Need some help here.

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

Where can I find some straight dope on Social Security (Non-Partisan sources preferred). I am talking on another board trying to set someone straight and I would like to compile a list of facts for them to look at.

[lala_rawraw]

1. Well, I for one...

Like Christian Walker's analysis. Try the Center for American Progress. Yes, it is a left leaning place, but it is the only one I can understand

[punpirate]

2. Just Google...

"Paul Krugman" and "Social Security" and you'll get a number of articles that are written in pretty plain language about why Bush's "reform" is meant to ruin SS.

You might also want to Google "Center for Tax Justice" and "Social Security" and you should come up with several articles written in very common-sense terms.

Unfortunately, you're not likely to find non-partisan sources for this--the Repugs want to kill it, and the Democrats want to preserve their best program from the New Deal years. Even AARP, which is against SS reform, is not exactly non-partisan.

Cheers.

[hfojvt]

3. of course, there is the government itself

http://www.ssa.gov/

If you think they are non-partisan.

There is also the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Probably partisan, but seem pretty fact based and professional to me.

http://www.cbpp.org/2-3-05socsec2.pdf

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

4. Thanks guys/gals

What a PIA subject. If anyone has any info as well on the effects of repealing Bush's tax cuts on SS that would be great too!

[hfojvt]

6. those are separate issues

although cbpp has lots of stuff on the Bush tax cuts.
However they are not really relevant to the Social Security issue because it seems to be taboo to fund social security from general revenues, although no one blinks when social security taxes are used to pay general expenses. What you want is a picture of the effect of Bush tax cuts on the deficit. The deficit becomes more relevant in 2018 when social security needs to rely on the trust fund. Will there be money to pay back the trust fund if there is a huge deficit and a huge interest bill on a huge debt caused in large part by Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.
Another source, reputed to be non-partisan, is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). I do not know if they have a website or what they have on it.

[imenja]

5. Talk of the Nation, NPR

had a good show last week. You could listen to it through the TON archives.