Here are three numbers that tell the whole story on Social Security: $14,000; 90%; $0.

[somone]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lynn-parramore/et-tu-obama-talk-of-socia_b_892568.html

Here are three numbers that tell the whole story on Social Security: $14,000; 90%; $0.

$14,000 is the average amount that a retiree gets a year from Social Security. A related number is 19.8 million, the number of people (including retirees; surviving spouses and the disabled) who are kept above the already skimpy federal poverty line because they collect even those low Social Security payments. Social Security makes up 90% or more of income for one-third of older Americans and 50% of income for half of retirees.

90% is the proportion of earnings that, if taxed at that level, would assure that Social Security is fully solvent for the next 75 years. For years that was the share of earnings on which workers paid Social Security, but the current level is closer to 83%. While middle-income wages have stagnated, upper incomes have grown rapidly, so that the Social Security cap of $106,800 in 2011 (the same as in 2010) is applied to a lower portion of earnings than it has been historically.

$0 is the amount that Social Security has contributed to the federal deficit. Ever.

[Oceansaway]

1. k & r...nt

[slipslidingaway]

2. knr -"$0 is the amount that Social Security has contributed to the federal deficit. Ever." n/t

[chill_wind]

3. K & R. But the RW S.S. deficit frame has been sold as gospel

by the deficit fetishists that exist in both parties.

[Doctor_J]

4. So even "minor cuts" will plunge 20 million seniors into poverty

that's official poverty. Too bad the president won't just announce that, and in the next sentence tell Boner where to put his proposal.

[DesertFlower]

5. K&R and shared on facebook.