Social Security

8 Thoughts on the Issues #6

There is no crisis with Social Security. The system is not in trouble. It is not a ponzi scheme. It is not the government’s version of Enron. It is not the absolute disgrace that John McCain has claimed. It is not a "joke" as claimed by that infamous phony, Joe the Plumber. The attempts by the Republican Party, led by the worst President ever, to privatize Social Security is a disgrace and it failed in 2005 and it will fail every single time they try.

First, let's discuss the true reasons behind the conservative attempts to "reform" social security. It must be understood that they are not looking to save social security, but to replace it with a savings program that would amount to a huge giveaway to the Wall Street financial firms that have done such a wonderful job handling our economy. They are, as Dr. Krugman put it, looking to bury social security. These types or large entitlement programs are not compatible with conservative philosophy.

It doesn't matter to conservatives that Social Security has been our nation's most successful anti-poverty program. It doesn't matter to conservatives that Social Security has lowered the rate of poverty among the elderly to a number lower than that of the population as a whole. It doesn't matter to conservatives that the survivor's benefit has saved many families from financial destruction. For a conservative, ideology will always matter more than providing real assistance to people. As Dr. Krugman said ...

Social Security is a government program that works, a demonstration that a modest amount of taxing and spending can make people's lives better and more secure. And that's why the right wants to destroy it.

The problem for conservatives is that Social Security has proven to be the most popular of our government programs. A conservative politician who stands up and says that they hate Social Security is asking for defeat. Instead, they attack it around the edges and will try to chip away at it until it dies off.

In 2005, the American people and our elected representatives from the Democratic Party stood up to the destroyers and handed them a massive defeat. It would be foolish to think they have given up. In the upcoming election, one candidate still believes that we must privatize Social Security to "save" it from an impending crisis. The other proposes to strengthen it. This is just another reason to cast your vote for Barack Obama for President of the United States.