The New York Times op ed page has a set of six short pieces by "experts" on ways to "fix" Social Security. Here is an excerpt from Roger Lowenstein's piece:
Finally, there is the “problem” that Social Security was invented by the federal government, which some people hate. The cure for this would be to legislate Social Security out of existence. According to its foes on the ideological right, it would be worth eliminating social insurance to people who are disabled or elderly, or whose private pensions have folded, or whose 401(k)s have melted away, because Social Security, the post office and other federal institutions are the root of all evil. It’s unlikely that people on Social Security agree.
We need to understand that hatred for the federal government is behind almost everything said and written on the subject of Social Security by the "experts" at right wing think tanks. They are not making proposals to enhance Social Security's long term financial health. They are making proposals that they believe will reduce the role of Social Security in our society and undermine its public support. It is pointless to try to compromise with people who are this ideological. They are never going to support tax increases. Even if they seem to agree to tax increases, they will never truly support them. Republicans in Congress will never vote for tax increases to support Social Security. It is far better to do nothing now than to embark on Social Security "reform" in this political environment.
5 comments:
Agreed. Let the TF be exhausted as it's intended to be. Then, pay-as- you-go. Nothing hard about that. Really, what's the problem here? It ain't broke. Don't mess with good enough. Nancy Ortiz
This is the same cr@p that is dredged up every election cycle--the evil Republicans are out to destroy Social Security. Boo, look out, here we come. This happens because the Democrats have screwed up so bad it is the only thing they can think of to scare people into continuing to vote for them. That, and the racist bigot blah blah garbage. Put a sock in it already.
Phony disability claimants and their dishonest attorneys, I must say, are partially responsible for the fiscal difficulty SS is in.
Democrats liberalized the program into bankruptcy. SS disability should have a minimum age requirement (age 50 as originally enacted) with an exception for terminal cases.
FRA for DIB should be raised to 70. Auxiliary benefits should be discontinued for living workers, retired and disabled.
Well said, Charles. Some Republicans over the years have wanted Social Security to fulfill its promises and have tried to be competent stewards. Astrue is one of those Republicans, and I salute him for his dedication.
Other Republicans have wanted to kill Social Security ever since it was first enacted. Lately, that second group has been forcing the first group out of the Republican Party. There used to be a bipartisan consensus that Social Security was a good thing. That consensus is just about gone.
The"racist bigot blah blah"is reality or can be perceived that way. Remember Dr laura,mel gibson,michael richards.
The federal government(ssa)pays it's employees six figure salaries and benefits but deny it's citizens smaller benefits that's good cause to dislike the government. If the fat was trimmmed($100,000)salaries and other wasteful spending then government may look better.
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