Capitol Voice

For years, Social Security has been the whipping boy of deficit reduction advocates.  And, while in principal the thoughts are appealing, the target is completely wrong.

THE FACTS:

- Social Security did NOT cause the deficit and has NOT contributed one cent to the federal deficit;  (note:  By law, Social Security cannot contribute to the federal deficit or borrow money);

- Social Security is NOT in crisis mode.  In 2010, Social Security will run a $76.7 billion surplus and its accumulated surplus will grow to $4.2 trillion by 2025;

- Social Security will stay self-financing as the recovery grows;

- Social Security provides income security for seniors and offers disability insurance when the primary breadwinner has died;

Social Security provides the majority of income for 3/5's of Americans age 65 and older

- Polls show the American public opposes cuts in Social Security;

See Bernie Sanders, Social Security

- Social Security has been and continues to be one of the most effective government programs in history with the administration spending less than one cent on each dollar.

See Young People's Guide to Social Security

One of the planks of the Deficit Commission’s failed reports was a call to raise the Social Security age to 68 by 2050 and to 69 by 2075.  This proposal never saw the light-of-day, being defeated in committee by a vote of 11 to 7 last December. Conservatives and Republicans in the House of Representatives continue to threaten to vote against raising the debt ceiling as a quid-pro-quo for supporting their efforts to slash or privatize Social Security.  Capitol Voice questions their rationale for wanting to take a time-tested program and placing it in the hands of a less than secure Wall Street.

Many groups and progressives feel the President may be soft on keeping Social Security as it is today.  Capitol Voice has joined other groups in a campaign to strengthen Social Security and asks what is wrong with caring . . . for our parents, for our neighbors, for our seniors, and for those in need?

Capitol Voice encourages each and every caring citizen to contact their U.S. Senator and the White House and tell them NOT to cut or privatize Social Security.   (If you need information on your Senators, please contact us at Capitol Voice). And, thanks for caring.

Contact Barbara Tucker at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

and memdir@capitol-voiceorg   for more info