Benefit Programs in Trouble (Really?)

In the master of the obvious category, a new report shows that the U.S. entitlement programs are in some serious trouble over the next few decades.

What the article gets wrong is the timing. The problem actually begins in 2011 (not 2017), which is when the surplus from the Social Security account begins to decline. Because the government uses the surpluses to fund other areas of the government, it will have to come up with revenue or reduce costs elsewhere as the Social Security surplus begins to decrease.

And the Dems can't blame this one on Bush. He did his best to affect changes, but he was stymied by the intransigence of big government, Liberal tax-and-spenders. To Democrats, a "bipartisan" approach means that Republicans must come across the aisle and agree to exorbitant tax increases proposed by Liberals. And any personal accounts are strictly off limits to Liberals because it makes people less dependent on government.

The unfortunate thing is that Congress and all their staffers have their own funded pension plan
outside of the Social Security system.