Bush tried to privatize social security. But the Democrats have figured out that if they oppose changes to medicare and ss they have a better chance of staying in power. I think public opinion has to swing WAY in the way of reform like 70/30. Even then, ppl support things until they actually happen. The public is as much to blame as politicians.

All that has to be done is adopt the same system Galveston, Tx implemented in the late seventies. Everyone retiring under that system, today, are receiving 2X – 4X what people currently receive under SS.

The Galveston, TX system is solvent and has been working well. That system would allow the current system to be phased out without politicians being able to touch anyone’s money.

I agree that Social Security needs to be radically altered. This bill is certainly a reasonable proposal and has many aspects that I support. If nothing else it is a good place to start the privatization discussion which is long overdue and sorely needed.

That said your statement “However, the individual mandate is not nearly as meddlesome and tyrannical as the government’s complete control over our retirement security.” is simply untrue. While the governments malfeasance in handling Social Security is beyond criminal, I can still provide for my own retirement through other mechanisms. Obamacare is likely to destroy the quality of health care and is certain to put a bureaucrat between me and access to treatment regardless of the manner of payment. I can save my money, I can’t perform surgery on my kitchen table.

I would love to “fix” Social Security, but the top priority is repealing Obamacare, before it does irreparable damage to our system of health care. Period.

I will be 45 in two weeks and I would let the government off the hook for paying me back if only I could opt out of the forced contribution plan and exercise my freedom of choice to manage my own life. Seniors hate SS. They support it only because they want their money back.

As this is a significant part of the SS system, for those who become disabled and do not make it to retirement. Yes, it is a small part, but definitely does need to be addressed.

That all of those “deductions” from their checks were their contributions to Grandma’s retirement and healthcare. Don’t expect to see any of that yourself, so contribute to your IRA and 401k from every paycheck, to take care of yourself.

http://www.redstate.com/ynotnow/2011/04/04/the-myth-of-the-social-security-trust-fund/
And Grandma says “thank you.”

but I do think it’s political suicide for Republicans to push reforms on cherished middle-class entitlements like MediCare and Social Security.

I would love it if Americans were educated on how these entitlements are going to eventually go bust and how much better their lives would be if they had solutions in the private sector, but the polls I’ve seen make it clear that around 70% plus of the public gets REAL nervous when you start talking about ANY changes.

I’ve seen enough anecdotal evidence where older, conservative voters will start pulling the lever for Democrats when they think a Republican politician is “messing” with their Social Security benefits. Polls also show one of Americans’ biggest worries is how their going to be able to retire, far more than say foreign policy issues.

The average American unfortunately views these benefits like they’re a bank account that they’ve been saving for their entire lives, when in reality it’s nothing but a giant Ponzi scheme. So when you start talking about changing it, people feel like you’re taking money out of their savings account.

My advice to Republicans is DON’T make the 2012 election about reforming MediCare and Social Security. Democrats are salivating at the prospect of Republicans throwing them this life preserver.

There’s almost 4 Presidential elections between now and when these programs hit a wall. We have TRILLIONS of dollars in cuts we can make in the meantime that would be politically more popular. I would suggest going after programs like MediCaid, food stamps, welfare, excessive unemployment benefits, etc.. These entitlements aren’t things Americans feel they’ve been paying into their whole lives. Also, I’m one of those conservatives that thinks we waste FAR too much money on our military, just one fighter jet program, the F-35 was discovered to cost the US a TRILLION dollars. One fighter jet.

Let’s go after the low hanging fruit first and not commit electoral suicide.

Mr. Horowitz I think you should read some articles from the Cato Institute. Other than being my dream job in the area of public policy Cato offers great conservative policy ideas although they lean slightly libertarian. Fiscal wise our conservative congressmen should read up these ideas(lol they even have a handbook ) check it out you’ll love their logic .

not really talk about reforming SS and medicare until after we completely take over in 2012. Then we’ll push through a complete reform package over the screams of “the horror” of it all and finally get vindication once the programs are in place and people are seeing their own money growing.

OK I’m dreaming but I do hope that sometime soon some politicians will get some spine and privatize the systems to free us up.

because there will be a deal to raise the debt limit and “cut spending” that will be completely false, thereby pushing any real action past the 2012 elections. By that time we will be further along the way to collapse under the debt, which cannot be reversed. Someone (Erick, I think) said arguing about changing SS and Medicare now is like arguing about the bar tab on the Titanic.

Will the money be deposited with private investment firms, or will it still end up controlled by Congress.

The problem isn’t that social security is underfunded. The problem is that Congress embezzeled those funds. It is less of a Ponzi scheme and more a flat out felony by Congress. And that includes every Respresentative that served since Democrat President Lyndon Johnson started stealing the money in the 1960′s to buy votes.

So the question now becomes, where will the money be deposited.
And shouldn’t contributors have the ability to retain those deposits within their own state? Why should all the money be deposited in financial institutions in Washington DC?

We are the generation that our grandparents said would be paying for their debt. Only they disguised the debt by hiding it in social security. As of 2010 Social Security is running a deficit. Which means, there is no more money to steal to hide the excessive spending Congress has authorized for decades. Now Democrats and Republicans alike are interested in reforming social security. Now that there is nothing but bills instead of cash flow to divert.

So while I agree with the premise, that it is time to offer young people an alternative, I don’t trust anything coming out of Washington. Turn the problem over to the states, let the states work through the solutions and close down the Wasington domestic bureauracracy. I understand the the same Washington corruption that gutted social security could happen in the states, at least the money stolen from my neighborhood, stays in my neighborhood. And I suspect without the power of Washington my neighbors and I could have a much more meaningful impact on the level of that corruption then we have ever had over Washington. After all I can take a day off from work and go to my state capital and complain, or protest. And everybody there would pay attention because the anger hits close to home.

So lets be a bit more specific about where the retirement account will be deposited, what kind of investment options are available, who benefits from the income generated, and who will regulate the program. And just as importantly lets specifically get Washington out of the business of collected the taxes for retirement and turn that over to the states.

would still be able to take control of your retirement funds if you happen to live in a historically Progressive state. What needs to happen, in order for your suggestion to work, is a fundamental change in the political make-up of the entire country toward conservatism. Before a system like SAFE will work to the satisfaction of conservatives they will have to take back the reins of their local governments.

That being said, and to expand on your excellent suggestion, I would propose including a portability clause in the legislation. The prospect of losing productive citizens and their money to another, more conservative, state might just give local politicians a good reason to better represent their constituents. Keeping the money in the neighborhood is great incentive for making the neighborhood more attractive to potential inhabitants.

You can’t tell me that members of both Houses didn’t know exactly what they were doing long ago. They simply lied to us regarding the solvency of the system, stole our funds from under our nose and spent it to get reelected; they knew exactly what they were doing and most knew they would be long gone when the whole thing collapsed. The pathetic truth is we are all to blame; Congress for their theft and deceit and each of us for not doing anything about it. We cannot expect politicians to fall on their swords to fix the problem. For the most part they are cowards and will continue to talk about the need for reform, feed us a load of crap and do nothing about it. Until everyone really understands what they did to us and demand from Republicans and Democrats alike that they fix it or they are all gone; we are just going to get more of the same BS.

The government has records of what they have confiscated from each individual for the social security Ponzi scheme. Why can’t that amount plus a low percentage rate of compounded interest be put into private accounts now and the whole system be banished? Let everyone deal with their own retirement problems and cut the government loose. Money to do this will have to be secured by cutting out all the government hand-outs and letting private charities take over. Again, cutting out government dependency and making people responsible for their own lives. I know there will be some people who will have a hissy fit over that thought, but we live in a very charitable nation and those in real need will be taken care of by friends, neighbors, churches and other charities. We got along just fine before the government stuck it’s nose in everyone’s business, and we can do it again.

the 2012 election is the party that will propose and fight for a bill or series of bills that sets benefits for elected officials at the average for the American public. Replace the pension plan with a 401k with the national average match. Medicare for health insurance with supplemental at their own cost. All prescription drugs per Medicare Part B. And Congress is subject to all laws that they pass. No more exemptions from sexual harrassment laws, OSHA regulations, etc.

Set this in motion and watch the cockroaches scramble! How about it Tea Party Caucus?