Social Security has Not Contributed a Penny to Nation's Budget Problem

Social Security is far from bankrupt. In fact, it has a $2.6 trillion dollar surplus. The federal government has borrowed most of that surplus to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Wall Street bank bailouts, and tax cuts to corporations. The government is now wondering how to cover those expenditures, but it's not their money to take. It BELONGS to Social Security!

Cutting Social Security to fix the deficit would be a serious threat to retirees. Unemployment is high among people over 50 as they experience age-related discrimination. At advanced ages people are no longer able to do jobs that require physical strength. At the same time those who are lucky enough to be home owners find their home values reduced.

Many people rely entirely on Social Security as their sole source of income in their retirement years. Medicare is the only way they can cover the most basic of health care costs. Our legislators are far from average Americans, they likely don't know anyone who needs Social Security to pay for rent and food, who relies on Medicare for basic care and prescriptions, and for whom Medicaid makes the difference between being able to seek treatment when they are ill and becoming further marginalized in our society because of illness and deepening poverty.

Today members of the Raging Grannies, the Green Party, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) took their concerns to the office of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. The Raging Grannies brought a sign that said Don't throw Grandma Under the Bus, and provided songs for a demonstration in front of the building. Photos for indybay by R. Stevens.