5 Ways to Reform Social Security

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Danielle, These aren't reform. All they do is shift who is paying and who is receiving. That fixes nothing.
We have a site which lists all of the solutions, and invite user feedback. We outline a solution which is focused on reducing the nominal cost of benefits while increasing the value of them. Tell us where we are wrong.
www.fixssnow.org.

JoeTheEconomist of GA 3:57PM September 16, 2011

Raising the payroll tax cap is a no-brainer. True, as you say, "some people could wind up paying much more into the system but receiving the same benefits as other, less-wealthy beneficiaries." Those "some people" would be high earners. There is no similar cap on the Medicare tax and no one is yelling about its unfairness. Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill that would reinstitute the SS tax on those earning more than $250,000, which by itself will keep SS solvent for 75 years. Read more here: http://blog.elderlawanswers.com/?p=547

Ken of NY 1:39PM September 16, 2011

The fix for Social Security is simple. Prevent Congress from taking anymore more money from the fund and pay back the $2.5 Trillion plus they already took. Of course the Windbags in Washington never talk about paying that back.

Randy of MI 11:37AM September 16, 2011

Obama's philosophy of "Democrat Socialism" won't let him see the truth of government entitlement programs like SS. When only 1.7 workers support each SS recipient, the program is broken and broke. When less than half of US workers pay any taxes at all, the government is broken and broke. Fixing this will be ugly, but necessary. We get what we vote for, pay attention.

Dave of TX 11:26AM September 16, 2011

Remove the Social Security Cap and income exclusions. All Americans should pay the same share of their income into Social Security to make sure we dont't become a third world country, All Americans benefit if mothers, chirldren, and grandmothers are not left to beg on our street corners.

drsnurse of WA 10:08AM September 16, 2011

There's one thing we didn't look at.... "disability" Social Security. It's currently the replacement of "state welfare." Why are those who didn't pay 50,000 American Dollars, can easily bilk out that sum? Knowing that i am a truly LEGIT applicant, with a legitimate birth defect (documented, of course) of the heart walls. Seems that I was not allowed to get bennies from what I should have been able to get, under US rules, with a lawyer and a 3 inch file of exhibits. I think part of the reason is that there are too many applicants faking back troubles and mental illnesses.
My point.... get all the fakers off the system, so those who can actually use it legitimately, will have access. It is not meant to be a substitute for AFDC (women and children's assistance) or General relief (men's assistance).
Why is not one news outlet even thinking about this???? It's the first part of Social Security that is slated to go bankrupt... and still never gets talked about seriously. As a person that pays into that system, WITH A DISABILITY, I must say that I am tired of misgiven monies going to people who actually cannot prove their disability, definitively.
What's more... activist doctors who feel sorry for applicants, due to racial and neighborhood makeups and situations. These doctors along with the "How to get SSI" storefront churches need to be prosecuted.... to the fullest extent of the law.
Luckily, I do not need the SSD, at this point... but it may not even be there, when I apply again. It might not even exist, if nothing gets done, to curb the fraud, preventing me from having what I truly am entitled to, under the law. Then again, many doctors have documented my disability.

Mikel of OH 8:33AM September 16, 2011

the repubs see privatization as a means to scuttle the current system while funneling the money off to,and futher enriching,their friends on wall st.
to believe that the republicans"want to save the program"is sheer folly.
the system is solvent for the next twenty years.theres more than enough time when the economy improves to deal with any minor adjustments that might be required.
all the repubs are doingnow is fear mongering,pure and simple!

bruce b of NV 3:05AM September 16, 2011

Social Security has a surplus for the next 26 years, it hardly needs so much undue attention, ans all the dishonest criticism about the most effective insurance program ever. Where's the beef?
This is another artificial crisis conservatives are using to scare the simpletons, but apparently more are believing the garbage that there is anything wrong with Social Security other than is to successful Democratic policy that's been working fine for the past 75 years.
If the gimps want to keep squawking about Social Security, raise the cap and Social Security will be solvent for the next 75 years, just like Bernie Sanders proposed yesterday.

Ward of ID 11:17PM September 15, 2011

Raise the cap and means testing are cool. Do away with cola and cut pensions over $1100 by $50 a month.

Les of KY 10:18PM September 15, 2011

Reform Social Security? Jesus, man...whose Kool Aid have you been drinking?
How much money has been handed out to corporations, and banks (foreign and domestic)? How much money has been thrown to float Obama and Democrat connected businesses like Solyndra?
* Yeah the Republicans have done that too - and that's why both parties have to go - they're one in the same.*
How much "stimulus" money (read that as rape the tax payer) has gone to buy union votes by promising what amounts to *TEMPORARY WORK* building roads, bridges and nebulous *infrastructure* projects?
There's no lack of money for Social Security or any other program American Citizens have paid into their entire lives. It's just being stolen, and seniors are being told to suck it up.
Social Security only needs one thing added to it. Elimination of benefits to immigrants who are not citizens and have not paid into the system for at least ten years before being eligible to receive benefits. No exceptions.

Have Gun. of CA 9:25PM September 15, 2011