Switching to a stingier method of adjusting Social Security benefits is supposed to be OK because we can just “substitute” an equivalent good for one that’s become too costly. But what if that substitution becomes permanent? The chained CPI is perhaps the first—at least the most blatant—attempt to write the acceptance of downward mobility into [...]
Archive for the ‘Social Security’ Category
Social Security as a National Unification Policy
Legal scholar Karen N. Tani has published one of the most original and provocative papers in years on one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history—the Social Security Act of 1935. (Note: For the first time, a Democratic president has just launched a proposal to cut Social Security benefits. This is quite [...]
Why is “entitlement” such a nasty word?
Since his reelection, President Obama has been talking about “reforming entitlements” every chance he gets –or at least when he’s talking to Republicans. But why – and when – did “entitlement” become such a nasty word? Since his reelection, the president has been trying hard to have it both ways when it comes to Social [...]
It’s All About the Taxes
It’s a simple question that progressive types – and many non-Washingtonians, for that matter –ask themselves all the time: If Social Security needs more money in coming decades, why not just raise the payroll tax? It’s how we’ve done it in the past, why can’t we just do it again? The reason is that the [...]
Teaching Social Security, With and Without Prejudice
17 Sep 2012 at 16:47
Eric Laursen
Economics, Medicare, Social insurance, Social Security, Uncategorized
A Young Person’s Guide to Social Security is an excellent tool for teaching students and younger workers how the system works and what’s at stake in the struggle over Social Security’s future. But big money is behind “Understanding Fiscal Responsibility,” a competing curriculum that can’t hide its deep ideological bias. The Social Security wars are [...]
Jon Cowan: Once Again, Ginning Up Faux Youth Outrage
Coming soon: a new pressure group called “The Can Kicks Back,” which aims to turn younger Americans into an anti-deficit avenging army. It will surely attempt to play a role in the post-election talks surrounding the “fiscal cliff.” This offensive bears a slight odor of deja vu, however, because one of its organizers is Jonathan [...]
Democracy Now: Ryan’s Push to Dismantle Social Security
20 Aug 2012 at 19:17
Infoshop News
Retirement, Social insurance, Social Security, The People's Pension
Expand Social Security? How Outlandish!
The Rebuild America Act, introduced in March by Sen. Tom Harkin, as a wish-list of progressive ideas that would be widely discussed in this election if it reflected anything other than the standard Washington agenda. One very important section but little-noticed of the bill would actually expand Social Security. Thanks to Ken Buffin of Buffin [...]
Pie in the Sky in Eastern Europe: The Ryan Plan in Action
16 Aug 2012 at 23:37
Eric Laursen
Non-U.S. pension systems, Recession, Retirement, Social insurance, Social Security
Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan has been pushing Social Security privatization for the better part of a decade. What if his plan was actually implemented? An important new paper looks at what happened when Hungary and Poland attempted something similar with their national pension systems. The results were ugly. It’s been reported that Paul Ryan [...]
Why You Should Celebrate Social Security’s Birthday on Aug. 14
Social Security’s 77th birthday comes up on Tues., August 14. The Alliance for Retired American is planning events all over the country to celebrate (see details below!). As well it might – Social Security’s benefit checks keep 20 million people out of poverty every year and are helping to prop up consumer spending while the [...]
