Social Security: A Defense

Joe and I discuss the resurgence of Social Security on the national political stage, the various proposals to change it, the motivations for those proposals, and why we think the program is more or less fine as is.

Social Security – A Defense

References for this podcast:

• Jeff’s post on why Social Security is not a Ponzi Scheme, and his response to the Rick Perry video.


• Jeff’s post on the recommendations from the deficit commission’s co-chairs.


• A podcast by NPR’s Planet Money delving into the Social Security Trust Fund.


• An EPI report on the uneven distribution of life expectancy along the income ladder.


• Paul Krugman and Ezra Klein slap down proposals to cut Social Security benefits.


• The polls Joe mentioned on disagreements over how to fix entitlements, hostility to entitlement cuts, and skepticism of Social Security’s long-term viability.


• The CBO’s 2009 report on the long-term budget outlook, complete with The Most Important Budget Graph Ever (click image for better resolution):

Music used in this podcast:

• “Gilt Complex” by Sons & Daughters, off their album This Gift.