Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumQuestion: Which candidate is strongest on protecting Social Security & Medicare?
I'm thinking it's probably Warren?
Anyone know?
Social Security is so important as a social program and has been one of the most successful programs in the U.S. It is a big reason why seniors living in poverty decreased from over 60% to less than 20%. Investment companies have lobbyists pushing hard for privatizing it, calling it any number of other things. The latest thing is taking part of Social Security and putting it in 401K accounts for people. That's neither social nor secure. That's just privatizing part of SS and giving a chunk of it in fees to investment companies.
We all know the Godsend that Medicare has been for seniors in this country, the only one of the First World countries that doesn't provide health care to all of its citizens.
These programs aren't for "deadbeats." Workers pay into these programs for decades, usually, to get these benefits, at a time of life where people often don't have the option of working to replace these benefits.
I want to see a candidate who stands firm against the lobbyists and Republicans to protect Social Security and Medicare.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)He wants to extend Medicare to everyone (Medicare for All) and has repeatedly talked about lifting the cap on taxable income to further finance Social Security and expand its benefits. Warren is good too.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)"Here's How Presidential Hopeful Elizabeth Warren Would Tackle the Social Security Crisis
Democratic presidential candidate Warren aims to aggressively expand benefits." https://www.fool.com/retirement/2019/01/18/heres-how-presidential-hopeful-elizabeth-warren-wo.aspx
She's very strong and seems to have firm grasp of what's going on w/the Republicans and SS.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)"Bernie Sanders on Social Security: 10 Things You Should Know." He's very strong on SS, but maybe too strong. I disagree with a couple of his positions. He mixes SS with some other things, like investment income taxes, which I think isn't a good idea. Still, he's strong on it, for sure.
I think those two definitely couldn't be manipulated into agreeing to any sort of partial privatization or other scheme.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)They're both great on these issues.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)"Joe Biden on Social Security: 6 Things You Should Know" https://www.fool.com/retirement/2019/05/31/joe-biden-on-social-security-6-things-you-should-k.aspx
The first thing you should understand about Joe Biden is that even though he's a member of the Democratic Party, unlike most candidates (from either party), he's been willing to consider bipartisan Social Security proposals. In other words, he's more of a centrist than pretty much any other candidate out there on the Democratic or Republican ticket.
2. Biden is starkly opposed to privatization
3. He sides with his party on increasing the taxable earnings cap
4. The former VP favors means testing for benefits
5. Raising the full retirement age has been on the table before (again, he's a centrist)
6. A quarter-century ago he called for freezing Social Security benefits
Hmmmm. I don't know about freezing benefits. Freezing SS benefits would eventually mean that some seniors fall into poverty. The SS fund makes money every year from investment income. So everyone should get the benefit of that every year. Who is getting the investment income on that fund, if not the beneficiaries? Does the fund keep it for future beneficiaries?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided