Issue Position: Social Security

Issue Position

The common cry from those given to austerity is built on a falsehood - that there just isn't enough money for social services. And yet, any honest appreciation of the situation reveals quite the opposite. There's plenty of money, our congress just keeps creating laws and policies to make the rich even richer. Deficit reduction and austerity measures are disingenuous talking points, in light of how congress dispenses our tax money.

For starters, corporate welfare is much greater than social programs. The government spends about 60 billion a year on all our social programs combined, while at the same time offering about 100 billion in credits and abatements to huge corporations. GE, to pick one of hundreds, paid no U.S. taxes in 2011 or 2012 in spite of record profits. Financial giants like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America pay nothing, Apple and Exxon, practically nothing. It's an outrage, and we must change the game.

If The Social Security System needed funding, there are plenty of ways we can fund it by balancing other aspects of taxes as noted above. But the remarkable thing is that Social Security doesn't need funding. It's self-funded, and in good shape. The only reason potential changes to Social Security are on the radar is because this congress is hell-bent on privatizing everything possible. They don't care if your retirement is a gamble based on the ups and downs of the stock market. If elected, I'll do all I can to protect Social Security and to expose those who will compromise your retirement for a few campaign dollars.

Source