I have a small but important question about Social Security

[jmowreader]

Social Security is an insurance program that pays out benefits to the elderly and the disabled.

It is funded through a convoluted process that starts with every person paying a moderate tax. It is a flat tax of 12.4 percent on the first $147,000 of your income, half of which is paid by your employer. This money is loaned to other government agencies, which return it with interest. The returned money is then used to pay beneficiaries.

So, here's what I'm wondering. The government uses the Social Security taxes for its normal operations. If the Republicans get rid of Social Security like they want to, the Social Security taxes will also end. Do the Republicans plan to increase income taxes enough to compensate for the loss of Social Security taxes, and if they do how in heck are they going to sell this plan to Joe and Jane Citizen?

[msongs]

1. one suspects repubs have no plan of any sort nt

[LiberalFighter]

9. Republicans never have a viable plan.

[Marcus IM]

2. No. At heart they're libertarians.

They think taxes are theft

[leftieNanner]

3. They will cut the social safety net

To the most vulnerable citizens.

[Glorfindel]

4. Yes, and there will be an incredible wave of suicides

What else could the most vulnerable do?

[jmowreader]

8. That part we know

What do they plan to replace the Social Security taxes they're using to run the government with, is my question.

[Joinfortmill]

13. They want small gov. Really small

[leftieNanner]

14. They may still collect them

But cut benefits.

Whatever they do will be bad.

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. Republicans: Lets blow up our entire federal government up and see what happens.

They have no clue what will happen, but it sure seems like they want anarchy.

[spooky3]

6. It uses SS funds only indirectly. The SS trust fund is invested

In Treasury bonds, which are sold also to other buyers. Bonds earn revenue, which is part of what is used to pay benefits.

Your question is interesting. It’s a hard sell no matter what. However there are enough dummies out there who believe SS is “a Ponzi scheme” or “SS won’t be around when I retire, so why should I pay in now?” All they will hear is that they will keep 6.2% (or more) of their pay.

I agree the Repubs have NO plan.

[doc03]

7. If they kill SS the rich will get another tax cut. It won't be the people

that work for living and pay the 6.2% either.

[Deuxcents]

10. Maybe I don't want to believe it..

Even tho I know they have lusted after the SS fund for decades. All political stripes of people get SS so I fail to see how this would be a positive plan. Aside from the cruelty factor. Throwing millions off would throw the mortgage companies out of wack.. cars, medical bills.. big companies could fail. I just don’t get why they would want to throw the economy into a crisis..

[GreenWave]

11. SS and Medicaid, Medicare need THE most powerful lobbying group

But not run by RWNJ

[Runningdawg]

12. Their only plan is to watch the world burn from their bunkers. They want a purge.

[AndyS]

15. SS is the other bus that the Republican dog has been chasing

like it chased Abortion. They never really intended to catch either, just stir the base with them with loud barks and spittle flying off their lips.

You'd think that after catching the first bus they'd reconsider how fast they want to run after the second . . .

[FakeNoose]

16. I hope you realize that it's your money they want to take - we've all paid into this fund

... and the benefits we receive after retirement are the monies we paid in during our working life of 40+ years. The Repukes have no right to deny benefits to any deserving Americans.

[Baked Potato]

17. Let's start over from the 1700s, or earlier?

[sarcasmo]

18. The current crop of Republicans want to destroy the United States government.