Social Security facts

The SS taxes paid by current workers are used to fund current beneficiaries. Any excess must, by law, be invested in US treasuries, which are loans to the general fund that must eventually be paid back with interest. Social Security funding is separate from the regular budget. Thus, Social Security *does not* contribute to the deficit or the national debt. Anyone who says otherwise is ignorant or lying.

The GOP is threatening cuts (yes, raising the eligibility limit is effectively a cut to benefits) to SS on the grounds that the national debt is too high. This is a phony argument (see first paragraph).

If the GOP were really concerned about the national debt, it would be pushing for tax increases--rolling back the Bush and Trump tax cuts--and for taxing investment income like regular income (the 1% get most of their wealth from investments, not salary). The GOP will bleat that this will tank the economy, because the 1% are the "job creators." No, the job creators are the middle class and working class who purchase goods and services--that's Econ 101, peeps. Also, the top marginal tax rate during the 1950s exceeded 90%, and that was a time of economic growth, so there is no necessary connection between taxing the wealthy and the economy, Art Laffer nonwithstanding.

Want to see an end to political divisiveness? Then stop electing liars and elect politicians who at least agree on the facts.