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If SS is his expertise, how do any of our personal opinions hold against his view? I mean, we can refute his, but who are we to do so?
If SS is broke it is only because our government is broke because SS owns the government. Government borrowed so much money from SS that we own the government.
Congress is only looking for ways to get votes and stay in office. Raiding SS to fund other things has always been a ploy of Congress that allows them keep spending more than the budget to 'buy votes!' IMO, the only thing that is going to change SS (not saying it should be changed, since SS itself is not the problem) ... is if the people who receive SS, stop voting against politicians who would negatively influence their SS income.
(That's about as likely as politicians voting for Term Limits, which is one of the few ways possible to move Washington politics away from the Congressional 'me first' mindset).
Social security is almost broke because it seems (figuratively speaking) half the population of the US is using it. It was originally funded for seniors who retired. Now it's used to support every American with an ailment. Anyone can qualify for SS if they play the system long enough. People perfectly capable of gaining employment are now claiming SS benefits cause they are "disabled" with a slight mental disorder, or chronic medical condition such as a back problem etc. SS is nothing more then a fraudulent welfare system. I'm venturing that 60% of the funds paid out for SS would not be eligible if they went back to using it for what it was originally intended for. A retirement plan for those, WHO PAID INTO IT!
Social security is almost broke because it seems (figuratively speaking) half the population of the US is using it. It was originally funded for seniors who retired. Now it's used to support every American with an ailment. Anyone can qualify for SS if they play the system long enough. People perfectly capable of gaining employment are now claiming SS benefits cause they are "disabled" with a slight mental disorder, or chronic medical condition such as a back problem etc. SS is nothing more then a fraudulent welfare system. I'm venturing that 60% of the funds paid out for SS would not be eligible if they went back to using it for what it was originally intended for. A retirement plan for those, WHO PAID INTO IT!
You blast off with your opinions but you have nothing to back them up. Your statements are incorrect and only foster misinformation. Application for SSDI benefits is a detailed, well thought out, complicated process and a huge majority of those who get SSDI benefits are doing so through no fault of their own. In addition, there are several incentives for those who are able, to go back to work. Of course, there is the 1 in 1000 person who manages to bilk the system, but that does not negate the need for disability funds. Please educate yourself about not only the Social Security Disability application process, which requires not only the persons doctors, but independant examiners and disability experts to weigh in on each case before benefits are awarded. You will hear just as many people saying they have been unfairly turned down as those who say there are people who are "fraudulently collecting welfare."
In the 80s, the government foresaw coming demographics changes and increased the payroll taxes in order to save up SS money for the future. Those savings were invested in the safest instrument available: US treasuries. Sometimes people argue that the government shouldn't have borrowed from SS in this way, but the alternative would have been for the money to sit in a pile and lose value to inflation.
Under Bush, the government could cut income taxes, mostly on the wealthy, thanks to this social security money. Regardless of what you think about those cuts themselves, I think we can all agree that if social security is made solvent by cutting benefits while retaining wealthy income tax cuts, it would turn a well-planned financial move into a blatant scam transfering money directly from working class to wealth.
Note that increasing the retirement age is also a terrible idea. Almost all this century's longevity gains are amongst the wealthy. It makes no sense to say that janitors should work longer because CEOs are healthier.
The complete "after investment" amount is disputed, but the inflation adjusted amount that the US Treasury owes to the Social Security coffers is around $4.5 Trillion. Yes, it is more than 25% of the national debt. The reality of the matter is that, when adjusted for investment return, the number is likely closer to $20 Trillion.
So, the next time anyone openly worships Reagan, exhalts Greenspan or points to a Volcker rant about the peril of the US economy, just remember that all 3 of them were instrumental in bringing this situation about. I know it will be like talking to a bridge post, but do your best to remind them of this as well.
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