Rick Nolan states Social Security is an earned benefit. I am frankly not sure what he means, but I assume he means “it’s yours, you earned it.” If that is the case, he joins many politicians who apparrently have limited understanding of the program that has served America well for the last 80 years and choose to mischaracterize it to score political points.
Social Security is a unique form of insurance, called “Social Insurance” by the professionals who determine the finances of the program. It is a current transfer of funds from workers, who are taxed, to retirees (and certain survivors.)
Its financial success relies on the income from taxes matching the benefits paid.
Today, more is being paid out than is coming in. That shortfall is made up of extra taxes that were collected in past years. But we will run out of those extra dollars soon.
We can wait as Mr. Nolan recommends and face a crisis down the road, or we can take action now that will be less painful, just as President Reagan and Speaker O’Neill did in a bipartisan way in the the 80s.
Let’s stop distorting the facts about Social Security and take action now as Congressman Cravaack suggests.
Bob Hunstad
East Gull Lake
Comments (10)
Add commentNot to worry, Bob.
With gas prices down drastically, and the WaPo announcing a new tax cut for middle-class Americans, I think we see a trend here.
(Even though the economy is going gang-busters, we apparently need just one more little tweak to finalize things.)
I look for Social Security to be magically "fixed" before November 6th too. And, I would even toss in Medicare. In one week, we'll all be living on easy-street.
Funny how things work in Washington, isn't it?
How many distractions does it take before a Republicon
Puts on their new Nike Outfit then calls their travel agent to book that long awaited vacation to visit Heavens Gate CA ?
Maybe some people " forgot " that both Social Security and Medicare were the building blocks for ALL Americans who actually planned for a retirement.
This knee jerk reaction to situations that actually DO have some fairly easy solutions , most certainly have NOT been a prority for the GOP lawmakers in DC.
The Republicons ( on both the state & federal level) seem more interested in abortion , guns, controlling the ballot box , and the rights of gay individuals.
Mitch Daniels the out going ( Jan 2013) Republicon Gov. of IN ( Former Bush Mgmt & Budget Director) who goes to work @ Purdue Univ next , was out promoting his new book last week.
Steven Colbert asked Mitch " So Gov. , when Bill Clinton was president and the United States Gov. had a budget surplus , did you figure out who chloroformed you and stole all the money while you were in charge ? "
Mr Daniels could only reply , " Purdue has asked I not make any political statements going forward "
Guess that kind of shoots the horrible ( What about my Grandchildren -wooo hooo- and the terrible debt created by
" current policies " ) deal. REALLY !!!!!!
Start Packing for your trip !
Ah, these 2 Gems are Tea Party Class Acts...
Not traditional Reagan Republicans that I can remember lately...
Tea Party...Yes...
Reagan Republicans...Not so much...
Then again, Abraham Lincoln had the same issues many years ago...
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Tagg, you're it!
If they can't win, they cry "voter fraud" then rush to prove it by enacting it!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/26/1150485/-Retired-NSA-Analyst-Pr...
Has Chip had a town hall meeting in Duluth yet?
He doesn't need one.
the voting machines will flip it for him.
Let's go back a ways...Chip and Monk...
I paid into social security
I paid into social security for 48 years. I think I earned the payments I'm getting now.
And I agree
with you on that shadrack.
Hey Denny, Quit messing with the website
What happened to the list of postings today. Someone doesn't want you to read the most recent post under, "It's official, the ribbon cutting of college drive".