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The author is an apologist for the status quo, based on his vested interest in keeping his constituency happy. We don't begrudge him this, but we do take issue with the amorphous language and vague factoids he promulgates.
He does his best dance for us in order to present SS as a great thing, a wonderful success story, and popular beyond imagination. His word choice is carefully designed to make it seem like SS is saving seniors from certain death.
If one manages to survive until the end, the author's cheerleading veers into a little bit of truth, hidden in the fourth to last sentence, the "solvency gap." This successful and popular program has a problem, a problem that directly comes to bear on the topic the author has raised: "Social Security delivers for Montana." But he doesn't discuss this at all.
August marks the 90th anniversary of Social Security, which has helped generations of Montanans retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. (Dignity? What is the author's standard for that?)
It’s one of the most successful initiatives in American history, (By what standard? Popularity? Constitutionality? Financial practices? Value for money?)
and a new AARP survey shows it’s still doing exactly what it was built to do. (What was it built to do? Provide full retirement benefits? Supplement other personal benefits? Redistribute wealth from workers to non-workers?)
The new AARP report, released in conjunction with the anniversary, confirms that Americans highly value Social Security, and even more so than five years ago. The vast majority of Americans (Did AARP survey only their customers [i.e., retirees]? What questions were asked, and how were they framed?)
The new AARP report, released in conjunction with the anniversary, confirms that Americans highly value Social Security, and even more so than five years ago. The vast majority of Americans (Did AARP survey only their customers [i.e., retirees]? What questions were asked, and how were they framed?)
— 95% of Republicans, 98% of Democrats, and 93% of Independents — consider Social Security vital to the financial security of all Americans, (Well sure, people thinks it's vital. That's not approval or popularity. That's just the fact that people have had a pile of money extracted from their paychecks and want to make sure they get it back.
If money is taken from workers' paychecks with the promise of them receiving benefits in the future, then certainly it becomes vital. However, if the money had never been extracted, how many workers would have been clamoring to send their money to the government?)
and 67% believe it is even more important for retirees than it was five years ago. (Again, it supplies benefits to people who had money extracted from their pay for years and years. It only makes sense that it's important for them to get it back.
And by the way, we had Bidenomics in that five year period. Why would 67% of people think SS even more important now?)
Here in Montana, that value (What value?)
Here in Montana, that value (What value?)
is seen throughout communities from Sidney to Superior, with more than 258,600 people counting on Social Security across the state. (Does everyone who receives SS "count" on it? Do people who own companies or have nice retirement benefits, or even, who are independently wealthy, "count" on SS?
Further, do those people who have no other source of income live well, solely on SS? Would workers have done better investing their own money, but were denied the opportunity to save for themselves because SS deductions reduced their spendable income?
Is a program deemed successful because lots of people cannot live without it?
The author studiously avoids specifics in favor of vague generalities.)
For many, it can mean the difference between getting by and going without groceries, gas and paying utility bills. ("...which has helped generations of Montanans retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work.")
Simply put, it allows family members to rest easier knowing their parents have some financial relief and protection as they age. ("...which has helped generations of Montanans retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work.")
AARP’s survey found that Social Security is a key source of income and economic stability in retirement, but Americans have concerns about whether it will be enough. (Enough for what? To live on with no other income? To supplement their retirement? To keep pace with inflation?
Simply put, it allows family members to rest easier knowing their parents have some financial relief and protection as they age. ("...which has helped generations of Montanans retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work.")
AARP’s survey found that Social Security is a key source of income and economic stability in retirement, but Americans have concerns about whether it will be enough. (Enough for what? To live on with no other income? To supplement their retirement? To keep pace with inflation?
Mr. Summers, are you going to provide any information at all?)
More than three-quarters of Americans (78%) are worried that Social Security will not provide enough to live on during retirement. (Such a great program with such high polling, but apparently all these approving people are worried about this great program they approve of.
Ok, got it.)
My parents relied on Social Security to retire with dignity and stay independent. It was largely their only retirement income as their priority was to put five kids through college on their modest incomes. (Is this what the author means by "rely on," That it's their sole source of income? It's somehow dignified to try to live on the meager SS benefit? The poverty rate among those age 65 and over is 10.9%.
My parents relied on Social Security to retire with dignity and stay independent. It was largely their only retirement income as their priority was to put five kids through college on their modest incomes. (Is this what the author means by "rely on," That it's their sole source of income? It's somehow dignified to try to live on the meager SS benefit? The poverty rate among those age 65 and over is 10.9%.
Dignified?
Did the author lift a hand to help his destitute parents in any way? Or were they forced to choose between food and paying the electric bill? Because apparently it is the government's job to make sure his parents have enough income to live with dignity, not him.
Dignified?)
Social Security was the retirement foundation they counted on. For nine decades, it’s helped millions like them.
Nearly 90% of people surveyed agree that Social Security is more than a reliable retirement income strategy; it’s the key to remaining independent as you age. ("Reliable?" When did reliability become a matter of opinion? This can be objectively measured. And by any objective measure, SS is bankrupt. The Trust Fund has no cash, only government IOUs. The government owes it trillions of dollars it does not have. How is that "reliable?"
Social Security was the retirement foundation they counted on. For nine decades, it’s helped millions like them.
Nearly 90% of people surveyed agree that Social Security is more than a reliable retirement income strategy; it’s the key to remaining independent as you age. ("Reliable?" When did reliability become a matter of opinion? This can be objectively measured. And by any objective measure, SS is bankrupt. The Trust Fund has no cash, only government IOUs. The government owes it trillions of dollars it does not have. How is that "reliable?"
And again, SS has assumed a position of importance because it takes so much money from workers.)
And at AARP, independence and the power to choose how to live as you age is at the core of our mission. ("Choose." Being forced to pay into a bankrupt system, then eking out enough to squeak by on when retired is hardly expanding peoples' choices. Rather, it's forcing people to suckle on the government teat to survive.
The propaganda is fast becoming intolerable.)
That’s why we launched a national campaign at the start of the summer — “Social Security: We Earned It” (No, you didn't earn it. It doesn't belong to you. SS is simply a tax with a promised future benefit. Decades ago the Supreme court decided in Fleming vs. Nestor that there is no legal right to SS benefits, because Congress has the power to modify, enhance, or discontinue the program at will.)
That’s why we launched a national campaign at the start of the summer — “Social Security: We Earned It” (No, you didn't earn it. It doesn't belong to you. SS is simply a tax with a promised future benefit. Decades ago the Supreme court decided in Fleming vs. Nestor that there is no legal right to SS benefits, because Congress has the power to modify, enhance, or discontinue the program at will.)
— with events planned across the country and here in Montana to celebrate this milestone anniversary and urge action. (What sort of action is needed for this successful and popular program?)
We’re calling on leaders from both parties in Congress to protect the integrity of Social Security for current and future generations. This includes closing the solvency gap ("Solvency gap." Assuming nothing changes at all, the "solvency gap" is the point at which the SS Trust Fund is depleted, currently projected to be 2035. This depletion began in 2021. In 2035 the only assets SS will possess is the revenue the Fund will receive from active workers paying into the Trust Fund. The will mean only 77% of obligations will be paid.
We’re calling on leaders from both parties in Congress to protect the integrity of Social Security for current and future generations. This includes closing the solvency gap ("Solvency gap." Assuming nothing changes at all, the "solvency gap" is the point at which the SS Trust Fund is depleted, currently projected to be 2035. This depletion began in 2021. In 2035 the only assets SS will possess is the revenue the Fund will receive from active workers paying into the Trust Fund. The will mean only 77% of obligations will be paid.
The current value of the Trust Fund is about $2.7 trillion, and those assets are comprised of Treasury bonds. Debt instruments. IOUs. The general fund of the federal government is obligated to redeem these bonds as needed by the Trust Fund. SSA.gov reports that as Treasury debt securities (trust fund assets) are redeemed in the future, they will just be replaced with public debt. That means the federal government doesn't have the money to buy back the bonds, so the SS trust fund debt will essentially be transferred to the national debt. $2.7 trillion.)
and ensuring adequate customer service so people can access their earned Social Security.
Now more than ever, we need our political leaders to speak out to celebrate Social Security (Celebrate??? We need to celebrate Social Security? What?
Now more than ever, we need our political leaders to speak out to celebrate Social Security (Celebrate??? We need to celebrate Social Security? What?
"Ah, comrade, you are insufficiently enthusiastic about Social Security. Please report to the re-education center.")
and ensure it’s there, not only for older Americans today but also for our kids and grandkids tomorrow.
Social Security is not a handout Yes, it is.)
Social Security is not a handout Yes, it is.)
— it’s a promise we’ve built together and a lifetime of hard work. (A distinction without a difference.)
And we will never stop fighting to keep that promise for all Americans.
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