Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

"House rich & cash poor": Why Social Security can’t be Raided (Part 1)

(cross posted from Daily Kos Social Security Defenders Group)There are three prevalent myths about the assets in Social Security Trust Funds, plural because there are two of them OAS-Old/Age Survivors and DI-Disability Insurance. The first myth, which comes mostly from the Right, is that those assets are just ‘Phony IOUs’. The second myth comes mostly […]

A reminder from Obama’s February 2009 speech

By: Daniel Becker In answer to the generic question regarding President Obama’s actions regarding the debt ceiling, I am re-posting this from 2/25/09.  In comments of the original I stated that cutting the deficit by 1/2 seemed to “optimistic” for me. *************************** Ok, here are my basic issues with the substance of President Obama’s speech. […]

Mandatory submission to e-verify program…a few points more

Op ed by Nancy Ortiz Scott Hochberg’s article Making E-Verify Mandatory: The Perfect Storm for Crippling the Social Security Administration and Jeopardizing the Social Safety Net discusses issues regarding the e-Verify system and a move in Congress to make it mandatory for everyone hired for a job in the US. He points out that eVerify […]

Making E-Verify Mandatory: The Perfect Storm

In addition to the controversy over the ARRP position on Social Security, there are other issues affecting retirement that surface via immigration legislation. Scott Hochberg has given Angry Bear permission to post his article from this weekend from Huffington Post. (hat tip coberly) Making E-Verify Mandatory: The Perfect Storm for Crippling the Social Security Administration […]

Guest post: Why Means Testing Social Security Benefits Is More Trouble Than It’s Worth

Guest post by Nancy Ortiz (Rdan here…Nancy is a long time reader of Angry Bear and has worked within the Social Security system professionally) One of the many fixes now being considered as a remedy for Social Security and Medicare’s projected shortfalls is means testing benefits. The rationale is that rich people shouldn’t get SS […]

There’s a reason they talk about 2 August: What the Republican Mainstream Hath Wrought

Reuters reports that the mainstream Republican Party has decided to jump the shark admit it is insane: David Frum, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and a Republican advocate for raising the debt limit, said he holds regular question-and-answer sessions with Republican congressman over a beer. “I have yet to meet one Republican […]

House Republicans propose Social Security opt-out

It was bound to happen… House Republicans propose Social Security opt-out by Pete Kasperowicz – House Republicans on Friday introduced legislation that would allow workers to partially opt out of Social Security immediately, and fully opt out after 15 years. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-NY), who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, and several other Republicans […]

Town Hall Meetings on the Ryan Budget Raise Concerns

Various congressional representatives held town hall meetings recently, and the news channels and print media were abuzz with the lively give-and-take, including shouting matches. See, e.g., House G.O.P. Members Face Voter Anger Over Budget, New York Times, Apr. 26, 2011; Republicans facing tough questions over Medicare overhaul in Budget Plan, Washington Post, Apr. 22, 2011. […]

Sixteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest…Social Security and the Facts of Life

Guest post by Dale Coberly Sixteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest Yo Ho HoSocial Security and the Facts of Life Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said on Sunday the “Gang of Six” senators is “very close” to a deal on deficit reduction, suggesting the plan would impact Social Security that most Democrats have said is […]

Social Security & the Debt Limit

{Crossposted from dKos Social Security Defenders Group} Social Security has been off the radar this week for obvious reasons, progressives being more focused on efforts of Republicans to win the War on Women via the Continuing Resolution. Plus while Paul Ryan’s original Roadmap proposed privatization of Social Security his Budget proposal for next year left […]