Aspiring artists have only until Wednesday, Dec. 19, to submit original works of art to Artstrike, the day of action put together by CultureStrike, 5D Stories and the Rebuild the Dream Innovation Fund. So far, numerous artists have contributed dozens of images, songs and videos to the project, all with the message directed at Congress that working families oppose benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and want the richest Americans to pay their fair share of taxes, which includes letting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% expire.

Even a heartless Grinch should understand that cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits is a really bad idea.

A recent poll confirms what a growing number of politicians, community leaders and mainstream news media already suspected: Most Latinos, like most other Americans in battleground states, support a plan to reduce the deficit that includes more revenue from tax increases for the wealthiest people.

Are you an artist or graphic designer? Do you oppose cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other lifelines? Then Artstrike wants your submissions by Dec. 17. Artstrike is a collaboration among CultureStrike, 5D Stories and the Rebuild the Dream Innovation Fund to create original art that fights back against the most extreme proposals being floated as a response to the fiscal bluff.

"Deficits, Deceit, and the Body Politic" was originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Here is an excerpt:

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are the foundations for the well-being of scores of millions of middle- and low-income Americans. Without Social Security, 14 million more low-income Americans would be living in poverty. Because of Medicare, 33 million older people live longer, have access to quality careand are not driven into poverty by rapidly rising health care costs. Medicaid is a health care boon to Americans not yet eligible for Medicare, which covers some 60 million Americans.

Working people across the United States in more than 100 events last night called on their representatives to reject benefit cuts for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and to stop tax giveaways for the richest 2%. 

View photos from events around the country on the AFL-CIO Facebook page. 

More than 100,000 American consumers signed a petition asking Macy's Chief Executive Officer Terry Lundgren to drop out of the "Fix the Debt" Coalition. Fix the Debt portrays itself as dedicated to lowering the national debt, when the reality is that it is lobbying to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and give more tax breaks to the wealthiest 2%. The consumers are part of Progressive Congress, the nonprofit foundation of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, or CREDO, a progressive activist organization.

Working families across the country are participating in Candlelight Campaign today to urge Congress to end tax cuts for the richest 2% and to say "no" to benefit cuts for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The candlelight rallies, town halls, vigils and other events are coinciding with International Human Rights Day.

If you cannot attend an event, light a virtual candle in solidarity. 

Visit www.aflcio.org/ProtectOurFuture for all the information you need on the upcoming lame-duck session of Congress. 

No more tax breaks for the wealthiest 2%. No benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. These are the two messages members of Congress are hearing today as seniors and working people of all ages are calling their representatives in Washington, D.C., about the upcoming budget showdown. 

We must KEEP THE PROMISE of #SocialSecurity #Medicare and #Medicaid Tell Congress NOW at 888-497-9539 #callcongress

— ARA Seniors (@ActiveRetirees) November 15, 2012

This is an excerpt from Listen to the Voters—and Save Yourselves, by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. 

It's time for House Speaker John Boehner and the Republican leadership to stop holding America's middle class hostage and instead join Democrats in saying "No" to another tax cut for the rich.

That's what voters asked for, loud and clear.

Read the rest on The Huffington Post.