Calls to cut social security come from economists who want to line Wall Street pockets with money from ordinary workers When politicians demand that the public do something because of the dictates of financial markets, it is best to hold on to your wallet. Back in September of 2008, both President Bush and the Democratic leadership in Congress insisted that if we did not immediately hand over $700bn to the banks , the whole financial system would grind to a halt. The threat worked – the banks got their $700bn from Congress and much more from the Fed – with few questions asked