Social Security & Medicare

The government has been raiding the Social Security Trust Fund for many years. Couple this with the deficit that the Bush administration has built and you have the makings of a disaster unless the next congress and administration take steps to rebuild the the fund. Both Social Security and Medicare will be in serious trouble in a few short years. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson addressed the issue in a recent speech. For a brief summary of the problem, click on http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/POLITICS/803260331/1022/rss10 .

Fixing the problem will probably mean both tax increases and spending cuts. The current congress is proving to be incapable of addressing the Social Security / Medicare crisis. They will not address the issues because they are afraid that if they propose either tax increases or spending cuts, they will not be re-elected. Meaningful steps must be taken now. With 435 house seats and 33 senate seats up for re-election, we have a great opportunity to vote a very large number of incumbents out of office. Maybe a new congress will be able to muster the political courage to solve this pending crisis.

Very little will get done in the congress this election year because the congress will concentrate only on being re-elected. Let’s send the incumbents into retirement.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Social Security & Medicare