If you have been listening to the views of presidential candidates, you most likely have heard discussion of Social Security reform. Carson, Rubio and Bush have stated that they want to raise full retirement age. In New Hampshire earlier this year, Trump said "Every Republican wants to do a big number on Social Security, they want to do it on Medicare, they want to do it on Medicaid. And we can’t do that. And it’s not fair to the people that have been paying in for years and now all of a sudden, they want to be cut.”
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation to strengthen and preserve Social Security. To keep Social Security strong for another 75 years, Sanders' legislation would apply the same payroll tax already paid by more than nine out of 10 Americans to those with incomes over $250,000 a year.
Bernie said, "Our job cannot be to cut Social Security. Our job must be to expand it so that every American can retire with dignity and respect. It’s time to expand Social Security to make sure that everyone in this country can retire with the dignity and respect they deserve."
Hillary Clinton balked when asked during the Democratic presidential debate whether she agreed with Sanders that Social Security benefits should be expanded. "I fully support Social Security and the most important fight we're going to have is defending it against continuing Republican efforts to privatize it," Clinton said, after hesitating.
Asked again whether she would expand Social Security benefits, Clinton conceded that she would expand benefits for some of the program's poorest beneficiaries, specifically citing widows and single women. Sanders said he would go further, to expand benefits for middle-income, as well as low-income, seniors.
After the Republican debate last week, Greta Van Susteren tweeted "problem w/raising retirement age:people get fired in early 60's and can't get new jobs so cant stay employed til 70."
I think Greta has hit the nail on the head with this. What do you think?
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