Working class sacrifices while rich share in the gains
Working class sacrifices while rich share in the gains
The news that Social Security and Medicare are eventually going to run out of money has caused great debate, again. Both candidates say they do not plan to mess with what has been called the third rail of politics. To touch it is certain death. But Republican members of Congress and conservatives in general have no such fear. They call for “shared sacrifice” to fix Social Security. They will push that agenda should Trump get elected. Of course what they really mean is that the working class will sacrifice and the rich will share in the gains from that sacrifice. Changes do need to be made. But not by raising the retirement age or reducing benefits or creating a voucher system. The changes that would fix the system and not screw working folks would be to apply the payroll tax to all income and passive income and to means test the benefit. As a retired fireman my Social Security benefit is already means tested and reduced thanks to the great conservative god Ronald Reagan. He signed a law that limited the Social Security benefit to firefighters and police who received a public pension as well as their earned social security. Somehow conservatives feel OK to screw police and fire but trip all over themselves when it comes to the top 10 percent.
Clinton is not much better, as she feels right at home with the likes of Goldman Sachs and Henry Paulson, Bush’s treasury secretary. I can guarantee she will dance the tune they sing as well. Either way we lose. Oh boy!
Joseph Appleton
Waimea