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Social Security's $20 Trillion Shortfall: Why Reform is Needed
Heritage Foundation ^

Posted on 01/17/2008 6:14:34 PM PST by newbie2008

Social Security faces an enormous future deficit: Between today and 2075, the inflation-adjusted shortfall is projected to reach a staggering $20 trillion. Although the problem with the current system is due in part to changes in demographics, the root of the problem lies in the fact that the Social Security system itself is poorly designed. Workers, particularly those under age 50, are slated to receive very low benefits in return for a record amount of payroll taxes they send to the federal government. 1 These workers could enjoy substantially greater levels of retirement income if they were allowed to place the bulk of their payroll taxes in professionally managed individual retirement accounts, 2 which historically have had significantly higher rates of return.

Defenders of the current system generally admit that personal accounts would make workers better off, but they also argue that the "transition cost" of privatizing would be significant. More specifically, because a major share of the payroll taxes now used to pay benefits would be invested instead in private accounts, policymakers would need to find several trillion dollars to finance benefits for current retirees and those nearing retirement (and, therefore, too old to take advantage of private accounts).

(Excerpt) Read more at heritage.org ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: genx; greedygeezers
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To: Graybeard58
I’m joking kiddo.

You got me!
21 posted on 01/17/2008 6:42:17 PM PST by microgood
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To: microgood
I would agree, but that is Medicare, not Social Security, which Bush actually tried to fix.

Huh..are you series??

22 posted on 01/17/2008 6:43:01 PM PST by evad (.)
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To: newbie2008

So folks, tell me....this has gotten better with the democrats in control of congress, right? I mean, it’s much better now than it would have been if anyone would have backed Bush when he was taking on the issue, right? Just wait until there is a democrat in the White House...then this problem will be completely resolved, right?


23 posted on 01/17/2008 6:43:07 PM PST by Gator113 (My short list..Fred, Hunter, Romney.)
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To: newbie2008

This is from 1998, and there is a lot better data on SS from 2005.

The trust fund is currently worth about 3 trillion...it is not going bust anytime soon.It is backed by government bonds that the US has never reneged on, and by law, can only invest in those US government bonds.

Social Security as we know it isn’t going to be touched by politicians for a decade, if then. Bush tried to just get a dialog going...you saw how well that worked.


24 posted on 01/17/2008 6:43:51 PM PST by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
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To: evad
Huh..are you series??

I thought Bush tried to privatize Social Security at some point. I know he failed but I thought he was going to give people control of at least some of it.
25 posted on 01/17/2008 6:44:52 PM PST by microgood
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To: A.Hun
What a crock.

The trust fund is worthless. The only thing social security has to back it up is the government's ability to confiscate money in the form of taxes.

26 posted on 01/17/2008 6:47:03 PM PST by evad (.)
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To: microgood

I helped an elderly man load a couple of those big bags of dog food in his pick up at Wal-Mart the other day and he told me I was a nice young man. Made my day and I’ve been feeling frisky ever since.


27 posted on 01/17/2008 6:47:45 PM PST by Graybeard58 ( Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: microgood
oh..ok, I see how it reads now.

You're right of course.

28 posted on 01/17/2008 6:48:12 PM PST by evad (.)
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To: evad
The trust fund is worthless. The only thing social security has to back it up is the government's ability to confiscate money in the form of taxes.

US bonds are the safest investment in the world. Of course they are based on US tax revenue. I don't see your point. The bonds are not worthless.

29 posted on 01/17/2008 6:54:04 PM PST by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
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To: A.Hun
The trust fund is currently worth about 3 trillion...it is not going bust anytime soon.It is backed by government bonds that the US has never reneged on, and by law, can only invest in those US government bonds.

Here is the situation:

Currently Social Security is running a surplus which Congress is spending every year to help reduce the deficit. But that number is beginning to decline (currently about 300 billion) and will be gone in 2016. Each year it is declining which gives less money to Congress to steal.

In 2016, the Social Security System will go to Congress to make up for the deficits it has after 2016 with the IOUs the Congress have given them. At this point they have enough IOUs to last them to 2040, but Congress has spent all the money. They will either have to raise taxes or cut spending to cover it.

In 2040 the IOUs run out and current taxes will only pay about a percentage of what is needed (about 30%).
30 posted on 01/17/2008 6:55:24 PM PST by microgood
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To: doc1019

Well, Doc, here’s my solution. If you need more taxpayer money, just simply provide your bank account and routing numbers to me, and I’ll help the government collect the money and deposit it for you.


31 posted on 01/17/2008 6:59:17 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (I resolve to remember to write "08" on my checks.)
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To: doc1019

Its my thought that the powers that be will successfully eliminate SS. It all part of the cabal that wants to reduce America to a turd world country.


32 posted on 01/17/2008 6:59:56 PM PST by abigkahuna (Step on up folks and see the "Strange Thing" only a thin dollar, babies free)
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To: Graybeard58
Made my day and I’ve been feeling frisky ever since.

I guess we better keep an eye on you for the foreseeable future.
33 posted on 01/17/2008 7:00:41 PM PST by microgood
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To: Gator113

As long as you’re willing to support private accounts, you can have the rest with my compliments.


34 posted on 01/17/2008 7:01:56 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (I resolve to remember to write "08" on my checks.)
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To: newbie2008

those under age 50, are slated to receive very low benefits in return for a record amount of payroll taxes

While baby-boomers enjoy the money, some stupid young folks will continue to vote Democrat.


35 posted on 01/17/2008 7:02:30 PM PST by Son House (Protection For Opportunity Seekers And Tax Payers From Congress Spending: Low Tax Rates !!!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Well, I don’t need “more” taxpayer money, just that which is owed to me from a lifetime of paying into the SS debacle.


36 posted on 01/17/2008 7:03:29 PM PST by doc1019 (Rabbit and the Hare … Fred ‘08)
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To: newbie2008
What's scary to me is that any fix attempted will invariably be a convoluted mess. I've been fortunate enough to be in industries that aren't in social security practically all of my working life.
37 posted on 01/17/2008 7:03:32 PM PST by Richard Kimball
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To: A.Hun
The trust fund is worthless. The only thing social security has to back it up is the government's ability to confiscate money in the form of taxes.

US bonds are the safest investment in the world. Of course they are based on US tax revenue. I don't see your point. The bonds are not worthless.

What post #30 said...but let me also offer an analogy.

Suppose you have $1,000 and you put it in a "lock box".
Then suppose you take $100 out and put an IOU to yourself for $100.

Question: How much money do you have?

That's exactly what these bonds are. The government has slipped a piece of paper (bonds) into an accounting ledger and spent the "real money". They have promised to redeem their own debt with their own IOU.

Question #2: How do you think they will do that?

38 posted on 01/17/2008 7:04:17 PM PST by evad (.)
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To: qam1

"I'm old. Gimme, Gimme, Gimme..."

 


39 posted on 01/17/2008 7:04:57 PM PST by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
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To: newbie2008

So you’re telling me not to count on Social Security when I turn 65?

:-)


40 posted on 01/17/2008 7:06:11 PM PST by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a conservative and Rush Limbaugh knows it.)
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