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Did Congress Steal Trillions From Social Security? The Answer Might Surprise You
The Motley Fool via MSN ^ | 9/10/23 | Sean Williams

Posted on 09/10/2023 5:32:29 AM PDT by Libloather

Among America's numerous social programs, none lifts more people out of poverty each year than Social Security. As of 2021, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that 21.75 million people, including nearly 15.4 million seniors aged 65 and over, were being lifted above the federal poverty line due to their monthly Social Security benefit.

Unfortunately, this vital program that provides benefits to approximately 66.7 million people each month -- 49.6 million of which are retired workers -- finds itself on shaky ground.

The 2023 Social Security Board of Trustees Report estimates that America's top retirement program is facing a funding obligation shortfall of a whopping $22.4 trillion through 2097. In plain English, the Trustees believe the Social Security program won't collect enough revenue to meet outlay obligations (benefits and administrative expenses) over the next 75 years.

What's more, the Trustees Report estimates that the asset reserves -- the excess revenue collected since inception -- of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (OASI) could be exhausted by as early as 2033. Should this happen, sweeping benefits cuts of up to 23% may be necessary for retired workers and survivor beneficiaries to sustain their payouts through 2097 without the need for any additional reductions.

It's not the rosiest of outlooks for a program that's crucial to the financial well-being of our nation's retired workers. However, the reason(s) behind this $22.4 trillion long-term funding obligation shortfall may not be what you think.

Has Congress pilfered trillions of dollars from Social Security's coffers?

Just as the sun rising in the Eastern sky every day is a fundamental truth, every prominent Social Security article on the internet with a comments section is destined to be filled with claims that the program's shaky foundation is the result of "Congress stealing trillions from Social...

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Health/Medicine; History
KEYWORDS: congress; history; retire; security; social
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To: normbal

Cal has a “road diet” program many cities turning 4 lane streets into 2 so the bikes can have wider lanes. Or letting bikes “share” the car lanes.

Footnote, Cal spends 30 billion a year on services to illegals.

LAUSD has 167 dialects and languages in their classrooms. Last I read a few years ago.


41 posted on 09/10/2023 7:58:38 AM PDT by coalminersson
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To: Libloather

It would only surprise me if the answer was *no*.


42 posted on 09/10/2023 8:09:05 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: Libloather

For decades Social Security receipts were flooding in and the politicians were rolling in the money. Instead of finding ways to invest and increase the fund they bought votes by adding new kinds of beneficiaries, one of the biggest is the disability payments. SS was illegally created but it was only supposed to help the retirements of workers who contributed and not to pay others for so many things including disability.

We wouldn’t be in this predicament if the only people getting SS money were the people who worked for a living and put into the system.


43 posted on 09/10/2023 8:20:23 AM PDT by OldMissileer (Atlas, Titan, Minuteman, PK. Winners of the Cold War)
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To: imabadboy99
how much of illegal immigrant invaders stolen from social security? nobody ever talks about that....

That is a central point "talked about" in the article.

44 posted on 09/10/2023 8:31:30 AM PDT by gloryblaze
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To: Libloather
Not much different than finding out you're BROKE.. and then learning that the REASON you're BROKE is because your personal money manager ( in this case, the Federal Government ) SPENT ALL of YOUR MONEY!


45 posted on 09/10/2023 8:38:08 AM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: 9YearLurker

“There likely won’t be a US by 2097, unfortunately.”

You are off by 70 years. If Democrats win in 24, it’s game over. After that, expect Pol Pot communism to flourish. All those people in the cities, will be forcibly moved to the countryside to work on “corporate” farms, producing vegetables and fruit which will rot as there will be no fossil fuels to transport them to market.

Academia will be decimated as they will no longer be useful idiots of the “revolution.” The only thing that will exist in cities are those capable of producing something of value for the regime. And since the left doesn’t produce anything, it will be conservatives and what’s left of the middle class to fill the coffers.


46 posted on 09/10/2023 8:50:57 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (You Indict, we Unite!)
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To: jurroppi1

I’d venture illegals are paid in cash thus contributing nothing to the scam but are receiving “benefits” accelerating the depletion of the program.


47 posted on 09/10/2023 9:00:09 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: Lazamataz
Does the government use the money it receives from these bonds for various line items, including spending on defense, education, healthcare, and so on? Absolutely. But has this money been "stolen" by Congress? Nope. Every cent is accounted for via the bonds and certificates of indebtedness.

We do not have the money in the General Fund to pay the cetificates of indebtedness thus in effect they have stolen the money from social security.

48 posted on 09/10/2023 9:07:02 AM PDT by cpdiii
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To: EQAndyBuzz

I think you’re fooling yourself if you think they’ll snuff the leftists, keep the conservatives.

And there are loads of highly skilled and productive leftists, for whatever reason.


49 posted on 09/10/2023 9:13:15 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: EQAndyBuzz; Wilderness Conservative
After that, expect Pol Pot communism to flourish.

Full-on Communism won't come to the USA that fast as it is unnecessary - after all, the looters like having things to loot. Just a continuing and gradual fascist tightening of laws and regulations to make sure that every penny of lootable income from the tax slaves is harvested. Single female voters are actually trying to hand government more power than it is willing to take - yet.

After all, the WEF fascists are still a tiny minority and can't risk waking up the sheep too soon - sheep like those so beautifully depicted in post #7. :)

50 posted on 09/10/2023 9:15:48 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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To: Spok

“If a private pension was run the way the Social Security has been, it would be the scandal of the century and people responsible would be in jail.”

Correct answer—but not for the reason many think.

This is what fraud looks like:

https://moneymorning.com/2017/03/31/the-social-security-trust-fund-is-just-a-stack-of-ious-in-a-west-virginia-filing-cabinet/


51 posted on 09/10/2023 9:16:11 AM PDT by cgbg ("Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training." Anna Freud.)
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To: Libloather

BTTT


52 posted on 09/10/2023 10:24:32 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: jurroppi1

How can illegals pay a payroll tax when they get paid under the table


53 posted on 09/10/2023 12:26:51 PM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: Libloather

Social (in)Security has been a congressional slush fund (raided by both parties) since day one.


54 posted on 09/10/2023 2:06:16 PM PDT by threefinger
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To: markman46

I agree, but the propaganda is in place to fool the sheeple.


55 posted on 09/11/2023 4:48:38 AM PDT by jurroppi1 (The Left doesn't have ideas, it has cliches. H/T Flick Lives)
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