Social Security

IOUSA: Failed Scare Flick of the Decade

Dean Baker | Posted 12.02.2008 | Business

Read More: Iousa, Health Care, Economy, Deficits, Social Security, Why the Real Estate Boom Will Not Bust and How You Can Profit From It, Dow 36000, Patrick Creadon, Robert Rubin, Wall Street Crisis, Subprime Mortgage Crisis, Financial Crisis, Alan Greenspan, Housing Crisis, Business News
Dean Baker

Every few years there is a book or movie that stands out for its incredibly bad timing. The new documentary IOUSA seems destined to join earlier classics of this genre.

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Four Words Obama Will Never Say

Michael Pento | Posted 11.13.2008 | Business

Read More: Social Security, Barack Obama Financial Crisis, America Socialism, George W. Bush, Economic Crisis, President Obama, Obama Administration, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Bush Administration Recession, Bush Administration Financial Policy, Barack Obama, Recession, Federal Budget, Long-Term Debt, Bush Administration, Obama Financial Policy, Federal Budget Deficit, Inflation, Obama Presidency, Obama Recession, Obama Administration Financial Crisis, Richard Fisher, Financial Crisis, Medicare, Economy Socialism, Business News
Michael Pento

Americans must hope that the Obama administration is honest with the people and makes some difficult choices early in his tenure to deal with our growing annual deficits and long term debt.

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Obama and the End of Social Security Privatization

Mark Miller | Posted 11.05.2008 | Business

Read More: Privatization, Social Security, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Federal Budget, President Obama, Bush, Economy, Business News
Mark Miller

President-elect Obama made clear during the campaign that he flat-out opposes privatization of any kind, and the Congress won't go there, either. So, what type of solution will emerge?

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Why Obama Has Pulled Ahead on the Economic Issues

Mark Weisbrot | Posted 10.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: John McCain, Economy, Social Security, 2008 Presidential Race, Obama Economic Policies, McCain Economics, Barack Obama Taxes, Financial Crisis, Medicare, Obama Economy, 2008 Election, Recession, Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Election, Politics News
Mark Weisbrot

Senator Barack Obama's campaign for the White House pulled ahead of his opponent, Senator John McCain, as soon as the current financial crisis hit the...

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America is a Liberal Country

Cenk Uygur | Posted 10.23.2008 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Congressional Elections, Katrina, Cahrlie Cook, James Dobson, Liberal, Conservative, Democrats, Newsweek, Human Rights, United Nations, Nancy Pelosi, House GOP, Republican Party, Center-Right, Voting, Politics News
Cenk Uygur

The Republicans are about to lose another 20 to 34 seats in the House and at least seven seats in the Senate. It will take decades -- maybe even generations -- for them to recover from that.

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IOUSA: Anti-Social Security Propaganda Flick

Dean Baker | Posted 10.22.2008 | Business

Read More: Budget Deficit, Social Security, Federal Budget Deficit, Economy, Propaganda, Regulation, Medicare, Business News
Dean Baker

This film should be viewed as part of a larger effort to dismantle Social Security and Medicare, the country's core safety net programs.

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Why this Election Actually is About Defining the "Real America"

Robert Creamer | Posted 10.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Kevin Phillips, John McCain, Presidential Election, Michele Bachmann, Progressive Values, Real Americans, Sarah Palin, Health Care, American Values, Thomas Jeffereson, Barack Obama, 2008 Election, Politics News
Robert Creamer

Sarah Palin is right about one thing: this election is in fact a battle between the "real America" and a pretender. But it's not quite the battle she imagines.

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Internet Advocacy Roundup: Golden Pledge Campaign to Protect Social Security

Alan Rosenblatt | Posted 10.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Golden Pledge, Wall Street Crisis, IAmProgress.Org, Wall Street, Center for American Progress Action Fund, I Am Progress, Wonk Room, Cheney, Privatization, Financial Crisis, Think Progress, Bush, Politics News
Alan Rosenblatt

Some conservatives still want to gamble our Social Security in the stock market.

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John McCain Voted to Tax the Nation Out of a Previous Economic Crisis

Jacob Alperin-Sheriff | Posted 10.16.2008 | Home

Read More: Taxes, John McCain, John McCain Taxes, Social Security, Offthebus, Home News
Jacob Alperin-Sheriff

During the debate, McCain claimed that "the last president to raise taxes during tough economic times was Herbert Hoover." In fact, it was Ronald Reagan, and John McCain helped him do it.

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Obama Until November: Just Keep it Short, Simple and Sharpen Distinctions

Paul Abrams | Posted 10.14.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Tax Cuts, Equal Pay, Stock Market, Social Security, Economy, Barack Obama, Politics News
Paul Abrams

We are down to the wire, and droves of people, are starting to pay attention to the candidates. For Obama to bring this home, he ought to keep it simple and make the distinctions sharp.

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Optimists Anyonymous!

Jeff Goldsmith | Posted 10.10.2008 | Business

Read More: Economic Optimism, Baby Boomers, Social Security, Wall Street Crisis, Bailout, Optimism, Retirement, Economy, Business News
Jeff Goldsmith

What we actually need to do is to clear away the wreckage, learn the important lessons about why you can't make risk simply disappear, and start dreaming again.

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McCain And Goldwater Growing More And More Similar

Lynne Glasner | Posted 10.08.2008 | Home

Read More: Goldwater Mccain, McCain Obama, Senator McCain, Social Security, Barry Goldwater, Election 2008, John McCain, Campaign 2008, Home News
Lynne Glasner

Barry Goldwater adamantly railed against large government and supported tax cuts (sound familiar?). He advocated making Social Security voluntary and selling off the TVA, neither of which garnered him many votes in 1964, a time of economic expansion.

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Who Would Want To Be President in These Times?

Bob Starks | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics

Read More: Presidential Debates, Economy, 2008 Presidential Race, Job Losses, John McCain, Social Security, Economic Crisis, Inauguration Day 2009, George W. Bush, Federal Programs, Bailout Bill, Barack Obama, American World Image, Rising Unemployment, Foreign Relations, Nafta, Wall Street Collapse, Foriegn Economics, Medicare, Medicaid, Politics News
Bob Starks

After all of the cheering and congratulations on Inauguration Day, the new president will have to face the reality of the end of an era of prosperity and American world domination.

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The AP Hands Obama His #1 Talking Point for the Second Presidential Debate

Jackson Williams | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics

Read More: Presidential Debate, John McCain, Tom Brokaw, Saving for Retirement, Retirement, Economic Meltdown, Financial Crisis, Presidential Debates, Barack Obama, Economy, Congressional Budget Office, Social Security, Social Security Privatization, Business News, Stock Market, Wall Street Crisis, Politics News
Jackson Williams

Just hours before Obama and McCain meet in a Town Hall debate, the Associated Press has moved a story that screams: "Retirement Accounts Have Lost $2 Trillion."

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Let's Finally Deep-Six the Privatization of Social Security

Jeff Madrick | Posted 10.02.2008 | Business

Read More: Pensions, Defined Contribution Plans, John McCain, Social Security Privatization, Barack Obama, Defined Benefit Plans, Medical Savings Accounts. 401 (K)s, Social Security, McCain Social Security, Business News
Jeff Madrick

Barack Obama has taken on the McCain privatization plan in ads in Florida. He should take them on nationwide. Forcing people to manage their own retirement accounts is irresponsible.

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McCain the Gambler: Voters Are Beginning to See Which Choice for President is Really "Risky"

Robert Creamer | Posted 10.02.2008 | Politics

Read More: Gambling, Social Security, John McCain, Privatization, Sarah Palin, Iraq War, Commander-in-Chief. Financial Bailout, Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Election, McCain Risky, 2008 Election, McCain Gambling, Politics News
Robert Creamer

The Republicans have gone to great lengths trying to convince the voters that Obama is "risky". A stark reality has stood in their way: if you like taking risks, John McCain's your guy.

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Congress Must Address Overall Broader Budget Crisis

Bob Barr | Posted 10.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: Deficit, Wall Street Crisis, Social Security, Federal Budget Deficit, Bob Barr, Financial Crisis, Medicare, Bob Barr Libertarian, Libertarian Party, Politics News
Bob Barr

Congress should reject the bailout, and then get busy cutting spending elsewhere. We need a president willing to reconsider every spending program and challenge every special interest.

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Women May Be Most Affected By Economic Crisis And Election

Susan Kelley-Stamerra | Posted 09.26.2008 | Home

Read More: Investments, U.S. Economy, Women's Rights, Cafta, Debate, Social Security, Working Mothers, Children, Children's Health Insurance, Middle Class, Working Women, Mccain, Obama, McCain Taxes, Legislation, Equal Pay for Equal Work, Minimum Wage, Unemployment, Privatization, Job Layoffs, Election 2008, Health Care, Equal Pay, Taxes, Welfare, Women Voters, Economic Crisis, Congress, Nafta, Outsourcing, Job Market, Women, Job Cuts, McCain Social Security Privatization, Women's Health, Palin, Women and Politics, Economy, Afta, Home News
Susan Kelley-Stamerra

If women aren't looked after in this election, in this economic environment, the losses will be substantial and lasting.

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One VP Candidate Sticks Around To Answer Questions

Erin Medlicott | Posted 09.26.2008 | Home

Read More: Dan Rooney, Rocky Bleier, Social Security, Greensburg Salem High School, Sen. Joe Biden, Joe Biden, Pennsylvania, Norma Margonari, Veterans, Iraq War, September 25, 2008, Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee, Pittsburgh Steelers, Campaign Event, Health Care Benefits, Mrapvs, Home News
Erin Medlicott

Greensburg, PA: Speaking to a packed house in the Greensburg Salem High School gym Thursday, Democratic VP nominee Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) criticized t...

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McCain's Social Security Plan Would Cut Benefits To People Who Already Paid For Them

Stephen Herrington | Posted 09.26.2008 | Home

Read More: Taxes, Baby Boomers, Gdp, Retirement, Aflcio, Social Security, Economy, Tax Cuts, Ssa, Alan Greenspan, McCain Social Security, Tax Hike, John McCain, Barack Obama, Home News
Stephen Herrington

The conventional wisdom is that higher taxes hurt the economy. There is no actual evidence of that. In fact if you plot tax rates against GDP, there is no observable correlation.

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Bush May Be Stupid, But He's No Fool: The Bailout and the Final Repeal of the 20th Century

Pete Cenedella | Posted 09.25.2008 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, CEO Pay, Social Security, Wall Street Crisis, Bailout, New Deal, George W. Bush, CEO Compensation, Republican Party, Wall Street Bailout, Government Bailout, Politics News
Pete Cenedella

Bush is playing dumb so we won't notice that his final stroke in office will be to make the Republican Revolution permanent and impossible to repeal for decades to come.

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Regardless of Who Wins the Election, Start Teaching Your Kids Mandarin

Christopher Ingram | Posted 09.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: War Hero, Social Security, John McCain, Tom Delay, National Debt, George W. Bush, Chris Ingram, Community Organizer, Congress, Maverick, Reform, Mccain, Obama, Dukakis, Campaign, Media, China, Gas Crisis, Sarah Palin, Mortgage Crisis, Mandarin, Elections, Nancy Pelosi, Debates, Barack Obama, Politics News
Christopher Ingram

Voters don't want change. When the American voting public goes to the polls and re-elects the same bunch of losers to Congress year after year, they should expect to get more of the same.

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McCain's Social Security Plan Puts Americans at Risk

Ron Grande | Posted 09.24.2008 | Home

Read More: Wall Street Crisis, Social Security, Bush Plan on Social Security, Mccain, Buyout, Social Security Privatization, Bad Debt, Home News
Ron Grande

The current ups and downs in the market have revealed that a social security system with private accounts invested the way McCain suggests would be subject to any volatility in the markets.

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The Revolutionary Moment - There's $1 Trillion on The Table, Let's Take It!

Dan Kovalik | Posted 09.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Obama, Mccain, Bailout, Revolution, Democrats, Biden, Bush, Economy, Politics News
Dan Kovalik

For years, we've been told by the government and by the pundits that there is no money for national healthcare, no money for schools, no money for the...

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S&P 500 Down 14% Since Bush Took Office -- So Much For Social Security Privatization

Mark Nickolas | Posted 09.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: 401(K) Plans, 401(K), Bush Social Security Privatization, Social Security, Stock Market, George W. Bush, Social Security Privatization, Barack Obama, S&P 500, Politics News
Mark Nickolas

If Social Security privatization was in effect when Bush was sworn-in, retirees who invested in the broader market would have seen their nest egg down 14 percent over the last seven-plus years.

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