The Social Security Institute's Questionnaire For Presidential Candidates

Forbes ^ | 09/27/2011 | Lawrence Hunter

[SeekAndFind]

The more the presidential candidates talk, the less we seem to know about their views on Social Security.

For example, does Mitt Romney really believe, “There are (sic) one of two ways you can make Social Security work forever:” Raise the retirement age or means test the program by “having slower growth in inflating the benefits of higher-income of (sic) Social Security recipients?”

Does Rick Perry use the so-called Texas Model as a working model of how he as president would apply the county-operated public-employees’ model in Texas to workers in the whole United States? If so would he apply the Texas Model strictly and allow only public workers but not private workers to opt into it, or would he allow all private workers to opt into such a model as well? Or, does he mean he would return Social Security to the states and allow each state to determine how the program should be structured and operated? Inquiring voters want to know.

There is so much rhetoric and so many generalities flying around the campaign trail about Social Security—what it is, what condition it’s in and what should be done to preserve or reform it—that it is impossible for voters to know where the candidates stand on specifics. The rhetorical arguments generate more heat than light. Presidential debates encourage slick posturing, not specific answers. The Mainstream Media is more interested in using the debates to advance its own agenda than enlightening voters.

Therefore, if voters hope to know specifics about where the candidates stand on Social Security, it is up to them to squeeze the specifics out of the candidates.

[SeekAndFind]

The Social Security Institute have created a simple nine-question survey on Social Security to help do just that in order to squeeze the answers out of candidates who otherwise will obfuscate and avoid specifics like the plague.

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE QUESTIONAIRE ( PUT YOURSELF IN THE CANDIDATE's POSITION, HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS?)

[WayneS]

9) C

[Ratman83]

And the correct answers is C, what did they win Johnny?

[SeekAndFind]

RE: 9) C

I think that’s Rick Perry’s preference. He wants to follow the Galveston Model and leave SS to the States.

But he’s getting all kinds of flack for it ( especially from Romney ). Wait till he becomes the nominee ( A BIG IF ), he’ll be accused of trying to leave grandma destitute.