Myths Versus Facts on Entitlements Myth Making any changes to our entitlement programs will undermine our commitment to care for the elderly, people with disabilities, and less fortunate. Fact Reform and modernization are the best ways to ensure that these programs survive for the long term. As currently structured, they will not be able to withstand rising medical costs and the huge influx of retirees who are living longer than ever. Failure to address this problem will guarantee that we can’t uphold our responsibility to seniors and low income Americans. Myth Entitlement reform requires deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, resulting in drastically reduced benefits. Fact No one in the mainstream political system is proposing actual spending cuts. But to sustain these programs, we must slow their explosive growth. It can be done through relatively small adjustments in payments, benefits, eligibility, administration, coverage options, and program efficiencies with minimal effect on beneficiaries. And the sooner we act, the smaller the impacts will be. Myth Entitlement spending at its current rate is manageable. Fact Mandatory spending (entitlement programs and interest on the debt) already exceeds all federal income tax revenues that the government collects. This means we have to borrow money and increase the debt to pay for everything else, including education, defense, transportation, and other essential investments. Myth We can solve the problem by raising taxes. Fact The cost to make entitlement programs solvent for the next 75 years is almost $40 trillion. Raising taxes to the tune of $40 trillion would cripple our economy and stifle the growth we need to support our nation’s social safety net. Myth Entitlement reform is the third rail in politics. No one is willing to lead on reform because it’s too politically risky and threatens support among key constituencies. Fact A number of lawmakers and prominent think tanks have been sounding the alarm bells on the entitlement crisis, but their warnings have fallen largely on deaf ears. It will take a concerted, coordinated effort to get a national conversation started and educate the public on the urgent need to reform and modernize entitlement programs. OF COURSE ALL THIS WOULD CHANGE IF WE BRING 100 MILLION PEOPLE INTO THE OUR GREAT COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, GIVE THEM CITIZENSHIP GIVE THEM JOBS AND TAX THERE INCOME. BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR NATURAL RESOURCES? JUST THINK WATER SUPPLY. HMM DONT WANT TO RUN OUT OF WATER. IT MAY BE BEST TO REFORM ENTITLEMENTS?
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 11:52:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015