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Catherine H
Expand Social Security and Medicare. These are 2 of the best government programs ever invented and applied by any government, and we should expand them both. Medicare for All, HR 676.
Jan. 6, 2015, 10:47 a.m.
Pat
Not only should it be adjusted to reflect inflation it should no be taxed. The whole premis of social security is to provide for the bisic needs for retired individuals Housing including utilities, food, clothing and other basic subsistance costs. A secondary savings 401k is for the extras like better housing, dinning out, trips etc. A elderly person should not have to choose between heat or food when paying bills.
Jan. 6, 2015, 11:34 a.m.
Gerry
We are the wealthiest country in the world why shouldn't seniors have ALL medical taken care of by the federal government? Social Security takes out $104 each month and I have to pay $43( increased from $36.90) for part D! I don't take prescription medications. I'm now having to buy supplemental insurance so we don't go broke with any future medical bills. That's $182 per month! So out of Social Security I have $329 going toward medicare , part D and supplemental health insurance! Where is the money for food, rent, clothing? How can seniors live on such low payments? Since the Republicans put in the windfall Elimination law, I can't collect a small pension, because my Social Security check will be reduced!! Social Security MUST be increased so seniors can live. We should also get FREE eye care, dental, and hearing!
Jan. 6, 2015, 12:01 p.m.
ROSALIE907
Currently I get a little over $1,600 from Social Security which is 1/4th my working salary and pay almost $1,000 for rent. The rest is for my other bills so I have to take money out of my IRA every month for things like food and other living expenses. Social Security and Medicare need to be expanded so retired people can lead a more comfortable life.
Jan. 6, 2015, 12:47 p.m.
Bill
Let's not forget the biggest unspoken fix - means testing. Why should millionaires and billionaires be allowed to take from the pot when they already have more than they can spend as it is?
Jan. 6, 2015, 1:14 p.m.
lostarts
In the almost 10 years that I've been collecting Social Security, prices on almost everything have significantly more than doubled, somewhere between 225% and 250%. My Social Security hasn't gotten to anywhere near double what it was. In fact, it's more like about 125% of what it was almost 10 years ago. This means that the buying power is slightly more than HALF of what it was 10 years ago. If it continues like this, the numbers will be higher, but the buying power will make it useless. The quickest way to fix the economy would be to doubl Social Security. The people getting this money are people who haven't had money for basic necessities and need so much that you can bet that they'll go right out and spend it, creating more income for merchants, and an economic boom.
Jan. 6, 2015, 1:54 p.m.
Ben D.
Yes, expand Social Security, and pay for that expansion by lifting the cap on wages that are subject to payroll taxes. That cap is currently set at $118,500. Problem solved.
Jan. 7, 2015, 4:29 a.m.
Deb B.
I started receiving SS in 1996 amount $525. 18 yrs later I receive $789. That is a average increase of $15 a yr with inflation in the double didgets. I just become poorer and poorer every year.
Jan. 7, 2015, 7:46 a.m.
Carl
Expand Social Security. These are not government programs, these are programs for which we paid and the government stole from it. If we had been paid interest on our investments for our lifetimes, these accounts would be worth millions to each contributor. We have been cheated while our representatives treated these programs like their own piggy banks.
Jan. 7, 2015, 9:05 p.m.
Linda G.
Social security insurance is not welfare. It won’t decrease wages. Good social security policies -Germany is one proof- make for the strongest countries in the world in terms of GNP etc. They know that the poorest, the least secure stay that way and weaken their countries. Just like increases in the education of women is now proven to grow economies all over the world, social security creates widespread social wealth. Just like the empowerment of women, it is a social fact that ending poverty creates prosperity- more innovation, more customers, more citizens Why does it matter? Starting thoughts:
Jan. 8, 2015, 1:51 p.m.
Joe
Expand social security to cover all american citizens, not just retirees, and help pay for it by eliminating existing inefficient welfare programs. So much money is wasted on administrative costs, when it would be better served going directly to the people. Also, energy companies should he charged rents for using or extracting our common pool resources, with the profits used to fund this expansion. At some point we have to decide how rich our country needs to become before poverty is unacceptable. I agree with so many others, expand social security. Expand it into a universal basic income - the new social security.
Jan. 9, 2015, 10:51 p.m.
insight
I am disabled. I am expected to live on $7000 a year. $7000 A YEAR. This is less than half a year of rent cost where I live with NO food. Not expanding social security = Killing people. Not an exaggeration
Jan. 14, 2015, 7:27 p.m.
Gene
Expand Social Security and Medicare to cover everyone. This would provide a may to end poverty and enable human creativity to soar.
Jan. 16, 2015, 12:27 p.m.
Gene
Expand Social Security and Medicare to cover everyone. This would provide a path to end poverty and enable human creativity to soar.
Jan. 16, 2015, 12:28 p.m.
wylie40
I am all for the expansion. Just show me how we pay for it. And if you paid into the pot then the money is yours to draw out.
Jan. 19, 2015, 5:48 p.m.

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