Reply #17

In the discussion thread: Should Dems be thoughtfully considering broaching means testing for Social Security eligibility? [View all]

Response to Texin (Original post)

Sat Dec 8, 2012, 01:22 PM

brokechris (192 posts)

17. no. First--SS and Medicare are not in trouble.

Second the idea is that everyone pays in---and everyone gets something out. (provided they live long enough)

Third--people's incomes aren't static. Just because someone is rich today does not mean they will not ever need SS.

One of my friends has parents who are very wealthy liberals in Portland Oregon (owned a lot of property--did a lot of development back when the area was going like gangbusters). When they retired (sometime around 2002) they had an income of around 300K coming in and millions of dollars in net worth. And they felt bad about taking social security--so they went through some process to not get it.

Fast forward a decade---and their investments aren't bringing in enough to live on. They have sold off most of what they own. They are having to support two of their three adult children AND 7 grandchildren who are all in college or approaching college age.

They have been trying for some time to get back on the SS rolls--but apparently once you refuse--it is hard to do.

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Replies to this discussion thread

66 replies	Author	Time	Post
Should Dems be thoughtfully considering broaching means testing for Social Security eligibility? [View all]	Texin	Dec 2012	OP
Means testing is a pretty sure route to killing SS.	Jackpine Radical	Dec 2012	#1
yep-- that's how the argument goes	NoMoreWarNow	Dec 2012	#62
Means testing is also an expensive administrative nightmare.	avedon	Dec 2012	#64
Yes. And raise the cap.	PDJane	Dec 2012	#2
If that is what it takes to shut down any conversation of raising the retirement age, then yes	bluestateguy	Dec 2012	#3
No. Not unless you want to further the process of privatizing and killing SS.	AnotherMcIntosh	Dec 2012	#4
I know an extremely rich guy who collects social security and Medicare	kimbutgar	Dec 2012	#5
And your example typifies what I was talking about.	Texin	Dec 2012	#8
I made this point on another thread	democrattotheend	Dec 2012	#55
No	DURHAM D	Dec 2012	#6
Anyone that pays into SS should get it nt	newfie11	Dec 2012	#7
No, they should raise the cap! Means testing means that SS would get slashed for EVERYONE.	forestpath	Dec 2012	#9
25-30 years ago, I might have agreed with you.	Texin	Dec 2012	#13
How many of you have more than $1 million saved for retirement?	reinan	Dec 2012	#47
You seem to have trouble with basic math.	jeff47	Dec 2012	#49
Absolutely not	Zorro	Dec 2012	#10
Exactly, SS is NOT a welfare program, and means testing would misrepresent it as such	anneboleyn	Dec 2012	#31
No. Means testing makes it a welfare program.	PSPS	Dec 2012	#11
Very bad idea	ToxMarz	Dec 2012	#12
Not necessarily	democrattotheend	Dec 2012	#25
No.	jeff47	Dec 2012	#45
You should review the topic being discussed	ToxMarz	Dec 2012	#58
No.	backscatter712	Dec 2012	#14
It's our only truly universal social program	frazzled	Dec 2012	#15
How about NO THE FUCK NO.	Warren Stupidity	Dec 2012	#16
That would be shrill.	bunkerbuster1	Dec 2012	#41
no. First--SS and Medicare are not in trouble.	brokechris	Dec 2012	#17
That's really sad	democrattotheend	Dec 2012	#26
they are great people	brokechris	Dec 2012	#53
But I thought all rich people were evil?	democrattotheend	Dec 2012	#54
that seems to be the common thought around here.	brokechris	Dec 2012	#57
Hell no, fuck no and just no.	Bluenorthwest	Dec 2012	#18
No.	Blue_In_AK	Dec 2012	#19
Depends if you want to kill SS. If yes, then yes.	blkmusclmachine	Dec 2012	#20
Everyone should get it but have no cap	marlakay	Dec 2012	#21
No, very bad idea. The system is supposed to function properly and have the money	Coyotl	Dec 2012	#22
SS should always be there to keep people above the poverty level as a benefit, not an entitlement.	Sunlei	Dec 2012	#23
NO! SS is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in the history	coalition_unwilling	Dec 2012	#24
why? they paid into it like everyone else. However, they should raise the cap	still_one	Dec 2012	#27
I do not believe they should raise the retirement age and	underthematrix	Dec 2012	#28
Absolutely not. That would be a death sentence for it.	David__77	Dec 2012	#29
to keep it short and simple	njcamden_25884	Dec 2012	#30
No.	SheilaT	Dec 2012	#32
they shouldnt have to pay into social security	mgcgulfcoast	Dec 2012	#33
nope....if you paid into the system you are entitled to medicare.	madrchsod	Dec 2012	#34
At a minimum	Capisce	Dec 2012	#35
No need. Just change the way Social Security is funded.	kyungju park	Dec 2012	#36
Or you could do progressive rates	union_maid	Dec 2012	#37
Welcome to DU, and I hope you enjoy the site.	hrmjustin	Dec 2012	#50
No, but Fed income tax on it can be increased for wealthier	wishlist	Dec 2012	#38
Yes. Anything that protects people who need it more... nt	Comrade_McKenzie	Dec 2012	#39
Which means testing does not do.	jeff47	Dec 2012	#48
No.	bunkerbuster1	Dec 2012	#40
I should probably h/t Atrios	bunkerbuster1	Dec 2012	#42
Means test, no - Raise the cap, definitely. Nt	jeaps	Dec 2012	#43
Put me down with the No's	SouthernDonkey	Dec 2012	#44
NO!	forestpath	Dec 2012	#46
After having a long conversation on this topic with an American friend,	PDJane	Dec 2012	#51
Should Dems be thoughtfully considering broaching means testing for Social Security eligibility?	JLII	Dec 2012	#52
A better solution to the solvency problem is to raise the cap.	PDJane	Dec 2012	#56
No. Raise the cap.	Hekate	Dec 2012	#59
How to really help SS	winstongator	Dec 2012	#60
welcome to DU	NoMoreWarNow	Dec 2012	#61
Welcome to DU and I hope you enjoy the site.	hrmjustin	Dec 2012	#63
No.	Iggo	Dec 2012	#65
there is a reason why a strong welfare state has very strong support throughout Europe and	Douglas Carpenter	Dec 2012	#66

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