Off the Table

by Paul Jacob

October 3, 2007

Social Security’s long-term financial insolvency haunts us. But our politicians are even more spooked by the solutions.

“When I’m president,” Hillary Clinton told the American Association of Retired Persons, “privatization is off the table.” Sure, in some countries average folks invest through government retirement programs and grow wealthier, but I guess Mrs. Clinton thinks Americans dumber than Chileans.

Earlier this year, Illinois Senator Barack Obama told AARP that “everything should be on the table” in reforming Social Security. What a rookie mistake. Hillary wasted no time. Cuts in benefits? A raised retirement age? “Off the table” during her administration.

So, what is left on her table? After her AARP speech, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer was asked if this means she’ll increase the current payroll tax. He replied, “Among other things, yes.”

Oops. Taxes are something you bring up after the election. Her campaign website quickly posted a statement insisting that she “would not increase payroll taxes for Social Security.”

So what’s left to do?

The big crunch will hit Social Security in 2017, that’s when benefits to be paid out will exceed payroll taxes coming in. So, if Hillary gets elected next year, and then re-elected, she’d be out a year before the crunch.

Just like politicians before her, she’s well-positioned to do nothing.

That is scary.

Paul Jacob's "Common Sense" is published by the Sam Adams Alliance. Their website can be visited at www.samadamsalliance.org.