Contradictions on Social Security! Are we getting the TRUTH?

[Freedom Wins IV]

I got this from a friend of mine who is a Very Liberal Democrat ex-Attorney.
Can anyone else explain it???


Let me know if you find any FACTS of RECORD that contradict this as opposed to the BS from any politician.



Guy

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--- On Thu, 7/29/10, Nita Chaudhary, MoveOn.org Political Action <moveon-help@list.moveon.org> wrote:

Social Security is under attack and we need to fight back against the lies.

Have you heard that Social Security is going bankrupt? Driving up the deficit? In crisis?

Well none of that is true. These are all myths that opponents of Social Security have been spreading to scare people into accepting benefit cuts this fall. But the myths are taking hold—so we have to fight back with the facts.

So we've put together a list of the top five myths about Social Security, along with the real story. Can you check out the list and then share it with your friends, family, and coworkers?

Share the list by going to http://pol.moveon.org/ssmyths?id=22141-1...X3WZSx&t=1 If you're on Facebook, share it by clicking here. If you're on Twitter, tweet it here.

Top 5 Social Security Myths
Myth #1: Social Security is going broke.

Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a 'T'). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.1 After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits—and again, that's without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers' retirement decades ago.2 Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

Myth #2: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.

Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than they did 70 years ago.3 What's more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly—since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.4 But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.

Myth #3: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security.

Reality: Social Security doesn't need to be fixed. But if we want to strengthen it, here's a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share. If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.5 Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.6 But conservatives insist benefit cuts are the only way because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.

Myth #4: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs

Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn't full of IOUs, it's full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.7 The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts. President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market—which would have been disastrous—but luckily, he failed. So the trillions of dollars in the Social Security Trust Fund, which are separate from the regular budget, are as safe as can be.

Myth #5: Social Security adds to the deficit

Reality: It's not just wrong—it's impossible! By law, Social Security's funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way. That means that Social Security can't add one penny to the deficit.8

Defeating these myths is the first step to stopping Social Security cuts. Can you share this list now?

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Duncan, Daniel, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1."To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security," New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89703&id=22141...X3WZSx&t=4

2. "The Straight Facts on Social Security," Economic Opportunity Institute, September 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89704&id=22141...X3WZSx&t=5

3. "Social Security and the Age of Retirement," Center for Economic and Policy Research, June 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89705&id=22141...X3WZSx&t=6

4. "More on raising the retirement age," Washington Post, July 8, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89706&id=22141...X3WZSx&t=7

5. "Social Security is sustainable," Economic a

[red top]

we never will

[Annoyingframe549]

Never trust anything from moveon.org. That's liberal propaganda. A basic study of economics would counter those foolish claims any day.

[Ms. Minerva]

Please run for President. I will vote for you.

[Poopie]

Sounds about right.

[tonalc2]

Yes, you get the truth depending on whom you listen to.

I find it amusing that these facts are poo-pooed because MoveOn.org assembled them, even though they're from the Economic Opportunity Institute, the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the Washington Post, and the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute.

[Suzanne]

Of course Social Security is going to go broke. The Democrats are talking about raising the retirement age to 70 for anyone that is under 50. If you are 49 or younger, that means you. All politicians knew this day was coming when 30 million baby boomers begin to retire. Now the Democrats are talking about a "means test" which means if you were responsible and saved in a 401K or have other retirement savings, you won't get any Social Security. Only the bums that spent every penny they earned on new cars, lavish vacations, going out to eat, etc. If that happens, you can expect a total halt to our economy. Look around next time you go out to eat....there are gray hairs everywhere. They will quickly spend all their money so they don't get screwed out of the Social Security they counted on for retirement. It's not sustainable. There are too many retirees living too long and then throw on all the people on drugs collect SS Disability for a lifetime.

[chevypirate]

I got as far as Moveon.org and read no further.

[jaker]

First of all it is almost comical that you would cite something from MoveOn.org and then say you don't trust anything from a politician. LOL
Anyway, look at this for comparison. You might also look up the current Social Security Trustees Report. They have the real facts.
http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba662

[iris054]

Those saying "don't trust move on" didn't even look at the link. Typical. If they had, they'd have discovered every statement was very well sourced. Don't listen to the silly fear mongers.

Social Security is doing fine. And should it be in need at any time in the future, CONGRESS ALWAYS HAS THE ABILITY TO FUND SS OR ANY OTHER PROGRAM. They know better than to let it go down the drain. Remember when Bush wanted to privatize it? A deafening shriek was heard from coast to coast and he was forced to back off, which was a good thing.

So for those of you paying in to SS thinking you won't get anything back, relax. It will be there for you as long as you insist that it must.

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