Democrats decry Social Security 'bait and switch'

Reuters ^ | 6/22/05

[LIConFem]

Would you guys like some cheese with that whine?

;o)

[Sthitch]

I am really hoping for a bait and switch. Have the Republicans in congress promise to take them out, and then return them in conference.

[Tacis]

The democrats only oppose, obstruct and pee in the pool. Any attempt for them to act responsibly and in the interests of the nation will be, well, opposed, obstructed and peed upon.

[LIConFem]

I think that's a fine idea! But do you really trust this current batch of 'pubbies to make such a bold move?

[Sacajaweau]

Thought that was what Bush was upto. The Dems still said there is no problem with SS....In other words, leave it alon until the Dems get the Whitehouse.

[lilylangtree]

As long as it's not the "smelly" cheese.

[lilylangtree]

On 2nd thought, serve these wussies the smelly cheese.

[Sthitch]

I don't have trust that they will do this, but it would be the best way to make it happen since you cannot filibuster a conference report in the Senate. I believe that the hardest part will be needing to have at least a pilot program for it in the House version of the bill, that will give them leeway to change it in conference. If they did not have something there, the Dems could likely filibuster on a rules challenge claiming that it was a new bill, and not an actual conference report.

[unixfox]

This is funny, since the REAL bait and switch was creating the Social Security scam in the first place.

We took the bait and they took our money.

[johnmecainrino]

Voters of Montana need to send Max Baucus into retirement he is out of step with the voters of Montana as a U.S senator.

He sounds like a chris dodd senator type from connecticut.

[inquest]

Rep. Clay Shaw, a Florida Republican who was to unveil the proposal later on Wednesday, said it would create accounts but not rely on the private sector. Instead, the accounts would be financed by Social Security surpluses and hold government bonds similar to those held in the Social Security trust fund.

In other words, government would still be managing our retirement money.

We don't need "accounts". We need to be left alone to manage our money as we see fit, without the paternalistic hand of the politicians guiding us along the way - at all.

[sourcery]

When Democrats charge Republicans with some nefarious plot, it is strongly advised to immediately consider whether they are in fact guilty of the very thing about which they accuse. For example, in this case, it is in fact the Democrats who are attempting to do a "bait and switch," getting Republicans to participate in a "reform Social Security" process after having foresworn the use of the only tool that might possible help them avoid total defeat.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Instead, the accounts would be financed by Social Security surpluses and hold government bonds similar to those held in the Social Security trust fund.

There is no Social Security trust fund.

Currently, Social Security taxes exceed Social Security distributions, so the surplus goes into the pot to fund other federal government operations. They pretend it is a loan.

Soon, Social Security distributions will exceed Social Security taxes. The difference will be paid for from other tax revenue. For awhile, they will pretend that the federal government is paying back a loan.

The Social Security system becomes insolvent the day that distributions exceed taxes. From then on, Social Security distributions will be paid by using other taxes or by incurring more government debt.

[Bubba_Leroy]

We need to be left alone to manage our money as we see fit, without the paternalistic hand of the politicians guiding us along the way - at all.

Amen brother.

I have been paying social security taxes for over 30 years now. If I never worked another day, I would receive the maximum benefits when I retire. I would willingly give up any claim to the social security benefits that I have alrady earned if they would just stop making me pay in any more.

[thoughtomator]

Social Security itself is a massive bait and switch.

[sr4402]

Here are some suggestions to keep social security solvent longer.

1) All Social Security excess funds to be kept in Treasury bonds and not borrowed upon. (No IOUs no hands in the cookie jar).

2) No Social Security funds to Alchoholics or Drug Users and certainly no (SSI) to anyone less than the minimum retirement age.

3) All folk born in 2006 may have a minimum retirement age of 65 and maximum benefits at 75.

This may add 20 years more till insolvency. Make the Dems propose this since they oppose interest on social security.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

In other words we oppose everything.

[eyespysomething]

Democrats de cry Social Security 'bait and switch'

[Abby4116]

"They've taken tax cut after tax cut after tax cut and created a deficit which put the Social Security surplus in jeopardy," said Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat. "They have frittered away, because of irresponsible fiscal policy, the Social Security surplus."

The Social Security surplus should not even be considered when they are talking about general spending. It was supposed to be a "trust fund" - which I believe consists now of IOU's.

Somehow I don't trust the government to put the surplus in private accounts - would much rather see a percentage in private accounts by the individual.