Every four years political parties gather for their convention to officially anoint the party’s candidate for president and vice president. As you might be aware we are right in the middle of convention season. Although there are no real surprises as to who will receive the party’s official nomination as there were during conventions decades ago, there are still some revealing things, like party platforms, that are unveiled.
The Republican Party announced its platform related to Social Security policies. Although Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump has said he is not in favor of any cuts being made to Social Security benefits the official party platform is more in tune with the party’s wish to get Social Security spending under control.
Nancy Altman, co-director of Social Security Works, an advocacy group dedicated to protecting and increasing Social Security benefits, is not fool by the language in the Republican platform and says the platform is full of code words in an attempt to reduce Social Security benefits.
For example, part of the platform states that Republicans “believe in the power of the markets to create wealth.”
There are no markets to create wealth when discussing Social Security, this can only be an attempt by the Republicans to favor privatizing Social Security. This is not a new idea, just ask former President George W. Bush who proposed privatizing Social Security in 2005. The proposal was met with uniform rejection by the American people.
Another portion of the platform states Republicans “oppose tax increases.” This means that Republicans would fight any plan to increase Social Security taxes on the wealthy to help sustain and increase Social Security benefits. Keep in mind the wealthy are not even paying Social Security taxes on any income earned over $118,500. This means that every dollar earned over this amount is not subjected to Social Security taxes. To increases taxes you have to be paying them in the first place.
Lastly another part of the platform states that “current retirees and those close to retirement can be assured of their benefits.” Who could argue with that? Well, it’s not what is in the statement it is what is not in the statement. Does this statement mean that those who are not retired or close to retiring cannot be assured of their benefits that they are contributing to now? Of course that’s what this statement means.
By no means did the Republicans stumble upon these phrases, especially the last one. Republicans know better than anyone that if you threaten a senior’s Social Security benefits there is going to be hell to pay, but on the other hand, those who are decades away from retirement are less likely to be even thinking about Social Security or retirement.
Altman summed up the Republican’s stance on Social Security pretty well, so there should be no mistake about the difference between the two parties.
“The Republican Party’s plank on Social Security, in its just released platform, achieves the dubious achievement of being both terrible policy and stupid politics,” Altman said.. “Despite its claim of courage, it is intentionally vague, because even GOP strategists know that the benefit cuts to which it alludes are deeply unpopular with the American people. Despite the party’s effort to avoid accountability through the use of vague language and dog whistles, a careful reading makes it clear where the party stands.
