Government benefit programs in trouble | Newsweek Politics | Newsweek.com

What are the candidates saying about this big problem?

Social Security Problem Perplexes Candidates | PoliticalLore.com

"All candidates agree that a massive Social Security Reform is inevitable. The major difference is, the Democrats think the Government can fix it, while the Republicans feel it is better off partly privatized and less reliant on the Government. Where all the front-running candidates falter is the fact that they have all been in Senate for at least the last 2 years, with McCain and Hillary being in the Senate for a minimum of 6 years, and neither of them have yet to do anything about the Social Security problem.

In a quick voting record check thanks to Project Vote Smart, it is easy to see how the candidates have stood on the issue of Social Security in the past. Clinton and Obama have voted a resounding “yes” on every Social Security bill or amendment that came to their desk, all of which expanded benefits spending and entitlements, and none of which helped secure the financial future of the system. McCain voted “yes” on allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to negotiate cheaper drug prices for Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries, but other than that he voted “no” on all entitlement expansions and benefits increases. Ron Paul on the other hand voted on numerous occasions to protect the surpluses of the Social Security account against government borrowing, and also voted to slowly reduce entitlement spending. He has also proposed legislation to reduce Social Security waste by limiting the benefits to only legal citizens of the country."

Here is my beef with Social Security - It's not the elderly drawing their SS that's the problem, it's all those people receiving SSDI that should go out and get a job. Yes, the majority of people that receive SSDI need it because they legitimately cannot work. But how many commercials have you seen for attorneys and their client says, "I was denied 3 times, 4 times, 5 times - and they got me my disability approved"

How many times have you seen people on Judge Judy where she asks what they do for a living and they say they are on SSDI and she asks what is their disability and it's some lame excuse like "I have nervous issues" or I can't stand for too long" or "My back was injured" and they are all standing there able to have their case heard, yet they cannot go out and get a job.

Reform the SSDI - Get some people on the board that do not get intimidated with these lawyers that harass and harass till they get what they want. Make the people getting SSDI get re-evaluated every couple of years to insure they REALLY have a problem that prevents them from working.

Do this and Social Security will be able to hold it's head above water.

I know this isn't really addressing OP's issue, I just wanted to vent.

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Mary

i wish they'd just get rid of social security altogether.