Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fixing Social Security
The American Thinker ^ | November 08, 2010 | Randall Hoven

Posted on 11/08/2010 1:29:49 AM PST by Scanian

Being desirous of pleasing Barack Obama and John Kerry, I will endeavor to stick to facts, science, truth, and argument. The challenge I present in this article could kill three birds with one stone. I propose a single experiment to test two political hypotheses and to solve the Social Security insolvency problem -- all in one fell swoop. (I try to be productive even on my days off.)

Hypothesis 1: Democrats do not expand government in order to solve problems; they use problems as an excuse to expand government.

Hypothesis 2: Republicans only talk about reducing government; when in office, they expand it.

Now, some of you might think both hypotheses have already been proven true multiple times over. But according to the scientific method, you cannot prove a theory true; you can only falsify it. The more tests a hypothesis passes, the more it becomes a "theory." And if a theory keeps passing tests, it gets promoted to a "law." So we should keep testing.

Here, then, is an experiment to test both of these hypotheses at once:

Propose a bill to adjust initial Social Security benefits by consumer prices.

(You might think that's already the way it works. But bear with me.)

According to my hypotheses, if such a bill were introduced, the Democrats would fight it, and the Republicans would fail to support it. But if my hypotheses are wrong and the bill passes, it would have the side benefit of fixing the entire Social Security insolvency problem.

Regarding my proposed bill, we all hear that Social Security is in trouble. That is true, and the Congressional Budget Office confirms it:

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: initialbenefits; lockbox; taxes; trustfund
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

1 posted on 11/08/2010 1:29:53 AM PST by Scanian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Scanian

FDR signs Social Security Act


2 posted on 11/08/2010 1:36:45 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

This is a fix that I’ve known about for years.


3 posted on 11/08/2010 1:40:22 AM PST by ari-freedom (Ding dong the Pelosi is gone!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono
If I'm not mistaken, someone in the Reagan administration was talking about this a good bit until the Congress put the kybosh on them speaking out because it wasn't playing well to the pollsters.

It works, you can prove it works, it should be high on the list. As soon as Obamacare, taxes, the end of the educational dictatorship run from DC, and an end to all funding of the arts, this should bubble to the top. Until we have education fixed and working properly for a good while, though, I don't think a majority will even understand this.

Regards

4 posted on 11/08/2010 1:48:27 AM PST by Rashputin (Barry is totally insane and being kept medicated and on golf courses to hide the fact)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

saving


5 posted on 11/08/2010 2:24:35 AM PST by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like what you say))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Scanian
Very poor explanation.

Indexed to “Earnings?”

The individual’s “Earnings?”

Are “Earnings” the same thing as an individual’s “Contributions?”

Another glaring unresolved question...

Does anyone believe that millions of immigrant Hispanics and Africans are going to remit 100% of their yearly Social Security contributions directly to aged white Americans?

And what future immigrant groups are going to remit 100% of their contributions to aged Hispanics and Africans?

And how long before America's population hits 1 billion people in this immigration Ponzi scheme?

6 posted on 11/08/2010 2:27:02 AM PST by zeestephen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

Common sense would fix most of America’s problems so the odds of getting anything “fixed” is not going to happen.

With some conservatives and the rest of the republicans in power in the House, my hope is they won’t let things get worse.


7 posted on 11/08/2010 2:27:50 AM PST by maddog55 (OBAMA, You can't fix stupid...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

And there you have it.


8 posted on 11/08/2010 2:29:04 AM PST by screaminsunshine (Cowabunga)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: maddog55

That is the most we can expect given fanatical Democratic opposition to even cleaning up the mess they made on their own watch.


9 posted on 11/08/2010 2:32:55 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

Their is an idea out their to take your side of the contributions and esentially lend it to Credit Unions for Mortgages. Credit Unions were not under the CRA and many still hold their own “paper”. This would increase the yield and take 1/2 the money out of an inter-generational Ponzi scheme and provided capital for for home ownership at the local level. Works for me...


10 posted on 11/08/2010 3:10:47 AM PST by taildragger ((Palin / Mulally 2012 ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

Maybe a little known fact. Congress has the authority, under the Social Security Act, to stop paying ANY benefits. Of course, this is political suicide. Of course, no Congress will ever stop payouts. Of course, we can trust the federal government.

Right! As soon as DeathCare, starts killing off the elderly, Social Security will be phased OUT, as will MediCare and MedicAid. Then, Soylent Green.


11 posted on 11/08/2010 3:21:32 AM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NTHockey
Then, Soylent Green.

My guess by Executive Order and a memo from the Heath Care Czar The Soylent Crackers will be Arugula flavored...

12 posted on 11/08/2010 3:29:45 AM PST by taildragger ((Palin / Mulally 2012 ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NTHockey

Of course... the Democrats want to solve entitlement costs through the back door.

Seniors know all too well what it means.


13 posted on 11/08/2010 3:35:04 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Scanian
One big problem started when Social Security became a trust fund for the "disabled"!

I'm not saying that there are no cases where the payments are deserved. I'm not totally heartless. But, there is way too much opportunity for abuse in this segment of Social Security.

14 posted on 11/08/2010 3:58:12 AM PST by REPANDPROUDOFIT (General, sir, it is perfectly ok to call me "ma'am"!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: REPANDPROUDOFIT

Social Security Supplemental is a different program. Its paid out of general taxes.

Social Security is paid out of work contributions = FICA. Its a compulsory retirement savings program.

They are two very different elements of Social Security.


15 posted on 11/08/2010 4:06:16 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: REPANDPROUDOFIT

We need a fund like Alaska has, not taxable, all with a valid S.S. number would get it. Chks. expire in 90 days. If you don’t think you need it, don’t cash the chk. Buffet, Gates, and other libs would be invited to put their money where their pie hole is and chip into the fund.


16 posted on 11/08/2010 4:19:15 AM PST by Waco (From Seward to Sarah)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Waco
Here's my little idea.....Allow the people who want to NOT take their SS checks and give them a MEDAL to show that they made this sacrifice!

There are plenty of people who didn't serve in the military that still want to give something to their country, and a MEDAL is a good sign of that.

Once a person has gotten back what they put in, with interest, they could have their payments stopped and also get a MEDAL, a different one....just like there are different medals given for service in the military.

17 posted on 11/08/2010 5:16:14 AM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion......the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: ari-freedom
The author seems to think that the SS Trust Fund contains real assets. It does not, but rather it represents an unfunded liability, which is why it is included in the national debt under Intragovernmental Holdings.

SS is a pay as you go system. It will go permanently in the red in 2016. It is in the red now, which means that some of its IOUs are being cashed in thru the general fund to pay for benefits.

18 posted on 11/08/2010 5:18:37 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Rashputin

Reagan made a Faustian bargain with Tip O’Neill in 1983 to get SS back into the black. They increased the taxes and reduced benefits, including raising the retirement age for full benefits from 65 to 67.


19 posted on 11/08/2010 5:20:27 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
Social Security is paid out of work contributions = FICA. Its a compulsory retirement savings program.

No, it is not a retirement savings program. Your contributions do not belong to you. A person could pay into the system for 50 years and not receive a dime except for a small burial allowance. It is a Ponzi scheme.

20 posted on 11/08/2010 5:23:56 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson