Survey: Voters Oppose Most Social Security Changes

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The simplest fix, the fix most folks are okay with, is also the most reasonable - tax all earnings; remove the earnings cap on SS taxes. I am a Republican, have been since I registered to vote in the 60s, and would support this fix wholeheartedly. Republican Congresspeople who would fight against this fix are taking an ideological position that is NOT in the public interest.

Michael of WA 12:47PM August 03, 2010

The Social Security trust fund was incorporated into the general fund years ago, and the amount for Social Security expenditures is a big IOU. So it appears that there is a big fund available, but only on paper.

Robert Hibbard of WA 11:31AM August 03, 2010

No one is asking you to pay more. We are asking you to pay the same rate as everyone else. Why should you get a lower rate than the poor?

Dar of FL 11:27AM August 03, 2010

I have long been a supporter of requiring ss taxes on all income. I never understood why lower income individuals had to pay ss taxes on their income, but high income individuals did not have to pay on all their income.

D Foster of VA 10:52AM August 03, 2010

We could retire all the debt in the world by simply taxing ignorance. The ignorance broadcast hereof re social security should balance the budget in any year.
There is no social security crisis, there is a general revenue crisis. Social security has assets of 2.6 trillion dollars. The general revenue fund is broke.

Chet of OH 5:10PM August 02, 2010

Rick of TN:
FYI, the entire budget of Social Security is seperate from the general fund and cannot be spent by Congress since it is not a part of the budget. All paycheck contributions go into, and all payouts come from the Social Security trust fund, which is invested in US Treasury Bonds.

Brian of MN 3:24PM August 02, 2010

I'm nearly 61. My 403 nearly expired. I will require Social Security that I've paid into and be required to sell my home in California and relocate. I think it's wrong to keep raising the retirement age counting on people to die before they can even claim any benefits. That's seems callous and very wrong. If someone is wealthy their benefits should be offset by some formula as they have no need of those benefits. Were they to lose their wealth, they would certainly be entitled to social security.
Social Security should be removed from the grasping reach of the Republicans and their buddies. Can you imagine if the Bush Administration had succeeded in privatizing Social Security. Holy Moly!! OMG!!

kaybtt of CA 2:09PM August 02, 2010

The first thing that must be done to fix Social Security is to take it away from congress1 Put it back into the trust fund and outlaw it ever being put in the general fund or anywhere congress can get their greedy sticky fingers on it ever again! Next, take it away from the foriegners who never contributed a dime into it. You don't pay in, you don't take out! If you pay in you can take out no matter if you are in jail, prison, a nursing home or where. It is our money NOT congresses! Congress never put in one dime! Take away the congresses "Golden Parachute" and make them pay into and rely on Social Security for their old age income!
Make members of congress live on only Social Security for one year every term they serve and do their own shopping so they can experience first hand and won't forget what it is like!
Congress is so out of touch with the American public they might as well be living on a different planet! Millionares associating only with fellow millionares have absolutely no idea as to the needs of the American public and DON"T CARE!

Rick of TN 1:41PM August 02, 2010

There is no debate here. Those making more than 106,800 annually are not paying their fair share, because only the first 106,800 of annual income is taxed for Social Security - everything above that is tax-free.
Clearly, this situation is unfair. Even the most hard-hearted tax reformer would never suggest a regressive tax system (where the poor are taxed at higher rates than the rich). Yet that is exactly what we have now with SS.
So why is this even a debate? You hear so much whining from so-called deficit-hawks about the supposed "insolvency" of Social Security. Make the Social Security tax fair, and it's fixed. Problem solved. The only reason it hasn't been done is because politicians are afraid of standing up to their rich corporate friends to make them pay their fair share.

CA of MD 12:21PM August 02, 2010

MF of MA, some of the hardest work in the world is the lowest paid. It's difficult to sacrifice and save when there's not enough to pay for the basic needs of a person or family.

MGY of NY 11:17AM August 02, 2010