Social Security News 04-12-12

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/04/gender_equity.html

 

Campaign for America’s Future

Why Do So Many Elites Hate Social Security?

04-11-12

Dave Johnson

This week there was another big attack on Social Security by another elite. This time the attack comes from an elite columnist, other times it comes from Wall Street types, wealthy CEOs or the kind of politicians that have been in DC way too long. These attacks never come from people who depend on these programs (i.e. almost all of us.) Why do the privileged elites hate Social Security so much?

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2012041510/why-do-so-many-elites-hate-social-security-and-medicare

 

Huffington Post (NAT)

Washington Post Misleads Readers On Deficits And Entitlements Twice In One Week

04-11-12

Jason Linkins

As a habitual reader of the Washington Post, I've long become inured to some of the fun editorial quirks of that paper. For instance, it is more or less institutionally opposed to the preservation of the New Deal-era entitlements that keep the elderly from sputtering completely into poor health and impoverishment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/washington-post-deficits-entitlements_n_1418240.html

 

The Charlotte Observer Newspaper (NC)

Get government out of my life! Except for ...

04-12-12

Kevin Horrigan

I want government to leave me alone. I’m sick of it. Whatever happened to personal freedom? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? I want that government should just go away…

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/12/3166723/get-government-out-of-my-life.html

 

Encore (NAT)

Entitlement Reform: What Does It Mean?

04-12-12

Alicia Munnell

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are not providing greedy people with special privileges, writes Munnell.

http://blogs.smartmoney.com/encore/2012/04/12/entitlement-reform-what-does-it-mean/?link=SM_home_blogsum

 

Forbes (NAT)

Why You Should Ignore The Medicare Trust Fund

04-12-12

Josh Barro

In nearly all instances, the right answer about how to think about the Social Security and Medicare trust funds is “ignore them.” The trust funds are full of bonds issued by the same government that holds them, and their balances are therefore arbitrary. At any time, the government could “issue” several trillion dollars in bonds to be held by the Social Security trust fund and therefore “fix” any solvency problem in the program.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbarro/2012/04/11/why-you-should-ignore-the-medicare-trust-fund/

 

US NEWS (NAT)

The Misconceptions About Where Our Tax Dollars Go

04-12-12

Chad Stone

It's worth remembering that taxes pay for things we want government to do.

At the federal level, most of the budget goes toward defense, Social Security, and major health programs, as the chart below shows. Programs that most Americans oppose cutting—Social Security, defense, education and Medicare (which accounts for almost two-thirds of the Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP slice of the pie)—plus interest on the debt account for about three out of every five federal dollars.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2012/04/11/0411econ.stone

 

Seeking Alpha (Blog)

Why Nobody Is Talking About Social Security

04-12-12

Stanley Barton

It appears at first glance that there is definitely a problem with the cash flow for this system, but the whole story may not be as ugly as the chart. The solutions may not be as drastic as sensationalist news agencies want us to believe.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/493001-why-nobody-is-talking-about-social-security

 

WBAY-TV (WI)

Congressman Ribble Talks Medicare, Social Security at AARP Gathe

04-11-12

Congressman Ribble says Medicare and Social Security could run out by 2022, in part because of a drop in birth rates and because people are living longer.

http://www.wbay.com/story/17385899/2012/04/11/congressman-ribble-talks-medicare-social-security-at-aarp-gathering

 

Michigan Live (MI)

Letter: Social Security and Medicare are important to senior citizens

04-11-12

Chris Thompson

This senior citizen – and millions of others – owes thanks to forward-thinking politicians who devised Medicare and Social Security and required us to invest in them.

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/2012/04/letter_chris_thompson_1.html

 

Wall Street Pit (NY)

BOOM! Goes the Social Security Assumptions

04-12--12

Roger Nusbaum

There was an article in the WSJ yesterday about the IMF warning anyone who will listen that models for life expectancy currently being used by pensions and

http://wallstreetpit.com/91089-boom-goes-the-social-security-assumptions

 

Kansas City (KS)

Letters Social Security Football

04-11-12

Scott Warriner

When I received my Social Security statement, it said that without changes by 2036 the trust fund will be able to pay only about 77 cents for each dollar of scheduled benefits. During the recent fight over extending the payroll tax holiday, that fact along with the fact that the payroll tax is the trust fund’s only funding mechanism were omitted from much of the press coverage.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/11/3549136/letters-social-security-trayvon.html

 

Lahaina News (HI)

Will Social Security be there when you retire? 

04-12-12

Mark Vieth

AARP Hawaii is taking the debate about the future of Medicare and Social Security from Washington to Maui, so residents can have a voice.

http://www.lahainanews.com/page/content.detail/id/508034/Will-Social-Security-be-there-when-you-retire-.html?nav=9

 

 

Politics

The Hill (DC)

Virginia Tech anniversary creates difficult moment on gun control for lawmakers

04-12-12

Mike Lillis

A confluence of events related to gun violence — including the fifth anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre – is creating an uncomfortable situation for congressional leaders when they return to Washington from their long spring vacation.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/221095-virginia-tech-anniversary-creates-uncomfortable-moment-on-gun-control-for-lawmakers

 

The Washington Post (DC)

American Crossroads vs. President Obama

04-11-12

Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake

THE FIX | The fight over the next few months will be between the incumbent and a well-funded conservative super PAC.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/american-crossroads-vs-president-obama/2012/04/11/gIQAImP59S_blog.html

 

The Root (NAT)

The Battle for the House 2012: Democrats and Republicans Weigh In

04-11-12

Cynthia Gordy

Strategists from both sides of the aisle tell us why their party will be in charge come November.

http://www.theroot.com/views/other-2012-fight-who-will-get-house

 

Rolling Stone (NAT)

Why We Need a 'Buffett Rule' For Now

04-10-12

Jared Bernstein

Face it, America. Wersquo;ve got an overly complex, unfair, inefficient federal tax code. Itrsquo;s riddled with loopholes, itrsquo;s opaque and confu

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/why-we-need-a-buffett-rule-for-now-20120410

 

The Atlantic (NAT)

5 Reasons Why the GOP Can't Nominate a Reliable Conservative

04-12-12

Conor Friedersdorf

For more than 20 years they've been searching for another Ronald Reagan. Electing one will take more than better politicking.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/04/5-reasons-why-the-gop-cant-nominate-a-reliable-conservative/255765/

 

MSNBC (NAT)

First Read - Gingrich says he wouldn't serve in Romney cabinet

04-12-12

Alex Moe

Given the opportunity to work in Mitt Romney’s cabinet, Newt Gingrich says he would pass. Asked by a radio host inside a small diner whether he would work for a Romney administration if given the opportunity, Gingrich answered “probably not”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/12/11161824-gingrich-says-he-wouldnt-serve-in-romney-cabinet?lite

 

Roll Call (DC)

FreedomWorks Condemns Kochs’ Attempted Takeover of Cato Institute

04-12-12

Janie Lorber

FreedomWorks condemned lawsuits filed by Charles and David Koch seeking to expand their control over Cato in a statement signed by the group’s leaders, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) and C. Boyden Gray, and its president Matt Kibbe.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/freedomworks_condemns_kochs_attempted_takeover_of_cato_institute-213737-1.html?pos=htmbtxt

 

Talking Points Memo (NAT)

Maria Bartiromo Buys GOP Spin In Interview With Frustrated White House Economist

04-12-12

Brian Beutler

CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo really thinks she got the best of White House economist Gene Sperling.

 

Every year by law, the White House issues its own budget, but it is, for all intents and purposes, a detailed list of suggestions — not a legislative package Congress is expected to vote on, as Bartiromo implied.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/cnbc-anchor-whiffs-on-obama-budget-in-white-house-interview.php?ref=fpb