Comments on: It’s Time for Leadership on Social Security http://www.cdobs.com/archive/think-tanks/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:41:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: hewhoasks http://www.cdobs.com/archive/think-tanks/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security/comment-page-1/#comment-2701 hewhoasks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.cdobs.com/archive/tank/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security,1184#comment-2701 If in 2030 there are 2 workers per retiree then if the retirees have money for food, lodging, health care, etc. the cost will be the same whether or not they get the money through Social Security - and the two workers will be supporting them either way. There's no such thing as a free lunch. The demographics surely deserve attention but incessantly (and falsely) claiming that the demographics only matter with the current Social Security system and its methods is of no help at all. Indeed, the misdirection of attention actually is a hindrance. If in 2030 there are 2 workers per retiree then if the retirees have money for food, lodging, health care, etc. the cost will be the same whether or not they get the money through Social Security – and the two workers will be supporting them either way. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

The demographics surely deserve attention but incessantly (and falsely) claiming that the demographics only matter with the current Social Security system and its methods is of no help at all. Indeed, the misdirection of attention actually is a hindrance.

]]> By: hewhoasks http://www.cdobs.com/archive/think-tanks/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security/comment-page-1/#comment-2702 hewhoasks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.cdobs.com/archive/tank/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security,1184#comment-2702 If personal accounts are a solution then why has nobody published any detailed analysis of a US personal account scheme (similar in rigor to the annual analysis done of the current Social Security system)? All we ever see is cocktail-napkin-level "analysis." If you're supporting 1/3 of the US population via investments then there's a lot of money coming out of the financial markets to provide that support. Unless each average retiree gets less than the total average contributions of two workers the retirees will be draining the system and it will not be sustainable. Heck, there's a cocktail-napkin-level analysis that shows the personal account scheme will not work. If personal accounts are a solution then why has nobody published any detailed analysis of a US personal account scheme (similar in rigor to the annual analysis done of the current Social Security system)? All we ever see is cocktail-napkin-level “analysis.” If you’re supporting 1/3 of the US population via investments then there’s a lot of money coming out of the financial markets to provide that support. Unless each average retiree gets less than the total average contributions of two workers the retirees will be draining the system and it will not be sustainable. Heck, there’s a cocktail-napkin-level analysis that shows the personal account scheme will not work.

]]> By: John Tillson http://www.cdobs.com/archive/think-tanks/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security/comment-page-1/#comment-2703 John Tillson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.cdobs.com/archive/tank/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security,1184#comment-2703 Even the Bush administration finally had to admit that private account did nothing to with SS solvency. Why do newspapers continue to publish such rubbish? Even the Bush administration finally had to admit that private account did nothing to with SS solvency. Why do newspapers continue to publish such rubbish?

]]> By: Bill Baar http://www.cdobs.com/archive/think-tanks/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security/comment-page-1/#comment-2704 Bill Baar Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.cdobs.com/archive/tank/its-time-for-leadership-on-social-security,1184#comment-2704 Where did the Bush Administration admit that John? Where did the Bush Administration admit that John?

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