I wish every American would listen to these 2 minutes with Bernie Sanders on social security

[garybeck]

Bernie Sanders: Reality Check on Social Security
2-minute segment from VPR's Vermont Edition, 6/23/2011

2-minute audio segment on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIp2LvGxLko

Major points:

--"Despite a lot of noise out there and misstatement of reality, social security has a surplus today of 2.6 Trillion dollars and can pay out every benefit for the next 26 years."

--"Because social security is funded by the payroll tax and not the US treasury, has not contributed one nickel to our deficit."

NOTE: entire excellent interview is available here:
http://www.vpr.net/episode/51433/

[valerief]

1. I wish every American knew who he was! nt

[garybeck]

3. well if they all listened to this, they'd all know who he is, so that would cover both our wishes :)

nt

[msongs]

2. ss has loads of $$ because it violates its promise to american workers.....

a family member I have paid a lifetime into SS under the promise of full benefits retirement, and had a pension job for the last 10 years. Therefore, SS has cut the benefit by 60% even though the family member paid in with good faith for 35 years. With this kind of dishonorable and deceitful scam running SS had darn well better have a surplus.

[slipslidingaway]

4. Link - Social Security Trust Fund Data

http://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/funds.html

http://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4a3.html