For a long time I have advocated that supporters of politicians should be the first ones to hold them accountable for their actions. Republicans don’t listen to Democrats and Democrats don’t listen to Republicans. If any listening takes place at all, it is when each speaks to his or her own party. But more is at stake than that. I believe holding the leaders we voted for accountable is a matter of integrity. There is nothing honest about criticizing the other party’s leaders, but refusing to do the same to your own. That’s a double standard, pure and simple.
That said, I find Obama’s proposal to cut Social Security benefits unconscionable. He wants to begin calculating Social Security increases based on what is called the “chained CPI” (consumer price index) that differs from the way the Bureau of Labor Statistics now does it. How the CPI is currently calculated and how Obama’s proposal would affect that process is complicated, but its effect is unambiguous. Seniors will see smaller Social Security checks. What is more, the impact of the cuts will get worse over time. Let’s put this in context. More than half of all seniors today depend on Social Security for at least half of their income, and 36% depend on it entirely. So this proposal is not a small thing, even though its supporters argue it is.
But here is why I find what Obama is proposing so morally objectionable. It is absolutely unnecessary. This is all about politics, not policy. How do I know? Because there is another way to shore up SS without the chained CPI. The current maximum annual income on which people pay SS is $113,700. Whatever you make over that amount is exempt. Raising that maximum amount in increments over ten years to $125,000 would make SS completely solvent for the next 75 years without cutting benefits. If Obama were serious about policy he would help SS this way.
But there is something else that makes it clear that Obama is playing politics. Social Security does not increase or decrease the annual deficit, despite the fact that news reporters and politicians and others continue to say it does. Social Security is funded solely by its own tax, and by law cannot draw on general revenue funds. Therefore, ask anyone who says it affects the deficit to explain how it does. The only thing they will be able to tell you honestly is that it has an impact because the government has taken money from the SS Trust Fund and has to pay it back.
This is a disingenuous argument because the government has no choice but to pay back SS. It is required by law to do so. The only way it wouldn’t have to is if Congress passed a law saying it wouldn’t. That is not going to happen. So the “chained CPI” is the only way those who want to cut SS can do it. By cutting benefits the amount of money the government has to pay back will get smaller over time. So this is not about how to save Social Security. It’s about cutting benefits. Don’t let anyone ever tell you anything different.
For President Obama to be the first Democratic president to propose cutting SS benefits is, I believe, a breach of trust for all those seniors who voted for him. It has long been the position of the Republican Party to turn Social Security into a welfare program by making it need based through vouchers, or to privatize it so as to drain away its resources. So Democrats have opposed all the changes Republicans have wanted to make in it…until now.
Here is a truth no supporter of President Obama’s can deny. This president has revived the hopes of those who want to begin the long journey to reducing Social Security to a public assistance program with minimal funding. In short, Obama has chosen to play politics with the lives of seniors. I find that no less reprehensible than what the Republicans are doing by refusing to discuss revenue increase. It is what it is, and no amount of political loyalty can change it.
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As a trained financial counselor I know your comments are absolutely correct. Can’t we find some people of integrity in the Congress that would listen to us? I’m speaking on behalf of all the seniors who are living at Sycamore Glen Retirement Community in Miamisburg, OH.
I am writing my Senators. Perhaps if others do the same we will get some help. It may turn out that the refusal of the Republicans to consider new revenues will save SS. How ironic is that?
Since we live in the colony of DC, we have no senators to write.
Love the passion and explanation Jan.
Curious how the Obama budget impacts SSDI which is a real safety net for many and abused by some recipients and corrupted by many lawyers. Dixcy
I wrote ALL of my representatives (all happen to be Democrats) and the president on this very issue the week after we fell off the “Fiscal Cliff”. I knew it would be part of ongoing budget politics. I got one response, from senator Franken, indicating he was fighting against the CPI concept becoming enacted. I will write again. However, I became disenchanted with this president long ago and VOTED THIRD PARTY BECAUSE OF HIS ALIGNMENT WITH TOO MANY CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGIES AND NUMEROUS BROKEN PROMISES! That was my way of holding this president accountable.
He is part of our current co-opted, billionaire owned system which requires REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE, peaceful or non, to return to functionality. Until enough people see the “light” change won’t happen. Perhaps when the banks do to us here what they’re doing in Cypress we’ll wake up! In the mean time, thank you for urging citizen engagement. Be well.
Thanks for being the open-minded, wise person you are.
Jan, you are ‘spot on’! Clearly and succinctly stated…. you ought to be in Congress!
But wait, you’ve stated the issue, its causes and provided a solution…. sorry, you are over qualified… you can’t run, besides, your district has been gerrymandered, and you have no photo ID!!
IN ALL SERIOUSNESS: Obama has failed miserably here and offered up the senior citizens as cannon fodder – literally a front line defense…. err ‘offering’ to entrenched politicians for the wealthy.
Those same politicians (and many before them) have pilfered the SS coffers and “We The People” are stuck bailing them out… again.
This nation is fast approaching the peak of massive numbers of Americans eligible for SS benefits – what a perfect time to dip into the cookie jar…. again!
‘A breach of trust’ is an understatement… and ‘disingenuous’ is becoming a reoccurring theme in Obama’s 2nd term.
As far as the Republican party sees it, SS is a welfare program… their ‘base’ – wealthy businesses – foot half of the workers’ SS accounts… do you realize the effect on wealthy businesses in keeping all that ‘welfare money’ ? Their salaries and compensation would have no where to go but up!
We are a nation with many ‘broke’ systems… fraud – perpetrated by low-lifes in jeans or suits…. why not fix the leaks…. WHY? Because senior citizens are today’s low hanging fruit!
Paul. My position on public office is the same of that of William Tecumseh Sherman: “If nominated I will not run; if elected I will not serve.”
While I am not happy with Obama on this issue, I do not agree with the tenor of some of the comments that seems to put the Obama Presidency as a failure because of this one issue. This man has endured and prevailed despite the fact that the republicans are willing to destroy our country to deny Obama any success.