Obama, Keep Your Hands off Social Security

Hands Off Social Security

As Social Security emerged as a target in White House budget negotiations, Sen. Bernie Sanders insisted that the retirement program must not be cut as part of any deficit reduction deal. "Let us be clear," Sanders said. "Social Security has not contributed one nickel to our deficit or our national debt."

The program that benefits more than 50 million seniors and disabled has a $2.6 trillion surplus, he stressed, and will be able to provide full benefits for every eligible American for the next 25 years.

"I am especially disturbed that President Obama is considering cuts in Social Security after he campaigned against cuts in 2008," Sanders added.

Cutting Social Security is opposed by overwhelming majorities of Americans. A recent survey by Public Policy Polling in swing states echoed findings of other national polls.

According to a coalition of seniors groups, Social Security Works, a change in the way Social Security cost-of-living adjustments are calculated would cost seniors hundreds of dollars a year in benefits. The Congressional Budget Office estimates adoption of the so-called "Chained-CPI," which would be used to determine Social Security's annual COLA, would cut be nefits by $112 billion over 10 years. The Social Security Administration chief actuary estimates the effects of this change would be that beneficiaries who retire at age 65 and receive average benefits would get $560 less a year at age 75 than they would under current law and get $1,000 less a year at age 85 - a 3.7 percent cut and a 6.5 percent cut, respectively. The proposal would cut $1.6 trillion over Social Security's 75-year valuation period - mainly from the oldest of the old, primarily women and those who are disproportionately poor.

When voters in Ohio were asked this spring if they would support or oppose cutting spending on Social Security to reduce the national debt, only 16 percent favored that approach compared to 80 percent who were opposed. There were nearly identical results in other states.

Meanwhile, strong majorities favor increased revenue from the wealthiest Americans and most profitable corporations should be part of any deficit reduction package. "In poll after poll, the American people agree there must be shared sacrifice," Sanders said.

sanders.senate.gov...



Obama is planning on breaking a campaign promise of not touching social security...and thankfully there are people like Bernie Sanders out there fighting for the elderly and disabled who will be hurt by what Obama is willing to do.

How in the hell can they think it's a good idea to cut social security benefits for seniors when they need it most in this economy? WTF OBAMA.

You are a coward...a weak coward.

Wouldn't it be great if, in those rare moments when the majority of regular Americans actually agree on something, our elected officials just acted like they were there to represent our wishes and did want we wanted.

Oh, dare to dream.

reply to post by watcher3339


I know, majority of Americans say no across the board...LARGE majorities...but they don't care. Better to keep the wars going and stick to the elderly.

Scumbags.

Sorry, he's wrong. The social security trust fund has 2.6 Trillion IOU's.


It is basically a pay as you go. We pay the taxes, they pay the recipients and then move the surplus to general funds.

Might as well get rid of the trust fund if they intend to keep stealing from it.

Hey look at the bright side, at least they aren't going to touch the defense budget - not one dime! What would we do without our 727 overseas military bases? Move over Soviet Union, you're about to get some company in the history books.

Planning on breaking campaign promises? You say that like its something new, and he hasn't already done the opposite of what he has promised.

The rich are paying one of the lowest percentages they've ever been taxed in our history. If you increase that back to earlier levels of 35-40 %, including corporations, end some if not all these wars, simply for economic reasons, come up with a solid budget then you may propose cuts like this.

This should be a last resort however and only should be considered after everything else has been done.

reply to post by David9176


Obama will cave. He always does, he always will. He is all talk...and I was dumb enough to vote for him.

reply to post by David9176

Social security is political suicide to even think about touching. You can start cutting when it starts causing a deficit and not until. I mean, it'll be soon enough, won't it?

Originally posted by kro32
The rich are paying one of the lowest percentages they've ever been taxed in our history. If you increase that back to earlier levels of 35-40 %, including corporations, end some if not all these wars, simply for economic reasons, come up with a solid budget then you may propose cuts like this.

This should be a last resort however and only should be considered after everything else has been done.

And yet, the Republicans and Boehner have repeatedly said that they will not even discuss raising taxes on the wealthy with Obama. But of course what they actually say is "they will not discuss raising taxes on the American people". And people continue to fall for this. Sanders, once again, is absolutely right - they need to share some sacrifice along with everyone else. They sure aren't right now.

And once again Obama is not standing up for what got him voted into office. Seems like he just lays over again and again for the Republicans.

With all the polls strongly indicating Americans do not want this, I have to wonder if this could be an actual tipping point.

Yeah, haven forbid that we cut, and try and get out of debt. There are only two ways to get out of debt the first budget cuts and the second is raising taxes. Yes we need to get out of debt cutting programs and raising taxes is the only way to go. Better to let a few go under than let the whole country go under.

I'm just counting members posting on this thread who have demanded that social security be cut along with every other "entitlement program", who were in bold support of Bush' plans to hand Social Security entirely over to the now-teetering private banks... who are now stridently opposed to Obama's willigness to consider SS cuts.

Will update as more of these cretins post here.

reply to post by TheWalkingFox

who are now stridently opposed to Obama's willigness to consider SS cuts.

Funny thing is that Congress is the one who will write up the bill and have to pass it in order for Obama to sign.

BTW, how many have you counted so far?

I have been in many one half to two million dollar homes that are owned
by persons that have two to three of these. The owners inform me that
that they only occupy the residence for two weeks a year! Many have
two or more homes. Some homes have more in art hanging on the walls
than most will make in a lifetime of servitude.

Mess with Social Security!

Something is just not right!

reply to post by David9176


If they want cuts it is pretty simple to do...let people drop out of social security if they do not want it. They don't want cuts. They want to maximize the revenue they are making off the American people to pay off their foreign wars of conquest.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer

Hey look at the bright side, at least they aren't going to touch the defense budget - not one dime! What would we do without our 727 overseas military bases? Move over Soviet Union, you're about to get some company in the history books.

Exactly....but we are drawing down the troops!!

What's next? Cutting help for military veterans who are disabled? For what, so a billionaire can add an extra zero to his bank account?

reply to post by pajoly

Obama will cave. He always does, he always will. He is all talk...and I was dumb enough to vote for him.

Just like he did on damn near everything else....including health care....free trade...etc.

reply to post by mb2591

Planning on breaking campaign promises? You say that like its something new, and he hasn't already done the opposite of what he has promised.

Obama has been one gigantic broken promise thus far....this is a major mistake he's making. He can kiss the elderly vote goodbye...Republicans will benefit from this even though they are all for taking a slice out of SS as well.

reply to post by origamiandurbanism

With all the polls strongly indicating Americans do not want this, I have to wonder if this could be an actual tipping point.

He cuts social security he will lose the elderly vote....it's guaranteed....which means he will most likely lose in 2012 to Mitt Romney.