What Every Candidate for Federal Office SHOULD Say About Social Security
Everyone’s Social Security benefits are going to be cut 20% or more in just over a decade, from the 95-year old widow eating tuna out of a can to the checks received by the likes of the Bezos, Trumps, and Bloombergs of the world. That is fact, not opinion, and it is absolutely not in dispute. This week President Trump suggested being open to looking at entitlement programs in a second term. On the other side, Joe Biden is practically apologizing now for once being open to Social Security reforms pushed by moderate Democrats and many Republicans back in the 1990s. Today’s far left Democrats, however, appear hell-bent on changing the program to resemble welfare rather than heading off Social Security’s looming insolvency crisis. Read here for AMAC’s commentary on that point.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing for EVERYONE running for Congress and the presidency when asked about Social Security to respond like this: “You’re darned right I want to change Social Security. We must preserve and modernize it. I refuse to stand by and see everyone’s benefits slashed. We all must make sure it remains solvent for our children and grandchildren by increasing the full retirement age, adjusting benefits for the highest income earners, and reviewing how cost of living adjustments are calculated. Doing nothing is not an option any longer. Those who advocate doing nothing favor benefits being slashed.”
Check out some of the headlines from this week, from the most histrionic (and false) at the top:
- ‘Hobnobbing With Billionaires in Davos,’ Trump Admits—If Reelected—He Will Seek to Cut Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare – Common Dreams
- Trump opens door to cuts to Medicare and Other Entitlement Programs – The New York Times
- Trump says reforming Social Security and Medicare is ‘the easiest of all things’ as he appears open to cutting entitlement spending – Business Insider UK
- Battle over Social Security spills into 2020 campaign as Democrats spar and Trump weighs in – The Washington Post
- Both Biden and Sanders want to boost Social Security benefits. So why are they fighting on the issue? – CNBC
The Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) believes Social Security must be preserved and modernized. This can be achieved by making modest changes in cost of living adjustments and the retirement age, with no additional taxes on workers. AMAC advocates for a bipartisan compromise, “The Social Security Guarantee Act,” taking selected portions of bills introduced by former Rep. Johnson (R-TX) and current Rep. Larson (D-CT) and merging them with the Association’s own well researched ideas. One component is Social Security PLUS, a new, voluntary plan that would allow all earners to have more income available at retirement. This component is intended to appeal especially to younger workers. AMAC is resolute in its mission that Social Security be preserved and modernized and has gotten the attention of lawmakers in DC, meeting with a great many congressional offices and their staffs over the past several years. Read AMAC’s plan here.