Social Insecurity?

Your guide to the in's and out's and future of the current System.

Social Security has been a promise and a fair deal for millions of Americans since it began in 1935. It is the largest source of retirement income for all but the wealthiest Americans.

But now, the most popular government program ever created is on the table for discussion and possibly big changes.  President Bush is proposing a radical restructuring of the program that would eliminate it as a source of guaranteed income for retirees.  More >>

Labor Activists: Social Security Fight Far From Over ...September 23, 2005

The Fight for Social Security Continues
Despite months of public appearances by President Bush promoting his signature domestic issue, people remain highly skeptical of the president’s plans to change Social Security.

President Hill on Social Security

A lifetime of hard work should not be rewarded with a gold watch and a ticket to the races. Social Security should be available to everyone, not just the lucky ones." - International President Ed Hill


 

The Facts

Fewer Benefits.  Privatizing Social Security would cut guaranteed benefits by 30 percent, even for workers who don’t choose private accounts.  The average retiree would lose $152,000 in benefits in the 20 years after retirement.  (The Century Foundation, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Center for Economic and Policy Research)

More debt.  Privatizing Social Security would explode the deficit, saddling our children with $2 trillion in debt in the first 10 years alone, mainly borrowed from foreign countries like China and Japan.  (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

We can strengthen Social Security with commonsense fixes, but working families will not accept a plan that makes our retirement less secure.

From AFL-CIO Work-in-Progress

• "More Americans disapprove of President George W. Bush’s Social Security privatization scheme..." More >>

• "Fully 89 percent of African Americans say Social Security should be protected as a guaranteed benefit and not privatized..." More >>

	Social Security Links
	Don't Privatize Social Security - AFL-CIO   Alliance for Retired Americans, find fact sheets and resources and take action to strengthen Social Security.   AARP, a special section on Social Security, e-mail lawmakers and other information on retirement security.
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	Press Clips
	Social Security, other labor issues discussed at AFL-CIO meeting, Grand Folks Herald, 9/26/05 Social Security Battle Continues in Political Underbush - Newhouse News Service, 8/1/05   Bush Urges Retirees to Get Behind His 'Senior Security Package' - New York Times, 7/23/05
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