Why do liberals have no answer for the social security crisis?

Question

“Clinton bluntly says Democrats should stop defending the status quo and instead consider changes that would ‘increase the rate of return’ on Social Security. They could follow the model of the government employee’s retirement system. (Broder) ”

George Bush offered these views during a discussion of the subject of reform: “I also think we ought to make the system a better deal for younger workers, and that means giving younger workers the option, the ability, if they so choose, to take some of their money-after all, it’s your money in the payroll taxes- and set it aside in what we call a voluntary personal savings account….I like the idea of giving somebody a chance to build a nest egg that the government can’t spend….It makes economic sense, if you’re a younger worker, and you realize that we’re taking your money and we’re putting it into a system that may not be around for you, you ought to demand change. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/)” Bush also agrees with Clinton on the idea that the Federal Thrift Savings Plan should be a plan available to all citizens, not just members of congress.

By the way, social security has nothing to do with Iraq or pork barrel spending.

At its inception, the program worked extremely well. After all, the average life expectancy in 1940 was 61 years of age for men, 66 years of age for women. In the early years of the program, funding for the program was more than adequate. In 1950, the worker to beneficiary ratio was 16.5 to 1. The worker to beneficiary ratio has dropped to 3.3-to-1, and within 40 years the ratio will be approximately 2-to-1.

The problem will keep getting worse. You can't raise taxes forever.

Answer 1

To provide a truthful answer, which I am not sure a liberal politician can ever be truthful, they would have to admit they were wrong the whole time, that socialism fails, it failed everywhere, and they have taken the American public on a Ponzi scheme ride since the beginning. They need to take a page from Clitoons playbook; sin, repent and all will be forgiven.

Were you aware that Americans do not know that the Democrats in Congress are the ones who started diverting the SS dollars into the general fund? Why is that not on the news all day every day?

Answer 2

A couple answers, 2 pretty conservative, 1 arguably liberal:

1. Liberals aren't good at math. And don't understand that a pay as you go system means that the ratio of current workers to retirees is important and if this ratio is dropping drastically that spells trouble.

2. Democrats can use it as a near-term scare tactic to swing popular opinion, perhaps even the elderly which might not understand what is going on but certainly don't want to lose their SS benefits (they won't). Politicians rarely have to deal with the long-term consequences of their policy decisions and its no different here (what do they care so long as they get elected).

3. They do have an answer for the 'crisis'--raising taxes. It could be as simple as lifting the social security wage cap on earnings, subjecting more wealthy people to 6.2% additional income tax.

Given the projections for benefits are going to have to be cut or taxes are going to have to be raised. And given that old people vote a hell of a lot more than young people, looks like taxes are going to have to be raised.

Answer 3

Well first of all, we should stop medicating so many old people so they stop living as long.People die for a reason, its part of life. You are right raising taxes will only do so much, instead of giving money to Israel, we could pour that money into social security. More people need to work and contribute to social security, so we should stop sending jobs overseas.We should stop allowing companies that send jobs overseas, to benefit from any kind of tax break, we should pour that money into social security. We should stop faith based government spending and pour that money into social security.We should stop spending billions of dollars on an illegal war, money that we dont have may I add, to secure oil.We should instead focus all our energies on finding an alternative to oil, patent it and sell it to every other country. This is America we can do anything right?

Answer 4

maybe because your conservatives have already allowed s.s. to fall beyond control. s.s. is a safety net that should be there when americans retire. but there is a pro business system in place now that allows big businesses to under fund their retirement plans and then dissolve them when it comes time to pay up. how about making businesses more financially responsible for their employees? instead of allowing illegal and loophole accounting practices that only benefit the few employees at the top while artificially boosting profits. profits that have nothing behind them but fraud and paperwork.
the answer to social security is to force businesses to fund their retirement plans. and if they can't fund them then they should not be in business. or perhaps should not be as large as they are. cutting down on mega corporations that monopolize their industry will breed competition. smaller companies with fewer employees will be able to better fund their retirement plans. and enforcing strict, legal accounting standards will help prevent fraud in these smaller companies as well.
the answers are out there. they are being stated and re-stated by many democrats and conservatives. but i can tell by the tone of your question that you would not listen to anything said by a liberal anyway. so why bother asking a question when you have no intention of listening to the answer?

Answer 5

1. Stop spending money we do not have.
2. Stop bombing and rebuilding foreign countries.
3. Invest in our economy, not outsourcing jobs.
4. Stop sending aid to Palestinians, Egypt, Israel, etc.

The economy will take care of the rest.

Answer 6

The answer is quit stealing other peoples money and putting it all in the general fund and then saying it's a problem Neocon.

Answer 7

They don't have an answer for anything. (except the blame game and conspiracy theories)

Answer 8

Well, we could start saving about $200,000,000,000 per year by NOT INVADING IRAQ!

That might go a ways toward solving the problem.

Answer 9

Hard to have answers when you use the funds for "pork" projects!

Answer 10

Their answer is raise taxes.