The Trustees of the Social Security Trust Fund issued their 2001 annual report on March 19, 2001 showing a system that is fundamentally healthy, and confirming that fears of a “Social Security crisis” are unfounded. The trustees project program costs…
George W. Bush has proposed a drastic restructuring of Social Security in order to “save” it. But he’s proposing radical surgery on a patient that has at worst a sniffle. Social Security is the best source of economic security for…
George W. Bush won plaudits during the recent election campaign for “starting a conversation” on Social Security. Unfortunately, the discussion thus far has been long on misleading rhetoric and short on hard facts. Bush suggests radically changing Social Security, transforming…
45.4 million people received Social Security benefits in 2000, including 4 million children: Social Security is life insurance: 15% of recipients are surviving family members of deceased workers. A widow with two young children collects an average monthly benefit of…
Proponents of Social Security privatization often trumpet the Chilean “success story.” Right wing economists (and the finance industry-funded think tanks that sponsor them) spin fabulous yarns about the way the free market transformed Chile’s pension system. In doing so, however,…
Proponents of Social Security privatization often claim that their motive is to help workers. Armed with sunny sales pitches and multi-million dollar marketing budgets, privatizers claim that individual accounts would give workers “better returns,” “freedom of choice,” and “improved efficiency.”…
Since 1935 Social Security has been the foundation of economic security for America’s workers, retirees and their families. This fundamental program provides benefits to more than 44 million people, including retirees, disabled workers and the families of deceased workers. Social…
Social Security is one of the most popular, successful and worthwhile government programs ever, according to the American public. Americans give unwavering support to Social Security in its current form. However, one in four people incorrectly think that the Social…
