Will Bush's private social security accounts be resurrected?

[quinnox]

I'm wondering if Obama may resurrect Bush's idea of private accounts for social security. I wouldn't put it past him, and would find it no surprise if this was included in his forthcoming speech.

I imagine they will call it a different name and use different language, but I expect to hear a lot of "tough choices" and "we must do this to save social security" in the speech.

[quaker bill]

1. I would bet not.

Tough choices do need to be made, but this is also almost always true. President Obama has ridiculed the notion of private accounts. It will not be a feature. Means testing is more likely.

[Better Believe It]

2. No. "Tough choices do need to be made" By whom and who will they impact?

Tough choices indeed.

How about just making one supposedly "tough choice".

Lift the CAP on Social Security payroll taxes.

Now that's really not so tough .... is it?

Now let's stick together on this issue.

We should oppose any and all cuts in social security, Medicare, Medicaid and all government programs that benefit working people and the elderly.

Right?

[bluestateguy]

3. No

The DLCers would not even go along with it when it was proposed 5 years ago.

[nilram]

4. Oh, F***. The 2%...

I agree with the argument that lowering the Soc Sec tax rate by 2% rate this year sets Obama / the Dems up for being charged by the Republicans of "raising taxes" (OMG!) next year. One way around the raising taxes bologna is to have that 2% "raise" go to your very own private account. Yes, we'll restore employment tax to its 6.2% level, but look what you get!

And since private accounts get invested into Wall Street, it provides a slush fund to keep the stock market rising. Why make the government or industry do the heavy lifting when our social security will do the trick?

[cali]

5. that's an easy one: Nope.