From a piece that Nancy Altman (who is being considered for nomination to become the next Commissioner of Social Security) wrote in early 2011, suggesting what President Obama might say in his State of the Union address:
Social Security is the most efficient, universal, and secure part of the retirement income system. It is often the only disability insurance and life insurance protection that workers and their families have. It returns in benefits more than 99 cents of every dollar collected -- administrative costs much lower than those found in the private sector. At a time when employer-provided traditional pensions are disappearing, Social Security should be increased, not decreased. Its modest shortfall -- just 0.6 percent of GDP -- is highly affordable. The program's increased cost is an appropriate and modest response to an aging population.
If President Obama and his fellow Democrats take this route, they can use the support of the American people to lead a powerful long-term movement not just to eliminate Social Security's projected shortfall through increased revenue, but to push for higher benefits, particularly for those most disadvantaged, and for new benefits, such as paid parental leave, as the Social Security programs of many other nations provide.
8 comments:
"If President Obama and his fellow Democrats take this route, they can use the support of the American people to lead a powerful long-term movement not just to eliminate Social Security's projected shortfall through increased revenue, but to push for higher benefits, particularly for those most disadvantaged, and for new benefits, such as paid parental leave, as the Social Security programs of many other nations provide. "
Yeah SSA needs this nut case. Higher benefits and new benefits. What is she smoking.
I guess Obama will need to sell at least two one-trillion dollar platinum coins to raise money to pay for all benefits he wants. Unfortunately, no one on Ebay or Amazon can purchase it at the "buy it now" price, so the taxpayers (not the tax eaters) again are stuck. Sooner or latter, you run out of money.....
"Parental Leave" - seriously? Somebody stoop the ride, I'm getting sick and need to get off!
I agree that tacking on "parental leave" to SS benefits is ridiculous.
I'll also point out that the U.S. is basically the only civilized country not to offer (either by the gov't or through private companies vis-a-vis govt coercion) significant paid parental leave benefits(and there are plenty of not-so-civilized countries that do, too).
But just like with health care, I'm sure there's some really awesome reason why, and we're just the only country in the world smart enough to get it.
I don't think it would make any difference in my office. I'm guessing to get parental leave would mean you have to actually have a job to take leave from. I'm deep in the heart of Obama-land where everyone gets SSI and employment is laughed at regularly.
The rest of the world, which offers these types of benefits, is bankrupt, and we are nearly so. Need to get off facebook and Wii and download some reality.
oh lord, the europe is bankrupt and we're gonna be Greece if we don't cut all gov't spending besides defense and (whatever tax breaks benefit me, like mortage interest deduction, medicare, SS retirement...)
how's about those Scandinavian countries, pal? and you don't think the collapse of many euro countries has nothing to do with goldman sachs cooking books to hide debt and allow entry into the EU (Greece), worldwide housing crisis (every euro country, basically)--thanks US banks!--, tax evasion, and things completely unrelated to spending related to a strong social safety net?
man, you conservative folks really need to learn to find and interpret relevant data.
oh, and 12:05 must be an old-as-hell white dude. his political beliefs are as uninformed as his gaming/social networking ones--
anybody under 40 and over 10 doesn't mess with Wii. Its graphics are crap, its controllers hard to use for prescise stuff required for skilled/adult games, and the only thing it's good at is multiplayer and low-skill gaming (i.e. kid stuff or party crap for older people like you whose old hands and fingers can't manipulate a real gaming system's controls).
and facebook sucks, too.
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