Sen. Sanders Petition: It's time to scrap the cap and expand Social Security!

[cal04]

At a time of massive wealth inequality, when 99% of all new income generated in this country goes to the top 1%, and when over half of the American people have less than $10,000 in savings, the last thing we should do is cut Social Security.

The best way to extend the lifespan of the Social Security trust fund is to scrap the cap on taxable earnings. Today, a Wall Street CEO who makes $18 million a year pays the same into Social Security as someone earning $118,500. That's absurd. If we simply applied the payroll tax on income above $250,000, not only could we extend Social Security's solvency until 2065, we could also increase benefits to meet the elderly's higher living expenses.

Stand with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Social Security Works in demanding that Congress scrap the cap and expand, not cut Social Security!

To Congress:

With the average Social Security benefit today being just $1,328 a month, and more than one-third of our senior citizens relying on Social Security for virtually all of their income, our job is to expand benefits, not cut them.

We call on you to scrap the payroll tax cap on income above $250,000, extend Social Security's solvency until 2065 and increase benefits to meet the elderly's higher living expenses.


http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6405/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11201

[NYC_SKP]

1. No shit!!! If Hillary wants votes, this should be on her Top Five things to do. Would she ever?

No, I don't believe she would.

If she would, then she would have by now.

Why are people so fond of her?

[PoliticAverse]

2. In 2008 she called raising the cap "a tax increase on seniors and middle-class families"

and opposed it.

[NYC_SKP]

5. She really relates to those who earn more than $250,000/year.

Which, to her, would be middle class.

[stillwaiting]

7. Please tell me you're joking. nt

[PoliticAverse]

10. Not joking, this was one of the differences between Obama and Clinton in 2008...

For video of her position see:

[Dragonfli]

12. She also favors bi-partisan commission to reign in the costs

CLINTON: I am totally committed to making sure Social Security is solvent. You’ve got to begin to reign in the budget, pay as you go, to try to replenish our Social Security Trust Fund. And with all due respect, the last time we had a crisis in Social Security wa 1983. Pres. Reagan and Speaker Tip O’Neill came up with a commission. That was the best and smartest way, because you’ve got to get Republicans and Democrats together. That’s what I will do. And I will say, #1, don’t cut benefits on current beneficiaries they’re already having a hard enough time. And #2, do not impose additional tax burdens on middle-class families.

http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Hillary_Clinton_Social_Security.htm

[PoliticAverse]

14. For a video interview in 2007 containing her position on Social Security and Medicare, see...

[hifiguy]

15. Jayzus, how fucking clueless and out-of-touch is she?

May that woman never enter the White House save as a guest.

[liberal_at_heart]

3. I love how he is willing to say what no one else will! We need you Bernie. Please run.

[Martin Eden]

11. Lifting the SS cap is an obvious solution that should be a mainstream policy position

The fact that Bernie Sanders really stands out when he calls for lifting the cap says an awful lot about the sorry state of our democracy.

[PowerToThePeople]

4. Signed and REC'd. n/t

[MissDeeds]

6. Signed

Thank you, Sen. Sanders!

K&R!!!!!

[stillwaiting]

8. This would be so great for our country if it could ever happen.

We need to go left to do so. No Wall Street/3rd Way approved Democrats.

[Enthusiast]

9. K&R! I already signed the petition.

[Nye Bevan]

13. The guy earning $18 million pays the exact same SS tax as the guy earning $118,500,

but he also receives the exact same SS benefit when he retires. That seems fair and is the reason that SS has survived in pretty much its original form; it is seen (with some justification) as a forced savings scheme, as opposed to a "welfare program" (because we know what even Democrats tend to do to welfare programs).

[X_Digger]

16. Agreed. Nobody talks about what the millionaire would draw, post-retirement.

Or if they do, they propose cap the *benefit* but not the payment *in*. (Which would never make it out of committee.)

[daleanime]

19. It's fair when the only thing you look at is SS....

our current system benefits some one making $18 million a little bit more then some one making $118,500.

[pansypoo53219]

17. that was my solution for years. GREENSPANS fix PUT US HERE. WORST FED GUY EVER!

[PoliticAverse]

22. "Greenspan's fix" is the reason Social Security is fine until around 2033. n/t

[daleanime]

18. K&R.....

[Trillo]

20. There should be no cap!

Kinda stupid to say we have a progressive income tax and have regressive Social Security withholdings.

[SoapBox]

21. Yes, yes, yes!

[Scuba]

23. Meanwhile, the local fish wrapper publishes an op ed claiming Democrats only want to save SS ...

... so they can get more votes, that lifting the cap will raise taxes on the middle class and that virtually all government spending is already tied up in "entitlements" for slackers.


Fuck Bill Clinton for signing the "let's monopolize the media" bill.