I'm looking for good books about other people's misery. [more inside]
posted by kmennie on Jan 23, 2007 - 37 answers

I notice that conspicuously absent from public discussions about reform of the Social Security is imposition of a reasonable system of means testing. The idea whereby wealthy seniors, who don't need social security payments to keep themselves in a comfortable lifestyle, don't collect from the general fund which was created to protect the poor and disabled, seems reasonable to me.

Given the alternative solutions of payroll tax increases, elimination of benefits, and/or huge budget deficits, means testing along with Bush's proposed private investment accounts could lead to a win-win social security reform-- one that maintains the traditional safety net for low income seniors and disabled while encouraging savings and investment. What's wrong with this idea? Why is no one making this argument?
posted by NorthCoastCafe on Jan 26, 2005 - 23 answers