30 years isn’t bad for a short-term financing problem’s solution, even if they did make “many other changes.”

As for Terrye, the home health “caregiver”, I respond that of course the elderly who have been forced, forced to ‘contribute’ will do their level best to recover what they can. Has nothing to do with needs or wants.

Wondered when that one would show up— the usual “if you aren’t willing to subsidize the system by paying and not cashing out, and would rather FIX the system, your arguments are invalid!”

That’s similar to the argument that goes: “Did you go to public school? Yes? Then you have no business criticizing public education.”

There are people who, in spite of having worked 45 years, have been able to save little. These are the people for whom SS is an absolute must. Most politicians want you to believe that is a majority of oldsters. It really isn’t, though. However, since everyone who works “on the books” pays in, the program is set up to pay out to all who paid in. Because of that, it is not considered welfare but an entitlement.

However, some years back a means test was instituted. Those who have a taxable income over a certain level (About $35,000 in 2010) have to pay taxes on 85% of their SS income. The same is true of Medicare. For recipients who have their premiums deducted from their SS the monthly premium for 2011 will be $110.50. Those with joint incomes above $170,000 the premium will be $115.40.

More means testing is in the future, but it will be challenged because people believe, not without good reason, (most progressivess will tell them that) that they paid for the program during their working years. The bare facts are there isn’t enough money, so both benefit reductions and more means testing lie in the future. Later ages of eligibility as well. That is what is required to “fix” the programs. The progressives don’t want to admit it. But it has to be fixed or it will collapse and no one will get much.

If you do well and have a decent income in retirement you will continue to pay for the benefits. Is that fair? It doesn’t matter if it is fair. Fix it or it will collapse.

It would have been better if it had never been instituted, but who is ready to take care of old people who have no assets? Life’s a bitch and then you die. But most of us don’t want to see old people begging in the streets as commonly seen in the Third World.

I like Herman Cain’s idea of converting to the Chilean system where each person owns his account. The reason why the progs don’t like that is that there would be winners and losers and they would not be able to act as Golden Knights for the losers.

It’s a mess and makes my head hurt when I consider all the ramifications.

Wondered when that one would show up– the usual “if you aren’t willing to subsidize the system by paying and not cashing out, and would rather FIX the system, your arguments are invalid!” (Nevermind that there’s a bit of a selection bias, seeing as a home health care agency specializing in social security and VA benefits would rather assure that you’re not going to get folks who do abstain from the benefits they paid for.)

Ditto for the usual talking point about how we can’t dare speak actual truth about this or that issue, because the Democrats will call us names.
News flash– they call us names no matter what. They’ll claim we’re trying to kill people no matter what we do, so we may as well talk truth and trust in people to not be as stupid as the Dems think they are. Face it, we’re not as good as the Dems at lying, buying votes, etc– so we should contrast ourselves, instead of being DemLite.

And once the baby boomers are gone, some of the problems it faces now will be gone because of the change in demographics.

Democrats love to demagogue issues like this. I am surprised that so many conservatives want to hand them this issue on a silver platter.

Americans want this program saved, not done away with..and that goes for most Republicans as well as most Americans in general.

Bush tried to reform and could not get the support he needed, largely because Democrats framed it as an attempt to kill the program..throwing around words like ponzi scheme, criminal enterprise, fraud, lie etc might make some conservatives feel better, but it will only alienate people and make reform less likely.

I work for a home health care agency. I take care of people on social security or veterans. I have never known one person, no matter how conservative, who would refuse these benefits if they felt they needed them. Talk is cheap, when you are strong and young and secure.