Social Security Reform
It is not difficult to understand why Social Security is our country’s most popular government program. Prior to its inception in the 1930’s, more than half the nation’s elderly lived in poverty. The program was designed as a social (old-age) insurance plan which provides a guaranteed income to retired and disabled workers whose loss of wages promises an uncertain economic future. I emphasize the word guaranteed, as this is the issue in contention when considering reform propositions.
Social Security, as we know it, ensures an acceptable standard of living for all citizens, and provides a safety net for those who, due to age or disability, are no longer able to support themselves by labor. It’s
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Any diversion in contributions would reduce the surplus, and have a negative impact on the programs supported therewith. While political groups have charged each other with squandering/draining the surplus for their own party-affiliated ends, this is actually impossible, as the Social Security trust fund is separate from the federal budget. “By running a deficit or spending a surplus,” Dean Baker tells us, “the government can no more drain Social Security than they can drain the bonds under [his] bed” (Baker).
Reformation advocates favor allowing workers to create private retirement accounts funded by the aforementioned 2 percent diversion of our Social Security taxes. They suggest that the emergency need for reform arises from the estimated population expansion and the increasing number of retirement-aged workers, and warn us that “inflation will push the current 12 percent contribution as high as 23 percent within the next 50 years” (Feldstein). Both sides agree there is a projected shortfall as the ratio of retirees to workers rise, however, these figures are as aggressive as the trustee’s projected rate of productivity growth are conservative. The numbers show that “if we don’t do anything, the system would pay all benefits to retirees right through the year 2038” (Baker). That is to say that if the government makes no changes whatsoever during the next 35 years, it could still pay every penny
In the essay, “The Social Security Problem,” published in Sticks and Stones and Other Student Essays, Max Moore addresses the complex issue of Social Security running out of funds. He also addresses the possible actions that can be taken in order to provide a solution to this problem. Moore targets different audiences that are either directly affected or in control of this depletion of funds. He uses credible evidence to support his claims while also approaching the subject in a balanced and unbiased manner. Moore wants Social Security to both raise the retirement age and raise taxes.
Social Security is what keeps many elderly and disabled Americans from being stricken by poverty. Without Social Security in our society 15.3 million elderly would have incomes below the poverty line, however after Social Security was added to the equation only 3.8 million elderly have incomes below poverty. Three-fourths of those elderly people who would have been poor without Social Security were removed from below the poverty line by Social
Social Security has been a very beneficial government program for elderly people, and those whom they support, when being an active member in the workforce is no longer an option for reasons such as old age, disability, or death. Destruction of the program, or worse, lack of the aid, would be catastrophic. Without it, it could leave many senior citizens that can no longer
For many years the social security program has been operating successfully. In recent times however, it is becoming apparent to some that social security is in need of reform. Their argument is that with the amount of people getting older in the next couple of decades, there will not be enough money left in the social security reserves to pay for everyone who needs it. That is why the idea of separating social security up into private funds has been brought to the attention of the American citizens. This idea of reform has been around for quite a long time; however it has been pushed on by pro reform supporters more in recent times because they think it is necessary for the
It’s a matter of either losing all that you have worked for and live in poverty when retired or allowing your hard earned dollars to grow and have a secure comfortable retirement. I believe that Social Security is a doomed Government Program and that Privatization of Social Security would allow for a more secure retirement plan for all Americans. Social Security was first created to help aging Americans in their senior years so they would not end up in poverty. Social Security was signed in as law on August 14, 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was fully operating by 1940 (SSA). Originally a retirement program, but Social Security now includes survivor benefits, disability benefits and Medicare and all together is the largest
By looking at the ratio of young to elder citizens at that time, idea of providing benefits to retirees from young employees’ taxes was logical. Only thing that Roosevelt was unaware of was the period of “baby boom” that was going to create trouble in the future with providing benefits. With the retirement of “baby boomers” in around 2018, real crisis will start for Social Security Administration with providing higher amount of benefits from lower amount of incomes.
Currently, President Obama has chosen that Social Security restructuring should be handled in the context of total federal budget and the problem of deficits and debt. In 2010, he created the new commission called the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. This is
The social security act was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt so that he could put in place provisions in order to help the elderly. The social security act a document that helps impoverished citizens, such as the elderly and physically impaired receive benefits after retirement. Citizens’ in America during the great depression where expected to work weather elderly or physically disabled. These citizens weren’t afforded the financial stability to retire so work was a necessity to acquire money. “Prior to social security, the elderly routinely faced the prospect of poverty upon retirement” (U.S SSA). This effect of the great depression led to a lot death and homes turning into singled parent homes with no income. “The widespread
It’s a matter of either losing all that you have worked for and live in poverty when retired or allowing your hard earned dollars to grow and have a secure comfortable retirement. I believe that Social Security is a doomed Government Program and that Privatization of Social Security would allow for a more secure retirement plan for all Americans. Social Security was first created to help aging Americans in their senior years so they would not end up in poverty. Social Security was signed in as law on August 14, 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was fully operating by 1940. Originally a retirement program, but Social Security now includes survivor benefits, disability benefits and Medicare and all together is the largest
There is much-heated debate on the issues of Social Security today. The Social Security system is the largest government program of income distribution in the United States. People are concerned that they won't see a dime of what they worked so hard to contribute into the Social Security system for so many years. Social Security provides benefits to about forty-three million Americans. Not only to retired workers, but also to their spouses and dependents of the workers who die prematurely. It also provides benefits to disabled workers and their dependents. Social Security appears to most people like a simple retirement saving’s account. After all, you generally
The United States government is the most effective distributor of Social Security because it has been able to deal with so many recipients on a monthly basis. Social Security has “over 54 million Americans currently receive Social Security benefits” (Miller). Social Security has also been able to consolidate its expenditures in recent years. In 2009, Social Security borrowed $76 billion less than expected and $87 billion less in 2010 (“Social Security”). As Social Security is able to adapt to the modern age it is able to cut its amount of borrowed money increasing its overall efficiency.
The Social Security system was created in 1935 to provide income for retirees. Today, 167 million people pay Social Security taxes, and 60 million Americans (retired workers, the disabled, survivors of the deceased, and beneficiary dependents) receive the benefits. American workers pay Social Security taxes on their income through an automatic deduction. However, the taxes that you pay are not stashed away into your own personal Social Security savings account, but rather it pools to cover current beneficiaries. According to the Social Security Administration, as seniors age, they rely more and more on Social Security benefits. Social Security was designed to be a supplement, not the only source of income for Americans, though. I have heard that Social Security will only
Social Security is a public program designed to provide income and services to individuals in the event of retirement, sickness, disability, death, or unemployment. In the United States, the word social security refers to the programs established in 1935 under the Social Security Act. Societies throughout history have devised ways to support people who cannot support themselves. In 1937 the government began issuing Social Security identification cards to all citizens. Each card had a unique number that the government used to keep track of a person’s earnings and the taxes collected from those earnings that went to finance Social Security benefits. The Social Security Act is an act in which
The Social Security System is in need of a new reform; our current system was not designed for the age stratification we have at this time. The U.S. Social Security Administration Office of Policy states, “The original Social Security Act, signed into law on August 14, 1935, grew out of the work of the Committee on Economic Security, a cabinet-level group appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt just one year earlier. The Act created several programs that, even today, form the basis for the government's role in providing income security, specifically, the old-age insurance, unemployment insurance, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) programs.” Social Security was modeled to aid the elderly citizens, however during the
Lastly, the Social Security Act was one of many reform efforts that sprung from the New Deal. This act was an attempt to provide general welfare for women and their children, those with disabilities such as blindness, older individuals, and public health, and helped financially support them while they were looking for work elsewhere. It was most common with elderly individuals, as they received what is known as “old-age pensions.” This was one of the few reforms that has stayed with us since the New Deal, and was economically successful in bringing America out of the Great