The word “steal” is used very loosely in the Social Security debate. However, if anyone is guilty of actually “stealing” from Social Security, the author says that one man stands out above all others. He explains how he believes this to be the case.
Legislation would change the COLA calculation for Social Security and federal retirees to the CPI-E index. It would also benefit those collecting spousal benefits.
The Social Security Board of Trustees has released its latest report on the health of Social Security. The report says that the trust funds should enable paying scheduled benefits until 2034, but the author notes it doesn’t actually say the trust fund will last until then.
The author says that the discussion of Social Security has degenerated into a battle over the control of the meaning of words in which one person’s myth is the next person’s fact.
The author says that of all of the ideas offered by politicians regarding Social Security, privatization is among the worst.
The author says that while he is the only candidate running for president who has put forth any visible plan on Social Security, Bernie Sanders’ proposal for reforming the program will ultimately not work. He explains the shortcomings he sees with what Sanders suggests doing to Social Security.
The author says that the presidential candidates so far have said little about their plans for Social Security, but to the extent ideas have been put forward, they do nothing to solve the long term financial problems facing the program.
The Congressional Budget Office recently released the 2015 forecast of Social Security Policy Options. The author notes that this report is more pessimistic than similar reports from the Social Security Administration’s actuaries. He provides a summary of the report and what it says about the prospects of Social Security’s ability to continue to pay benefits.
The author says that one of the most enduring myths of the Social Security debate suggests that the money collected for the system was spent on other government programs. He provides an explanation of why he says this is not true.
What impact does the debt ceiling have on Social Security? Social Security will have money to pay the check. Will the rest of the government will have the money to mail it?
