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ÿortlanb (Observer
November 20, 2013
New Prices
Effective
May 1,2010
Martin
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG
$45.00
A sm all distance/travel charge
m ay be applied
CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: 1 small Hallway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
O ther Services): $25.00
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool):
$40.00Minimum
Many Elderly Close to Poverty’s Edge
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
(Requiring ExtensivePre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $109-$139
Chair or Recliner
$25 - $49
Throw Pillows ( With
Other Services)'. $5.00
Social Security cuts could push them over the brink
by
%
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Area & Oriental Rug
Cleaning
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949
P eter H art
F ollow ing the
g o v e rn m e n t
s h u td o w n
d ra m a , p o liti­
c ian s in W a sh ­
in g to n a p p e a r
h o p elessly d iv id ed , acco rd in g to
co n ventional w isdom .
F air enough. B ut th e re ’s at least
one area w here m any politicians
from both o f th e m ajo r p arties agree
— and m any o f the T V talking heads
and n e w sp a p e r p o n tifica to rs are
w ith them , too. Social Security, they
insist, “n eed s” to be cut.
F o r the last few years, after a
m ajo r standoff, the usual B eltw ay
p u n d its have been talking about
som ething they like to call the “grand
b arg ain .”
T h at sure sounds like a good
thing. W ho d o e sn ’t love a bargain?
W ell, h e r e ’s th e q u e s tio n y o u
should ask yourself: W h o ’s actu ­
ally g ettin g o n e ? It’s m ore likely
than no t that the sav in g s a re n ’t
h eaded y o u r w ay.
In W ashingtonspeak, a “grand
barg ain ” m eans som e kind o f b u d ­
get deal w here ev ery o n e is forced to
give a little in o rd e r to reduce the
b u d g e t d e f ic it a n d ta c k le th e
c o u n try ’s debt. T o g et R ep u b lican s
to agree to raise m o re rev en u e (i.e.,
taxes), D em ocrats h av e to agree to
som e spending cuts.
As w ith m o st things, the d e v il’s
in the details. T h e re ’s essen tially
has soaked the m edia. 60 M inutes
recen tly d id a segm ent about the
ing on (Social Security) fo ra signifi­ allegedly ram p an t fraud in the S o­
can t share o f th eir incom e often live cial S ecu rity d isab ility system . B ut
d an g ero u sly clo se to the p o v erty back in reality , d isability benefits
lin e,” acco rd in g to the E conom ic are d ifficu lt to collect, and the p ro ­
Policy Institute. T h at m eans cuts o f gram is w atch ed very closely for
any k in d co u ld je o p ard ize th eir liv- signs o f cheating.
ing standards
T he W ash in g to n P ost ran a big
story ab o u t the pro b lem o f people
c o lle ctin g b e n efits fo r th e ir d e ­
c e a s e d lo v e d o n e s. F ro n t-p a g e
new s in the n a tio n ’s capital — but
if y ou read clo sely , y ou w ould d is­
T For the past few decades,
politicians and pundits have ginned
up a “crisis” over Social Security's
finances. At this point, you can say
almost anything about Social Security
and get away with it.
unanim ous R epublican o p p o sitio n
to raising taxes on the w ealthy. T h at
m akes authentic b argaining tough,
A nd on the o th e r side, the cuts are
intended fo r pro g ram s like M ed i-
care and Social S ecurity, key ele-
m ents o f the safety net and p erh ap s
th e m o s t p o p u la r g o v e r n m e n t
spending program s.
M edicare and Social Security are
rem ark ab ly successful in helping
keep seniors and others in need ou t
o f poverty. B ut “ hou seh o ld s rely-
co v er that w e ’re talking about 0.006
p ercent o f the checks.
S o lo n g as th e m e d ia c an k eep
c h u rn in g o u t th is m is le a d in g ly
a la rm ist S o cial S e c u rity co v erag e,
m o re p o litic ia n s w ill ta lk up the
id e a o f “ f ix in g ” th e p ro g ra m .
P undits and jo u rn alists c h ee r this W h en y o u h e a r th e m say th is, you
talk o f a “b arg ain ,” and they praise sh o u ld k n o w th a t th ey m ean c u t­
p o litic ia n s— especially D em ocrats tin g b e n e fits.
— w ho have the “co u rag e” to back
Be on the lookout: W hen the TV
such cuts.
talking heads and p o liticians all
F o r the p ast few decades, politi- agree that it’s tim e to strike a “grand
cians and pundits have g inned up a b arg ain ” to “p ro tect” o r “ fix” Social
“c risis” o v er Social S e c u rity ’s fi- S e c u rity , c h e c k th e fin e p rin t.
nances. A t this point, you can say S o m e o n e ’s g etting a bargain, but
alm ost anything ab o u t Social Secu- it’s probably not you.
rity and get aw ay w ith it.
Peter Hart is the activism direc­
R ight now , y et an o th er w ave o f
tor o f Fairness and Accuracy in
scare stories about Social S ecurity
Reporting.