Social Security

Commissions, Cuts and Crisis Calls

Barbara B. Kennelly | Posted 05.08.2009 | Politics

Read More: Fiscal Summit, Entitlements, Social Security, Federal Budget Deficit, Economic Crisis, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Medicare, Entitlement Reform, Fiscal Task Force, Entitlement Commission, Fiscal Responsibility, Politics News
Barbara B. Kennelly

While combining Social Security and Medicare programs under the "entitlement" umbrella helps create a sense of crisis, this approach offers nothing meaningful toward finding real policy solutions. The move in Congress to create an "entitlement" commission, suffers from the same flawed premise of a one-size-fits-all approach.

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Ryan Grim

Obama Angers GOP By Brushing Over Social Security

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 03.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Obama State of the Union, Obama Speech, Social Security Privatization, Obama Social Security, Social Security, President Obama, Politics News

The GOP liked a lot of what it heard in President Obama's address Tuesday night about deficit reduction and personal responsibility. But Republicans ...

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Social Security Privatization Causes Tussle Between Dodd, Bernanke (VIDEO)

Huffington Post | Julie Satow | Posted 03.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Social-Security-Privatization, Social Security, Social Security Privatization, Bernanke Social Security Privatization, Politics News

A highlight of Tuesday's hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was a 27-second exchange with Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking C...

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Obama's Fiscal Summit Convenes At White House

AP | LIZ SIDOTI | Posted 03.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Obama's First Budget, Barack Obama, Social Security, Obama Administration, White House Fiscal Summit, Obama Budget, Medicare, Medicaid, Obama Fiscal Summit, Politics News

WASHINGTON — Urging strict future restraint even as current spending soars, President Barack Obama pledged on Monday to dramatically slash the s...

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Obama Faces Democratic Opposition To Social Security Cuts

New York Times | Posted 03.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Obama-Social-Security, Universal Healthcare, Lindsey Graham, Obama Social Security, Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, House Democrats, John Podesta, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barack Obama Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Senate Democrats, Healthcare Reform, Politics News

President Obama is eager to seek a bipartisan solution to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security, people who have spoken with him say, but h...

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Don't Most Republican Need Social Security, Too?

Russ Wellen | Posted 03.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: Financial Crisis, Social Security, Baby Boomers, Bail-Out, Republicans, Wall Street, Retirement, Gop, Politics News
Russ Wellen

It's folly to give Republicans credit for anything. The lack of rhyme in their response to the stimulus suggests that at this point they stand for nothing more than sheer nihilism.

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The Economists Who Missed the Housing Bubble Are Coming After Your Social Security

Dean Baker | Posted 03.16.2009 | Business

Read More: Financial Crisis, Social Security, Housing Bubble, Social Security Task Force, Obama Social Security, Business News
Dean Baker

President Obama would be advised to focus his attention on getting the economy back in order instead of attacking the country's most important social program.

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Let's Make a Deal Politics

Barbara B. Kennelly | Posted 03.08.2009 | Politics

Read More: Fiscal Summit, Social Security, Cbo, Economic Crisis, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Peter Orszag, Entitlement Reform, Medicare, Healthcare Reform, Barbara Kennelly, Health, Health Care, Politics News
Barbara B. Kennelly

Social Security and Medicare did not bring us to this economic precipice or turn our budget surplus into record debt in just eight years, and should not be used as scapegoats.

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Republicans' 4% Mortgage "Stimulus" Is Latest Ponzi Scheme

Ronald B. Robinson | Posted 03.08.2009 | Politics

Read More: Fha, Depression, Melvin Oliver, Sec, Mitch McConnell, Housing, New Deal, Social Security, Black Wealth White Wealth, Stimulus, Black, Republican First Principles, Mortgage Crisis, Redlining, Eugencis, Wealth, Predatory Lending, African American, Loans, Ponzi Scheme, Construction, Subprime, Bernie Madoff, Rush Limbaugh, Obama, Media, Politics, Bailout, Economy, Race, White House, Financial Crisis, Bignews, Paulson, Foreclosure Crisis, Credit Score, Great Depression, Credit Rating Agencies, Freddie Mac, 4% Morgage, Fanie Mae, Politics News
Ronald B. Robinson

Does the Republican ploy to provide 4% home mortgages to boost the economy sound too good to be true? It is. Buyer Beware!

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More Reckless Spending on the Way

Christopher Ingram | Posted 03.01.2009 | Politics

Read More: Taxes, $800 Billion, 411 Communications, Social Security, Debt, Economy, Chris Ingram, Democrat, Congress, Handouts, Stimulus, Republican, Gimmees, Spending, Banks, Irreverent View, Politics News
Christopher Ingram

Barack Obama is our new president calling for change, but nothing has changed other than Washington politicians leaving nothing but change in the pockets of our children.

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Native American Veterans Fight VA and Lose

Tim Giago | Posted 02.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Native American Veterans, National Guard, Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Veterans Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs, Disability, Social Security Benefits, Social Security Disability Claims, Veterans, Politics News
Tim Giago

Andy Torress was denied disability pension by the VA, but when he took his medical records to the Social Security Administration, they approved him for 100 percent disability.

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Obama Gearing up to Take on Entitlement Programs

Mark Miller | Posted 02.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reform, Social Security, Baby Boomers, Obama, Medicare, Entitlement Programs, Health Care, Seniors, Politics News
Mark Miller

There are no easy fixes for Social Security or Medicare, but Obama plans to tackle entitlement reform head-on to get the government's financial house in order.

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Fiscal Follies

Robert Kuttner | Posted 02.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Costs, Economy, Social Security, Health, Financial Crisis, Medicare, Healthcare, Politics News
Robert Kuttner

No reform is possible if we keep the present health system -- America now spends 16 percent of our GDP on health, and the number of uninsured and under insured rises every year, in tandem with the costs.

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Where Has the Time Gone?

Byron Williams | Posted 02.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: Katrina Response, Attorney, Bush, Courts, Hurricane Katrina, Social Security, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Bush Legacy, President Bush, Dismantle Social Security, Habeas Corpus, Fdr, Commander in Chief, Politics News
Byron Williams

Bush, You had more impact on the country than any other president in my lifetime. One may have to go back to FDR to find a commander in chief that had more influence on the republic.

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The Bush Legacy: Normalizing the Outrageous

Leslie Weise | Posted 02.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Aclu Lawsuit, Aclu, George Bush, Privatize Social Security, 2008, Town Hall Meeting, 401k, Bush Achievements, Social Security, Free Speech, Bush Legacy, Politics News
Leslie Weise

When I attended a 2008 hearing for the free speech lawsuit in which I'm involved, I was struck by the defendants' arguments, being made on behalf of government officials, as eerily un-American.

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Why Liberals Should Want Obama to Take On Social Security Now

Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson | Posted 02.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Taxes, National Debt, Medicare, Federal Budget Deficit, Barack Obama, Social Security, Politics News
Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson

Unless there are reforms in Social Security and Medicare, by 2040 or so, every tax dollar collected will be needed to pay for entitlement programs and interest on the debt.

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Bush's Final Press Conference

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.12.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Europe, Social Security, Pardons, Gop, Pardon, Mission Accomplished, Economy, Guantanamo, Gitmo, Bush Fatigue, Obama, Immigration, White House, Media, America, President, Bush Derangement Syndrome, Republican, Bush, Bailout, Katrina, Reporters, American Ideals, Press Conference, Moral Standing, Republican Party, Worst President Ever, Coast Guard, Press, Recession, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Mistakes, Abu Graib, Bubble, Press Corps, Mistake, Torture, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Lest I be accused of "Bush Derangement Syndrome," I'm reproducing some of the most interesting answers Bush gave today, with a minimum of snarky commentary.

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President-Elect Obama Suggests Defaulting on the National Debt

Dean Baker | Posted 02.07.2009 | Politics

Read More: Financial Crisis, Social Security, Budget, Medicare, Health Care, Economy, Economic Crisis, Politics News
Dean Baker

If the budget situation is so dire that it is necessary to default on the government debt, then surely we should be considering defaulting on the bonds held by wealthy bankers.

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I'm Running for Congress in IL-5

Tom Geoghegan | Posted 02.06.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Social Security, Rahm Emanuel, Illinois, Tom Geoghegan, il5, Illinois Congressional Race, Tom Geoghegan Congressional Announcement, Tom Geoghegan Congress, Rahm Emanuel Replacement, Il-5, Emanuel Seat Candidates, Chicago News
Tom Geoghegan

For years, conservatives have said: "We can't do this. The money isn't there." Well, the money is there. It was there for the Iraq war and for the bailout.

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Scrooged Again: Lumps of Retirement Coal from America's Employers

Rev. Peter Laarman | Posted 01.22.2009 | Business

Read More: 401(K) Plans, 401(K), Social Security, Saving for Retirement, Economy, Retirement, Henry Paulson, Tarp, Business News
Rev. Peter Laarman

The unkindest cut this winter is coming from big U.S. employers that have decided they just won't fund employees' 401(k) plans to save costs.

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State Controller's Office Says Your Money is Waiting: So Why Don't You Just Get it?

Michael Russnow | Posted 01.20.2009 | Business

Read More: Social Security Card, Universal Studios, Unclaimed Money, Social Security, Safe Deposit Box, Money, Russnow, Michael Russnow, Writers Guild, Controller's Office, Controller Website, Personal Finance, New York, California, Escheating, Business News
Michael Russnow

I'm always amazed that so many people bitch about not earning enough money to make ends meet when many of these same folks disregard money that is just sitting and waiting for them to collect.

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I.O.U.S.A.: Right on Time

Patrick Creadon | Posted 01.05.2009 | Business

Read More: Market, Deficit, National Debt, Green Jobs, Economic Crisis, IOUSA Movie, Iousa, Spending, Social Security, Documentary, Obama, Political Documentary, Business News
Patrick Creadon

Many have been quick to push the debate as a choice between stimulus and deficit reduction, but solutions committed to both objectives are critical to our short- and long-term survival.

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IOUSA: Failed Scare Flick of the Decade

Dean Baker | Posted 01.02.2009 | Business

Read More: Iousa, Health Care, Economy, Deficits, Social Security, Why the Real Estate Boom Will Not Bust and How You Can Profit From It, Dow 36000, Patrick Creadon, Robert Rubin, Wall Street Crisis, Subprime Mortgage Crisis, Financial Crisis, Alan Greenspan, Housing Crisis, Business News
Dean Baker

Every few years there is a book or movie that stands out for its incredibly bad timing. The new documentary IOUSA seems destined to join earlier classics of this genre.

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Four Words Obama Will Never Say

Michael Pento | Posted 12.14.2008 | Business

Read More: Social Security, Barack Obama Financial Crisis, America Socialism, George W. Bush, Economic Crisis, President Obama, Obama Administration, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Bush Administration Recession, Bush Administration Financial Policy, Barack Obama, Recession, Federal Budget, Long-Term Debt, Bush Administration, Obama Financial Policy, Federal Budget Deficit, Inflation, Obama Presidency, Obama Recession, Obama Administration Financial Crisis, Richard Fisher, Financial Crisis, Medicare, Economy Socialism, Business News
Michael Pento

Americans must hope that the Obama administration is honest with the people and makes some difficult choices early in his tenure to deal with our growing annual deficits and long term debt.

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Obama and the End of Social Security Privatization

Mark Miller | Posted 12.06.2008 | Business

Read More: Privatization, Social Security, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Federal Budget, President Obama, Bush, Economy, Business News
Mark Miller

President-elect Obama made clear during the campaign that he flat-out opposes privatization of any kind, and the Congress won't go there, either. So, what type of solution will emerge?

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