How the Media Has Shaped the Social Security Debate -- The Press Plays a Dubious Role

[NorthCarolina]

By Trudy Lieberman

Shortly after the 2010 midterm elections, Washington Post budget correspondent Lori Montgomery reported that, while a debate raged around major budgetary changes and the wisdom of cutting Social Security, a "surprisingly broad consensus is forming around the actions required to stabilize borrowing and ease fears of a European-style debt crisis in the United States." A consensus among whom, we asked? Ordinary people who like Social Security the way it is, opinion leaders, or the reporters who record what those opinion leaders say?

Social Security is the one issue on which the electorate is not divided. Gallup polls dating back six decades consistently show some 70 percent of the public strongly supports Social Security. Most Washington opinion makers think otherwise, though. Indeed, listening to the politicians and policy gurus, one would conclude that this most basic of retirement programs for nearly all Americans is in grave danger, and America itself is in grave danger because of it.

For nearly three years CJR has observed that much of the press has reported only one side of this story using "facts" that are misleading or flat-out wrong while ignoring others. Whatever the reason--ideology, poor understanding of how the program works, gullibility, or plain old reportorial laziness--news outlets have given the public a skewed picture of the financial health of this hugely important program, which is the sole source of retirement funds for millions of Americans and will continue to be for decades to come.

To be sure, Social Security is not in perfect financial health. But the fact is, the program can pay full benefits until 2036, and three-quarters of the benefits after that without new revenues. Many experts believe small fixes like lifting the cap on income subject to payroll taxes --$110,100 for 2012--will make Social Security solvent for decades. But that option is not on Washington's table, nor has it been discussed much in the press. Why not? Because it doesn't fit into the doom-and-gloom narrative that has proved politically expedient to tell?

Link: http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-the-Media-Has-Shaped-t-by-Trudy-Lieberman-120422-196.html

Here's a great example on our very own DU! http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=104673