Another Volley In War On Social Security

Since Social Security was passed in the 1930s and signed into law by President Roosevelt, it has been a lifesaver for many working Americans -- people who worked hard for all their lives for low wages.   For many of these people, their Social Security check is the only income they have, and the only thing keeping them in food and shelter.

The Republicans, and the rich people they represent, have always opposed Social Security, and even today they would love to destroy the program.   Fortunately, Social Security is popular with a large majority of Americans and the Republicans have not been able to muster enough support to destroy it -- yet.   So, for now, they are directing their efforts at just trying to weaken it -- that is, get rid of it a little bit at a time.

The latest lie they have been spreading is that Social Security has serious financial problems and is about to go broke.   They want Americans to believe the program is unsustainable (and have even called it a "Ponzi scheme").   If they can get people to believe this, then they can begin to cut benefits (and eventually abolish it altogether).

The truth is far different.   There is enough money in Social Security to continue making full payments to its recipients until at least the year 2037.   After that, one adjustment to the program would keep it solvent for many decades.   And that adjustment does not involve cutting benefits or extending the retirement age for recipients.  

All that needs to be done is to remove or raise the cap on Social Security payments into the system by workers (currently payments are made only on income up to $106,800).   This makes imminent sense, since the burden would be borne only by those who can afford it and not by low or middle class workers (who would be hurt the most by cutting benefits or extending the retirement age).

But that would mean that the rich politicians and their even richer corporate benefactors would have to cough up a little more money.   They hate that.   Just like with income taxes, they would rather the working and middle classes shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden.   And some Democrats, most notably the Blue Dog conservatives, are joining with the Republicans in this effort to screw American workers.

A couple of days ago, Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) appeared on CNN saying benefits must be cut for Social Security.   Just listen to what the Democrat (Warner) had to say:

"Look, folks at 25 or 30 years old today aren’t going to get Social Security at 65 or 67. We’re going to have to raise the retirement age slowly, in a slow way that doesn’t affect folks 50, 55. But this is just math. We’ve got to do some of these things."


Blue Dog Mark Warner has obviously climbed aboard the bandwagon of Republican lies about Social Security.   There was a time when Democrats would act to protect the best interests of ordinary Americans, but Warner has decided to throw his lot in with the rich and the corporate moguls.   And he's not alone.   Other Blue Dogs will probably join him.

And then the Democrats wonder why the electorate doesn't respect them.   At least the Republicans are honest.   They hate Social Security and would love to abolish it.   But Democrats claim to support it.   That makes it very puzzling when they join Republicans in voting to hurt the Social Security program and the people who depend on it.   Why should voters support Democrats when they say one thing and do another?

This is just one more volley in the war on Social Security.   It will get worse now that the Republicans have regained control of the House of Representatives.   And if the people can't depend on the Democrats to save Social Security without cutting benefits for those living on a fixed income, then the war may be lost.