

Washington, D.C. —USAction affiliates in 21 states will engage in a National Day of Action on Saturday, Dec. 1 to convey to Congress the importance of protecting tax cuts for middle income Americans and ending tax cuts for the richest 2 percent.

“The 2012 elections are over and the mandate was clear – ‘we’re all in this together’ defeated ‘you’re on your own’ at the ballot box,” said Alan Charney, USAction program director. “Now, in the looming fiscal showdown, we must make sure Congress gets the message.”

Since Election Day, as part of a massive grassroots mobilization, USAction affiliates have engaged in more than 50 events aimed at getting this message out. In addition, nearly 25,000 USAction online members have signed a letter to Congress urging that taxes be raised for families earning $250,000 or more a year, and that Congress preserve the promise of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.