Sen. Bernie Sanders: Hands off Social Security

[babylonsister]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41628.html

Hands off Social Security

By SEN. BERNIE SANDERS | 9/1/10 4:38 AM EDT


The White House deficit commission is reportedly considering deep benefit cuts for Social Security, including a steep rise in the retirement age. We cannot let that happen.

The deficit and our $13 trillion national debt are serious problems that must be addressed. But we can — and must — address them without punishing America’s workers, senior citizens, the disabled, widows and orphans.

First, let’s be clear: Despite all the right-wing rhetoric, Social Security is not going bankrupt. That’s a lie!

The truth is that the Social Security Trust Fund has run surpluses for the last quarter century. Today’s $2.5 trillion cushion is projected to grow to $4 trillion in 2023. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, experts in this area, say Social Security will be able to pay every nickel owed to every eligible beneficiary until 2039.

Got that? In case you don’t, let me repeat it. The people who have studied this issue most thoroughly and have no political bias report that Social Security will be able to pay out all benefits to every eligible beneficiary for the next 29 years.

It is true that by 2039, if nothing is changed, Social Security will be able to pay out only about 80 percent of benefits. That is why it is important that Congress act soon to make sure Social Security is as strong in the future as it is today.

The hatred of Social Security from the right-wing, anti-government crowd is based on the fact that the government program has been enormously successful in accomplishing its mission. For 75 years, in good times and bad, Social Security has provided financial security for tens of millions of Americans.

Despite this outstanding record, Social Security has become a political football. For ideological reasons, some in Congress believe that government should not be in the business of providing benefits to seniors or the disabled. They want to privatize Social Security. Others say, incorrectly, that Social Security is going bankrupt, so benefits should be reduced and the retirement age set at 70. I strongly disagree with both assertions.

While the critics profess concern about Social Security’s financial future, their fuzzy math ignores the fact that this highly successful program has not added a dime to our deficit. From the day when the first check landed in the Ludlow, Vt., mailbox of retired legal secretary Ida May Fuller on Jan. 31, 1940, Social Security has more than paid for itself.

[Jim__]

1. Bernie Sanders, one senator on the side of working people.

If they threaten to touch Social Security we need a march on Washington that will really shake their windows and rattle their walls.

[spedtr90]

2. Thay have been threatening for years

Recently saw the movie A Face in the Crowd - with the Lonesome Rhodes character. ( Keith O. does an awesome job calling Beck Lonesome Rhodes every night! See the movie if you haven't) The movie was made in 1957. A republic senator uses Lonesome Rhodes's program to talk to the common folks about people being spoiled by soc sec. It's never been off the table, and never been so close for the repubs. Forget the Colbert march mentioned on another thread. time to be serious. This is too important. Combine soc sec march with AFL-CIO. Hammer the message the white house is not. They need to hear it too. I am writing a lte in local papers with social security facts. We need to move NOW!

[saltpoint]

3. The Republicans don't like government. Any government,

except government they dominate and those facets of government which sanction their control of the citizenry, including control of women's wombs and of personal privacy.

By extension, Social Security as an idea is evil to Republicans because it represents a national commitment to a safety net for that same citizenry. SS muss be "privatized," which is to say, removed from the public domain and placed onto the desk of Republican fat cats.

From what part of the Republican psyche does an objection to provide a social safety net come?

Sanders is a gem.

Recommended.

[raccoon]

4. One more puts this on Greatest, C'mon! nt

[alc]

5. playing loose with the books again

in ways that would get CFOs prison time.

It's either:
1) $13 trillion national debt and $0 SS cushion
or
2) $15.5 trillion national debt and $2.5 trillion SS cushion

SS hasn't "added a dime to our deficit" because politicians haven't been honest about how they are playing with the books. They call the fund "special bonds" - more appropriate would be "magic bonds" that add to one ledger without subtracting from another (which is illegal if a company does it).

If the SS cushion is ever used it WILL add to the national debt because at the point they will have to put real assets instead of "special/magical bonds" in the SS fund. The cushion will be needed for the first time next year under the current SS benefits so it's time to decide which of the options above they will commit to. They can leave SS alone and admit #2. Or they can admit they've been "inaccurate" about their statements on the SS fund and we really have #1. Or they can avoid committing and make some changes and keep telling us the "magical special bonds" are still working.

[molly77]

6. Wonder why Bernie Sanders

keeps on getting reelected in Vt. and calls himself a socialist? Ever heard Howard Dean talk about the health care they have there? We should all be so lucky.Maybe they are just immune to propaganda.

[COLGATE4]

12. Vermonters are really a breed of people apart - they really

don't pay much attention to labels such as "socialist" and are more interested in results that help them and their state. That's why a Howard Dean or Bernie Sanders can prosper there, regardless of whatever label the opposition trys to tag them with.

[Stuart G]

7. K and R

[florida08]

8. Exactly and thanks for posting

This is really about a democracy. When Obama went into office democracy took a huge leap forward. That's what they're scared of. That we might actually fight back. This Wall Street scam that was perpetrated was an attempt to hit us in the wallet. Take away the ability to fund 'our' candidates. Cons have since put the pressure on.. that we're lazy..useless...stealing from other Americans. Has worked in some avenues..but only those not hit. But SS is different. 85% of all Americans want to be left alone. The reptiles are using scare tactics again to confuse. Mark Twain once said.."it's not what we don't know that get's us into trouble it's what we know for sure that just ain't so"

Check out Faryn Balynced post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x500587#500773

[Faryn Balyncd]

9. K&R .....Thanks.

:kick:

[Jefferson23]

10. Just another reason I love this man. You go Bernie, I don't know

how many others will likely speak up.

[Sherman A1]

11. K&R

:kick:

[rhett o rick]

13. I think that Larry, Moe and Geithner will use Social Security to bolster Wall Street

and create a new bubble in time for the 2012 election.

[rpannier]

14. Great find

Thanks for posting