Early Retirement Blog

Ronald Reagan, the American president who began the eventual destruction of the American middle class, and who was  famously predicted in Sinclair Lewis’s quote, “When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross”, has a quote of his own that describes the situation facing Social Security today:

“The nine most terrifying words in the English Language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

It seems there is no shortage of politicians, from both parties, who want to “save” Social Security in an effort to reduce the deficit.  It is pure Orwellian double speak.  “War is Peace.  Freedom is Slavery.  Ignorance is Strength.”

Social Security is not in trouble, does not contribute to the debt, and does not need saving.  It is however, the last asset the American middle class has left, and the bankers and billionaires want it.

Fortunately, it appears that most Americans are not buying into the argument, that a program that won’t be in trouble for another 25 years needs to be saved today.  So instead, the politicians have stopped trying to “save” Social Security, and now argue that Social Security needs to be “strengthened”.

Again, we’re dealing with Orwellian politicians, so when they say Social Security needs to be strengthened, you can be sure they are planning to weaken the hell out of the program.   In fact they have already started.

Obama’s payroll tax holiday, which reduces the amount contributed to Social Security, hastens the day Social Security will run out of money.  His proposal to strengthen Social Security by changing the way the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is calculated, reduces the benefits workers will receive in the future.

What needs to be saved, are the people from the politicians, and what needs to be strengthened is democracy in America.

Also Read:
Why Obama can Destroy Social Security
How to Retire on Social Security
How to Save $1 Million
How to Retire Less than $1 Million